Montreux & Lausanne

The Swiss Riviera on the north shore of Lake Geneva. Montreux has the palm-lined promenade, the Freddie Mercury statue, the Montreux Jazz Festival in July and the island Château de Chillon; Vevey has Chaplin's World and the fork in the lake; between Vevey and Lausanne the UNESCO terraced vineyards of Lavaux drop to the water. Lausanne is a hilly university city with a Gothic cathedral and the Olympic Museum at Ouchy. The GoldenPass trains climb from Montreux to Gstaad and Interlaken, and the Rochers-de-Naye rack railway to marmots and the lake view.

Highlights

• Château de Chillon on its rock in the lake
• Montreux flower promenade
• Freddie Mercury statue
• Lavaux vineyard terraces (UNESCO)
• Olympic Museum at Ouchy
• Lausanne Cathedral watchman calling the hours at night
• Chaplin's World
• Montreux Jazz Festival in July

Things to do

• Château de ChillonMorning · 2h
• Lakeside promenade from Montreux to ChillonAfternoon · 2h
• Lavaux vineyard walk with a tastingAfternoon · 3h
• Olympic Museum, LausanneMorning · 2h 30m
• Lausanne Cathedral and old townAfternoon · 2h
• Rochers-de-Naye rack trainMorning · 3h 30m

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: May – September

• Montreux Jazz Festival — Two weeks of concerts, many free on the lakeside stages. Montreux and Vevey hotels sell out and prices peak; stay in Lausanne and take the 20-minute train.
• Christmas markets — From late November to just before Christmas: Basel's on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, Zurich's in the station hall and on Sechseläutenplatz, Montreux Noël along the lake. Weekend crowds; mulled wine and raclette stalls.