If you are flying into Montréal and want to reach downtown without donating half your vacation budget to a taxi meter, the 747 Express Bus is your new best friend. Officially known as STM line 747 YUL Aéroport / Centre-Ville, this airport shuttle connects Montréal-Trudeau International Airport with major downtown transit hubs, including Lionel-Groulx and Berri-UQAM. It runs day and night, accepts several fare options, and comes with a handy 24-hour transit pass that can keep you moving around the city after your airport ride is finished.
The best part? You do not need to be a transit wizard, speak perfect French, or solve a subway-map puzzle while holding three bags and a coffee. Once you understand the fare, the two route options, and where to board, the 747 Express Bus in Montreal is one of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to travel between YUL airport and downtown Montréal.
Why Take the 747 Express Bus from Montreal Airport?
The 747 Express Bus is designed for airport travelers. Unlike a regular city bus that expects you to magically know where you are going, the 747 is built around one clear mission: moving people between Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and the city center. Buses are equipped for luggage, the route serves major metro connections, and the fare includes access to Montréal public transit in Zone A for 24 hours.
For visitors, that 24-hour pass is a sneaky little travel win. After you ride from the airport to downtown, you can keep using the bus, metro, train, or REM in Montréal’s Zone A during the validity period. That means your airport transfer can also cover your first ride to Old Montréal, the Plateau, the Bell Centre, a hotel near René-Lévesque Boulevard, or that all-important first plate of poutine.
How to Take the 747 Express Bus in Montreal: 8 Steps
Step 1: Choose the Right 747 Route
The first thing to know is that there are two main 747 route patterns. The 747-1 Centre-Ville route travels between YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport and the downtown area near Berri-UQAM, serving Lionel-Groulx station and several stops along René-Lévesque Boulevard. This is usually the better option if your hotel is downtown, near the Quartier des Spectacles, the Village, the central bus station area, or the eastern side of downtown.
The 747-2 Métro route is shorter. It runs between the airport and Lionel-Groulx metro station. This can be the smarter choice if you want to transfer quickly to the metro. Lionel-Groulx is especially useful because it connects to both the green and orange metro lines, making it a convenient launchpad for many Montréal neighborhoods.
In simple traveler language: choose the downtown route if you want a bus closer to your hotel, and choose the Lionel-Groulx route if you want the fastest connection to the metro network.
Step 2: Find the 747 Stop at YUL Airport
After landing at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, follow signs for ground transportation and public transit. The main 747 bus stop at the airport is located near door 28, in the international arrivals area. This is also where travelers can usually find fare vending machines and STM information services.
If you are tired, hungry, or still mentally stuck in airplane mode, do not panic. YUL is used to visitors looking for the 747. Follow the bus icons, look for STM signage, and remember the magic number: 747. It is easier than remembering your hotel room number after a red-eye flight.
Step 3: Buy the Correct 747 Fare
The 747 fare is a special airport fare. As of the current STM fare information, it costs $11.25 per person and includes a 24-hour pass valid for travel on the bus, metro, exo trains, and REM in Zone A, which covers the agglomeration of Montréal.
You can buy the fare in several ways. At the airport, fare vending machines are available in the international arrivals area near door 28. These machines typically accept cash, debit cards, Visa, and Mastercard. You can also buy eligible fares at metro station vending machines, fare booths, the Chrono mobile app, and certain downtown parking pay stations near 747 stops.
If you pay on board the bus, you must use exact change in coins. Paper bills are not accepted on the bus. This is important. The driver is not a bank, a magician, or your uncle with a jar of spare loonies.
Step 4: Use the Chrono App If You Prefer Digital Tickets
The Chrono mobile app is a convenient option for travelers who prefer digital fare purchases. You can buy the YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport fare in the app and activate it before boarding. Once activated, the digital fare must be validated by the driver on board the 747 bus within the allowed time window.
There is one very important detail: you need an internet connection to purchase and activate the digital fare. Airport Wi-Fi can help, but it is wise to complete the process before stepping outside if your phone data plan is unreliable in Canada. After the driver validates your fare, you receive a transfer that works as proof of payment and gives you 24-hour access to eligible Zone A transit.
