a circular sculpture sitting on top of a rock near a body of water

Montreux

Montreux is a lakeside resort on Lake Geneva in Switzerland's Vaud canton, known for Château de Chillon, Belle Époque hotels and the July jazz festival.

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Montreux is a town on the shore of Lake Geneva, at the foot of the Alps, in the canton of Vaud in western Switzerland. It sits on the stretch of lake shore known as the Vaud Riviera. Visitors have come since the 19th century, when the town grew into a resort with a mild climate and grand hotels along the water. The lakeside promenade runs past those hotels, the casino and the congress centre, with views of the Dents du Midi. A walking trail along the shore runs from Villeneuve to Vevey.

Plan two or three days. Spend one on the promenade and the Belle Époque hotels, one on Château de Chillon, about three kilometers southeast of town and reached by bus, train, on foot or by boat, and one on a trip into the hills above town. The Montreux Jazz Festival, held every July since 1967, draws about 200,000 visitors a year. July, September and April are the busiest months, so book beds early.

Montreux in five

Plan Chillon around its opening timesChillon opens 9:30 to 18:00 in March and October, 9:00 to 19:00 from April to September and 10:00 to 17:00 from November to February. Adults pay CHF 15; the Swiss Travel Pass admits you free.
Use the Montreux Riviera Card if you sleep hereGuests of hotels, apartments, B&Bs and campsites get free local public transport and discounts, including a reduced Chillon ticket on the card. Ask your host whether the card is issued.
Reserve seats on the GoldenPass ExpressUp to four direct trains a day link Montreux and Interlaken Ost in 3 hours 15 minutes via Gstaad. The pass covers the ride, but seat reservations are extra and strongly recommended in 1st and 2nd class.Interlaken and the Jungfrau
Book early for the Jazz Festival and the Christmas marketThe 61st Montreux Jazz Festival runs 2 to 17 July 2027. The Montreux Riviera Noël market is open 20 November to 24 December 2026, with long evening hours.
Check the Rochers-de-Naye line before you goThe cog railway reaches 2,042 m, but Haut-de-Caux to Rochers-de-Naye is closed 14 September to 17 October 2026. The Swiss Travel Pass gives only 50% off that upper section; check the operator's notices.

Things to do in Montreux

See all attractions in Montreux

Museum · MontreuxQueen Studio Experience

Sight · MontreuxRochers de Naye

Monument · MontreuxStatue de Freddie MercuryGo at sunset for the strongest light over the lake, or at sunrise when it is quieter.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to MontreuxPut the places you like in Montreux on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Geneva (GVA), then rail along the lake
Getting there: GoldenPass Express from Interlaken Ost, 3 hours 15 minutes
Getting around: Lakefront walk, local trains and CGN boats; Chillon is about 3 km away
Best base: Montreux lakefront; Vevey for a quieter town
Time needed: 1–2 days; 3 with Vevey and Lavaux

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain16 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Quiet, mild
FebruaryRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low0°Quiet
MarchRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low1°Spring starts
AprilRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low4°Spring, lake views
MayRain20 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Mild, lake walks
JuneRain18 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low13°Warm, long days
JulyRain18 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low15°Jazz Festival
AugustRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low15°Hot, busy
SeptemberRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Warm, calmer
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Vineyard color
NovemberRain15 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh9°Low2°Christmas market
DecemberRain14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh6°Low-1°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Montreux, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jul Montreux Jazz Festival

Right now in Montreux

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

-2

Feels like: -5°
Humidity: 94%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Montreux

09:48 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue10°6°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed11°5°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu12°9°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 2%.
Fri12°10°25%Friday: Rain. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 25%.
Sat12°10°21%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 21%.
Sun13°9°37%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 37%.

Updated 09:39 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8245 CHF

Amount

Converted to

CHF · Swiss Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Montreux

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarCarnival in BernBern, a day trip
JunGreenfield FestivalInterlaken, a day trip
Jul–AugVerbier FestivalValais, a day trip
JulMontreux Jazz FestivalMontreux
JulPaléo FestivalLake Geneva Region, a day trip
Jul–SepMenuhin Festival GstaadBernese Oberland, a day trip
JulGurtenfestivalBern, a day trip

Day trips by train

Chillon Castleabout 3 km along the lakeA lakeside fortress reached by foot, bus or CGN boat, with seasonal hours and online tickets.
Rochers-de-Naye55 minutes by cog railwayA summit at 2,042 m with an alpine garden and marmot colonies; check the line is open.
Veveya short ride along the lakeChaplin's World, the Alimentarium and the Lavaux terraces beyond.Read the guide

Before you go to Montreux

GoldenPass seats and rail passesCompare passes before you reserveRead the guide

Chillon Castle ticketsThe castle asks for online bookingBook timed entry

eSIM for Lake GenevaTimetables on trains and boatsRead the guide

Insurance for MontreuxFestival stays and cancelled trainsRead the guide

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Rules for Montreux, checked

Chillon Castle: open 9:00 to 19:00 April to September, 9:30 to 18:00 March and October, 10:00 to 17:00 November to February; adults CHF 15, children CHF 7.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Montreux Riviera Noël Christmas market 2026: 20 November to 24 December; Montreux Jazz Festival 2027: 2 to 17 July.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

Plan around Montreux

Vevey

Chaplin's World, the food museum and a quieter lakefront

Read the guide Lake Geneva and Vaud

Boats, Lavaux walks and bases between Geneva and Villeneuve

Read the guide Lausanne

The Olympic city at the other end of Lavaux

Read the guide Interlaken and the Jungfrau

The other end of the GoldenPass line

Read the guide Geneva

The usual airport and arrival city

Read the guide Swiss Travel Pass

Chillon, boats and the GoldenPass on one pass

Read the guide All of Switzerland

Regions, rail passes, money and entry rules

Read the guide

Montreux FAQ

Is Montreux worth visiting?

Yes, for the lakefront, Chillon Castle and mountain trips from the same station. It suits a day or two on a Lake Geneva trip, with the best weather in late spring and early autumn.

How do you get from Montreux to Chillon?

Chillon sits about 3 km along the shore, so walk the lakeside path, take a local bus or train, or ride a CGN boat that stops at Chillon. Check the boat timetable for your date.

Can you go from Montreux to Interlaken by train?

Yes, directly on the GoldenPass Express, up to four times a day, in 3 hours 15 minutes. Seat reservations are extra and the Swiss Travel Pass covers the ticket.

When is the Montreux Jazz Festival?

In July. The 61st edition runs 2 to 17 July 2027, according to the festival's site. Rooms and trains book up, so reserve early.

Montreux or Vevey?

Montreux for Chillon, the Rochers-de-Naye railway and the festival. Vevey for a quieter, market-town feel with Chaplin's World and Lavaux next door. They are one short ride apart.