12 Best Things to do in Montreux in Winter & 8 Day Trip Ideas
Montreux makes an excellent addition to your France or Switzerland itinerary, either as a relaxing retreat following an energetic winter sports holiday or as a snowy sightseeing trip.
Montreux is known for its culture and scenery – stemming from its annual Montreux Jazz Festival held in the summer and its location on the Swiss Riviera at the foot of the mountains.
I visited Montreux in the winter of 2022, and it was an excellent end to a ski trip in Haute Savoie. I always recommend avoiding Geneva Airport on a Saturday for ski trips because it gets so busy. Therefore, adding Montreux to the start or end of your trip is an ideal extension – not to mention that it is beautiful.
As someone who has been to Montreux, this article will share information that first-time visitors should know. For example, you will learn about the best activities in Montreux during the winter season, hotel recommendations, and suggestions for where to eat.
There are plenty of winter activities in the region, so it is worth visiting Montreux in December, January, and February.
Here is your guide to embracing Montreux during the colder months.
12 Things to Do in Montreux Switzerland in Winter
Winter activities are abundant in Montreux, as well as the usual sightseeing you can do year-round. But winter is an ideal time to visit Montreux like a winter wonderland.
If you want to spend one day in Montreux, you must prioritise certain activities because it will be a struggle to fit it all in.
Here is a summary of the best things to do in Montreux in winter.
- Lakeside Stroll
- Old Town Exploration
- Chateau de Chillon
- Funicular
- Try Swiss Delicacies
- Montreux Christmas Market (Marché de Noel)
- Visit Santa
- Snowshoeing
- Sledging at Les Avants
- Ice Skating
- Skiing
- Boat Cruise
1. Lakeside Stroll
Take a leisurely walk along the promenade, which offers breathtaking views of Lake Geneva. The view across the lake from the promenade at sunrise and sunset is spectacular.
The benefit of booking a hotel along the lakefront is that you are a short walk to the promenade.
Look out for the Freddie Mercury Statue that was erected on the promenade in 1996 to commemorate his legacy after his death.
Freddie Mercury lived in Montreux and recorded several albums there.
2. Old Town Exploration
Discover the charming Old Town (Vieille-Ville de Montreux) and get lost in its steep hills while photographing the quaint streets.
From the top of the Old Town, near St Vincent Church, you will get an excellent view of Lac Leman.
3. Chateau de Chillon
Even though you must drive to this location because it is just outside Montreux, once you have arrived, you can immerse yourself in history and wander around Chateau de Chillon. Chillon Castle was used as inspiration for the castle in the Disney film The Little Mermaid.
From November to February, Chillon Castle is open from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. You can book your tickets online for CHF 12.30 (adult full-price) and include an audio guide in your language of choice for an additional CHF 6. You can book a discounted rate if you have a Montreux Riviera Card.
Throughout weekends in December, Chateau de Chillon puts on a Christmas event in the castle grounds. There are medieval-style performances, a Christmas choir, and some workshops to get involved in – making items such as wreaths, candles, and pottery. You can purchase mulled wine or spiced tea to round off the festivities.
It is recommended to reserve tickets for the Christmas Noël au Château event online in advance.
There is free parking for 3 hours at Chateau de Chillon if you use the “blue parking disc”. You can pick up a disc from a petrol station for a small fee. Alternatively, some Police Stations give them out for free.
4. Funicular
Take the Territet to Glion Funicular to get a unique city view. The journey takes 8 minutes, and you will be rewarded with great views of Lake Geneva along the way.
The funicular is free for those with a Montreux Riviera Card or CHF 2.90 without. You will likely get the Montreux Riviera Card if you have booked a hotel in Montreux. Day-trippers to Montreux will not receive one.
The Glion town is worth a quick visit to stroll around. Glion is also home to the Hotel Victoria, a Relais & Châteaux property, and makes a great place to stay in Montreux.
You can continue from Glion to Rocher de Nayes by Cogwheel train – it takes 38 minutes and costs CHF 16.60 without any discounts.
Learn more about the inclusions of the Montreux Riviera Card in this PDF.
5. Try Swiss Delicacies
While in Montreux, you can indulge in some local Swiss delicacies.
One place to visit is the Laiterie de Gruyère, a cheese shop that has been operating since 1982 and offers a wide selection of local products. Their speciality is cheese, with over 200 varieties available for purchase.
One of the must-try items at Laiterie de Gruyère is the Gruyère cheese – named after the town of Gruyères in Switzerland and is approximately 30 minutes from Montreux by car.
