Bell Centre: Guide for Visiting Fans

Transit is the only honest answer here. The Bell Centre is linked to both Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations , both on the Orange Line (Ligne 2) . Lucien-L'Allier station is just 67 metres away — a one-minute walk . The commuter rail (Exo) also stops right there: the Lucien-L'Allier commuter rail terminal is connected directly to the arena . Take it if you're coming from the suburbs. From anywhere downtown, you're already there.

Coming from the airport, STM Line 747 runs between YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport, Lionel-Groulx, and Berri-UQAM Métro stations . Departures run generally every 10 to 20 minutes, all day, in both directions . The fare is $11.25 CAD per person and includes a 24-hour pass for bus, Métro, and commuter rail in Zone A . From Lionel-Groulx you hop the Orange Line two stops east to Lucien-L'Allier. A taxi from YUL to Bell Centre takes about 18 minutes and costs $30–$40 CAD without traffic.

Driving downtown is something you do once and learn from. Parking downtown is a struggle every time , and game nights turn René-Lévesque Boulevard into a slow crawl from the 720 exit. If you must drive, build in 30+ minutes buffer time.

Bell Centre offers parking at 1225 Saint-Antoine Street West. On event days starting at noon, prices range from $20 to $45 CAD, depending on the event . Only credit and debit cards are accepted. Maximum vehicle height is 6'10" on Level A and 6'3" on Level B, and pickup trucks are not allowed during hockey games . The Bell Centre's own underground parking structure costs around C$29 for Canadiens games .

Independent surface lots scattered along Saint-Antoine and de la Montagne tend to run $15–$25 and fill up fast on weekend games. The smart move is to book something on ParkWhiz or SpotHero the week before — you'll get a guaranteed spot and almost certainly a better rate than showing up on foot. Avoid the blocks immediately adjacent to the arena; they're the first to jam on exit. If you park two or three blocks north toward Sainte-Catherine, you'll get out of the neighborhood faster after the game.

The Golden Square Mile and downtown core neighbourhoods — roughly the blocks between René-Lévesque Boulevard to the south and Sherbrooke Street to the north — put you within walking distance of the arena without requiring any plan whatsoever. Le Centre Sheraton Montreal is 0.1 miles from the arena, and the Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain is 0.2 miles away . These are obvious and convenient, though not cheap on game nights. Budget travellers should look at hotels around the Guy-Concordia or Peel Metro stations — five minutes on the Orange Line, significantly more affordable on a Saturday night.

The Quartier des Spectacles and the Village neighbourhoods offer more interesting options for travellers who want to actually see Montreal rather than just sleep near the arena. Everything is reachable by Metro with zero transit anxiety.

1909 Taverne Moderne (Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal) — The official Canadiens bar, boasting what they claim is the largest screen in Canada. Grab a drink and a bite here before the game or stay throughout for an experience that competes with the energy at the Bell Centre itself . It's unapologetically Habs territory, but worth it for the atmosphere alone. Get there early.

Dominion Square Tavern (1243 Metcalfe) — This swanky 1920s bar and restaurant is actually from the roaring twenties, opening as a hotel restaurant in 1927. Find delicious English fare and try the Big Bone Marrow plate as well as the salmon gravlax . A proper pre-game sit-down if you want something with history.

Escondite (multiple downtown locations) — This Mexican eatery has been popular and packed every night since it opened. Try the chipotle and maple chicken wings, pollos hermanos tacos, and the al pastor tacos with pork belly and grilled pineapple . Fast, delicious, and a sane alternative to arena prices.

Nora Gray (1391 Saint-Jacques) — Opened in 2011, Nora Gray serves traditional Italian fare using exclusively the best locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, with fresh handmade pasta, meats grilled over charcoal, and an award-winning wine program that has kept it one of the top restaurants in Canada for nearly 15 years . Book ahead — it fills up fast on game nights.

Backpacks are not allowed at Bell Centre. Only small bags measuring 35cm × 35cm × 15cm (roughly 14" × 14" × 6") or smaller are permitted . This is enforced seriously — even a Fjallraven Kanken bag was turned away at the door , and the bag check at the nearby La Cage restaurant charges around $10 CAD per item. Leave the backpack at the hotel.

Doors typically open 90 minutes before the event starts . For a 7:00 PM puck drop, that means 5:30 PM. The Bell Centre is located at the corner of Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal and de la Montagne — the main public entrance is on Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal. Once you have passed the security check, you won't be able to leave and re-enter , so plan accordingly. Only credit and debit cards are accepted inside — don't count on paying cash at concessions. Mobile ordering is available via the Canadiens app.

Wheelchair-accessible seating with a companion seat is available on Level 100 (the Red section), row N, with direct access to street-level doors. Each ticketholder in a wheelchair can be accompanied by one person . Patrons with functional mobility limitations can contact Bell Centre customer service at 1-877-668-8269 for assistance with ticket purchases .

The arena is linked to both Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations, and is connected to Montreal's underground city , which provides weather-protected, accessible movement between transit and the arena. Elevators serve all seating levels. For specific accessibility needs including assistive listening devices or sensory accommodations, contact Bell Centre in advance through their official site at centrebell.ca.

