Can you really visit Montreux Noël Christmas Markets as an extreme day trip from the UK and still feel like it’s worth it? After doing exactly that yesterday, the answer is a resounding yes.
With lakeside chalets, snow-dusted mountains, mulled wine flowing freely and Santa Claus quite literally flying across the sky, Montreux Noël is one of the most magical extreme day trips in December we’ve done – and we slept in our own bed that night.
This guide covers everything you need to know, including timings, costs, Santa flying times, how to get there from Geneva, whether it’s busy or expensive, and how Montreux fits into a wider itinerary of extreme day trips from Geneva.
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An extreme day trip means flying out early in the morning, exploring a destination for a full day, and returning home late the same night – without staying overnight.
Thanks to Geneva’s excellent transport links, Switzerland is one of the best countries in Europe for extreme day trips, especially in winter when snow-covered mountains and festive markets are at their best.
Here’s exactly how our day worked, from door to door:
For context, we live two hours from Liverpool Airport, so this truly was an extreme day trip.
Getting from Geneva Airport to Montreux is incredibly easy.
📍 Montreux Noël
The markets run along the lakeside promenade of Lake Geneva, with wooden chalets stretching for over a kilometre, backed by dramatic mountain scenery.
It’s easily one of the most scenic Christmas market settings in Europe.
One of Montreux Noël’s most famous attractions is Flying Santa.
🎅 Santa flying times:
Santa flies across the sky above Lake Geneva, usually between Place du Marché and the Lumberjack Village, and it’s genuinely magical – even for adults.
Tip- to get the best view of flying Santa, we stood on the ramp entrance of 'Chalet Fondue'. There is also another restaurant near the Freddie Mercury statue with a balcony.
Absolutely – especially as an extreme day trip.
Montreux Noël stands out because:
We visited on Thursday 18th December, and it was surprisingly quiet.
I’d expect weekends to be busier, but midweek was calm, enjoyable and ideal for an extreme day trip.
Yes – but this is Switzerland.
All Christmas markets are pricey, but sticking to market food keeps costs manageable.
Here’s exactly what we paid:
✈️ Flights
🚆 Trains
💡 Tip:
You can buy a special Montreux Noël train ticket that includes:
In hindsight, we probably should have chosen this option, as it offers better value if you plan to eat and drink at the markets.
In terms of food and drink, I only spent around £30, then got something from Migro's at the airport for the way home. I also paid £8 to ride on the big wheel.
If you're looking to stay overnight, we would highly recommend staying at Mona Montreux. This hotel is within the Christmas Markets themselves and offers reasonably priced rooms.
One experience we didn’t do this time – but is very popular – is the Montreux Christmas Train to Rochers-de-Naye.
At the summit, you’ll find Santa’s House, where:
⚠️ Important to know:
We chose not to do this on our extreme day trip so we could fully enjoy Montreux Noël itself, but it’s ideal if you’re staying overnight or travelling with children.
You can find more info here
Opening times vary by stall type and day, but generally:
Always double-check official times before travelling.
Montreux Noël typically runs from late November until Christmas Eve.
For 2025, the planned opening dates are 20th November until 24th December (inclusive).
Montreux is just one of many incredible extreme day trips from Geneva, especially in winter.
Geneva itself works well as a winter city break, combining lake views with festive atmosphere.
From Geneva, Chamonix can be reached by:
Possible highlights include:
We didn’t do Chamonix as an extreme day trip this time, but it is possible.
👉 Full guide: https://buildabreak.co.uk/chamonix-weekend/
The mountain train from Montreux is stunning in both winter and summer.
GoldenPass Belle Époque Train
The Belle Époque train to Zweisimmen is another incredible option, running year-round.
👉 Guide: https://buildabreak.co.uk/the-goldenpass-belle-epoque/
For guaranteed snow and glacier views, Glacier 3000 is another epic winter day trip from Geneva.
This year, we’ve visited four Christmas markets:
👉 Read our other Christmas market guides:
💡 Colmar can also be done as an extreme day trip by flying into Basel from London airports.
We regularly seek out and publish extreme day trips flights from UK airports, to all over Europe. You can find these here
Montreux Noël is:
If you’re looking for a magical extreme day trip Christmas market in December, Montreux Noël should be high on your list.
If you enjoy making the most of short adventures abroad, take a look at our complete Extreme Day Trips guide packed with airport inspiration, planning advice and destination ideas.
We also share the best same-day return flight finds with Travel Club members every week, so you never miss a great opportunity.
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