Is Montreal Safe in March 2026?

Unauthorized drivers impersonating Uber and Lyft operators position themselves in official ride-share pickup zones at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), sometimes using fake Uber decals on their vehicles or fraudulent taxi dome lights. When passengers approach, the driver claims the app is malfunctioning or the pin does not match — then offers a cash ride instead. The airport authority reported 2,922 illegal taxi incidents in 2025 and launched a formal crackdown in January 2026.

How to avoid: Only approach your ride-share pickup after confirming the license plate, driver name, and car model match exactly what the app shows. Never enter a vehicle whose pin does not match. If a driver claims the app is broken, cancel and request a new driver. Use the official regulated taxi queue at YUL — the flat rate to downtown Montreal is CAD $41.

During the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix weekend in June and other major festivals on Île Notre-Dame and Île Sainte-Hélène, unofficial ticket scalpers sell counterfeit or invalid passes near the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve access gates and at Jean-Drapeau metro station. Tickets appear authentic but fail to scan at the entry gates. Digital ticket screenshots are also sold via social media or Kijiji listings that are duplicated and already used by the time the buyer arrives.

How to avoid: Buy tickets only through the official Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix website or authorised resellers such as Ticketmaster Canada. Verify digital tickets are linked to your own account before arrival. Do not purchase from individuals outside the venue gates regardless of the price offered.

Servers in tourist-heavy areas present payment terminals pre-set to 25-30% tip and quickly flip it away, or list tip calculations based on the pre-tax total plus tax — a double calculation.

How to avoid: Take the terminal yourself and manually select the tip amount. In Quebec, tipping 15% on the pre-tax total is standard. Do not feel pressured by pre-set options.

Some restaurants in the Old Montreal tourist corridor and near the Bell Centre post menus outside with attractive prices, but the final bill includes mandatory service charges, a "tourism surcharge," or charges for bread, water, and table settings that are not disclosed until the bill arrives. Tourists unfamiliar with Quebec restaurant billing — where a 15% tip on the pre-tax total is standard — may be presented a terminal pre-set to calculate the tip on the post-tax total, effectively inflating the tip by 15–20%.

How to avoid: Ask for a full itemized menu before sitting down, including any mandatory charges. Confirm whether water and bread are complimentary. When the payment terminal is presented, manually select "other" or "enter amount" to type in your own tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Walk away from any restaurant that refuses to show you a full menu before seating.

Pickpockets target tourists in crowded areas of Vieux-Montreal, particularly during summer festivals and near the Notre-Dame Basilica. Distraction techniques are commonly used.

How to avoid: Use a money belt or front-pocket wallet. Keep phones in inner jacket pockets. Be especially alert in festival crowds where physical contact is normalized.