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Kirkland, Quebec Travel Guide

Town

A Montreal West Island suburb, Kirkland appeals to day‑trippers for lakeside parks, bike paths along the Rivière des Prairies, small cafés and seasonal markets while serving as a practical stop between city and airport.

Kirkland, Quebec Map data © OpenStreetMap contributorsL'Île-DorvalLac Saint-LouisSennevilleÎle BizardWest IslandCedar Park stationPine Beach stationValois stationL'Île-Bizard, QuebecSainte-Dorothée, QuebecKirkland, Quebec

Kirkland, Quebec essentials

Country: Canada
Driest months: Jan-Mar
Pay in: Dollar ($)
Language: French, English

Where to Go in Kirkland, Quebec

Sight Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Montreal Museum of Fine ArtsMontreal art museum with extensive permanent collections Sight Montréal Insectarium Montréal InsectariumLarge insect museum in Montréal with global entomology exhibits Sight Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal Musée d'art contemporain de MontréalMajor Montreal contemporary art museum with international exhibitions Island Island of Montreal Island of MontrealIsland hosting Montreal city and surrounding municipalities Island Hochelaga Archipelago Hochelaga ArchipelagoArchipelago encompassing Montreal and surrounding river islands Island Nuns' Island Nuns' IslandResidential island in Montreal, mixed housing and parks Island Notre Dame Island Notre Dame IslandMan-made Montreal island hosting parks and the Biosphere History Hochelaga HochelagaFormer Indigenous village site near Montreal Nature Mount Royal Mount RoyalUrban mountain and park overlooking Montreal Nature Lake of Two Mountains Lake of Two MountainsWidening of the Ottawa River near Montreal Nature Kahnawake KahnawakeMohawk First Nations reserve on Saint Lawrence near Montreal Nature Lac Saint-Louis Lac Saint-LouisBroad river widening on the Saint Lawrence near Montreal
Neighbourhoods

Kirkland, Quebec at a Glance

Local Time
6:52 PM
GMT-5
Population
20,491

Costs: Typical daily budget: $60-100 USD - typical Greater Montreal suburb costs; modest dining, groceries, and short transit trips.

Safety: Generally very safe - quiet, family-oriented suburb with low violent crime and routine neighbourhood safety.

Best Time: Best months: May-Sep - pleasant weather and local parks are best from late spring through early fall.

Kirkland is a primarily English-speaking West Island suburb of Montreal with a strong family and corporate community.

Why Visit Kirkland, Quebec?

A leafy suburb on Montreal’s West Island, Kirkland appeals to travelers who want lakeside green space and quick access to the city. Visitors can stroll Lac Saint‑Louis waterfront parks, sample Quebec specialties like poutine and smoked‑meat sandwiches at neighbourhood cafés, and browse independent shops along Boulevard Saint‑Jean. Proximity to Pointe‑Claire village and downtown Montreal makes it an easy base, while community festivals and cycling paths reinforce a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

Best Things to Do in Kirkland, Quebec

When to Go

Best Time to Visit Kirkland, Quebec

Best visited late spring through early fall when Montreal-area weather is warm and parks are green. Winters are long, snowy and cold - plan for heavy heating and limited daylight.

Winter

December - February-20 to -5 °C (-4 to 23 °F)

Long, snowy winters dominate: cold temperatures, icy streets, and great skating nearby - dress warmly and expect short daylight hours.

Spring

March - May0-15 °C (32-59 °F)

Thawing, muddy conditions early then rapid warming; parks bloom and patios reopen - best late spring onward for comfortable sightseeing and cycling.

Summer

June - August15-27 °C (59-81 °F)

Warm, humid days with long daylight, lively patios and festivals; ideal for lakeside activities and day trips, though occasional thunderstorms occur.

Climate

Kirkland, Quebec's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -15°C to 27°C. Moderate rainfall (996 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 33 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
37°
Warmest Month
-41°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -15° - -6° -17° 75 mm overcast 92% 3.9 m/s 0.1 low 9.0h
February Poor -13° - -4° -15° 61 mm overcast 90% 3.8 m/s 0.3 low 10.2h
March Poor -7° - 2° -7° 73 mm partly cloudy 87% 3.9 m/s 0.6 moderate 11.8h
April Acceptable 1° - 10° 3° 80 mm partly cloudy 81% 3.9 m/s 0.9 moderate 13.4h
May Good 8° - 19° 13° 81 mm partly cloudy 79% 3.6 m/s 1.3 high 14.7h
June Very Good 13° - 24° 18° 91 mm partly cloudy 79% 3.3 m/s 1.6 very high 15.4h
July Excellent 16° - 27° 21° 92 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.0 m/s 1.6 very high 15.1h
August Very Good 15° - 26° 20° 93 mm partly cloudy 74% 2.8 m/s 1.4 high 13.9h
September Very Good 10° - 20° 15° 90 mm partly cloudy 75% 3.1 m/s 1.0 moderate 12.4h
October Acceptable 4° - 13° 7° 84 mm overcast 81% 3.4 m/s 0.4 low 10.8h
November Poor -2° - 6° -2° 94 mm overcast 86% 3.7 m/s 0.2 low 9.4h
December Poor -10° - -2° -12° 82 mm overcast 91% 3.9 m/s 0.1 low 8.6h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Kirkland, Quebec

