Монтре

May to September is the best time for the lakeside, boat trips and mountain views. July is busy because of the Montreux Jazz Festival. The Christmas market in late November and December is popular. Winter is often grey and wet by the lake, with snow on the hills above. Rain is common in late spring.

• Chillon Castle is a medieval castle on a rock at the edge of the lake, about 3 km from the centre. It is one of the most visited historic sites in Switzerland.
• Freddie Mercury is the bronze statue of the Queen singer on the lakeside promenade.
• Queen - The Studio Experience is an exhibition in the casino building about the band's recording sessions in Montreux.
• Vieille Ville de Montreux is the older part of town on the hill, with narrow lanes and views of the lake.
• Rochers de Naye is a peak above the town, reached by cogwheel train. The top has wide views of the lake and the Alps.
• Château du Châtelard is a small castle in the hills north-west of the centre.

• Walk the lakeside promenade from Montreux to Chillon Castle. The path takes about 45 minutes.
• Take the cogwheel train up to Rochers de Naye for the view.
• Visit the Christmas market by the lake in winter.
• Hear a concert during the Montreux Jazz Festival in July.
• Take a lake cruise to Chillon or across the lake to France.
• See the marmots at Marmottes Paradis near the top of the cogwheel line.

• Vevey is a lake town with a market and a statue of Charlie Chaplin. It is about 10 minutes away by train.
• Lausanne is the largest city on the lake, about 30 minutes away by train.
• The Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lie between Vevey and Lausanne.
• The Golden Pass panoramic train runs from Montreux up to the Alps.

• Vevey and Lausanne are the nearest larger towns on the lake.

• By air: Geneva Airport is the main gateway. Direct trains reach Montreux in about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• By train: Montreux has direct trains from Geneva, Lausanne and Bern, and further trains toward the Valais. Check times on SBB.
• By boat: lake boats run from Lausanne, Vevey and Chillon in the warm months.

• The promenade and the centre are easy to walk.
• Buses and trolleybuses go to Chillon Castle and the villages above town. Buy tickets before you board.
• Local trains link Montreux with Vevey and with Veytaux-Chillon, the station next to the castle.
• Boats connect Montreux with Chillon and other lake towns.
• Hotel guests in the region usually receive a free local transport card. Ask at check-in.

• A car is not needed in Montreux. Trains, boats and buses reach most places.
• Parking in the centre is limited and costly.
• Traffic can be heavy on the lakeside road in summer.

Try cheese fondue or raclette. Perch fillets from the lake are a local dish. White wine from the nearby Lavaux and Chablais vineyards goes well with both. Chocolate and cheese from the region are good to bring home.

Restaurants along the lake are costly. A picnic by the water is a cheaper choice.

• Montreux is very safe.
• Watch your bags on busy promenades and boats.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Streets in the old town are steep and can be slippery in wet weather.

Montreux grew from three small villages on the lake. In the 19th century writers such as Lord Byron made the lake and Chillon Castle famous. Grand hotels were built when visitors arrived by rail.

The jazz festival started in 1967. In the 1970s and 1980s the band Queen recorded here, and Freddie Mercury lived nearby. The statue on the promenade remembers him.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: