Montreux (Switzerland) is one of the most interesting cities in Europe. It is a truly creative place: famous actors and singers often come here for a vacation, and locals organize colorful festivals. There are many photos with descriptions of Montreux’s attractions on the Internet. The most interesting ones are in our article.
General information
The city of Montreux is a picturesque resort in the south of Switzerland on the shores of Lake Geneva, which is also called the Swiss Riviera. On one side, the city is surrounded by the Alps, on the other, it borders the lake. It is famous for its picturesque places and the large number of festivals that are held here.
Montreux has a population of 26,000, but during the tourist season the city’s population increases to 50-64,000. Residents of the Swiss Riviera speak French, but are also fluent in English and German.
Main attractions and activities in Montreux
Despite the fact that Montreux is a small resort town, there are many attractions here and there is always something to do.
Lakeside Promenade Fleuri
A promenade along the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva is one of the most popular excursions among tourists. In a short walk you can see almost all the charms of Montreux.
Firstly, it is a well-equipped embankment with many benches, well-kept flower beds and small cafes. Secondly, exhibitions of famous sculptors and artists are often held here – works of art are placed right on the embankment. And finally, thirdly: the coast of Geneva Montreux is a real botanical garden, because more than 400 species of plants grow here.
Queen Studio Museum
The Queen Museum is located 50 meters from the Freddie Mercury monument in Montreux, in a former recording studio that was built back in 1979. The exhibition opened relatively recently – in 2013. Museum workers left everything here unchanged: clothes, computers, musical instruments and notebooks with notes – everything looks as if Queen were here a minute ago. The exhibition also includes several concert outfits of the stars. The highlight of the museum is the ability to create new compositions yourself using a mixing console: adjust the voice, bass and drums. There is also an opportunity to listen to famous songs of the group – in the studio they sound completely different!
Devoted Queen fans will appreciate the gift shop next to the museum – the small shop sells a variety of souvenirs related to the band’s work.
- Address: 9 Theater Street | Montreux 1820, Switzerland.
- Opening hours: 09:00 – 20:00.
- Cost: free.
Golden Pass Line
Golden Pass Line (191 km) is a famous railway route that passes through the most beautiful places in Switzerland. During a short but rich journey, tourists can see mountain lakes and waterfalls, picturesque villages and green meadows. Many travelers do not recommend driving this entire route in a few hours – it is better to stretch the pleasure over several days, and make stops in the most interesting places.
There are two trains on this railway – the first one has panoramic windows, and the second one is retro (the carriages recreate the atmosphere of the 19th century: old sofas, richly decorated tables and chairs with carved backs). In order to enjoy the landscapes of Switzerland, you should book the best seats by the window in advance. By the way, you can buy tickets to Montreux in the underground passage of the railway station.
- Address of sales point (station): rue de la Gare 22, Montreux 1820, Switzerland.
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00.
- Cost: from 66 to 152 francs round trip, depending on which final destination you choose.
- Official website: mob.ch. Here you can find out all the tourist train lines from Montreux, ticket prices, train schedules, etc.
Freddie Mercury Memorial
On the picturesque embankment of Montreux, on the Place du Marché, there is a monument to the famous British singer Freddie Mercury. The famous musician stands in his “signature” pose – with his hand raised up. He is dressed as at the legendary Wembley concert in 1986: in red striped trousers, a yellow shirt and a military jacket. This is the most popular attraction in Montreux.
- Where to find: quai de la Rouvenaz 2, Montreux 1820, Switzerland.
- There is a separate website dedicated to Freddie Mercury’s connection with Montreux in Switzerland: www.freddie-tours.com. Here you can also book a tour of places related to the Queen group.
Mount Rochers-de-Naye (Rochers-de-Naye)
The view from the top of the Rochers-de-Naye mountain is simply stunning: tourists can see Lake Geneva, the Valais and even the Alps. Despite the fact that this is a natural landmark, there is really something to do here: you can simply walk along the surrounding peaks, or you can visit the Marmot Paradise wildlife park or the La Rambertia alpine garden. At the foot of the mountain there are several panoramic restaurants.
You won’t be able to climb the mountain itself on foot – there are special tourist carriages that will take tourists to the most interesting places. By the way, the road from the city to Rocher-de-Naye is a landmark. It is an old toothed bridge that starts at the foot of the mountain and ends at the top. The train goes very slowly, so you can not only have time to look at the dizzying views from the window, but also capture them as a keepsake. The trip will take about 50 minutes. Afterwards, at the very top, there will be a stop, and tourists can choose what to do themselves.
- Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office at the Montreux railway station.
- Ticket price: 70 francs round trip.
Terraced vineyards of Lavaux (Corniche Lavaux Vineyards)
Lavaux is a terraced vineyard that runs from the Chillon Castle to the shores of Lake Geneva. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a unique geographical and agricultural site. Anyone can visit it – the entrance is free and there is no security. The vineyards are often used as backdrops for photo shoots – it is truly very beautiful here.
Lavaux Vinorama is the Discovery Centre for Wine and the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces. Here you can learn about the cultural and sensory aspects of wine and its origins. The centre presents over 300 wines from all over the region: numerous Chasselas varieties, typical varieties of the area, elegant and powerful reds, special whites, dessert wines. You can taste the wines in the tasting room for a fee.
The attraction can be reached by train from Vevey, ending in the town of Chexbres, famous for its tasting cellars.
- Location: Route du Lac 2, 1071 Rivaz, Switzerland.
- Opening hours: 10:30-20:00.
- Official website: www.lavaux-vinorama.ch.
