With its glittering blue waters and idyllic perch surrounded by dramatic mountainscapes, Montreux is a town that is (frankly) so pretty it feels unfair.

Located along the peaceful shores of Lac Léman (better known by most as Lake Geneva), this go-to escape for the rich and famous is known for many things – a world-famous jazz festival, a legendary music studio-turned-museum, and a fairytale castle so stunning, it even inspired one of Disney’s most iconic princely homes.

Add on an array of gorgeous cities, vineyards, and *cough* St Bernard museums within an hour’s journey and this truly is a destination you cannot miss on your trip to Switzerland.

So in this guide, I’m going to share all the best things to do in the glorious Montreux Riviera, saving an incredible train journey for last that is guaranteed to be a railly good time… I hope you find it helpful!

My Free Map of Things to Do in Montreux

For a free map that includes all the activities below (plus recommendations for food, drink, etc.), head to my VIP Zone!

1. Take a (long) stroll along the water

For you to fully appreciate Montreux and fall in love for reals, we have to escape the modern and busy town centre for a quick waterside frolic.

Luckily, the Montreux lakeside offers an elegant 7km (ish) waterfront promenade that is home to Montreux’s most iconic views, with countless ‘quais’ (or docks) offering dreamy lake vistas and alpine backdrops all topped with a colourful foreground of palms, flowers and the occasional fun work of art… including statues of both the static and kinetic variety.

While you’ll find no shortage of epic views every step of the way, the area around Place du Marché is especially noteworthy, with its beautiful covered market, fully decked in festive glamour during our holiday visit… along with the iconic festive Ferris wheel.

While here, you can indulge in one of the most iconic photo opps of the city and…

2. Say hi to the famous Freddie Mercury statue

Standing on this very spot since 1996, this nearly 10 foot statue stands in memory of Queen’s legendary frontman Freddie Mercury, whose affinity for Montreux’s peace and quiet led him to record several albums here, along with the final vocals he’d ever record in May 1991.

3. Visit Queen: The Studio Experience museum

On that note, if the history of Queen & Montreux interests you, another must-do is a stop by the very awesome and very free Queen: The Studio Experience.

Housed in the famous Mountain Studios inside the Casino Barrière, this museum is a must-see for anyone with even the tiniest remote interest in Queen.

After all, they recorded seven albums here, and even owned the studio for several years.

Inside you’ll find surprisingly intimate artifacts like handwritten lyrics on hotel stationary, as well as epic Queen items that most super fans would froth at the mouth over… like THE drum kit used in the band’s iconic performance at Live Aid, and several iconic Freddie outfits. 

And yes… you can even sit in the sound studio at the very mixing board used here back in the day, where you have free rein to remix some Queen classics for yourself.

As a fan, I cannot tell you how much fun this was!

And if the urge to deface a wall compels you, don’t miss the memorial wall just outside of the casino where you can leave a message. 

Now if you want go get a little higher up, another great Montreux must do is go…. 

4. Wander the cobbles of Les Planches

This Old Town neighbourhood of old wine-growers’ houses and narrow lanes is a refreshing change from the modern and fairly commercialized centre below – ideal for a wistful wander.

One special highlight here is the Musée de Montreux, The Museum of Montreux, tucked into some 17th-century houses covering local history, wine-growing, tourism and more.

While in this part of town you can also start a hike through the lush Gorges du Chauderon, which offers lovely trails that immerse you in what feels like an entirely different world from the modern lakeside city just steps away.

Of course, when in Montreux and weather permits, you have to….

5. Enjoy a lake cruise or tour

Spanning an impressive 580 square kilometers, Lac Léman, known as Lake Geneva in English, is the largest lake in the country… offering plenty of great sightseeing opportunities whether from your accommodation, from a restaurant or café, or on board a boat cruise for those keen to experience the magic from a new perspective.

When the weather cooperates, there’s truly no better way to soak in the region’s picturesque views.

But you can of course also use the boats as point to point transport, a very popular route being from Montreux to…

6. Visit Château de Chillon

This iconic lakeside castle will be immediately recognizable to many as the inspiration for Prince Eric’s castle from the Little Mermaid… but that might be one of the least interesting things about it. 

Set just outside town on a small rocky island, the earliest historical mentions of this castle date back to 1150, so needless to say it has plenty of stories to tell.

Unlike many castles that only set aside a room or two for your perusal, this castle goes all out, with a seemingly endless parade of courtyards, rooms, and pathways that shed light on the castle’s extensive history as a fortress, arsenal, and prison.

And even some fun interactive displays like a wheel you could spin to assign yourself a medieval disease. (Spoiler alert: I got ‘the clap’).

Beautifully preserved with gorgeous lake views all around, even from the old school latrines, this castle has a lot more to offer than immaculate aesthetics, though it has plenty of those… especially during the festive season when fun decorations could be found all over. 

They even make their own wine here that you can bring home as a souvenir!

If castle wine isn’t enough to quench your thirst though, you can also…

7. Pay a visit to the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces

Situated between Lausanne and Montreux, this UNESCO World Heritage site churns out some dangerously drinkable wines… especially their Chasselas, which is native to the region. 

Today, wine tourists have plenty of possibilities to choose from, whether you want a more guided experience through a tour, or simply a DIY option through the several walking circuits available to choose from.

Grape time guaranteed. 

