Things to Do in Montreux

Chillon Castle (Chateau de Chillon), a medieval castle on the banks of Lake Geneva, is one of Switzerland’s most visited attractions. Travelers come to find out more about its fascinating history—it was used as a defensive outpost, a summer home for the dukes of Savoy, and a state-run prison.

 

The castle, which has watched over Lake Geneva for more than 1,000 years, started out as a Roman outpost guarding a strategic pass through the Alps. The fortified castle with its steep roofs and stone turrets is surrounded by water and is only accessible via a drawbridge walkway.

 

Tour the state rooms and secret passages, explore the gloomy dungeons, and get a sense of what life would have been like for residents many hundreds of years ago. Panoramic views of the surrounding lake and the Swiss Alps top off the experience on this historic day out. A visit to Chillon Castle can also be combined with a trip to the towns of Montreux or Lausanne as part of a daylong tour. If you’re touring independently, prebook admission so you can skip the line upon arrival.

 

Chillon Castle, on the banks of Lake Geneva, is a short distance outside the town of Lausanne. Free car parking is available on-site. Trains run regularly from Montreux to neighboring Veytaux-Chillon, and buses also stop nearby. Guided tours with round-trip transfers are also available.

 

The castle is open every day, except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Opening hours are 9am–7pm in the summer, with reduced hours in the winter months.

 

English poet Lord Byron was so inspired by his visit to Chillon Castle that he wrote one of his most famous works about the castle’s dungeon—The Prisoner of Chillon. Keep an eye out for Byron’s name carved into the dungeon wall and the deep groove in the floor caused by the constant pacing of dukes of Savoy enemy François Bonivard, who was imprisoned here for six years.

A snow-coated wonderland perched high in the Vaud Alps of Western Switzerland, the Glacier 3000 resort is a one-stop destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Just an hour from Montreux, it offers spectacular mountain views, ample opportunities for hiking and skiing, and a huge range of adrenaline-fueled activities.

 

After riding the cable car to the 9,842-foot (3,000-meter) mountaintop of Glacier 3000, visitors can take in the views from the Botta restaurant and terrace, ride the Ice Express chairlift, and brave the Peak Walk by Tissot, the only mountain peak suspension bridge of its kind in the world. Guided tours run from Montreux, Geneva, and Lausanne, often combined with a stop in the village of Les Diablerets or at viewpoints around Lake Geneva.

 

 

To get to Glacier 3000, take the Ski Bus from the town of Les Diablerets to the cable car station in Col du Pillon. Les Diablerets can be reached by train from Montreux via Aigle, or Gstaad (both around an hour away).

 

The Glacier 3000 area is open all year-round, aside from a month of annual scheduled maintenance (typically late September to early October). The best time to visit depends on your chosen activities—skiers will want to visit in the winter season (October to May), while some activities, such as the alpine coaster and snow bus, are only open in the summer months (June to September).

 

Along with more than 16 miles (26 kilometers) of ski and snowboard runs and a snow park, winter visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, sledding at the Fun Park, and glacier hiking, while summer visitors can choose from a range of hiking trails or tackle the Via Ferrata climbing route. Other activities include dog sledding, helicopter flights over the glaciers, snow bus rides, and the Alpine Coaster, the world’s highest toboggan run.