Montreux: top attractions & road trip guide
Montreux is a lakeside town on the northeastern shore of Lake Geneva in the canton of Vaud, known for its mild microclimate, palm-lined promenade, and long association with jazz and music through its annual festival. The town rises steeply from the water into terraced vineyards, with Alpine peaks forming a backdrop across the lake.
Top attractions
Château de Chillon
A moated castle built on a rocky islet at the edge of Lake Geneva, just south of Montreux, dating largely from the 13th century and made famous by Lord Byron's poem 'The Prisoner of Chillon'.
Montreux Jazz Festival grounds
The lakeside venues and promenade where the Montreux Jazz Festival has been held every July since 1967, now also home to a statue of Freddie Mercury who recorded several Queen albums in the town.
Lavaux vineyard terraces
A UNESCO World Heritage vineyard landscape stretching along the lakeshore between Montreux and Lausanne, with narrow terraces cultivated since the 11th century and small winegrowing villages accessible by local road.
Rochers-de-Naye
A 2,042-meter summit above Montreux reached by a cogwheel railway that opened in 1892, with panoramic views over Lake Geneva and, in summer, a marmot park near the top station.
Montreux lakeside promenade
A flower-lined waterfront path stretching several kilometers along Lake Geneva, planted with palm trees and cedars that thrive in the town's sheltered microclimate.
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