Other foods and dishes to consider from Switzerland include Fondue served with bread and potatoes, dried sausage, Alpine Macaroni, Rösti (potato dish), raclette (melted cheese), chocolate, other Swiss cheeses (such as Emmental), and the local Lavaux wines.
6. Montreux Christmas Market (Marché de Noel)
Montreux makes an ideal Christmas getaway as there are many festive activities to enjoy throughout November and December. For more details on Christmas activities in Montreux, visit the Montreux Noel website.
From November to Christmas Eve, logger cabins filled with Christmas crafts, sweet treats, and gift ideas line the Montreux promenade. It is one of the best ways to get in the Christmas spirit when visiting Montreux in November or December.
Avoid the Christmas Market in Montreux on Friday, Saturday, Sunday & evenings, if possible, as it can get so busy you will be walking shoulder to shoulder with everyone.
Continue along the promenade to the Market Square (Place du Marché) to find a covered area with Christmas markets, a candle-making workshop (CHF 12) and a Ferris Wheel (CHF 8 per adult).
Also, look out for Father Christmas flying through the sky on his sleigh, which takes place every day at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 PM, with an additional sighting at 4:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
Montreux Marché de Noel is one of the best Christmas markets in French-speaking Switzerland due to its number of log cabins filled with crafts and goodies. There are over 150 stalls.
7. Visit Santa
From late November until Christmas Eve, you will have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus in real life, take a photo with him, and receive a special gift.
Take the Cogwheel Railway from Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye at a height of 2,042 m to reach Santa’s House. You must book this Christmas experience in advance because it does sell out. The website explaining the Rochers-de-Naye at Christmas may not be available outside the Christmas period.
8. Snowshoeing
Explore the pristine winter landscape on snowshoes in the Montreux area, also known as raquettes in French.
Discover the best snowshoeing routes here.
9. Sledging at Les Avants
Enjoy a thrill by sledging at the Les Avants luge run near Montreux, which is open from mid-December to mid-March – conditions permitting. You can find out the quality of the snow and if the luge is open on the Les Avants website (in French).
The 2.5 km sledge route goes along the road to Les Avants, so you need to check the schedule to see what days and times the residents can access the road. Use the Les Avants link above and scroll to the bottom of the page for the red, yellow, and green table with an English explanation.
To get to the luge track, you must take the funicular from the Les Avants Station to the Sonloup Station.
You can buy sledge day passes from the counter at MOB Montreux Station and from ticket booths at Les Avants station for CHF 16 per adult. You can hire sledges in the Les Avants village for CHF 10 on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and evenings, and all day on weekends.
10. Ice Skating
Take some skates out for a spin at the semi-natural ice rink in Caux. Skating costs CHF 4 per adult, and skates are CHF 3 to rent. Caux ice rink usually opens in mid-December if the weather conditions are suitable. It needs to have been below 0 degrees Celsius for at least five days and minimal precipitation.
Visit the I Love Caux website for more details on ice skating (in French); however, I found it difficult to access it on a computer, but it worked fine on mobile browsing. Caux Ice Rink has a webcam on its website, although it is somewhat difficult to view from the mobile.
The roads to Caux are narrow and winding; therefore, it is best to visit it by train from Montreux. It is a 20-minute journey by train and a few minutes on foot from Caux station.
Several years ago, Caux Palace had a Christmas village in its gardens. However, it has not taken place in recent years. I emailed the Caux communications team in December 2023, and they confirmed this.
11. Skiing
Hit the ski slopes near Montreux for a day of adrenaline-fuelled fun. There are plenty of options for skiing in France and Switzerland within a short train ride or around an hour’s drive.
The Rochers-de-Naye ski resort is 20 minutes by train from Montreux. It is at a height of 2,042 metres and typically receives snow early in the ski season. The season typically lasts from mid-December until early April.
You can find out which runs, lifts, restaurants, and snow parks are open on the snow bulletin page (in French).
The lift pass for the Les Rochers-de-Naye ski area costs CHF 20 or CHF 35, including travel on the Montreux – Les Rochers-de-Naye train line. You can purchase tickets at the MOB train station in Montreux and Vevey.
Another option for skiing close to Montreux is at Les Pléiades ski resort, which you can reach from Vevey train station. This resort is generally open from mid-December until mid-March. The cost of one day of skiing and a train ticket is CHF 35 per adult.
Les Rochers-de-Naye and Les Pléiades are small ski resorts, so if you want a more expansive resort, you can drive to other ski resorts in the Lake Geneva area. For example, some stations in Portes du Soleil, Bernex and Verbier are all approximately a 1 hour’s drive from Montreux.
Make sure you have packed the right clothes for skiing.
