Things To Do in Montreux, Switzerland

Beautiful, elegant Montreux is one of the most charming cities in Switzerland. From castles to gardens, romantic sights await you at every corner.

Montreux Things to Do

Site of a world famous Jazz festival, Montreux is all about embracing glorious scenery and the chance to relax at the same time.

The Jazz Festival

Each July, this town is home to dozens jazz musicians from around the world. If you want to get tickets, you will need to act quickly as they go fast. If you can’t get the tickets for the shows you want, you can see a number of free concerts along the lake. Montreux loves music. Walk along the town and you’ll see numerous statues of contemporary pop singers including Freddie Mercury, Quincy Jones, and Aretha Franklin.

Cruising and Walking

Another can’t miss activity in the area is a tour of the lake. A cruise along Lake Geneva makes a wonderful way to see the entire area. Lots of ferries depart from Montreux to many places on the lake. This is an excellent way to take a day trip to places such as Lausanne, Vevey and Chateau de Chillon, or even visit the world famous Evian-les-Bains across the border of the lake in France. When you get off the boat, you can take a path along the lake. The pedestrian-only path has a separate lane for bikes. It’s a great way to see the local gardens and the boats that dot the entire harbor. It goes on for miles and makes a lovely place to sit at night. You can also get by the entire area via train. There’s a Golden Pass Panoramic that will let you see many important Swiss villages along the lake.

The Chateau de Chillon

Right outside of Montreux is where you will find the Chateau de Chillon. Situated on a small rocky island that juts out of the edge of Lake Geneva, you can get there by boat, take a trolley from the center of town or get there via a walking path that leads down the from the town directly. Dating back over seven hundred years ago, it is one of the landmarks of the region. You can take a tour for a small fee.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Montreux.