Yes, you can get an Opus card, but even if you're a student you won't qualify for student fares here.
I think if you plan to move around in the city you should get an Opus and put blocks of 10 trips onto it. The STM page on fares is a bit confusing, but basically the Opus itself is $6 and each block of 10 trips costs you $22.50. These are only on the island of Montreal.
The Opus works as a transfer, so you can go someplace that involves metro and bus, or multiple buses, paying only one fare. You can't normally go and come back on the same fare.
If you're just visiting the city for fun it's not too likely you'll need to take commuter trains to the suburbs (unless you have relatives or friends to visit, for example) but if you do, the STM site and the AMT site (for commuter trains) will explain the fares. Basically there are zones, and if you're taking the train you check to see which zone your destination is in, and pay accordingly. Maybe someone else can explain here how this works, or doesn't work, with the Opus card.
Oh you're right, I forgot about the $22 weekly thing. That's nicer in a way because you don't have to keep track of how many you've got left. If you think you'll be transiting around a lot it would be a better choice.
Be careful with the weekly pass, because unlike in most other cities, it isn't a 7-day pass that is valid until midnight 7 days after validating it, but it's a monday-sunday type deal, so if you arrive and leave on random middle-of-the-week-days, then you could get shafted of a lot of days on either side
The previous posters got pretty much everything but for the train you can use an Opus card. However you cannot transfer from metro/bus to the train, it isn't the same fare.So you can put train tickets and bus tickets together on it. But I honestly doubt you'll use the train, it basically goes to the suburbs.
If I were in your situation I'd buy the 6 ticket packages without the Opus card. You'll be here in August which means most people just walk to get short distances. Have you looked at the Bixi?
I definitely second taking a look at buying a Bixi pass. You'll be able to enjoy the weather while exploring Montreal. But it depends on where you need to go. For the Bixi, it's $5 pass for the day (valid for 24 hours) but I think you can get a 72 hour pass this year for only $12. Even better would be to buy the monthly pass which is only $28 and you can use it unlimited while your here. I know your only here for two weeks but it would be worth it!
I highly recommend it over using the metro. I'd bixi over metro anyday of the week, even if it's raining. :)
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I think if you plan to move around in the city you should get an Opus and put blocks of 10 trips onto it. The STM page on fares is a bit confusing, but basically the Opus itself is $6 and each block of 10 trips costs you $22.50. These are only on the island of Montreal.
The Opus works as a transfer, so you can go someplace that involves metro and bus, or multiple buses, paying only one fare. You can't normally go and come back on the same fare.
If you're just visiting the city for fun it's not too likely you'll need to take commuter trains to the suburbs (unless you have relatives or friends to visit, for example) but if you do, the STM site and the AMT site (for commuter trains) will explain the fares. Basically there are zones, and if you're taking the train you check to see which zone your destination is in, and pay accordingly. Maybe someone else can explain here how this works, or doesn't work, with the Opus card.
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If I were in your situation I'd buy the 6 ticket packages without the Opus card. You'll be here in August which means most people just walk to get short distances. Have you looked at the Bixi?
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I highly recommend it over using the metro. I'd bixi over metro anyday of the week, even if it's raining. :)
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