Digital tickets are convenient, but do not activate too early. Activate shortly before boarding, not while you are still waiting for luggage, arguing with a suitcase wheel, or hunting for your travel partner who “just went to grab water.”
Step 5: Board the Bus and Validate Your Fare
When the 747 arrives, let passengers exit first, then board calmly. If you bought a physical ticket or pass, validate it as instructed. If you bought a digital fare through Chrono, show the activated fare to the driver for validation. If you pay cash on board, hand over the exact coin fare.
The driver will provide proof of payment or a transfer when required. Keep it with you. Fare inspectors can check, and losing your proof of payment is the transit equivalent of throwing away your boarding pass five minutes before the gate agent calls your group.
Step 6: Store Your Luggage Properly
The 747 is made for airport passengers, so luggage racks are available on board. Use them. Place larger bags at the bottom and smaller items on top when possible. Keep aisles and exits clear so passengers can move safely.
If you are carrying a backpack, remove it before squeezing through the aisle. Nobody wants to be gently clobbered by your laptop bag after a six-hour flight. For bikes, STM rules are more specific: bicycles must generally be packed in an appropriate travel case, and folding bikes should be placed in a carrying case and stored properly.
Step 7: Know Where to Get Off
If you are going to the metro, Lionel-Groulx is one of the most useful stops. From there, you can transfer to the green or orange metro line. This is a great option for travelers heading toward neighborhoods such as Saint-Henri, Downtown West, Old Montréal, the Plateau, or areas near major metro stations.
If you stay on the downtown route, the bus continues along René-Lévesque Boulevard and serves multiple central stops. This is convenient for hotels, office towers, shopping areas, and entertainment districts. The downtown route can take about 45 to 70 minutes depending on traffic, while the airport-to-Lionel-Groulx ride is typically shorter, often around 25 to 35 minutes.
Starting January 26, 2026, the downtown 747-1 terminus near the bus station and Berri-UQAM area is relocated to stop 52905 at Boulevard René-Lévesque and Rue Berri because of construction work. If you are using Berri-UQAM, check signs and current STM updates so you do not wander around with your suitcase like a confused rolling landmark.
Step 8: Use Your 24-Hour Pass Wisely
Once you have taken the 747, do not forget that your fare gives you more than just an airport transfer. The included 24-hour pass is useful for exploring Montréal without buying another ticket right away. You can ride the metro to Old Montréal, head to Mount Royal, visit downtown shopping areas, or continue to your hotel by bus or metro.
This is where the 747 Express Bus becomes more than cheap airport transportation. It becomes your first day’s transit pass. For budget travelers, families, students, conference guests, and weekend visitors, that extra value makes a real difference.
Best Times to Take the 747 Express Bus
The 747 runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which makes it useful for early flights, late arrivals, and those cruel departure times that make you question every life choice leading to a 5:30 a.m. boarding pass. Departures are generally frequent throughout the day, though exact timing depends on the route, direction, traffic, and current STM schedule.
During rush hour, allow extra time. Montréal traffic can slow the downtown route, especially along major corridors. If you are heading to the airport for a flight, build in a buffer. For domestic flights, international flights, checked bags, security lines, and winter weather, more time is always better than less. The 747 is reliable, but it does not come with a teleportation button.
747 Express Bus vs. Taxi, Uber, and Rental Car
The 747 Express Bus is usually the best choice for travelers who want low-cost transportation and do not mind sharing space with other passengers. It is especially practical for solo travelers, couples, backpackers, students, and anyone staying near a metro station or downtown bus stop.
A taxi or rideshare may be easier if you have several large suitcases, small children, mobility concerns, or a hotel far from the 747 corridor. A rental car makes sense only if you are leaving Montréal quickly for road trips outside the city. For most visitors staying downtown, a car can become an expensive metal pet that needs parking, feeding, and constant attention.
The 747 wins on price and transit connectivity. Taxis and rideshares win on door-to-door convenience. The best choice depends on your luggage, destination, arrival time, and tolerance for figuring things out while jet-lagged.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The first mistake is boarding without the right fare. Remember: if you pay on the bus, bring exact coins. No bills. No “Can you break a twenty?” No dramatic wallet performance.
