Is Montreal safe?
Safe for a big city, with normal care. Petty theft is the main risk; central areas are lively and busy.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-06-10.
- Homicide rate in Canada: 2.0 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Canada: 5.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Montreal at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone and bag theft in crowds and bars, bike theft, and car break-ins; occasional fights after late-night bars close. |
| At night | Bars stay open until 3 am and streets are lively. Metro closes around 1 am; use Uber or a taxi afterward. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women. Watch drinks in bars, use rideshare late and sit near the driver on night buses. |
| Other risks | Winter ice and -20°C cold waves; Sidewalk ice falls from buildings after thaw; Summer heat waves |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unlicensed taxis offering rides at the airport
- Fake charity or petition collectors asking for card details
- Rental listings asking for deposits before viewing
Take care
- Parts of Saint-Laurent and Sainte-Catherine at 3 am: drunk fights, pickpockets
- Metro stations like Berri-UQAM late at night
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Cannabis is legal domestically, but carrying it across the international border is a serious crime.
- Drinking age is 18 or 19 depending on province; open alcohol in public is mostly illegal.
- Holding a phone while driving brings heavy fines in every province.
How Montreal compares in Canada
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Banff | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Quebec City | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Whistler | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ottawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Victoria | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Jasper | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Tofino | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Mont-Tremblant | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Prince Edward Island | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Toronto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Vancouver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Montreal | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Niagara Falls | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Calgary | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Halifax | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Edmonton | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kelowna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yellowknife | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Montreal safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women. Watch drinks in bars, use rideshare late and sit near the driver on night buses.
Is Montreal safe at night?
Bars stay open until 3 am and streets are lively. Metro closes around 1 am; use Uber or a taxi afterward.
What is the crime rate in Montreal?
Phone and bag theft in crowds and bars, bike theft, and car break-ins; occasional fights after late-night bars close. Nationally, Canada records 2.0 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Montreal?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Montreal
Going to Montreal solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Montreal meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- STM Montréal
- Montréal-Trudeau Airport
- BIXI Montréal
- Tourisme Montréal
- McGill University Health Centre
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.