ziptravel

I'm looking into getting this trip setup, so these are options.

Toronto (4days) Red-eye and then early bird return.
Toronto and Montreal (3days Toronto, 2days Montreal) 6 days total.

So for the flight, I have been checking Air Canada and I see flights going for $600usd

I could go in winter but not sure if that is much better.
I would travel solo from PNW

So total budget should be:
$700 flight
$1100 hotel
$700 food
$300 transportation
$200 museums / attractions

if there any ideas for things to see, day trips by rail, and places to dine. That would help.

CubanWaters

Neither Montreal or Toronto are at their best in the winter months. Know what you are getting into.

How do you plan on getting to Montreal from Toronto? or

You will have to fly into one city and out the other with the amount of time that you have.
Both cities will take up your allotted time, no need for any day trips.

ziptravel

From Toronto to Montreal I understood I could go with Train or Flight. Bus might take a while.
Not sure on how much a flight would be, I imagine train doesn't cost that much.

Hmmm if Winter is no go, then Spring I would have to consider, though Spring appears to be more pricey, maybe because that is a peak season.

BC_Robyn

Spring isn't peak season in Montreal or Toronto. Summer is. Spring arrives late to both cities - May is when spring starts to arrive there. April and March can still be months where the trees lack any greenery, too early for spring flowers, and sometimes it can still snow then too. I mean, winter isn't the worst time to be there if all you intend to do are indoor activities. The cities thrive with nightlife, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. What you miss in the winter (and spring) months are the big outdoor festivals and vibrant patios and folks enjoying the parks. The cities really come alive outdoors in June, July, August, and September. But if you're content to mostly remain indoors in the winter, go in the winter. It's cheaper then. Of course, with winter comes shorter daylight hours whereas in the summer months, it stays light out until 9-10pm. In the winter, it gets dark by 4-5pm. But that's why those cities have such vibrant nightlife and restaurant scenes - people want to stay cozy indoors when it's dark and cold outside.

I should also say, spring in Montreal and Toronto is very different compared to the PNW. I live in Vancouver, which has a PNW climate. We're used to spring flowers starting in February or March. In Montreal and Toronto, the month of May can feel like early March in the PNW, and March and April in Toronto and Montreal will feel like January and February in the PNW. So if you want green leaves on the trees and flowers, I wouldn't go any earlier than late May. My first time in Montreal was in May and it felt like I went back in time several months!

Of course, if you visit Montreal or Toronto in the summer, you're dealing with sticky humidity, the kind you get in NYC and Chicago. It's not the dry heat you get in the PNW.

CubanWaters

Quite an accurate post by BC Robin

Between Toronto and Montréal in the order of quickest/costliest to slowest/cheapest -- Flight,train then bus.

For just six days I would pick either Montréal or Toronto. Not both.

dalemartindale

Both Toronto and Montreal have good day trip suggestions. Toronto has Niagara Falls and Montreal has Mont Tremblant.
Toronto has better beaches and Montreal better history/architexture.

zebec

Bang-on advice above, Zip.
We live in Toronto. My wife is from Montreal and I worked throughout Quebec during the seventies.
Def consider one or the other, not both with your time frame.
Unless one was a winter sport enthusiast, neither city would be at their best during deep winter.
As well, grizzlies tend to favor winter for foraging in downtown Toronto.
My advice for each of those two cities: spring or fall.
Speaking of fall, if it might help, below is our Montreal/Tremblant TR.
Bonne chance

I am done. the grizzly
En Pays Quebecois: a Montreal/Mt. Tremblant TR avec fotos

curiousgeo

Great advice to visit one or the other though that decision depends on your personal itinerary. We’ve been to both Montreal and Toronto, great cities. I prefer Montreal just because of its European vibe and history, but plan to return to both in a year or two.

In Toronto we did the typical tourist things, Yorkville, U Toronto, Kensington Market, Chinatown, and the St. Lawrence Market. Next time I want to attend a Blue Jays game.

Montreal was the same, Old Town, Mt. Royale, the Plateau, Jean Talon market. Great food in both cities!!! You’ll have a wonderful time whatever you decide.