Swiss Chocolate Train
You can’t come to Switzerland without tasting the famous Swiss chocolate. There is even an unusual train named after this sweet on the Montreux-Bernese Oberland railway route. You can go on a trip either in an old 1917 Empire-style carriage or in modern carriages with huge panoramic windows.
The 9-hour drive takes in the stunning landscapes of Switzerland and ends in the land of chocolate. Have you ever seen a photo of Montreux, Switzerland? They were almost certainly taken on a route like this.
The final stop is the Caller chocolate factory. After completing the main program, it is worth visiting the cheese factory in Gruyères.
- Tickets should be booked no later than 2 months before travel – the route is very popular.
- Price: 80 francs for adults, 42 francs for children.
- Official website: mob.ch.
More detailed information with photos about the town of Gruyères and the “Chocolate Train” is collected in this article .
Casino de Montreux
The casino building houses two attractions of the Swiss Montreux – the casino itself and the Queen studio museum. There are always a lot of tourists here, and the main reason is the history of this place. Back in 1971, the Deep Purple music group, having seen the casino building burning, wrote a song in just one night, which later became a hit and made this building famous.
The casino has been restored and today, as before, fortune seekers gather here. There is a fairly strict face control at the entrance, and the attraction itself is built in the Empire style.
- Address: rue du Theater 9, Montreux 1820, Switzerland.
- Opening hours: 24 hours.
Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle is perhaps one of the most famous attractions of Montreux, located on the opposite bank of Lake Geneva. Thousands of tourists come here to see the famous castle, celebrated by J. Byron in the poem “The Prisoner of Chillon”.
- Address: Av de Chillon 21, Veytaux 1820, Switzerland.
- Opening hours: 9.00-19.00 (April-September), 10.00-17.00 (November-February).
- Price: 13.50 francs for adults, 7.00 for children, 11.50 for pensioners and students.
More detailed information about the castle is presented in this article .
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of those grand events in the world of music that everyone should attend. Since 1967, the creator of the festival and creative director of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Claude Nobs, has invited the most famous performers in the world every year: Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Bob Dylan, Sting and Eric Clapton. If you are not a fan of jazz, then do not worry: here you can hear songs in different, often opposite styles.
As a rule, the festival begins at the end of June or the beginning of July. More than 200 artists from all over the world come here, and the city itself becomes a large, endless stage for performances. It can be said that life here does not stop for a second – even at night there are concerts. The main secret of the jazz festival is its unique atmosphere.
Time: end of June – beginning of July (duration – 16 days).
Montreux Riviera Card
The Montreux Riviera Card is a tourist card that allows you to travel for free or visit attractions at a significant discount. You can get it when you enter a hotel, apartment or when visiting a private clinic. It is only valid in the Swiss city of Montreux.
Benefits of the card:
- Free travel on VMCV and Mobilis public transport networks.
- 50% discount on trains on the Montreux – Rochers-de-Naye and Vevey – Les Plades routes, as well as on the Les Avants – Sonloup funicular railway.
- 20% discount on tickets to Glacier 3000, Les Diablerets and back.
- Discount 50% on CGN cruises from Veve, Clarence, Montreux.
- — 50% off the purchase of a tour of the city of Vevey, Montreux.
- — 50% when purchasing a ticket to the Le Bouveret water park.
- The card will also be valid in most museums.
- Free drinks at Montreux-Vevey Tourisme offices!
Note! Just 30 km from Montreux, on the same Lake Leman, is the city of Lausanne with numerous attractions. What you can see there and why it is worth going can be found here .
How to get to Montreux from Geneva and Zurich
Switzerland has a well-developed railway network, so getting to Montreux is not at all difficult.
From Geneva
Immediately after landing (or arriving in Geneva), it is worth buying a ticket to Montreux. This can be done both at the airport (Geneve-Cointrin Airport) and at the railway station (Genève-Cornavin). 57 trains travel along this route every day, from which we can conclude that there are enough seats for everyone.
The distance from Geneva to Montreux is 93 km, and the journey takes 1 hour 10 minutes. The first train from Geneva leaves at 04.20 am, the last one at 21.57. Passengers board at Genève-Cornavin Railway Station (near the station). The price of a second-class ticket is 15.6 francs. Almost the entire journey from the carriage window you will see Lake Geneva and the picturesque forests of Switzerland.
From Zurich
Getting to Montreux from Zurich is also not difficult: at the Zurich HB station you need to take a train going to the Montreux stop. Every day 96 trains (with transfers) travel on this route. The distance from Zurich to Montreux is 200 km, so the journey takes from 2 hours 38 minutes. The first train from Zurich leaves at 05.19 am, the last one – at 22.32.
Tickets start at 46 francs and can be purchased at the railway station ticket office, at the airport or on the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.
Interesting facts
- During the Montreux Jazz Festival, spectators cannot pay in francs, pounds or euros. The only suitable currency is “jazz” – a copper coin with a round hole. This unusual solution was invented by the festival’s creator, Claude Nobs.
- There are no security guards in the city’s museums (including the Chillon Castle). Here they trust and hope for the honesty of tourists.
- Deep Purple’s famous composition “Smoke on the Water” was written in Montreux – the musicians saw the casino building burning in the distance and dedicated the song to it.
- Beginning in 1978, the famous Freddie Mercury lived in a chalet near Montreux, which was named “The Duck House” (today it is one of the main attractions).
- Thanks to its mountainous surroundings, Montreux never experiences bad weather. It is the only city in Switzerland where you can see cypresses, palms and magnolias in bloom.
- Charlie Chaplin spent the last 25 years of his life in the hills of Vevey, a pleasant resort near Montreux.
Montreux (Switzerland) is an amazingly beautiful place that will not leave anyone indifferent!
