Car parking questions keep cropping up every now and then, so here are a few addresses of covered parking lots in downtown area to help first-time visitors.  Most people assume that parking in downtown area is very difficult and also very expensive. Actually there are quite a few parking lots, both open air and covered, and there is no problem if you know where to park.  During the daytime and for short term (a few hours) parking in open air parking lots is OK and there are at least more than a dozen within one km. i.e., between AtWater and St-Denis.  However, it is  not safe to park in the open air parking lots during the night, because there is no attendant.

There are a few covered parking lots which are not so expensive when compared to the parking rates of other major cities of North America. 

1. At the corner of Ste. Catherine and Rue Lambert-Closse - under the old forum which is now AMC cinema they charge C$10.00 per 24 hours. 

Phone: (514) 932-0000 ext. 111 to verify.

2. On Mckay Street between Ste. Catherine and Boul. de Maisonneuve there is another similar lot with same rates.

3. On Boul. Rene Levesque and corner of St. Mathieu Street there is another underground parking lot that belongs to Nouvele Hotel and their  rates are also the same as above.

4. On Jeanne Mance Street at the corner of St. Catherine Street right under the Hyatt Regency Hotel building there is one more and they charge  $20.00 per night. During the Jazz Festival, this parking lot charges about C $25.00 per night.  So be careful and check the rates before parking there. Most weekends are at a much lower rate.

5. On Berri Street between Boul. de Maisonneuve and Ontario, there's parking under the new library Bibliothèque nationale, for $10 per 24 hours. 

6. In the Quartier International, close to the W, Intercontinental, and St. James hotels: from Saint-Antoine street turn left on Saint-Alexandre (just past Square Victoria) and there's parking under the CDP Building -- 1,300 spaces, security cameras, access to the underground tunnels, and even car wash available. $17 for 24h.

Montreal is a very safe city with a very low crime rate. However, it is not free from car thefts and vandalism, therefore when you park on the streets or in open air parking lots make sure you empty out your car: don't leave any suitcases, bags or boxes (even empty ones) visible, as this may attract someone to break in or smash the window of your car.