Moncton

Moncton is a city in Southeastern New Brunswick, Canada. It is located inland of the Bay of Fundy and Acadian Coast. Moncton has a population of about 72,000 (2016), with a metropolitan population of about 145,000 (2016), making it both the largest city and the largest metropolitan city in New Brunswick. Moncton and neighbouring Dieppe will host the 2021 Francophonie Games.

Moncton sunset

Understand

Moncton
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       109     −3 −13       81     −2 −13       103     3 −7       90     9 −1       99     17 5       93     22 10       100     25 14       76     24 13       92     19 8       100     13 3       97     6 −2       106     −1 −9 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm See the Moncton 7-day forecast at Environment Canada
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       4.3     27 9       3.2     28 9       4.1     37 19       3.5     48 30       3.9     63 41       3.7     72 50       3.9     77 57       3     75 55       3.6     66 46       3.9     55 37       3.8     43 28       4.2     30 16 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Get in

By car

From the US:

• I-95 through Maine to the Trans-Canada Route 2, through Fredericton to Moncton.
• Route 9 (through Maine) to Route 1 (Canada) through St. Stephen, Saint John and up to Moncton.

From Quebec:

• Route 185 to Edmundston, and then down the Trans-Canada Route 2 to Moncton.

By plane

• 🌍 Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM  ^IATA). located on Route 15 to Shediac in the Dieppe Industrial Park.  

Airlines serving Greater Moncton:

• Air Canada Express - (Halifax, Montreal, Toronto)
• WestJet - (Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Calgary)
• United Express - (Newark)
• Porter - (Toronto, Ottawa)

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ ^IATA) is located 2 hours away in Nova Scotia with many more direct and non-stop flights to other cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

By train

• The Moncton Via Rail Station is located on Main Street near the intersection with Vaughn Harvey Blvd. Rail service runs 6 days a week to Halifax and Montréal on train "The Ocean". From Montreal, it's 3 times/week (around 6:45PM, $130-523 with tax, 17 hr).

By bus

Only Maritimebus serves Moncton and the Maritime area (NB, PEI, NS).

• If you are coming from Montreal, you have to take Orleans Express to Rivière-du-Loup (7/day, $79 with tax, 5-7 hr) and after Maritime Bus to Moncton (2/day, $82 without tax, 8 hr)
• from Halifax (NS), 2/day, $49 plus tax, 4hr 30min
• from Charlottetown (PEI), 2/day (8:15AM, 12:50PM), $33.75 plus tax, 3hr20min

Get around

Moncton is pretty easy to get around. There are two main streets into the city: the Trans-Canada and Wheeler Boulevard, connecting both ends of town.

Main Street and downtown Moncton are equally easy to navigate; signs are posted to all the main attractions.

Codiac Transit serves the greater Moncton area 7 days a week (limited schedule on Sundays), from around 7AM to 10PM. Fare is $2.25, and free transfers are available to let you reach your destination even if you have to change bus. A bus circles every hour or so, excepted the Express which is on a 15-minute run, from the Champlain Mall to the Northwest Centre.

See

Magnetic Hill

• 🌍 Magnetic Hill Optical Illusion. Located in Magnetic Hill Attraction Park. A gravity hill, a type of optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain, in which it appears that cars roll uphill when in neutral gear. $5 per car entry. (updated May 2017)
• 🌍 Resurgo Place - Moncton Museum and the Transportation Discovery Centre, 20 Mountain Road, Moncton, ☎ [phone]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM; closed on public holidays. Houses a permanent exhibit on the history of Moncton and travelling exhibits. Entry is free of charge. The Transportation Discovery Centre features an array of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities about shipbuilding, railway and aviation, ehich have played a major role in the development of Moncton as a city and as a commercial centre since the early 19th century. Adult (18+) $10, Senior (60+) $8, Youth (12-17) $7, Children (4-11) $5, Toddler (3 and under) free. (updated May 2017)
• Moncton Acadian Museum, Pavillon Clément-Cormier, 405 avenue de l’Université (at the Université de Moncton), ☎ [phone]. Jun-Sep: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 1PM-5PM; Oct-May: Tu-F 1:30PM-4:30PM, Sa Su 1PM-4PM. 35,000 objects and photographs representing all aspects of Acadian life. The permanent exhibition gives visitors a glimpse into the history of the Acadians and the daily life of the Acadians of the past through a range of objects on display. The temporary exhibition room offers travelling exhibitions from different museums and exhibitions from the collection of MAUM. Adults $5, seniors $3, students and children $2 plus tax, children under 6 free. CAA/AAA 10% discount. (updated May 2017)
• Tidal Bore Park - toward the east end of Main Street in downtown Moncton has amphitheatre-style seating for bore viewing. The tidal bore happens when the Bay of Fundy rising tide brings water counter to the normal flow of Petitcodiac river. The once-famous thundering flow has been reduced to a 6-inch ripple by nearby causeway, but still an unusual sight when it is visible. An electronic display board at the park, or the folks at the city's information booth on Main St, can tell you when to see this phenomenon, which occurs twice a day.
• Magnetic Hill Winery, 860 Front Mountain Rd., ☎ [phone]. May 18-Sep 2: daily 11AM-6 PM; Sep 3-Dec 24: daily 1PM-5PM; Jan-May: closed, Call for appointment. Estate-grown strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and local New Brunswick grapes, blueberry, cranberry, apple, pear and maple vinted here in the cellar. Panoramic view of Moncton down to the Chocolate River and the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. Gift shop full of wine accessories, artisan maple syrup products, jams. Stay at their B&B as old as Canada and be treated to a homemade, country breakfast with the owners sharing stories and hints for your travelling plans. (updated May 2017)
• 🌍 Centennial Park, 811 St George Blvd, Moncton. Centennial Park offers a large outdoor playground for kids and a water playground (summer only). In the lower section of the park you can rent paddle boats on the artificial lake and visit the island in the centre of the lake. On weekends you can catch many locals enjoying the sun and picnics. There is also an outdoor pool/beach which charges admission. Centennial Park also offers many wooded walking and biking trails which serve as cross country ski trails in the winter. free. 

