Dorval Travel Guide

City City in Quebec near Montreal

Adjacent to Montreal’s Trudeau Airport and set on Lac Saint‑Louis, Dorval serves as transit hub and quiet lakeside stop. Visitors stroll lakeside parks, dine at seafood restaurants on the waterfront and explore small marinas and 19th‑century villa streets.

Costs

Mid-range traveler: $80-150 per day

Airport hotels or Montreal transit costs dominate budgets.

Safety

Generally safe and residential

Typical North American suburban safety; take normal precautions.

Best Time

May-September (pleasant weather)

Warm months best for nearby parks and short city visits.

In This Guide

Why Visit Dorval?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

18,980

Infrastructure & Convenience

Excellent airport access, commuter rail and bus links to Montreal.

Popularity

Not a tourist destination; busy as a transit and commuter area.

Known For

Montreal-Trudeau Airport, commuter suburb, waterfront parks, business parks, golf courses, Île Dorval access, suburban services, proximity to Montreal

Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is located in Dorval, making the city a major air-transport hub for Montreal.

Why Visit Dorval? #

Situated on the shores of Lake Saint-Louis and just west of Montreal, this suburb mixes waterfront leisure with easy city access. The Montréal-Trudeau airport dominates transport links, while Old Dorval village and the marina offer promenades, cafés and heritage buildings. Day-trippers use Dorval as a quiet base for sailing and bike routes along the lake, with rapid connections into Montreal’s museums, restaurants and nightlife.

Top Things to Do in Dorval

All Attractions ›

Old Montreal

Historic district with cobblestone streets and colonial architecture

Area

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Montreal art museum with extensive permanent collections

Museum

Montréal Insectarium

Large insect museum in Montréal with global entomology exhibits

Museum

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal

Major Montreal contemporary art museum with international exhibitions

Museum

Olympic Stadium (Montreal)

1976 Olympic stadium notable for its inclined tower

Stadium

Island of Montreal

Island hosting Montreal city and surrounding municipalities

Island

Notre-Dame Basilica (Montreal)

Gothic Revival basilica famous for ornate interior and acoustics

Church

Mount Royal

Urban mountain and park overlooking Montreal

Mountain

Don't Miss

Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) - See airport terminals and art installations while transferring or observing flight operations.
Dorval Harbour and waterfront parks - Walk Dorval Harbour's waterfront parks and marinas for peaceful vistas and yacht views.
Dorval Yacht Club - Visit Dorval Yacht Club area for boating activity and seasonal regattas on Lac Saint-Louis.

Hidden Gems

Île Dorval access - Catch a short trip to Île Dorval for private-island atmosphere and quiet shoreline walks.
Local farmers' markets - Browse seasonal farmers' markets for Quebec cheeses, preserves, and freshly baked goods.
Dorval heritage trails - Follow Dorval heritage trails to historic houses and interpretive plaques about early settlers.

Day Trips

Downtown Montreal - Quick trip into downtown Montreal for museums, Old Montreal, and the Old Port waterfront.
Lachine Canal and Griffintown - Explore the Lachine Canal bike paths, cafés, and historic industrial architecture nearby.

Best Time to Visit Dorval #

Dorval sees its best weather in summer (June-August) for outdoor events and warm days. Winters are long, cold and snowy - expect frozen conditions and plan for warm clothing and possible delays.

Summer

June - August · 15-27°C (59-81°F)

Warm, muggy summers are lively with festivals and decent lake weather; bring sun protection and expect occasional thunderstorms and humidity.

Autumn

September - November · 0-12°C (32-54°F)

Brisk, colourful fall days ideal for drives and orchard visits; earlier nights and variable rain mean layers and waterproof shoes are handy.

Winter

December - February · -15--5°C (5-23°F)

Long, cold, snowy winters with frequent freezes; great for skating and winter festivals but expect travel delays and heavy outerwear requirements.

Best Time to Visit Dorval #

Climate

Dorval's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -14°C to 27°C. Moderate rainfall (984 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustJune

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

37°

Warmest Month

-41°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of -5°C and lows of -14°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

31 Poor

Comfort

-10°

Feels Like Freezing

-10°C

Temperature

-14° – -5°

92%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

73 mm

Rainfall

4.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

9.0h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -13°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

35 Poor

Comfort

-8°

Feels Like Freezing

-8°C

Temperature

-13° – -4°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

61 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.2h daylight

March

March is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

39 Poor

Comfort

-2°

Feels Like Freezing

-2°C

Temperature

-7° – 2°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

74 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

1° – 10°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

82 mm

Rainfall

4.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

13.4h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

66 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

8° – 19°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

78 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.3

UV Index

High

14.7h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

76 Very Good

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Mild

18°C

Temperature

13° – 24°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

86 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.6

UV Index

Very High

15.4h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. The wettest month with 93 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.