The second mistake is choosing the wrong route. If you want the metro, Lionel-Groulx may be fastest. If you want a downtown hotel near René-Lévesque, the Centre-Ville route may get you closer. Check your hotel address before boarding.
The third mistake is forgetting that traffic matters. The 747 is called Express, but “express” in a living city still means roads, signals, construction, weather, and other humans doing human things.
The fourth mistake is activating a digital fare too early. If using Chrono, activate it close to boarding and make sure your phone has battery. A dead phone with a digital ticket is just an expensive rectangle of sadness.
Real Traveler Experiences and Practical Tips for Riding the 747
Taking the 747 Express Bus feels easiest when you treat it like part of the airport routine, not a separate adventure. After landing, take a few minutes to regroup before heading outside. Use the restroom, connect to Wi-Fi, check your hotel address, and decide whether Lionel-Groulx or downtown makes more sense. That tiny pause can save you from boarding the right bus with the wrong plan.
One common traveler experience is discovering that the 747 is more relaxed than expected. Many first-time visitors worry about luggage, language, or payment. In reality, the bus is used by airport passengers all day, every day. People board with suitcases, backpacks, strollers, ski bags, and the facial expression of someone who has spent too long near baggage claim. You will not be the only person trying to figure it out.
If you arrive during winter, dress before stepping outside. Montréal cold is not a cute decorative cold. It is serious, business-class cold. Keep gloves accessible, not buried under three layers of suitcase archaeology. The wait for the bus may be short, but wind near airport roads can feel personal.
For summer arrivals, the advice flips: keep water nearby and expect the bus to get busy. Montréal is festival-loving, patio-hopping, construction-season energetic in warm months. If a major event is happening downtown, the bus may carry locals, tourists, and people who somehow look stylish while holding luggage. Give yourself room, stay patient, and keep your bag close.
At Lionel-Groulx, do not rush blindly into the metro. Pause and check direction signs. The station connects two useful lines, which is excellent, but it also means you need to choose correctly. If you are going to Old Montréal, downtown shopping, the Plateau, or the Village, the orange or green line may be involved depending on your final stop. A transit app can help, but station maps are also clear.
If your hotel is on or near René-Lévesque Boulevard, the downtown route can be wonderfully convenient. You may be able to get off within a short walk of your lobby. Before riding, search your hotel address and compare it with 747 stops. A five-minute walk from the correct stop is delightful. A fifteen-minute walk with luggage, slush, and regret is less delightful.
Another useful habit is keeping your fare proof separate from random receipts. Travelers often buy coffee, snacks, SIM cards, and transit tickets in the same thirty-minute airport blur. Put your 747 proof of payment in a specific pocket or phone wallet. If you need it later, you will not have to conduct a full archaeological dig through boarding passes and granola-bar wrappers.
Finally, think of the 747 as your first small lesson in Montréal: practical, bilingual, efficient, and occasionally shaped by construction. It gets you into the city without drama, gives you a full day of transit, and drops you into neighborhoods where Montréal actually begins. That is a pretty good welcome for the price of an airport sandwich.
Conclusion
The 747 Express Bus in Montreal is one of the smartest ways to travel between YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and downtown. It runs 24/7, serves key metro stations, offers a special airport fare with 24-hour transit access, and gives travelers a practical alternative to taxis and rideshares. The key is simple: choose the right route, buy the correct fare, board at door 28 when leaving the airport, keep your proof of payment, and give yourself enough time when traveling back for a flight.
For first-time visitors, the 747 may seem a little intimidating at first glance. But once you understand the eight steps, it becomes refreshingly straightforward. It is affordable, useful, luggage-friendly, and connected to the rest of Montréal’s transit system. In other words, it is exactly what an airport bus should be: not glamorous, not complicated, and very good at getting you where you need to go.
Note: Transit fares, stops, schedules, and terminus locations may change. Always check the latest STM or YUL airport information before your trip, especially if traveling during holidays, major events, construction periods, or severe winter weather.
