Montreux Keep in Touch

Montreux is a beautiful city on the shores on Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). Famous for the annual Jazz festival, the Montreux Christmas Market also places this magical place high on the list for anyone looking for a wonderful experience and excellent market.

21st November to 24th December 2024

child friendly montreux christmas markets

The Montreux Christmas Market is reputed to be the finest Christmas Market in all of Switzerland presenting over 120 richly-decorated wooden chalet style stands, manned by craftsmen and shopkeepers who will be offering a host of unique and original Christmas gifts. The newest Montreux additions are developed especially for children. They include Santa’s Toy Factory and the scenic train trip to visit Santa Claus in his mountain top home at the Rochers-de Naye.

The City On The Lake Picturesque

montreux castle

The town of Montreux nestles in a sheltered Lake Geneva bay, surrounded by vineyards and against the breathtaking backdrop of snow-covered Alps. The Montreux Jazz Festival which takes place in June/July, features concerts on a variety of stages and parks, is world famous.

Culture

Because of the exceptionally mild climate, Montreux is called the capital of the Vaud Riviera. Plants associated with the Mediterranean such as pines, cypresses and palm trees grow here. Charlie Chaplin, Freddie Mercury and several other famous people lived and continue to live on the Vaud Riviera.

wooden snow chalet in montreux

The Lake

The long, flower-bordered lake promenade which links Vevey and Montreux going all the way to Chillon Castle is simply asking to be strolled along. There are countless excursion options to the mountains around the area or on the lake make Montreux the most popular excursion and holiday destination. Many of the houses along the lakeside road, including the magnificent Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, date from the heyday of the Belle Époque.

Highlights

  • Rochers-de-Naye – the Rochers-de-Naye rack-railway, after overcoming a difference in altitude of 1600 metres, reaches one of the most beautiful vantage points in western Switzerland.
  • Golden Pass Line – the panorama train operates between Montreux, Gstaad and the Bernese Oberland with connections to Lucerne.
  • Lake Geneva Shipping Company – the ships, some of which are still powered by paddles, take visitors to the picturesque lakeside resorts.
  • Chillon Castle – located on a rocky island near the shore featuring fortified walls and towers; the prison in which Bonivard was held in chains for four years and which provided Lord Byron with the inspiration for his famous poem “The prisoners of Chillon” in 1816 deserves particular attention. Nowadays the castle is a museum.

Top Events

  • Montreux Jazz Festival – since its beginning in 1967 the festival has developed into a big event which frequently features the greatest jazz, blues, rock, world music and soul musicians (June/July).
  • Comedy-Festival – the humour festival every year brings together the most famous comedians from the French-, German- and English-speaking areas (December).
  • Christmas Market – one of Switzerland’s famous Christmas Markets with numerous attractions and over one hundred decorated wooden houses brimming with gifts (December). 

Our Christmas Market breaks are very flexible You choose how you travel – and where from!

Fly

If you wish to fly, our partners at Switzerland Travel Centre can assist you with scheduled flights from London (Heathrow, Gatwick & City) to Geneva.

With SWISS, you get free baggage allowance, drinks, food, on-line check-in and they fly from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham and Manchester.

If you prefer, you are welcome to use one of the Low Cost Base Airlines, such as EasyJet who fly from 12 regional airports to Switzerland, so we should be able to find a good value flight for you! EasyJet also fly direct to Geneva from Luton.

Drive

If you wish to drive, we can include cross-Channel Ferries & Eurotunnel.

Transfers

Included in your holiday price is your train transfer from Geneva to Montreux.

If you prefer to fly to Zurich Bern or Basel, we can include rail travel from these airports too for a small supplement.

Travelling to Montreux
Train Transfer Time from Basel: 3hr 00min
Train Transfer Time from Bern: 2hr 20min
Train Transfer Time from Geneva: 1hr 20min
Train Transfer Time from Zürich : 2hr 55min
Driving Distance from Calais: 500 miles

View the Swiss Rail timetable.

We offer a wide range of quality hotel accommodation any level, for any budget

Hotels:

We have hotels to suit any budget or preferences. We offer a huge range of availability on hotels and can offer any level from 2, 3, 4 or 5-star hotel. All our hotels are situated in great locations and offer the best quality and Swiss style and friendliness.


OTP Holidays – Montreux Preferred Tour Operator of Switzerland Tourism

Our prices are simple, Just Choose the grade of Hotel. We have Youth prices for children up to the age of 16 and even bigger savings for Children under the age of 6yrs!

Unlike most other British tour operators, the prices include…

  • High standard and spacious hotel accommodation (choice of 2, 3, 4 or 5 star)
  • Bed and Breakfast meals
  • Cross-Channel travel with car or transfers to the resort from Geneva airport on Swiss Rail
  • Services of our very own 24hr on-call experienced representatives
  • All cleaning, linen, heating & tourist tax charges

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