If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, there’s a good chance places like Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lucerne are already on your itinerary.
Montreux often gets overlooked.
I originally booked a night in Montreux because it sat on the GoldenPass route and seemed like a convenient place to break up my journey between Geneva and Interlaken. What I didn’t expect was that it would become one of my favourite places in Switzerland.
Since then, I’ve returned for a second visit during the Montreux Christmas Market, giving me the chance to experience the town in both summer and winter.
So, is Montreux worth visiting?
For me, absolutely. After visiting twice, including once during the Christmas Market, Montreux has become one of my favourite places in Switzerland. For me, it offers better scenery, atmosphere and lakeside views than Geneva, while still being easy to explore in a day.
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Montreux sits on the shores of Lake Geneva in western Switzerland, surrounded by mountains and vineyards.
Unlike some Swiss destinations that focus almost entirely on mountain activities, Montreux offers a different experience. The atmosphere is more relaxed, with lakeside promenades, cafés overlooking the water, flower-lined walkways and beautiful views in almost every direction.
It’s also the starting point for one of Switzerland’s most scenic train journeys, the GoldenPass route, making it particularly appealing for train enthusiasts.
Despite being relatively small, Montreux feels lively, elegant and surprisingly varied.
The Setting Is Beautiful
One of the things I enjoyed most about Montreux was simply walking around.
The lakeside promenade stretches for miles and offers incredible views across Lake Geneva towards the mountains beyond. Whether you’re visiting in summer or winter, it’s the sort of place where you naturally slow down and spend time enjoying the scenery.
I found myself spending far longer walking along the waterfront than I originally intended.
One of Montreux’s biggest attractions is Chillon Castle.
Located directly on the shores of Lake Geneva, the castle is one of Switzerland’s most visited historic sites and is easily reached from the centre of Montreux.
Even if you don’t go inside, the setting alone makes it worth visiting. The combination of the lake, mountains and castle creates one of the most photographed views in Switzerland.
Montreux is famous for its connection to Queen.
Freddie Mercury spent significant time in the town and Queen recorded several albums at Mountain Studios, which was located inside the Montreux Casino.
Today, the Freddie Mercury statue overlooking the lake has become one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks.
Even if you’re not a huge Queen fan, it’s a great place to stop and enjoy the views across Lake Geneva.
For train enthusiasts, Montreux is one of the best bases in Switzerland.
The GoldenPass route begins here and connects Montreux with Interlaken through some spectacular mountain scenery.
I've travelled on both the GoldenPass Belle Époque and the GoldenPass Express, and both were highlights of my Switzerland trips.
The experience on board is quite different. The Belle Époque offers vintage-style carriages inspired by the golden age of rail travel, while the GoldenPass Express provides modern panoramic windows and the option of Prestige Class seating.
If you're trying to decide between them, I've put together guides covering both trains, as well as a detailed comparison of the two.
If you're interested in scenic train journeys, Montreux deserves a place on your itinerary for this reason alone.
One of the attractions I haven't managed to visit yet is Rochers-de-Naye.
This mountain viewpoint sits high above Montreux and can be reached by cogwheel railway directly from the town. From the summit, you'll find panoramic views over Lake Geneva, the Alps and, on a clear day, even as far as France.
It's one of the reasons I'd happily spend more than a day in Montreux and is high on my list for a future visit.
Montreux is also home to the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival, which takes place each July along the shores of Lake Geneva.
During my summer visit, preparations for the festival were already underway and it was clear just how significant an event it is for the town. Looking back, I wish I’d timed my trip to coincide with the festival itself, but I wasn’t aware it was taking place when I booked.
Despite the name, the festival features far more than jazz and attracts major international artists from across the music industry.
It’s definitely something I’d like to return and experience properly in the future.
I’ve spent two nights in Geneva and visited Montreux twice in the last couple of years.
Personally, if I had to choose one, I’d choose Montreux.
For me, Montreux has a better atmosphere.
The lakeside promenade feels more relaxed and I found myself spending much more time simply walking, stopping for coffee and enjoying the views.
The scenery is also hard to beat. With Lake Geneva on one side and mountains rising behind the town, Montreux feels far more like the Switzerland many people imagine before they visit.
I also preferred the food scene. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés along the waterfront, and dining beside the lake is one of the highlights of staying overnight.
Finally, I found there was more to do than I expected. Between Chillon Castle, the Freddie Mercury statue, the Christmas Market, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the GoldenPass route and nearby attractions such as Vevey and Rochers-de-Naye, I could easily spend longer in Montreux than I originally planned.
Geneva certainly has its place, especially if you’re interested in museums, international organisations and city attractions. However, if you’re looking for scenery, atmosphere and a classic Swiss lakeside experience, Montreux wins for me.
For most visitors, one full day is enough to see the main attractions.
You can comfortably:
- Walk the lakeside promenade
- Visit Chillon Castle
- See the Freddie Mercury statue
- Enjoy lunch beside Lake Geneva
- Explore the town centre
However, if you have two days available, Montreux also works well as a base for exploring nearby attractions such as Vevey, Rochers-de-Naye and the GoldenPass route.
I stayed for one night on my first visit and found it worked really well.
Arriving in the afternoon gave me time to explore the town, visit Chillon Castle, enjoy dinner overlooking Lake Geneva and experience the atmosphere once many of the day visitors had left.
If you’re travelling through Switzerland by train, I think one night in Montreux is well worth including.
Like most places in Switzerland, Montreux isn’t cheap.
However, I didn’t find it noticeably more expensive than other Swiss destinations.
During my trip, I stayed at Montreux Youth Hostel for around £55 including breakfast and city tax. Food and accommodation prices felt broadly similar to what I encountered elsewhere in Switzerland.
I certainly wouldn’t avoid Montreux because you think it’s going to be significantly more expensive than Geneva, Interlaken or Lucerne. In my experience, it isn’t.
Absolutely.
In fact, Montreux is one of the few places in Switzerland I’ve deliberately returned to.
The Montreux Christmas Market transforms the waterfront with festive stalls, Christmas lights, seasonal food and one of the most magical atmospheres I’ve experienced anywhere in Europe.
Unlike many Christmas markets, the main market stretches directly along the waterfront, which makes the setting particularly special.
If you’re visiting Switzerland between late November and Christmas Eve, I would strongly recommend timing your trip around the market.
Montreux is particularly well suited to:
- First-time visitors to Switzerland
- Couples
- Solo travellers
- Train enthusiasts
- Christmas market fans
- Food lovers
- Anyone who enjoys scenic lakeside walks
Yes, without hesitation.
What surprised me most about Montreux was that I originally viewed it as a stop on the way to somewhere else.
Instead, it became one of the highlights of my Switzerland trips.
The combination of Lake Geneva, mountain views, scenic train journeys, great food and a relaxed atmosphere makes it one of my favourite destinations in Switzerland.
If you're deciding between Geneva and Montreux, I'd choose Montreux. If you're wondering whether it deserves a place on your Switzerland itinerary, my answer would be yes.
Montreux also works brilliantly as part of a wider Switzerland itinerary. If you're looking for inspiration, I've shared both a 6 Day Switzerland Rail Itinerary and the exact 4 day trip I took through Montreux, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.
➡️ GoldenPass Belle Époque Guide
➡️ GoldenPass Express vs GoldenPass Belle Epoque: Which to Choose
➡️ Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen by Train
➡️ 6 Day Switzerland Rail Itinerary
➡️ 10 Day Switzerland Itinerary
➡️ My 4 Day Switzerland Trip: Montreux, Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen
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