🚆 Québec City to Montréal by Train: The Perfect Post‑Cruise Transfer
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🌅 A Relaxing Way to End Your Cruise
After our Canada & New England cruise, we traded ship decks for train tracks — and honestly, it was the perfect way to end the trip. The VIA Rail ride from Québec City to Montréal takes just over three hours, winding through pretty countryside and giving you time to decompress before flying home.
If you’re planning your post‑cruise travel, you may also like my Canada & New England Cruise Guide.
⏱️ What to Know About Train Timing
Passenger trains in Canada share tracks with freight trains, which means delays of 15–45 minutes are totally normal. I didn’t understand that at first, but after chatting with a few Canadians on my cruise, I moved our train earlier to make sure we’d make our flight.
We took the 10 a.m. train to Montréal’s Central Station, then grabbed a cab to the airport for our 7 p.m. flight — zero stress.
The airport recommended arriving by 4 p.m., but security, boarding passes, and U.S. customs took less than 30 minutes. We ended up with plenty of time to relax.
🚶♀️ Getting to the Train Station
It’s an easy walk from the cruise port to the Québec City train station — about 10–15 minutes along a pedestrian path that leads you right out of the port. Super simple.
Once you arrive, you’ll find plenty of seating inside the station, so you can relax while waiting for your train. It’s clean, comfortable, and a nice spot to regroup before heading to Montréal.
If you’re planning your transfer, there are lockers availiable to store you luggage.
✈️ Montréal Airport Tips
Montréal‑Trudeau does have a lounge for those flying to the States, but it was louder and busier than our gate. We found a quiet corner, had lunch, and camped out near a charger (they’re surprisingly limited near U.S. departure gates).
If you’re flying home after a cruise, you may also find my Beginner Travel Hacking Guide helpful for maximizing points on flights.
🧳 Want to Explore Québec City After Your Cruise?
If you want to explore before heading out, Québec City’s train station has lockers — perfect for storing luggage while you wander. It’s such a charming city. I visited last year and wish we’d had time to show Tanner around this trip.
🚉 Bonus Tip: Dorval Station Connection
You can actually take the train to Dorval Station and hop on a free commuter train to the airport — it’s included with your VIA Rail ticket. It runs every 45–60 minutes and takes about 20 minutes.
This is a great option if you prefer a seamless train‑to‑train connection.
💬 Final Thoughts
We loved taking the train to Montréal — the skyline was beautiful, and it felt like a relaxing transition from cruise mode to travel‑home mode. I’m already planning to return with my husband or the whole family.
Everyone we met spoke French first but switched to English easily when they heard our basic French — so don’t stress about language barriers.
Save by booking your train early, and enjoy the ride — it’s one of those simple travel moments that feels like part of the adventure.
✍️ About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie — the cruise‑obsessed, points‑collecting traveler behind No Point Left Behind. I help travelers explore more for less with smart travel hacking, casino‑comp cruising, and Lazy Girl shortcuts that make every trip easier.
When I’m not sailing with my sons Tanner and Finn, you’ll find me building guides for retirees, families, and anyone who wants to travel smarter without overthinking it.
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