12. Boat Cruise
There are some boat cruises offered on Lake Geneva in winter. For example, you can enjoy the Riviera Tour on Sundays and public holidays from December to April. There are two boat trips during winter – from 12:20 PM until 2:12 PM, and 2:20 PM until 4:12 PM.
You can buy tickets online from the CGN website. You are allowed to bring dogs on the boat. If you have a small dog, such as a chihuahua, and it can be carried in a bag, then you do not need to pay a fare for it. Make sure you carry the dog in a bag onto the boat.
You can also bring larger dogs, but you do not need to pay online in advance for the dogs. Speak to an agent when you board to pay for the dog fare.
I went on the Riviera Tour in the summer, and it was an excellent way to see a large part of the region in a short amount of time. We brought our dogs on board, and they seemed to like the ride.
Day Trips from Montreux in Winter
Aside from the abundance of winter sports offered in the canton of Vaud, home to Montreux, there are other day trips to enjoy during winter.
Best Towns to Explore near Montreux
Consider taking day trips from Montreux to nearby places like Vevey and Yvoire, which are great towns to visit on Lake Geneva.
Yvoire is a medieval village worth visiting. Although most shops and cafes will be closed during winter, it is still beautiful to walk around. Vevey is home to the Charlie Chaplin Museum and food-themed museum, Alimentarium.
Alternatively, you could travel inland towards Swiss towns like Gruyere or Bern. Bern is a quaint town with typical Swiss architecture and charming to walk around. Nonetheless, do not expect to see the bears in Bern’s Bear Park in winter as they are hibernating.
Lausanne typically presents its Festival of Lights (Lausanne Lumières) in late November until the end of December. However, in 2023, the festival did not take place due to restrictions by the Lausanne municipality. Check the Lausanne Festival of Lights website to see if it takes place in 2024.
Chocolate Factory
For chocolate lovers, you can visit the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in Broc, near Gruyeres, approximately 40 minutes by car. The cost for adults to visit the chocolate factory is CHF 17. It is best to book these tickets online since the line to buy tickets can take up to 3 hours in peak times.
While at Maison Cailler, you should try their famous hot chocolate in the café. Plus, there are plenty of souvenirs to take home from your travels. During your visit, you will learn about the process of making chocolate. The tour takes around 45 minutes with an audio guide.
If you want to get more involved in the chocolate-making process, you can book a chocolate workshop taught in French, German, and English.
Thermal Baths
If you want relaxation or a way to spend the day out of the snow and cold weather, or if there is not enough snow to ski, visit Les Bains de Lavey. The baths are approximately 30 minutes away from Montreux by car.
Les Bains de Lavey has indoor and outdoor thermal pools that are naturally warm.
There are also saunas and hammams available to use during your visit.
A 3-hour visit to the thermal baths, saunas and steam rooms is CHF 32 per person.
Towels and bathrobes are not provided at Les Bains de Lavey. So, make sure you bring your own towel. Also, bring a water bottle to drink after your visit as you will be thirsty.
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000 is a mountain destination ideal for both winter and summer trips. In winter, Glacier 3000 offers a wide range of activities, such as skiing, ski touring, and sledging. There are 25 km of slopes available to ski on, typically open from October to May.
Les Diablerets is a ski area that connects easily to Glacier 3000, meaning you can experience activities in both places with one lift pass. Les Diablerets also has one of the longest luges in Switzerland at 7.2 km in length. You can rent a sledge starting at CHF 12 – the price changes according to the model you request.
There is a restaurant called Les Mazots close by that you can visit before or after to fuel up.
The Peak Walk by Tissot is a unique installation at Glacier 3000, at the top of the Vaud Alps. It is the only suspension bridge in the world that connects two mountain peaks. The bridge links the smaller peak, View Point, with the 5-meter higher main peak, Scex Rouge.
The bridge itself is 107 meters long and 80 centimetres wide. Walking across the Peak Walk bridge offers a stunning view of the Alps, including the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
To get to Glacier 3000, you can travel from Montreux to Col du Pillon and it will take around 50 minutes by car. There is free parking at Col du Pillon.
You can also take the train or drive to Les Diablerets. The train to Les Diablerets, via Aigle, the total journey is approximately 1 hour. Upon arrival at Les Diablerets, you can take the bus to Col du Pillon, arriving 15 minutes later.
You can find the bus schedule for journeys from Les Diablerets to Col du Pillon/Glacier 3000 on the Glacier 3000 website.
The round-trip cable car ticket costs CHF 85 per adult as a pedestrian, or if you have a Swiss Travel Pass or other similar discount pass, it is CHF 43 per adult.
The Peak Walk is accessible free of charge for visitors to Glacier 3000. However, other activities may incur a fee. Find out more details on tickets and prices on the Glacier 3000 website.