82 Excellent

Comfort

21°

Feels Like Mild

21°C

Temperature

16° – 27°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

93 mm

Rainfall

3.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.6

UV Index

Very High

15.1h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

20°

Feels Like Mild

20°C

Temperature

15° – 26°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

92 mm

Rainfall

2.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.4

UV Index

High

13.9h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 20°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

91 mm

Rainfall

3.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.0

UV Index

Moderate

12.4h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

52 Acceptable

Comfort

9°

Feels Like Cold

9°C

Temperature

4° – 13°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

80 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

10.8h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

42 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-1° – 6°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

92 mm

Rainfall

3.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.4h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of -2°C and lows of -10°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

33 Poor

Comfort

-6°

Feels Like Freezing

-6°C

Temperature

-10° – -2°

91%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

82 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.6h daylight

How to Get to Dorval

Dorval is dominated by Montréal‑Trudeau airport - getting in and out of Montreal is straightforward by the 747 airport bus, commuter rail (Exo) and taxis. For local travel into Montreal use STM/Exo services or a taxi for door-to-door convenience.

By Air

Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL): The airport is located in Dorval itself (officially in the city of Dorval). From the terminals you can reach downtown Montreal via the 747 Express bus, taxis, ride‑share or the Dorval Exo commuter rail station (a short shuttle/taxi to the station).

Nearby airports: YUL is the main commercial airport serving the area; Montréal Saint‑Hubert (YHU) is a smaller option for limited traffic.

By Train & Bus

Train: Dorval station is served by Exo commuter trains on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line, providing a direct rail link to downtown Montreal (Lucien‑L’Allier) and other suburbs. Station access from the airport requires a short shuttle, taxi or a walk depending on terminal.

Bus: The 747 Express bus links YUL and central Montreal with a flat fare that includes a 24‑hour STM pass option; local STM buses also serve Dorval and nearby areas for short trips.

How to Get Around Dorval #

Dorval is a compact suburb of Montreal and easy to navigate by car; public transport options include Exo commuter trains at Dorval station and STM/Exo buses that connect to neighbouring areas. Montréal-Trudeau Airport sits partly within Dorval, making the city convenient for air travel. For short trips around town, walking or cycling works well in the centre; taxis and rideshare services operate, especially near the airport and train station.

Where to Stay in Dorval #

Budget

Dorval / Montreal-Trudeau Airport - CAD 80-160/night

Most budget choices are airport or business-targeted chain hotels - practical for short stays or early flights rather than sightseeing.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Montreal Airport - Budget-friendly, airport shuttle available.
Super 8 by Wyndham Montreal Airport - Basic, near the airport terminals.

Mid-Range

Airport zone - CAD 140-220/night

Comfortable airport hotels with good transport links to Montreal; expect reliable amenities and easy access to the terminal or shuttle services.

Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel - Directly linked to the terminal, convenient.
Hilton Garden Inn Montreal Airport - Modern rooms, shuttle service to airport.

Luxury

Airport vicinity - CAD 200-350/night

High-end airport hotels with spacious rooms and business facilities; few true city-centre luxury options in Dorval itself.

Hilton Montreal Airport - Full-service hotel with meeting facilities.
Crowne Plaza Montreal Airport (nearby) - Upscale services, business amenities.

Where to Eat in Dorval #

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Dorval's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza

Burger

Sandwich

Sushi

Chicken

Italian

Chinese

Greek

Indian

Breakfast

Lebanese

Kebab

Vietnamese

Korean

Thai

Barbecue

Japanese

Mexican

Asian

Fries

Nightlife in Dorval #

Dorval’s nightlife is limited and functional, focused on hotel bars, airport-area restaurants and a handful of local pubs. The town doesn’t have a large late-night entertainment scene; most evening activity is dining-oriented. For a broader selection of bars and live music, downtown Montreal is the nearest option.

Shopping in Dorval #

Shopping in Dorval is practical and suburban: you’ll find local retailers, grocery stores and a few dining strips serving residents and travellers. For major malls and a wider retail selection, nearby Montreal neighbourhoods and shopping centres are easy to reach by train or car. Airport-area shops and services also cover travel needs if you’re in town for a short stay.