Montreux and the Swiss Riviera- everything to know to plan your trip
1. HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY ?
Montreux is one of the top destination around the Lake. There can be many tourists depending on the season. While they love Montreux, I wished that they would also visit surrounding towns and areas that are even more worth it (Yes I just said that and Montreux is my favorite city....). But there is just so much more to see than only Montreux in the area, that's what I really mean.
What I would recommend:
Montreux itself is easily done in one day. If you are just visiting the city itself, a full day will probably do. BUT, you will miss on a lot if you are just staying in Montreux and then leaving the area the next day. Trust me, there is so much to see.
Vevey is a nearby city and honestly I find the old town cuter, there is much more restaurants and coffee shops, and the vibes are fun too. Then there is Lavaux, a region protected by the UNESCO, with spectacular and dramatic views and many many vineyards. In Lavaux, there are a lot of cute towns that you must see. This whole region is called the Swiss Riviera, and extends from Lausanne to Montreux. Lausanne is the biggest city, but a different vibe.
I would recommend staying around 2 to 3 days if you want to see more than only Montreux. You could even stay a week and have plenty of things to do.
If you stay a couple of days, you can either stay at the same spot (Montreux or Vevey) and travel from there or you can move. But public transportation makes it very easy to move around. In fact, with the train, you will need 5 minutes between the two cities!
2. WHERE TO STAY?
If you are visiting the Swiss Riviera, I would either stay in Vevey or Montreux. Here is my guide for stays in Montreux.
3. HOW TO GET AROUND?
The public transports in Switzerland are unmatched. Many people still use cars but everyone also uses trains, buses, boats, or just walk a lot!
BY CAR:
Within the cities, you don't really need a car. If you are traveling to Vevey or Montreux, I would park my car somewhere (Pay for parking) and explore by foot. You can use your car to go in between cities but I would rather use public transports (yes, the train is faster than the car!). However, the car could be good if you are traveling with a big family or have lots of luggage.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The company that takes care of everything is CFF. You will definitely want to download the app to get all the timetables and everything down.
Within the Swiss Riviera, you can travel either by train, bus, or boat. Yes, even locals take the boat along the shores, some even everyday to go to work!
You might be shocked by the prices of public transports, so if you are staying for a while and using them a lot everyday, you can opt for daily or monthly passes.
Here is a pass you might consider:
4. WHEN TO VISIT?
The good thing is that the Swiss Riviera is a region worth visiting all year around (in my opinion of course). There are often things happening, either in Montreux, in Vevey, or in Lavaux.
For example, during the winter, there is the Xmas market in Montreux, which is a must see. In the Summer, there is the famous Montreux Jazz Festival. And throughout the seasons there is a comedy club, multiples wine tasting weekends, food truck festivals, lots of museums, many sports events (to look at or participate), and much more. I have never felt bored and feel like there is always something to do.
The Weather?
I personally love the weather because there is a real Spring and Fall, the Winter is not too cold (There is occasionally snow but it usually doesn't stay long in the city), and the summer is not too hot but hot enough for you to want to get a dip in the water. There are rainy days, on which we stay inside, go to museums, or go to coffee shops.
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