By Metro

For speed and economy, nothing beats Montréal's Métro system for getting around. Clean, relatively quiet trains whisk passengers through an expanding network of underground tunnels, with 65 stations at present and more scheduled to open. Single rides cost C$2.25 (US$1.60), a strip of 6 tickets is C$9.50 (US$6.80), a 1-day pass permitting unlimited rides for 24 hours is C$7 (US$5), and a 3-day pass is C$14 (US$10). Buy tickets at the booth in any station, or from a convenience store. Slip your ticket into the slot in the turnstile to enter the system. Take a transfer (correspondence) from the machine just inside the turnstiles of every station, which allows transfers from a train to a bus at any other Métro station for no additional fare. Remember to take the transfer ticket at the station where you first enter the system. When starting a trip by bus and intending to continue on the Métro, ask the bus driver for a transfer. Connections from one Métro line to another can be made at the Berri-de Montigny, Jean-Talon, Lionel-Groulx, and Snowdon stations. The orange, green, and yellow Métro lines run from about 5:30am to 1am, and the blue line runs from 5:30am to 11pm.

By Bus

Buses cost the same as Métro trains, and Métro tickets are good on buses, too. Exact change is required to pay bus fares in cash. Although they run throughout the city (and give riders the decided advantage of traveling above ground), buses don't run as frequently or as swiftly as the Métro. If you start a trip on the bus and want to transfer to the Metro, ask the bus driver for a transfer ticket.

By Taxi

There are plenty of taxis run by several different companies. Cabs come in a variety of colors and styles, so their principal distinguishing feature is the plastic sign on the roof. At night, the sign is illuminated when the cab is available. Fares aren't too expensive, with an initial charge of C$2.50 (US$1.80) at the flag drop, C$1.20 (US85¢) per kilometer (2/3 mile), and C44¢ (US32¢) per minute of waiting. A short ride from one point to another downtown usually costs about C$5 (US$3.55). Tip about 10% to 15%. Members of hotel and restaurant staffs can call cabs, many of which are dispatched by radio. They line up outside most large hotels or can be hailed on the street.

Montréal taxi drivers range in temperament from sullen cranks to the unstoppably loquacious. Some know their city well, others have sketchy knowledge and poor language skills, so it's a good idea to have your destination written down -- with cross street -- to show your driver.

By Car

Montréal is an easy city to navigate by car. Visitors arriving by plane or train, however, will probably want to rely on public transportation and cabs rather than rent a car. A rental car can come in handy, though, for trips outside of town or if you plan to drive to Québec City.

Rentals -- Terms, cars, and prices for rentals are similar to those in the United States. All the larger U.S. companies operate in Canada. Basic rates are about the same from company to company, although a little comparison shopping can unearth modest savings. A charge is usually levied when you return a car in a city other than the one in which it was rented.

All of the companies listed here also have counters at Dorval Airport. Major car-rental companies include Avis, 1225 rue Metcalfe (tel. 800/321-3652 or 514/866-7906); Budget, Gare Centrale (tel. 800/268-8900 or 514/938-1000); Hertz, 1073 rue Drummond (tel. 800/263-0678 or 514/938-1717); Thrifty, 1076 rue de la Montagne (tel. 800/367-2277 or 514/845-5954); and National, 1200 rue Stanley (tel. 800/287-4747 or 514/878-2771).

Gasoline -- Gasoline and diesel fuel are sold by the Imperial gallon or, more often, the liter, at prices somewhat higher than those in the United States. One Imperial gallon equals 1.2 U.S. gallons, or 4.546 liters. In Québec, it costs about C$30 (US$21) to fill the tank of a small car with the lowest grade of unleaded gasoline. To convert the approximate cost of Canadian gas to familiar U.S. standards, multiply the cost per liter in Canadian dollars by four. Then convert the price to U.S. dollars.

Parking -- It can be difficult to park for free on the heavily trafficked streets of downtown Montréal, but there are plenty of metered spaces, with varying hourly rates. (Look around before walking off without paying. Meters are set well back from the curb so they won't be buried by plowed snow in winter.) Check for signs noting restrictions, usually showing a red circle with a diagonal slash. The words "livraison seulement," for example, mean "delivery only." Most downtown shopping complexes have underground parking lots, as do the big downtown hotels. Some of the hotels don't charge extra to take cars in and out of their garages during the day, which can save money for those who plan to do a lot of sightseeing by car.

Driving Rules -- The limited-access expressways in Québec are called autoroutes, and distances and speed limits are given in kilometers (km) and kilometers per hour (kmph). Some highway signs are in French only, although Montréal's autoroutes and bridges often bear dual-language signs. Seat-belt use is required by law while driving or riding in a car in Québec. Turning right on a red light is still prohibited in Montréal, except where specifically allowed by an additional green arrow. Outside Montréal, it is now legal to turn right after stopping at red lights, but the change has caused authorities to put up signs denying that move at what they believe to be dangerous intersections.

Note: Too many Québec drivers take perverse pride in their reputation as dangerously fast at the wheel and are prone to such maneuvers as making sudden U-turns and cutting across two lanes to snare a parking space. Growing indignation with such practices, with newspapers decrying excess speed and the accidents that result from it, doesn't seem to have curbed the behavior. Be aware.