Montreux Switzerland Christmas Market Guide: Here’s exactly what it’s like to visit the lakeside Christmas market in Montreux, plus the little details I learned during my own trip that will help you plan the perfect festive stop.
I’ll be honest, I went into Montreux with pretty high expectations.
The Montreux Christmas Market kept popping up on all those “best Christmas markets in Europe” lists, so in my mind, I had already pictured twinkling lights tucked into winding cobblestone streets and that old-world charm I love this time of year (see my own personal list of favorite Christmas markets here).
But when we arrived, it felt completely different.
This is the Swiss Riviera, after all ~ set right along Lake Geneva with a more polished, almost resort-like feel instead of a storybook old town.
It wasn’t exactly what I had imagined (and if you’re like me and love historic squares, you’ll understand), but we still ended up having such a lovely four nights here, just in a very different way than I expected.
In a rush?
TLTR (too long to read) Montreux Travel Guide
The Little Details
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How to Get to Montreux
Getting to Montreux is surprisingly easy, which is part of what makes it such a great stop to add to a Switzerland itinerary.
The closest airport is Geneva (GVA), about an hour away, and it’s also where we flew home to San Diego from on a British Airways flight connecting through London.
From there you can hop on a direct train to Montreux with those incredible Lake Geneva views the entire way.
If you’re coming from other Swiss cities, trains run frequently from places like Zurich (about 2.5 hours), Bern (just over an hour), and Lausanne (under 30 minutes).
Since we started our itinerary by flying into Basel and staying there for 4 nights, we used the company Daytrip for our continuation onto Montreux, turning the journey into part of the experience ;).
We stopped in Gruyères along the way and love using Daytrip so that we do not have to think about hauling our luggage around when we make quick stopovers.
It ended up being one of our favorite travel days because everything felt seamless, and we got to see so much more than we would have by train alone.
How to Get Around Montreux
Getting around Montreux is actually very easy, which was one of the things I did appreciate about this lake resort community.
We walked pretty much everywhere along the lakefront as everything is flat, scenic, and close together.
For anything beyond that, the train system is incredibly simple and reliable. We used it for a quick trip over to Vevey (which I personally loved so much more and would honestly recommend as a better home base ~ more on that below!) and also took the train up to Rochers de Naye for those incredible mountaintop views :).
Between walking and hopping on the train, it all felt very low effort and stress-free.
How Many Days You Need in Montreux
We spent three full days in Montreux, and honestly, that felt like the sweet spot.
One full day was plenty to take in Montreux itself at a relaxed pace ~ walking the lakeside promenade, visiting Chillon Castle, and wandering through the Christmas market without rushing.
The real highlight, though, was using the other two days for day trips to a more charming, storybook town nearby (much more my style for a Christmas market trip, if I’m being honest) and to head up into the Swiss mountains for an afternoon :).
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m a big believer in slow travel, especially during the holidays, and this is exactly the kind of place where that approach makes all the difference.
Money and Plugs in Switzerland
Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF) rather than the Euro (€) ~ you’ll see prices listed with the symbol CHF throughout Swiss restaurants and shops.
Cash isn’t widely used, but having a little on hand for small purchases – especially at the Christmas markets 🙂 – can be handy (the only place I suggest getting cash in a foreign country is from an official bank ATM to avoid unnecessary fees!).
Otherwise, credit cards are your best friend and widely accepted throughout the country – just be sure you have a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees because those sure do add up ;(.
Switzerland uses Type J electrical outlets, so if you’re visiting from the U.S. you’ll want to pack a plug adapter like these ones to charge your devices – note this is a different plug than is used in mainland Europe as well as the UK!!
I won’t travel without this travel extension cord or this portable charger because nothing kills the Christmas market vibe faster than a dead phone and no way to charge it!
Best Places to Stay in Montreux
If I’m being honest, Montreux didn’t completely win me over as a place to stay ~ it leans more into that polished lake resort feel than the charming, old-world atmosphere I usually love during the holidays.
Now that I’ve spent time in the area, I actually think I would have enjoyed staying in nearby Vevey more, which has a smaller, village-like feel that’s much more my style – plus it has a few more luxury stay options than Montreux does! ~ and in case you are wondering, it is a quick and easy 15-20 minute train ride to the Christmas market in Montreux but Vevey has it’s own Christmas market that we preferred to Montreux’s!!
Therefore, my list of luxury hotel options includes where we stayed in Montreux plus Vevey options :).
