Montreux sits on the north-eastern shore of Lake Geneva, facing the French Alps across the water, and has drawn visitors since the 19th century. It is compact, well connected by train and easy to cover in a weekend. This two-day plan works for most of the year; notes on seasonal variations are at the end.
Day one, morning: the lakeside promenade
Start on the Quai de Montreux, the flower-lined promenade that runs along the lake through the town centre. Its best-known landmark is the statue of Freddie Mercury, facing the lake near the covered market (Marché couvert). The Queen singer spent long periods in Montreux in his last years, and the band owned the Mountain Studios here.
The promenade continues south-east towards Territet and Veytaux. The walk from the centre to Chillon Castle along the lake takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour at an easy pace, passing gardens, villas and old grand hotels from the Belle Époque, when Montreux was one of Europe's fashionable resorts.
Day one, late morning: Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle stands on a rocky island just off the shore at Veytaux, between Montreux and Villeneuve. It is the most visited historic monument in Switzerland. The castle's origins go back to the Middle Ages, when it controlled the road between northern Europe and the Great St Bernard Pass; it was later held by the Counts of Savoy and then by the Bernese.
Lord Byron visited in 1816 and wrote The Prisoner of Chillon about François Bonivard, who was imprisoned in the castle's vaulted underground chambers; a name said to be Byron's is carved on one of the dungeon pillars. Allow at least two hours for the visit. Tickets and current hours are on chillon.ch; buying in advance is useful in summer. If you don't want to walk back, buses and regional trains connect Chillon with Montreux, and in summer the lake boats stop there too.
Day one, afternoon: Queen: The Studio Experience
Back in town, Queen: The Studio Experience is inside the Casino Barrière Montreux, in the space where the band's Mountain Studios were located. It displays the control room, instruments, handwritten lyrics and costumes, and is run in support of the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Entry is free, and it is open daily from 9:00 to 21:00 — confirm before visiting, as hours can change. Allow an hour.
Day two, morning: Rochers-de-Naye
The cog railway from Montreux station climbs to Rochers-de-Naye at about 2,000 metres in under an hour, via Glion and Caux. From the top there are views over Lake Geneva and across to the Alps on clear days. In summer, an alpine garden near the summit station displays mountain plants from around the world, and marmots are kept in an enclosure. In winter the top offers walks and sledging when snow conditions allow.
The railway is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass with a discount, and Half Fare Card holders pay half. If you prefer not to go so high, the short funicular-and-train trip to Glion or Caux gives excellent views of the lake from the old grand hotel terraces.
Day two, afternoon: the Lavaux vineyards
West of Montreux, the Lavaux terraced vineyards stretch for about 30 kilometres between Montreux and Lausanne. Developed from the Middle Ages, largely by monasteries, the stone-walled terraces were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. Regional trains stop at villages such as Cully, Epesses and Rivaz; the slower line through the vineyards (the "Train des Vignes") between Vevey and Puidoux-Chexbres climbs through the terraces.
A popular walk runs between Saint-Saphorin and Lutry or a shorter section between Rivaz and Cully along marked paths through the vines. Village wine cellars (caveaux) open for tastings, mostly from spring to autumn; opening days vary, so check before you go.
On the way, Vevey is worth a stop: the Charlie Chaplin statue on the lakefront, the giant fork standing in the lake in front of the Alimentarium food museum, and nearby Chaplin's World in Corsier-sur-Vevey, the house where Chaplin spent his final 25 years.
Seasonal notes
- July: the Montreux Jazz Festival, held every July since 1967, brings large crowds and higher accommodation prices; many events along the quay are free, but book accommodation early.
- Late November to 24 December: Montreux Noël, the town's Christmas market, fills the promenade with stalls.
- Winter: some lakeside attractions and boat services operate reduced timetables.
Getting there and around
Montreux is on the main Simplon line, about an hour from Geneva Airport and 20 minutes from Lausanne. The GoldenPass Express connects Montreux with Interlaken via Gstaad and Zweisimmen, making Montreux a good start or end point for a cross-country rail trip. Overnight visitors in the Montreux Riviera region receive a Riviera Card with free local bus travel and discounts on attractions; ask your accommodation.
