Travelling from Ottawa to Montreal: what you need to know
Ottawa's main airport is Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). Explore your options for leaving from this terminal when booking flights from Ottawa to Montreal.
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and St. Hubert Airport (YHU) are the chief entry points to Montreal.
The average time for a direct Ottawa to Montreal flight is 50 minutes.
Allow plenty of time to make your Ottawa to Montreal flight. It's generally best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Heading off during a peak time like a bank holiday? Expect longer queues at security and check-in. For peace of mind, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Ottawa to Montreal
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Ottawa to Montreal is $199. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $554. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares may change.
Book two months before travelling. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap Ottawa to Montreal flights.
The best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Ottawa to Montreal is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then choose the dates offering the lowest fares.
You don't need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll tell you when there's a better deal on cheap flights from Ottawa to Montreal.
Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Ottawa to Montreal flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'
Flying from Ottawa
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Depart from Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) on a nonstop flight from Ottawa to Montreal. From YOW, you can fly directly to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
Keep an eye out for promotions with Air Canada. This airline offers direct Ottawa to Montreal plane tickets out of YOW.
The journey from central Ottawa to YOW takes about 45 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 11 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Planning to catch an early flight from Ottawa to Montreal? Avoid rushing to the airport (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these stays close to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport:
58.21% of flights that leave from Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport reach their destination on time.
You'll find YOW at 50 Airport Road.
Arriving in Montreal
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
The distance from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to central Montreal is roughly 16 kilometres. It takes around 25 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It typically takes 45 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Consider booking a hotel near YUL if you're coming in on a late flight from Ottawa to Montreal. Pick one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Grab a Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport rental car and explore Montreal and beyond with your own wheels. Avis, Alamo and Routes Car Rentals are top outlets you can book with here.
Reserving your vehicle from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport about four weeks ahead can help you get the lowest rate.
You'll find YUL at 975 Romeo Vachon Street North.
St. Hubert Airport (YHU)
As soon as your flight from Ottawa to Montreal has arrived, you can get to the city centre in about 35 minutes by car. Central Montreal is approximately 26 kilometres from St. Hubert Airport (YHU).
If you're catching public transport, it'll take approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
Why wait around for a cab? A St. Hubert Airport rental car lets you start exploring right away. Roll down your windows and hit the road with a set of wheels from Enterprise or Budget.
Generally, the sooner you book, the bigger the savings and variety of vehicles. Reserve your ride from YHU as soon as you've confirmed your plans.
Best time to go to Montreal
It's time to plan your dates for your flight from Ottawa to Montreal. August is the busiest month for a trip to Montreal. If you like a more relaxed atmosphere, go in February.
Before locking in your Ottawa to Montreal tickets, consider the type of weather you enjoy. July is the warmest month in Montreal, with temperatures ranging from 14ºC to 28ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between -19ºC and -2ºC. Search for cheap flights from Ottawa to Montreal around that time if you like cooler conditions.
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. Explore these options once you've booked your flight from Ottawa to Montreal:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to work out where to start. Mount Royal Park, Montreal Botanical Garden and Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal are leading attractions which should feature on any well-planned Montreal itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
You've done Montreal, now it's time to explore other parts of Canada. Journey around 499 kilometres south-west to Toronto to tick off its popular sights. From CN Tower to Royal Ontario Museum and Go Tours Canada - Distillery District, you'll have a full itinerary ahead.
If you want to check out another major destination in Canada, consider Ottawa, about 153 kilometres west of Montreal. Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and National Gallery of Canada are key highlights.