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
We stayed at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, which is by far the most luxurious option in Montreux, and there’s no denying the service and overall atmosphere felt elevated the moment we walked in.
We booked a lake and mountain view room with a balcony, which sounds dreamy on paper, but ours happened to sit directly across from a lakefront nightclub that played heavy bass music late into the night.
Between that and the fact that the hotel doesn’t allow air conditioning in the winter, the room felt warmer than we like.
And since opening the windows wasn’t really an option with the noise, it made for a few less-than-restful nights.
Thus my suggestion would be to either time your stay for middle of the week when hopefully the night club is not open, book a room without the view, wear ear plugs when you sleep, or stay in Vevey as I wish we did!
Grand Hotel du Lac
Now that we have been to the Lake Geneva area, I wish I had looked into Vevey a bit more and booked Grand Hôtel du Lac there instead.
It’s a Relais & Châteaux property which are known for their beautiful settings, thoughtful service, and that understated elegance that makes a place feel special without trying too hard.
And it would have been a much better match for the slower, quieter, more romantic Christmas trip we were hoping for.
Vevey has a softer, more intimate feel overall, and this hotel would have given us that peaceful home base to come back to at the end of each day.
Photos courtesy of Grand Hotel du Lac Instagram
Hotel des Trois Couronnes
Another property to consider in Vevey, Hôtel des Trois Couronnes sits right along the lake with wide open alpine views. The hotel has that classic, grand European feel but with fresh, updated interiors, elegant without being overdone, and the location makes it an easy, beautiful base for exploring the entire Lake Geneva area.
Photos courtesy of Hotel des Trois Couronnes Instagram
Top Things to See and Do in Montreux
Christmas Market
I’ll be honest, Montreux didn’t quite give me that old world Christmas feeling I usually love, with its lakeside resort vibe and more modern setup, even though it shows up on just about every “best markets” list.
I’m guessing that’s largely thanks to the flying, singing Santa gliding over Lake Geneva with the mountains behind him, which is undeniably a beautiful scene, but the market itself felt less charming than the ones we’ve wandered through in Germany, Austria, or even Basel from this same trip.
That said, the mulled wine was just as good as anywhere (and yes, you’ll pay a small deposit for the souvenir mug that you can either return or, like me, decide to keep).
We happily snacked on fresh French crêpes, fitting, since France is literally right across the lake.
Most of the traditional food stalls leaned heavily into Swiss classics like bubbling raclette scraped over potatoes, fondue cups with bread for dipping, cheesy croûtes, and even raclette sandwiches…all of which we skipped since my husband and I aren’t cheese people (I know, probably a crime in Switzerland), but if you love cheese, you’ll be very well fed here.
Montreux Lakeside Promenade
On our one full day in Montreux, we decided to walk the little over two miles from our hotel to Château de Chillon along the lake on the lakeside promenade, and I have to admit, it ended up being one of our Montreux highlights.
The path winds right along the water with these wide open lake and mountain views that feel calm and refreshing.
We made sure to stop at the cafe with a framed bench photo spot with the castle perfectly lined up in the background (the cafe was closed when we were there but you’ll still know it when you see it).
Château de Chillon
One place that did stand out to me was Château de Chillon, a medieval lakeside fortress that dates back to the 12th century and was once controlled by the powerful Counts of Savoy, who used it as both a residence and a strategic toll station along trade routes.
Walking through the dungeons, grand halls, and old wooden ceilings, you really get a sense of how much history has passed through those walls.
And when we visited, there were simple Christmas touches like wreaths, lanterns, and small festive details that gave it a subtle seasonal feel without overdoing it.
We also noticed they were preparing for a few nights of a special Christmas festival that seemed geared to families with snack and craft stations.
Plan on about 1–2 hours here, and for me, aside from the promenade, this was easily the highlight of Montreux.
Queen the Studio Experience
Tucked inside the lakeside Casino Barrière Montreux, the Queen Studio Experience is one of those places where you’ll swear you’ve gone the wrong way because the signage for the museum is quite minimal.
But keep going, you’re in the right spot. Once you enter the casino, the museum will be down a short hallway on the left.
It’s small and mostly made up of detailed storyboards to read and videos of interviews/performances to watch plus the preserved Mountain Studios control room with the original soundboard and equipment.
But the stories and videos are fascinating and really highlight how deeply Queen shaped Montreux’ identity as a music destination (which makes sense given the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival right on the lake).
We spent just under an hour here and, despite arriving with low expectations thanks to the slightly cheesy casino setting, ended up finding it genuinely interesting – oh and it’s completely free ;).