Bell Centre is arranged in a three-tier layout: the lower 100 section ("the reds"), the 200 section with Club Desjardins premium amenities, and the upper 300 /400 sections. There is no dedicated away section — visiting fans are scattered throughout, though upper sections naturally aggregate more neutral and visiting supporters simply because those tickets are cheaper and easier to get on the secondary market.

If you're seated in the lower bowl, it's a worthy successor to the old Montreal Forum. The views from down there are good and the atmosphere is incredible . If you can stretch to Sections 101–120 (reds), it's worth every dollar. If you're sitting in the upper level, there is a press and suite ring right at eye level of the upper deck, so seats up there can feel claustrophobic and hemmed in . The 200-level Club Desjardins sections (201–224) are worth considering for wider seats, free coat check, access to the Bell Centre Pub, and all-you-can-eat concessions — those extra inclusions largely offset the ticket premium.

Domestic draft beer now runs $13.28 CAD (up ~7% from the prior season), microbrew drafts are $13.75, and imported pints reach $14.80 — these prices are among the highest in the NHL . Concession options include HABSburger, HABSdog, HABS Déli, poutine, Tim Hortons, and the arena's famous Lafleur hot dogs at Le Hot de MTL . The M2 Marché-Montréal food hall features eight food counters with Texas BBQ, tacos, sushi, poutine, and beers on tap — the best concession destination in the building if you want something other than a hot dog.

Montreal is, by any reasonable measure, one of the best hockey road trips in North America — and also one of the loudest buildings to be wearing the wrong jersey in. The crowd is genuinely passionate, mostly civil to visiting fans unless the score is close in the third period, and utterly bilingual in ways that will catch you off guard (the PA and chants switch between French and English without skipping a beat). Bell Centre is one of only two NHL arenas that uses an old-style siren to mark the end of periods instead of a horn — inherited from the Montreal Forum . The first time that siren goes off, you'll understand this place has a different relationship with its own history than almost anywhere else in the league. The one thing to internalize before you go: the atmosphere at Bell Centre, especially for a Hockey Night in Canada game, is electric — this city eats and breathes Canadiens hockey . Come prepared for it.

Metro: The Orange Line is your fastest escape. The problem is that 21,000 people all have the same idea. Lucien-L'Allier station gets absolutely crushed immediately after the final whistle. Wait 20–25 minutes inside or at a nearby bar, and the platform clears considerably. The STM runs extra capacity post-event, so trains come frequently — every 2–3 minutes at peak — but the platform queue itself is the bottleneck, not the trains. Bonaventure station (a 5-minute walk east) is a viable alternative that draws less foot traffic right after games.

Driving: The Saint-Antoine Street exit from the arena lot backs up badly. If you parked off-site to the north, you'll generally reach a moving street faster. Realistically budget 20–35 minutes to clear the immediate blocks around the arena. The 720 on-ramp toward the West Island gets congested; the 10 East toward the Champlain Bridge is usually cleaner post-game.

Rideshare: Surge pricing is real on game nights — expect 1.5x–2x base rates in the first 15–20 minutes after the horn. Walk four or five blocks north toward Sainte-Catherine Street or east toward the Quartier des Spectacles before requesting your ride; pickup time and price both drop meaningfully. Setting your pickup to a cross-street one block off the main drag (rather than directly on Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal) also helps drivers actually reach you.

Opinionated tip: Stay for the last two minutes of play regardless of the score — the Bell Centre experience is most intense at the end — then head directly to a bar one block away, have one drink, and leave. You'll beat 70% of the post-game crowd out of the neighborhood.

What Metro line goes to Bell Centre?

The Orange Line (Ligne 2) serves the arena. The nearest Metro station is Lucien-L'Allier, a one-minute walk away .

How do I get from YUL airport to Bell Centre?

Take STM Line 747 from YUL to Lionel-Groulx or Berri-UQAM Métro stations , then connect to the Orange Line toward Lucien-L'Allier. The 747 fare is $11.25 CAD and includes a 24-hour transit pass . Total trip time is roughly 35–45 minutes.

Can I bring a backpack to Bell Centre? No. Backpacks are not allowed. Only small bags measuring 35cm × 35cm × 15cm or smaller are permitted . Leave your bag at the hotel or use the paid bag check nearby.

What does parking cost at Bell Centre?

On event days, on-site parking ranges from $20 to $45 CAD depending on the event . Independent nearby lots may run slightly less, but book ahead online.

What time do gates open?

Doors typically open 90 minutes before the event starts . For a 7:00 PM game, plan to arrive by 5:30 PM.

Are there good seats for away fans? There's no designated away section. The 200-level Club Desjardins and lower 100-level reds offer the best sightlines. Upper 300/400 sections are affordable but feel tight due to the arena's compact upper-deck design.

Is Bell Centre cashless?

Only credit and debit cards are accepted at the arena's own parking and concessions. Bring a card; cash is not reliably useful inside.

How much does beer cost inside Bell Centre?

Domestic draft beer runs $13.28 CAD at concession stands, with microbrew and imported options climbing to $13.75–$14.80 CAD. Ordering from your seat costs more than going to a concession stand , so walk if you want to save a dollar or two.