Updated August 1, 2022.

This Faraway Friday is actually not so far away. Sometimes you need to getaway, but you just don’t have enough time for a long vacation. That’s where a Weekender comes in! Here are 5 reasons Montreal is an excellent option for an exotic trip that’s not too far from home!

*Note: I am based in the United States, as are the majority of my readers. I realize Montreal, Canada, is not so closeby for everyone! I would love to hear from you about a “not so far away getaway” that takes you a world away from where you live! Just comment below!

It’s a short flight for a taste of Europe.

More specifically, a taste of France! The official language is French, much of the food has a French flair, the streets are like those of an old European village, and it’s all just minutes from the Canadian-US border!

More here: The Best Places to Eat in Montreal

 The Metro/Bus System is one inexpensive flat rate.

And it’s astonishingly efficient! From Friday at 4:00pm until Monday at 5:00am, one $13.75 CAD metro card gives you full access to the entire metro and bus system. We found incredible helpful and comprehensive information here!

More here: My Top 10 Travel Hacks

 It’s easy to get there.

There are multiple flights a day from the US into Montreal’s international airport (YUL), and it’s less than two short hours from DC. Once you get there, you can get your metro card, hop on the 747 bus (which has free wifi), and you’ll be in town in about 45 minutes. All taxis charge $40 one way from the airport to downtown Montreal, so the savings is not negligible! Check out the moonrise on the short flight up to Canada!

Essential info: How to Find Cheap Flights

 You can hit the highlights in two days.

Sure, it would be great to stay a whole week or more, but Montreal is small and walkable, and with your unlimited metro pass, you can even get to the sites that are just outside the walking range!

Keep reading: The Beauty of a Weekender Trip

 It’s affordable. 

The US dollar is strong in Canada, so you get a great bang for your buck. That weekend in Europe doesn’t seem quite so far out of reach when you look at the exchange rate!

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Travel and Your Money

Bonus: If you live in the US Eastern Time Zone, you have zero chance of jet lag!

Is Montreal moving up on your travel list? Find all my best tips on my Canada Page!

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