Freddy Mercury Statue
One of the “can’t miss” sights in Montreux is the Freddie Mercury Statue, tucked right along the waterfront near the heart of all the Christmas activity. Fair warning: between the market ferris wheel, the indoor Marché Couvert, nearby restaurants, and the spot where the flying Santa sleigh pauses to sing, this area can draw a crowd…
Interestingly, we were the only ones actually focused on finding and snapping a photo of Freddie ;0.
Tip: if you’re hoping for a crowd-free shot, this is one place where setting an early alarm before the market opens would be necessary…
Alley of Jazz Musicians Statues
Just across the street from Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, we wandered into Parc Vernex and stumbled onto the Alley of Jazz Musicians statues, and it ended up being one of those unexpectedly memorable parts of Montreux (especially for my music loving husband :)).
The path runs right along the lake and leads straight into the start of the Christmas market stalls, so it’s an easy add as you’re heading out for the day.
Montreux’s connection to music goes back to the Montreux Jazz Festival, which began in 1967 and put this lakeside town on the map when artists from all over the world started coming here to perform (and many never really left in spirit).
As you walk through the park, you’ll see statues of legends like Freddie Mercury, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, and Ella Fitzgerald: a little reminder that Montreux has a personality beyond its lakeside resort feel, even if you’re just passing through on your way to the market.
Funky Claude’s Bar
Tucked inside the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Funky Claude’s Bar is one of those places that quietly holds a lot of music history.
Named after Claude Nobs, founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, and filled with memorabilia from legends like Freddie Mercury and David Bowie lining the walls.
On the early December Thursday night we went, it was surprisingly empty, which gave my music-loving husband full freedom to wander, take photos, and soak it all in before we enjoyed dinner from their full menu, ridiculously good cocktails with playful names, and live music (which they have every Thursday through Saturday).
I 100% believe my husband would say having drinks in this bar is a Montreux must do :).
Best Day Trips from Montreux
Rochers de Naye
If you’re looking to trade the lakefront for something a little more alpine (you are in Switzerland after all!), set aside at least a half day for Rochers-de-Naye!
This ended up being one of the most memorable and scenic parts of our entire 10 day trip.
You can book the 48-minute train ride from Montreux Railway Station to Rochers-de-Naye on the Montreux Oberland Bernois Railway website or be a tiny bit risky like we were and wait until the morning of and buy your ticket at the Montreux train station ;0.
The train itself is a historic cogwheel railway (yes, that steep!), slowly climbing from the palm-lined lake up into full winter scenery, and the views just keep getting better the higher you go.
By the time we reached the top, it felt like we had stepped into a completely different world with snow-covered peaks in every direction and crisp mountain air.
In December, there’s even a Santa House up there for kids (this is a different train+experience ticket fyi and does sell out!). When we got to the top of the mountain around 1:15pm on a Thursday afternoon in early December, there was a pretty long line to do the Santa experience but by the time we were getting on the 2:30pm train – there was no line! Learn more about this here.
We grabbed lunch at the very casual mountaintop Restaurant l’Alpin (nothing fancy but delicious apple strudel 😉).
All in, we spent about an hour and 15 minutes at the top.
Most of that time was just wandering around, taking way too many photos, and honestly just staring at the views ;0.
Vevey
If you’re staying in Montreux, take the quick train over to Vevey.
It’s less than 20 minutes and, honestly, it ended up being one of my favorite little detours of the whole trip.
Vevey has this understated charm that just felt easier to settle into, with a relaxed lakeside promenade, a small but lovely old town, and those same sweeping views of Lake Geneva without the resort feel.
Chaplin’s World
One of the many highlights for us in Vevey (and actually all of the Swiss Riviera for that matter) was visiting Chaplin’s World, the Charlie Chaplin museum.
But in true travel fashion, we made it slightly more “memorable” than necessary when we decided to walk the little over a mile from the train station to the museum…
Instead of turning on the road that we should have, we kept following a pretty canal path that suddenly turned into a straight-up climb of about 200 steps, surrounded by overgrowth, and somehow routed us under a highway underpass before we found our way back.
It felt like a mini adventure we didn’t exactly sign up for.
Lesson learned: if you’re walking from the train station, pull up Google Maps immediately and save yourself the detour.
Once we arrived, though, it was absolutely worth it. The museum is set in the former home of Charlie Chaplin, who spent the last 25 years of his life in Switzerland after leaving the United States in the 1950s.