Do

Tidal bore

• Parlee Beach, Shediac. A beautiful beach on the Northumberland Strait. Be alert as swimming warnings for fecal bacteria are common and updated weekly.
• Plage Aboiteau Beach, Cap-Pele. A much less crowded alternative to Parlee Beach. Parking is $5 during summer months.
• Magnetic Hill Zoo. At the Magnetic Hill Attraction Park. Magnetic Hill Zoo houses more than 400 animals, including over 100 indigenous and exotic species. Birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and fish find a comfortable and safe home in this 40 acres (16 hectares) park.
• Magic Mountain. Water park located in the Magnetic Hill Attraction Park.
• Poley Mountain. Biking in the summer, skiing and snowboarding in the winter located in Sussex, a 50-minute drive from Moncton.
• Lakeside Golf Club, Shediac Road.
• Magnetic Hill Golf Club, on Mountain Road across from McDonald's.
• Moncton Golf & Country Club, Riverview, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Apr 2016)
• Capitol Theatre, Main St. Catch a show at the oldest theatre in New Brunswick.
• Empress Theatre, Main St.
• MacSweeny's Dinner Theatre, Main Street above Club Cosmo.
• Irishtown Nature Park. Largest urban nature park (2,200 acres (890 hectares)). Drive north on Elmwood Drive.
• TreeGO Moncton is open daily during the summer months, and is located in Centennial Park
• Casino New Brunswick (Casino New - Nouveau Brunswick), 21 Casino Drive, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 

Buy

• Trinity Power Centre, off Wheeler Blvd at Mountain Road. Has the usual big box stores.
• Champlain Mall. Largest single-storey mall in Eastern Canada. Located in Dieppe on Paul Street. Wal-Mart, Cineplex, Chapters Books.
• North West Centre, Mountain Road. Formerly Moncton Mall.
• Downtown Moncton. Main Street and Saint George Urban Quarters has many boutiques and shops.

Eat

Moncton claims to have some of the finest cuisine in Atlantic Canada:

• Pastalli Ristorante, 611 Main St. Italian cuisine, grill your own gourmet garlic bread. 
• Catch 22, 589 Main St., ☎ [phone]. Daily 4PM-10PM. Excellent seafood, steaks, pasta. Mains $15-50. (updated May 2017)
• Graffiti, Main St. Greek cuisine.
• Pump House Brewery, 5 Orange Lane (off Main Street), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Microbrewery -- try the Muddy River Stout! Not to miss: brick oven pizza (crust is infused with beer). Order the beer sampler to try the various types of beer brewed on site. (updated Apr 2016)
• Cafe Archibald, 221 Mountain Rd. At Archibald intersection. Intimate cafe with great service where meal and dessert crêpes are a specialty. 
• Little Louis: fine cuisine at its best, this may be city's best hidden secret.
• Hynes, a diner-style restaurant with very good home cooking. The best burgers.
• Vitos, an inexpensive but excellent pizzeria.
• Calactus, 125 Church St. (near St. George St.), ☎ [phone]. Daily 11AM-10PM. Vegetarian restaurant. (updated May 2017)
• Zen Gardens, Mountain Rd. Unique Asian vegetarian restaurant.
• Taj Mahal Flavour of India, 882 Main St., ☎ [phone]. M-F 11:30 AM-10 PM, Sa 4-10 PM. Indian, mughlai, and tandoori cuisine. First family-owned and -operated Indian restaurant in Moncton, since 2003. $6-15. 
• Mexicali Rosas. Very good Mexican cuisine. 

