Travelling from Vancouver to Montreal: what you need to know
Begin planning your trip by checking out the most convenient departure point for your flight from Vancouver to Montreal. Explore the options for setting off from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH), two of the city's main airports.
The primary gateways to Montreal are Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and St. Hubert Airport (YHU).
Book a direct Vancouver to Montreal flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 4 hours 55 minutes.
Montreal's timezone is UTC-4, which makes Montreal three hours ahead of Vancouver.
The busiest route for flights from Vancouver to Montreal is from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). There are 43 services every week between these two airports. If you want to take off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from YVR to YUL is the 00:10 Air Canada option. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final scheduled service is at 23:55 with Air Canada.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you can comfortably catch your Vancouver to Montreal flight.
Be prepared for longer lines in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for domestic departures will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Montreal
To snag cheap Vancouver to Montreal flights, reserve your trip two months ahead of your departure.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from Vancouver to Montreal is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates that offer the biggest savings.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from Vancouver to Montreal by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Lock in a cheap Vancouver to Montreal flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
You can get a direct flight from Vancouver to Montreal leaving from Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Begin your trip at YVR and arrive at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
Choose from a variety of airlines that offer direct Vancouver to Montreal plane tickets out of YVR. Book your journey with one of these:
The journey from central Vancouver to YVR takes around 35 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a cab, you'll cover the 11 kilometres in 25 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Need a convenient hotel close to Vancouver International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Vancouver to Montreal, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
71.77% of flights that leave from Vancouver International Airport reach their destination on time.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
YXX is around 64 kilometres from central Vancouver. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour. If you're thinking about taking public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Skip the rush on your departure day — stay near Abbotsford Airport and know you'll reach your gate with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early Vancouver to Montreal flight:
The on-time performance rate of YXX is 67.97%. In other words, that's how often flights departing this airport arrive within the expected time frame.
Arriving in Montreal
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is approximately 16 kilometres from central Montreal. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 25 minutes.
It usually takes 45 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Book a hotel close to YUL if you have a late flight from Vancouver to Montreal. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Go where the road takes you with a Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Avis, Alamo or Routes Car Rentals and see more of Montreal and beyond.
Lock in the best deal by reserving your ride from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport about four weeks in advance of your trip.
YUL is situated at 975 Romeo Vachon Street North.
St. Hubert Airport (YHU)
St. Hubert Airport (YHU) is about 26 kilometres from the centre of Montreal. After your flight from Vancouver to Montreal, it takes approximately 35 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
If you hop on public transport, the ride to the centre takes 1 hour 45 minutes or so.
Pick up a St. Hubert Airport rental car and make your journey as spontaneous as you want. You can choose from popular rental outlets like Enterprise and Budget.
Pick the vehicle you actually want, not just what's available, by reserving your ride from YHU before your arrival. You'll also avoid last-minute price surges, especially during busy airport times.
Best time to go to Montreal
August is the busiest month for flights from Vancouver to Montreal. To steer clear of the crowds, head to Montreal in February.
Before locking in your Vancouver to Montreal tickets, think about the kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Montreal, with temperatures ranging from 14ºC to 28ºC.
Look for cheap flights from Vancouver to Montreal in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -19ºC and -2ºC on average.
More about Montreal
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Montreal right here. Browse these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from Vancouver to Montreal:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to know where to begin. Mount Royal Park, Montreal Botanical Garden and Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal are top attractions which should feature on any good Montreal itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
You've done Montreal, now it's time to discover more of Canada. Travel around 499 kilometres south-west to Toronto to tick off its top attractions. From CN Tower to Royal Ontario Museum and Go Tours Canada - Distillery District, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 153 kilometres west of Montreal, Ottawa is another essential stop in Canada. Start your sightseeing at Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and National Gallery of Canada.