It’s beautifully done, walking you through both his personal life and his legendary film career, with recreated sets and exhibits that are surprisingly immersive.
We spent just under two hours there and easily could have stayed longer, but we wanted to get back to the Christmas market before sunset (and yes… we retraced our exact steps on the way back 🤪).
Vevey Christmas Market
After our time at Chaplin’s World, we spent a few hours wandering along the water, getting some mulled wine at their super cute Christmas market, and just enjoying the slower pace of this Swiss Riviera town.
Vevey is also home to Nestlé, which I didn’t fully appreciate until we got there.
We didn’t leave ourselves enough time, but the Alimentarium Museum, founded by Nestlé and located in what was their original chocolate factory, is supposed to be worth a stop if you plan ahead.
If I could redo that day, I’d carve out more time in Vevey – and very likely stay here instead of Montreux (as mentioned earlier) without hesitation.
Gruyeres
We broke up the drive with the company Daytrip from Basel to Montreux with a quick stop in Gruyères, and it ended up being one of those simple, leg stretching opportunities we were glad we didn’t skip.
It was a Wednesday, so most of the little shops and restaurants were closed as well as the tiny Christmas market but that actually worked in our favor.
The village, which dates back to the Middle Ages and sits perched on a hill with its 13th-century castle at the top, felt quiet and almost frozen in time.
We just wandered the single cobblestone street, explored the castle, took in the crisp mountain air, spent a small amount of time in the creepy Museum HR Giger (from the movie Alien fame) and enjoyed the views without the crowds.
Before heading out, our driver took us to La Maison du Gruyère, right next to the train station. It’s known for its interactive cheese-making tour (complete with narration from a cow’s perspective).
The entire building had a very strong cheese smell – very strong! – and while it was interesting to peek into the storage vault (we did not do the interactive tour), it all felt a bit overly set up for visitors.
We used the restrooms, took a quick look around, and were more than happy that the real highlight of our stop had been the peaceful walk through the old town instead.
What to Wear in the Swiss Riviera in December
Because the majority of your time will be spent outdoors and often times in the evening once the sun goes down and it is much colder, I would suggest a warm coat, hats, scarves, mittens, etc!
While my adorable red bow coat is no longer being sold first hand – I found ONE here secondhand :0.
And these fleece lined tights are a must have if you want to still be cute and fashionable in skirts AND still be insanely warm – OUTSIDE!!
This is another pair of fleece tights that I wear as well on my European Christmas market trips and find them to also be incredibly warm :).
I also bought this red coat for previous Christmas market trips that I always feel festive in.
However on the days that dipped below 30°F – I was definitely in my warmer parka ;).
My husband recently gave me this beautiful cashmere Burberry scarf as a Christmas gift that is my new favorite item. If you get the chance – splurge on yourself at least once in your lifetime :).
This cheery red windowpane scarf has been a favorite in the past as well – especially since my cold weather accessories are really all that can be seen in any photos we took ;0.
And of course – DO NOT FORGET cute but WARM gloves (or mittens!).
Our Full Itinerary Day to Day Overview
DAY 1 | Fly British Airways to Basel from San Diego via London
DAY 2 | Arrive Basel 5pm
DAY 3 | Basel: Munster Cathedral | Mittlere Brucke Bridge | Spalenberg Street
DAY 4 | Basel: Flytographer photo shoot | Climb Cathedral tower for views | Wander streets of Old Town & Magical Courtyards
DAY 5 | Basel: Kleinbasel Altstadt | Walk along Rhine River | Christmas Market in evening
DAY 6 | Use company Daytrip to get from Basel to Montreux with a stop in Gruyeres
DAY 7 | Montreux: train up to Rocheres de Naye
DAY 8 | Montreux: Queen Studio Experience | Walk along Lake Geneva to Chillon Castle | Christmas Market
DAY 9 | Montreux: Day trip to Vevey ~ Charlie Chaplin’s World & Vevey Christmas Market
DAY 10 | Fly British Airways from Geneva to San Diego via London
I hope this Montreux Switzerland Christmas Market Travel Guide is helpful to you in planning your own Swiss Riviera adventure :).
If you’re looking for a Christmas destination that blends lake views, day trips, and a little bit of everything in one place, Montreux delivers that beautifully.
It may not be the classic old-world setting, but it’s a memorable stop that adds a completely different layer to a Swiss holiday itinerary.
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Oh Christmas isn’t just a day,
It’s a frame of mind.
~ Miracle on 34th Street
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Have a wonderful day my friend! I hope something makes you smile today ;).