Drink

• Old Triangle, 751 Main St, ☎ [phone]. Irish pub. 
• Pumphouse Brewery, 131 Mill Road, ☎ [phone]. (updated Apr 2016)
• St. James' Gate, 14 Church St, ☎ [phone]. Good food and spirits, an awesome place to have a drink. 
• Oxygen Complex, 125 Westmorland, ☎ [phone]. Has two other venues in the complex: the Paramount Lounge & tge Manhattan. Great place for live bands. 
• Cosmo, 700 Main st, ☎ [phone]. All kinds of events go on here. New and fun: jam nights on Thursdays- starts at 10:30PM. 
• Zen Garden. Biggest selection of tea. Healthy drinks 
• Navigator's Pub, 191 Robinson Street (Entrance in Robinson Court), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. noon to 2AM. Irish-style pub. Bilingual staff, draft special. 
• Triangles, 234 St George, ☎ [phone]. Gay and lesbian bar. Dance floor, cheap drinks, pool tables. (updated Apr 2016)

Sleep

• 🌍 C'mon Inn Hostel, 47 Fleet Street, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. dorm $27.50/night+tax, private room $65/night +$10 key deposit. 
• Delta Beausejour, Main Street. In the heart of downtown, close to restaurants and pubs. Some rooms have views of the Petitcodiac. Indoor pool with the largest waterslide in the Maritimes. $151-$272 per night.
• Crowne Plaza Hotel, Main St. across from Highfield.
• Rodd Moncton, Main St. $90-$168. Rooftop pool during summer months.
• Chateau Moncton, independent hotel modeled after a chateau, located on the Petitcodiac River on Main Street. Many rooms have excellent views of the river, which is steps away.
• Best Western, located on Lewisville Road.
• Super 8, located in Dieppe and within walking distance from the Airport.
• Comfort Inn. 
• Lewisville Road, Shediac Rd, Lewisville.
• Holiday Inn, Mountain Rd.
• Marriott Residence Inn, Main St. $166-$255 per night.
• 🌍 Howard Johnson Inn Moncton, 1062 Mountain Road, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 GoMotel.ca (formerly the Johnson Lake Motel), 1650 Main St, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 3PM-8PM (closed after 8PM). Bilingual, credit card only $90 offseason. (updated Apr 2016)

Connect

• Moncton Public Library, 644 Main St, hours: 10AM-5/9PM, Wifi+shared computer
• Starbuck on Main st/Church st (wifi & plug)
• Moncton has blanket Wi-Fi in many areas (including Main St, City Hall Plaza, Assomption Plaza, Riverfront Park): http://www.moncton.ca/wifi/

Nearby

Hopewell Rocks at low tide

• 🌍 Hopewell Rocks. Walk on the ocean floor thanks to the Bay of Fundy's high tides (second highest in the world.) Truly a fabulous sight. Bring your camera. Check the website for the low-tide time, and get there within three hours on either side of low tide to see the islands best. (Kayaking is available if the tide's high.) A nice 10-minute walk through the woods takes you to a large stairwell to the ocean floor, where you can easily walk among a half-dozen enormous (more than 30 m high) columns of fir tree-topped sandstone islands. A golf-cart shuttle can whisk you back to the park information facility, which features a good explanation of how the islands came to be, a snack bar and gift shop. The ride from Moncton is about 45 minutes. Entrance to Fundy National Park is another 30 minutes but definitely worthwhile in good weather. Mid-May to early Oct: Adult $10, senior/student $8, child 5-18 $7.50, small child free, family $25.50 (taxes included). Off-season, no charge (enter at your own risk). (updated May 2017)

Go next

Moncton is often described as the Hub of the Maritime Provinces. It is within 2 hours drive of:

• Fredericton - historic capital of New Brunswick.
• Bay of Fundy - Fundy National Park offers great hiking and camping.
• Saint John - Oldest incorporated city in Canada with various attractions such as Reversing Falls.
• Prince Edward Island
• Many sites in Nova Scotia. Halifax is 2½ hours drive east of Moncton.

Routes through Moncton

Rimouski ← Miramichi ←	W  E	→ Amherst → Halifax
Fredericton ← Gagetown ← Jct W ←	W  E	→ Sackville and Aulac → Truro
END ←	W  E	→ Shédiac → Jct W E