The Ultimate Guide To The Best Things To Do In Montreux, Switzerland

things to do in montreux switzerland
Tenissa
Tenissa 
Updated
| 3 min read

The beautiful Lake Geneva, breathtaking vineyards, and the gorgeous backdrop of the Alps are just some of many amazing things you will get to see if you visit Montreux. Nestled on Lake Geneva, Montreux is a small traditional town that every traveler has to visit at least once in their lifetime. There are a lot of things you can do in Montreux, but we’ve summarized a list of the best things to do in Montreux for you. Check them out below!

1. Attend the Montreux Jazz Festival

Montreux Jazz Festival
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Schaer Chris used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Montreux is very popular for its annual music festival called the Montreux Jazz Festival. Held on the shore of Lake Geneva, the music festival is the second largest annual jazz festival in the world. The music festival is usually held between the end of June until mid July. In 2017, music lovers can enjoy the festival from June 30 to July 15, 2017. Check on the website to find out who will be playing live.

Montreux Jazz Festival

Address: Montreux Musique & Convention Centre; Grand-Rue 95; 1820 Montreux; Switzerland

Website: Montreux Jazz Festival

Visited this place?

2. Walk inside the impressive Château de Chillon

Château de Chillon
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bolla Ugo used under CC BY-SA 3.0

There are some castles in Switzerland, and Château de Chillon (Chillon Castle) is probably the most beautiful castle. Walk inside the castle and you will be captivated by its beauty. Situated on the narrow shore between Montreux and Villeneuve, the highlights of the castle include its underground, great halls, and the courtyards. You can reach the castle on foot, by boat, or by bus from Montreux.

Château de Chillon

Address: Avenue de Chillon 21, 1820 Veytaux, Switzerland

Website: Château de Chillon

Visited this place?

3. Be amused by the statues of public figures at the Gardens of Montreux Palace

Fairmont Le Montreux-Palace
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Markus Schweizer used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Don’t forget to drop by Montreux Palace, a luxury hotel in Montreux, and head directly to its garden. The lush garden is full of statues of public figures that will amuse you. See how many public figures you know. The garden, however, is not only about statues. Enjoy the beautiful view of the garden itself with the background of the super awesome hotel.

Montreux Palace

Address: Av. Claude-Nobs 2, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland

Website: Montreux Palace

Visited this place?

4. Have a refreshing walk at the La Rambertia Alpine Garden

Rochers de Naye 3
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user BECK François used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The La Rambertia Alpine Garden is an excellent place for relaxation. You will be able to see an extensive collection of flowers from Switzerland and the Alps as well as other mountainous regions. If you love flowers so much, this place is definitely a must visit. Located 1,980 meters (6,496 ft) above Montreux, you can see beautiful flowers from the middle of June until the end of September.

La Rambertia Alpine Garden

Website: La Rambertia Alpine Garden

Visited this place?

5. Stop by Gorges du Chauderon

Baye de Montreux
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jmh2o used under CC BY-SA 4.0

When you are in the Old Town of Montreux, be sure not to forget to stop by Gorges du Chauderon. To get to the entrance of the Gorges du Chauderon, you should find the Highway Bridge first. The gorge is an amazing natural landscape in which from the foot of the Rochers-de-Naye flows the La Baye de Montreux River to the magnificent Lake Geneva.

Gorges du Chauderon

Address: Near the Old Town of Montreux

Website: Gorges du Chauderon

Visited this place?

6. Enjoy the magnificent view of the Lavaux Vineyards

Vineyards-of-Lavaux
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user GabrielleMerk used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Stretching for approximately 830 hectares (2,051 acres) between Montreux and Lausanne, the Lavaux Vineyards is really massive and worth visiting. You can take the Lavaux Panoramic or Lavaux Express to explore the vineyards, but the best way to explore the vineyards is on foot, where you can really admire the magnificent view. You can also drop by some of the wine cellars to sample the excellent taste of Lavaux’s wine.

Lavaux Vineyards

Address: Montreux, Switzerland

Website: Lavaux Vineyards

Visited this place?

7. Spare some time to drop by the Freddie Mercury Statue

Statue of Freddie Mercury in Montreux
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bernd Brägelmann used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Whether you are a huge fan of Freddie Mercury and QUEEN or not, we think that you still need to spare some time to drop by the Freddie Mercury Statue, one of the town’s most popular landmarks. The statue of Freddie Mercury is there because the very first album of QUEEN — “Made in Heaven” — was recorded in Montreux and QUEEN also bought a recording studio in this town.

Freddie Mercury Statue

Address: Place du Marché, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland

Website: Freddie Mercury Statue

Visited this place?

8. Have a stroll in Vieille-Ville de Montreux

Montreux Old town
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ypsilon from Finland used under CC0

A stroll in Vieille-Ville de Montreux, which is also known as the Old Town of Montreux, is a must. Take a walk on the steep streets and enjoy the picturesque neighborhood. Everything in the Old Town, from the houses, shops and streets to the nature itself will never cease to amaze you.

Vieille-Ville de Montreux

Website: Vieille-Ville de Montreux

Visited this place?

9. Get on the Swiss Chocolate Train

Chocolate Train Swiss Montreux
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Norio NAKAYAMA used under CC BY-SA 2.0

You need something sweet to finish your wonderful time in Montreux. Get on the famous Swiss Chocolate Train from Montreux on the Swiss Riviera to the Gruyeres in the middle of your trip and you will finally arrive at the final destination, namely the Cailler-Nestle chocolate factory, where you can taste flavorful chocolates. As the name says, you will expect chocolate while you are boarding the train. Enjoy delectable world-renowned chocolates while looking out your window and enjoying the fantastic scenery along the way. While reserving your ticket, you don’t have to reserve a round trip. Simply choose one way because your return trip will automatically be reserved by the system.

Swiss Chocolate Train

Website: Swiss Chocolate Train

Visited this place?

Do you want to make memories all over the world?

Montreux (Svizzera)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Vaghestelledellorsa used under CC BY-SA 3.0

If your answer is yes, then Montreux can help you make your dream comes true. Come to Montreux and you will make one of the most memorable memories you can ever have. You will love Montreux!

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Tenissa is a content writer, translator and editor. She enjoys being a globetrotter and has traveled to many countries around the world. So far, her favourite destination is Switzerland. She looks...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Montreux
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.