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Getting Around Montréal with a Dog
🇨🇦Montréal, Canada·Updated 26 July 2026
Montréal is one of the very few North American cities where a full-size dog can legally ride the subway, and that single fact reshapes what a car-free visit looks like. Since the STM made its pilot permanent, muzzled and leashed dogs travel on the métro under a detailed set of conditions, with the window widening to all hours during the summer period. Buses are the opposite story: on them, and on every other STM surface route, an animal must be inside a closed carrier, which effectively rules out a large dog. Add a compact, flat and very walkable downtown plus taxis and ride-hailing that generally accept dogs, and the practical shape of a Montréal itinerary becomes clear: walk, take the métro, and use a taxi for the airport.
| Mode | Policy | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Métro (STM) | Pet dogs are allowed on the métro under strict conditions: a muzzle covering the whole snout must be worn from entering the station until leaving it, a halter does not count, and the leash must be held with no more than 1.25 metres of slack. Only one dog per person, never on the seats, entry and exit through STM-owned entrances only, and travel in the middle or rear cars rather than the front one. Escalators are off limits with a dog and elevators only if there is room. From 18 May to 16 August 2026 dogs travel at any time; from 17 August 2026 to 16 May 2027 they are allowed on weekdays from opening to 7:00, from 9:30 to 15:30 and from 18:00 to closing, plus all day at weekends and on public holidays. Animals other than dogs must stay in a closed carrier. | 💡 |
| Buses (STM), including the 747 airport shuttle | The STM rule for buses is unambiguous: a dog or any other pet may board only inside a carrier or other closed container designed for that purpose, and must stay inside it for the whole journey. That works for a cat or a small dog and rules out a medium or large one, so plan bus legs out of your itinerary if you are travelling with a big dog. Third-party guides sometimes describe muzzle-and-leash rules for the 747 airport shuttle, so confirm directly with the STM before counting on it. | 💡 |
| Taxis and ride-hailing | Taxis and ride-hailing are the reliable way to reach Montréal-Trudeau airport, reach a late-night vet or cover a rainy day with a large dog. Uber offers a dedicated Pet option that guarantees the driver accepts an animal, and most local taxi drivers will take a clean, calm dog if you say so when booking. Bring a blanket or seat cover, ask before opening a door, and expect a cleaning charge if your dog is muddy after a canal walk. | 💡 |
Arriving in Montréal
Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) sits about 20 km west of downtown and handles almost all international arrivals, with VIA Rail and Amtrak trains coming into Gare Centrale downtown. Because STM buses require a closed carrier, the 747 shuttle from the airport is not a realistic option for a medium or large dog, so budget for a taxi or a Pet-enabled ride-hail into town. Once you are downtown, most of what a dog owner actually wants, the Old Port, the canal, Mount Royal and the Plateau, is reachable on foot or by métro. Winter arrivals should factor in that a dog stepping off a plane into minus twenty is a real shock, so have a coat and paw protection in hand luggage.
The REM and regional rail
The REM light-metro network, which now links downtown with the South Shore and the western island, is a separate operator from the STM and does not follow the same dog policy. Service animals travel freely, while other animals are expected to be inside a carrier, so treat the REM as carrier-only until you have checked the current rule for your line. For longer trips, VIA Rail carries small pets in the cabin on many routes and larger dogs in the baggage car on some corridor services, but the conditions change by route and must be booked in advance, so never turn up at Gare Centrale assuming your dog can board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs allowed on the Montréal métro?
Yes. The STM made its pilot permanent and pet dogs now travel on the métro wearing a muzzle, on a leash held with no more than 1.25 metres of slack, one dog per person and never on the seats. From 18 May to 16 August 2026 they are allowed at any time; outside that window they are restricted to weekday off-peak hours plus all day at weekends and on public holidays.
Can I take my dog on a Montréal bus?
Only inside a closed carrier. The STM requires any pet on a bus to remain in a carrier or other closed container designed for that purpose for the whole journey, which in practice excludes medium and large dogs from the bus network, including the 747 airport shuttle.
Pet-Friendly Hotels in Montréal
Our top-rated pet-friendly hotels, handpicked and verified.
The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
★★★★★ · 9.6/10
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Le Mount Stephen
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Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
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