If the above instructions sound a little too confusing, consider booking bus transportation to Glacier 3000 with a guide.
How to Get to Montreux in Winter?
The closest airport to Montreux is Geneva.
However, if your departure city does not have direct flights to Geneva but does offer flights to Zurich, your total journey to Montreux may be quicker to fly to Zurich Airport if you continue by car. You could also fly to Basel airport.
Montreux is well connected by train from major cities like Geneva and Zurich. The duration by train from Geneva to Montreux is a little over 1 hour. The journey from Montreux to Zurich by train is around 3 hours and involves changing trains en route.
There is also an overnight paid car park at Montreux Train station for those driving. Book your car rental with Rental Cars to find a range of prices from different retailers.
If you are visiting Montreux for a day trip on the weekend, it can be challenging to find a parking space over the Christmas period as it is so popular. Therefore, you may need to park your vehicle in a car park further away and take a shuttle in.
Travelling throughout Switzerland with a train travel pass is common. For example, the Golden Pass Train travels from Interlaken to Montreux, and the journey is approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes.
However, the Glacier Express does not reach Montreux. Glacier Express is an eight-hour trip between Zermatt and St. Moritz. To reach Zermatt from Montreux, take a train to Visp or Brig and connect onwards.
Where To Eat in Montreux in Winter?
I went to Bistro Decotterd for lunch during my visit to Montreux in February, and it was exceptional.
Bistro Decotterd is featured on the Michelin guide and offers an unbelievable view from the restaurant. The food was exceptional, and I loved the ribs and chocolate tart that I ordered. Additionally, they served tasty local wines.
You can easily make a reservation online for the Bistro on the Michelin website. To get to the restaurant, you can take the funicular to Glion from Montreux, or there is a free car park for guests. In my experience, it is one of the best Montreux restaurants.
Another great place to dine in Montreux in winter is Le CouCou Hôtel & Restaurant, which is in the mountains. I would suggest taking the train to Haut de Caux station since it is a short walk away. Le CouCou serves traditional alpine cuisine, and it is easy to make a reservation online. Although, beware that the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in winter.
Finally, if you are looking for another restaurant with exceptional views, good food and wine, and in a convenient location, you could try Restaurant 45 at Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic. This restaurant is good for hotel guests, and the view at sunset is out of this world. The food was not as good as Bistro Decotterd, but it hits the mark in many other aspects.
Where To Stay in Montreux in Winter?
Consider Hotel Fairmont Le Montreux Palace and Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic if you seek luxurious Montreux accommodation.
These Fairmont and Marriott hotels are some of the best hotels in Montreux Switzerland. When I worked as a luxury travel agent, we would rely on these 5-star hotel brands as they have a consistent quality across their properties.
I stayed at the Grand Hotel Suisse during my Montreux winter visit and would recommend it for its impressive view of Lake Geneva. Its beds were also comfortable, and I loved the bathroom and hotel robe.
The Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is known for its excellent Sunday brunch from 12:00 until 3:00 PM.
What is the Weather Like in Montreux in Winter?
Montreux, located on the shores of Lake Geneva, experiences a crisp winter climate. Winters are cold with temperatures often dropping below freezing, making it the perfect place to base yourself for numerous snowy experiences.
- December: The average temperature is around -2°C (28.4°F), with a minimum temperature of -5.4°C (22.3°F) and a maximum of 1.9°C (35.5°F). The city usually sees around 57 hours of sunlight and typically receives high snow/rainfall, averaging around 143 mm for the month.
- January: The average temperature is slightly higher than in December, at -0.9°C (30.3°F). The minimum temperature is -4.9°C (23.2°F), and the maximum temperature is 3.1°C (37.7°F). The precipitation/rainfall in January is 126mm.
- February: The weather starts to warm up a bit in February. The average temperature is -0.9°C (30.3°F), the minimum temperature is -4.9°C (23.2°F), and the maximum temperature is 3.1°C (37.7°F). The precipitation/rainfall in February is 117mm.
FAQ – Visiting Montreux in Winter
Is Montreux worth visiting in December?
Yes, Montreux is worth visiting in December. Montreux offers a variety of winter activities, including a Christmas market, festive events at Chateau de Chillon, snowshoeing, ice skating, and more.
Is there a Christmas market in Montreux?
Yes, Montreux hosts a Christmas market (Marché de Noel) from November to Christmas Eve. The market features logger cabins filled with Christmas crafts, sweet treats, and gift ideas along the promenade.
Additionally, there are festive activities, a candle-making workshop, a Ferris wheel, and appearances by Father Christmas.