Kirkland is a suburban West Island town of Montreal; Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) is the main arrival airport. Public transit access is bus-first-expect to transfer from metro or commuter-rail hubs onto STM/Exo buses to reach local addresses.

By Air

Montréal-Trudeau International (YUL): YUL is the principal airport for Kirkland and the West Island. From YUL you can take a taxi or ride‑share to Kirkland (approximately 20-35 minutes depending on traffic; taxis typically CAD 35-55). Public transit requires taking an STM bus from the airport to the Côte-Vertu metro or bus network and transferring to West Island buses (see below).

Montréal-Mirabel (YMX) / small airports: Mirabel no longer handles regular passenger flights; commercial arrivals for the Montreal region are at YUL. For private flights or charters check local operators.

By Train & Bus

Train / Commuter rail: Kirkland is on the Island of Montreal and is primarily served by STM buses rather than commuter rail. The nearest commuter-rail hubs are in Vaudreuil-Hudson line stations toward the western Island - check Exo schedules for services to nearby towns.

Bus: The STM and Exo bus networks serve Kirkland from Côte-Vertu metro (Orange Line) and other West Island hubs. Single-ride STM fares are CAD 3.85 (or use OPUS card); regional Exo buses connect to the West Island from downtown Montreal and suburbs with longer trip times (30-60 minutes depending on origin).

How to Get Around Kirkland, Quebec

The best way to get around Kirkland is by STM/Exo bus for public transport and taxi or car for door-to-door convenience. Walking and cycling work well for short local trips; plan transfers through Côte-Vertu metro for links to Montreal.

  • STM buses (CAD 3.85 (single)) - Kirkland is covered by STM bus routes that link to Côte-Vertu metro (Orange Line) and other West Island hubs. Buses are frequent during peak hours but can be slower off-peak; use the STM website or apps for route planning and schedules.
  • Exo regional buses (CAD 6-10+) - Exo operates regional routes serving the West Island from downtown Montreal and neighbouring suburbs. These are useful for longer commutes and connections; fares are higher than STM and depend on zones.
  • Taxi / Ride-hail (CAD 25-60) - Taxis and services like Uber operate across the West Island for direct door-to-door travel-convenient for airport transfers or late-night trips when buses are infrequent. Expect typical fares from YUL to Kirkland around CAD 35-55 depending on traffic.
  • Cycling - Kirkland is fairly bike-friendly with local bike lanes and quiet residential streets. Short commutes by bike are practical in good weather-watch for winter conditions which make cycling less reliable.
  • Walking - Kirkland’s residential layout makes walking practical for short errands and neighbourhood visits; the town centre and parks are accessible on foot.

Where to Stay in Kirkland, Quebec

Budget

Dorval / Pointe-Claire (nearby) - CAD 80-160/night

Kirkland itself has few hotels; most stay near Montréal-Trudeau airport or Pointe-Claire for budget options and easy city access.

Aloft Montreal Airport - Budget-friendly near the airport.

Fairfield by Marriott Montreal Airport - Simple, reliable chain hotel.

Mid-Range

Pointe-Claire / Dorval - CAD 140-220/night

Mid-range options cluster by the airport and in Pointe-Claire - convenient for West Island business and Montreal access.

Delta Hotels (Montreal Airport area) - Comfortable full-service hotel option.

Hilton Garden Inn Montreal Airport - Good mid-range choice near airport.

Luxury

Downtown Montreal - CAD 250+/night

For true luxury, stay downtown Montreal (20-30 minutes). Kirkland lacks premium hotels but downtown offers full-service luxury.

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (Montreal) - Upscale downtown Montreal hotel.

The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal - High-end historic luxury downtown.

Eat & Drink

Where to Eat in Kirkland, Quebec

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Kirkland, Quebec’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza
Burger
Sushi
Sandwich
Chicken
Kebab
Greek
Chinese
Breakfast
Italian
Thai
Indian
Barbecue
Mexican
Steak House
Bagel
Lebanese
Poke
Seafood
Ice Cream

Shopping in Kirkland, Quebec

Shopping is typical suburban fare: strip malls, supermarkets and a handful of service shops. You’ll find everyday chains and a few independent businesses rather than a tourist market or specialty shopping district.