While here, you might also want to…

8. Take a day trip to Lausanne

This beautiful lakeside town home to the International Olympic Committee, and therefore an excellent Olympics museum, along with tons of epic views. Read more in my guide to fun things to do in Lausanne!

On the way back to Montreux, you can make a stop to… 

9. Explore Vevey 

Known sometimes as the “pearl of the Swiss Riviera”, and only a few minutes from Montreux by train or bus. 

This gorgeous little lakeside town is best known for two things: an outrageously large fork sculpture and connections to legendary British comedian Charlie Chaplin…. Since this is the town where he chose to spend the last 25 years of his life. 

Today you can visit the same lake view manor he called home, which has been converted into a museum about his life and work.

You could also visit his grave site, which was famously robbed just months after his death by kidnappers demanding a hefty ransom.

For something more low key though, you can also just pose with a statue of him, which is conveniently steps away from Vevey’s other top must-see, the 8m tall stainless steel fork stuck into the lake… among the largest in the world, originally unveiled for the 10th anniversary of the Alimentarium museum of food, also in Vevey. 

Those with a bit time though can head down to Martigny for one of the most Swiss experiences you can possibly imagine, because this is indeed the charming town where you can…

10. Visit the world’s only Museum dedicated to St. Bernard dogs

Full disclosure: this is a full hour from Montreux proper, but you’re about to see exactly why I had to include it. 

Barryland is a brilliant project funded by the Barry Foundation whose mission is to protect, breed and promote the iconic Saint Bernard, a symbol of Switzerland recognized and beloved all around the world. 

So, to aid in this mission, they’ve created a full-on museum park where you can not only learn about the St. Bernards and their varied roles over the years as rescue icons, friends and cultural stars.

You can also admire them in real life, and enjoy some more hands on education if you get lucky (yes, I’m talking about pets. And LOTS of them).

Housed in a new sleek paw-shaped facility opened in 2025, this museum and park is the only one in the world dedicated to Saint Bernards, in a pristine setting amidst mountains all around.

Of course, the highlight here is the upper floor where you can see some of the foundation’s 30+ resident St. Bernards in action, with demos that showcase different activities from daily care routines and training to other miscellaneous exercises. You can even watch them enjoy their meal every day at 5pm. 

Outside of these scheduled activities though, the Saint Bernards can be observed and adored from afar, whether while partaking in some hydrotherapy or maybe just some naps. That is, if they aren’t outside enjoying their massive outdoor enclosures which they can access via motion sensor any time they want. 

And if you’re desperate to learn more about each one which, of course you are, interactive screens are on site to tell you their names, and plenty more fun facts.

If you can bear to leave the upper floor, the downstairs is home to a surprisingly high tech education space that showcases all the different sides to the famous breed, with highlights including immersive experiences where you are rescued by a St. Bernard yourself, and VR powered experiences that teach you more about the region and history of the breed. 

There’s also all kinds of delightful photos and, of course, plenty of attention is paid to the iconic Barry, the museum’s namesake, who is largely regarded as the most famous St. Bernard, responsible for 40+ rescues in his lifetime, with a story shrouded in myth and mystery. 

There’s even an incredible postcard and stamp collection from Joseph Vuyet, a man who dedicated his life to collecting postcards and stamps with St. Bernards on them, and trophies won by some of Barryland’s dogs.

If weather cooperates, which it did not on our visit, you can also explore the expansive outdoor space, home to other animal friends depending on the season.

And the on-site café does weirdly good sweet treats and coffee for a dog museum… plus they have fun on-theme mugs so you know it’s worth a visit. 

All in all, a Barry delightful day trip from Montreux.

11. Enjoy a cool train ride

If time permits though, I’ve saved one of my favourite experiences ever for last!

… Because Montreux is a great base for several train experiences, from short hillside funiculars like from Territet to Glion to more epic journeys like the cog-rail up to Rochers‑de‑Naye, where at an elevation of about 2,000 m you’ll get views from the Eiger to Mont Blanc and beyond. 

But really if there’s one train ride you have to do, it’s the Golden Pass Belle Époque.

2 hours is all it takes to ruin you for all other train rides forever, if you’re a fan of old style glamour like I am. 

While many trains pass through the famous Golden Pass route between Lucerne and Montreux, none do it as stylishly as the elegant GoldenPass Belle Époque, which connects Montreux to Zweisimmen in a luxury train with 1930s Orient Express vibes. 

Particularly in first class, where you get plush green armchairs to drool from.

The views on this journey are spectacular, with lakes, mountains, and glorious countryside views for the entire ride. Luck out with the timing like I did and you might just find yourself in the heart of a true winter wonderland.

We took this trip as part of our journey to Bern, but some choose to do it as a roundtrip from Montreux, often stopping in Gstaad for lunch then heading back. 

However you choose to do it, don’t forget to collect your free train station stamp and passport from the tourist information centre in Montreux, if you’re into that kind of thing which, of course, you know I am. 

BONUS: Check out the Montreux Christmas Market

If you manage to plan your visit for the end of November to Christmas, you should also make sure you visit the gorgeous Montreux Christmas markets, one of my personal favourite Christmas markets in Switzerland.

Apart from the glorious lakeside location, this market is also home to one of the country’s most magical festive traditions: a real life Santa who glides across the sky in his sleigh a few times each evening.

Read more about this market in my full Montreux Christmas Market guide.

Did I miss any of your favourite things to do in Montreux?

Let me know in the comments so I can add more of the best Montreux activities to this list. Happy and safe travels!