Things to do in Montreux

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Switzerland

Chillon Castle

7.6

4.6/5

263 reviews

Chillon Castle stands on a small rocky island jutting into the eastern end of Lake Geneva, facing the lakeside town of Montreux and connected to the shore by a wooden bridge. The entire castle follows the contours of the oval island rock, surrounded by water on all sides. From the shore, it appears to float on the lake, with its gray-white stone walls and reddish-brown conical towers reflecting the lake and mountain scenery like a painting. The land-facing side is studded with arrow slits and shooting ports, forming a heavily fortified defense structure, while the lakeside features elegant Gothic arched windows, once the residence of the House of Savoy—a harmonious blend of strength and grace in this ancient waterborne fortress. The earliest written records of the castle date back to the mid-12th century, though its central keep was built in the 11th century, predating documented history. Strategically located on a vital north-south European trade route, merchants traveling to Rome via the Great St. Bernard Pass would pass by its gates. The House of Savoy leveraged this position to collect tolls and expanded the castle into their summer palace in the 13th century. After Bernese forces captured it in 1536, it successively became a bailiff's residence, armory, and prison. The castle's fame stems partly from its dungeon: François Bonivard, abbot of Geneva's St. Victor Abbey, was chained to a pillar here for years after opposing the Duke of Savoy's control of Geneva, until his rescue by the Bernese. In 1816, Lord Byron visited, immortalized the story in his poem "The Prisoner of Chillon," and carved his name on the pillar. Rousseau featured it in "Julie, or the New Heloise," while Hugo and other literati also wrote about it. Crossing the wooden bridge into the castle reveals courtyards, halls, bedrooms, the keep, and dungeons—like stepping through a three-dimensional medieval history book. The underground prison is particularly noteworthy: its walls are built from the island's natural rock, topped with Gothic vaulting typically reserved for cathedrals, with Byron's inscribed pillar still standing. Several grand halls once hosted Savoyard feasts, their windows framing Lake Geneva's vistas. The Bernese bedroom displays an elaborate four-poster bed with heating, a bathroom, and running water—remarkably advanced for its time. The Chapel of St. George preserves 14th-century religious murals, rare survivors of Reformation iconoclasm. The armory exhibits medieval to 17th-century weapons—swords, halberds, arquebuses, crossbows, and armor—offering insights into period warfare. Visitors should linger: beyond interior artifacts, the lakeside path offers classic panoramic views of this aquatic fortress.

Veytaux · 2.8 km from Montreux

No. 5 of Fall Viewing Attractions in France

Lake Geneva

7.5

Saint-Prex · 29.2 km from Montreux

555 reviews

Lake Geneva is located on the border between Switzerland and France, nestled in a crescent shape among the Alps, with approx. 60% of its waters within Switzerland. The lake is vast and deep, with distant snow-capped peaks reflected in its waters. Terraced vineyards spread out along the shore, and the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces stretch for dozens of km along the lakeside, forming a unique scenic feature of this body of water. Numerous views and landmarks are found along the lakeshore. Built on a rock in the lake, Chillon Castle stands at the eastern end of the lake, with a history dating back to the 11th century. Byron was inspired by the story of the prisoners in the castle to write the long poem "The Prisoner of Chillon." A boat cruise is a classic way to enjoy the panoramic view of the lake, and during the voyage, you can admire the ancient towns, castles, and vineyards on both shores.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Lake Geneva

The Fork - Alimentarium

5.6

11 reviews

The Fork is a unique public art installation located on the shores of Lake Geneva in Vevey, right next to the Lavaux Food Museum. Standing about eight meters tall, the giant stainless steel fork stands in the lake, creating a striking landscape along the lakefront. The Fork was initially installed temporarily to celebrate the museum's 10th anniversary, but due to its popularity, it has since become a permanent exhibit. Visitors can stroll along the lake and admire the integration of this artwork with the lake and the mountains. The Fork is not only a popular spot for taking photos, but also provides visitors with an opportunity to think about the relationship between food and culture. The nearby Lavaux Food Museum offers more exhibitions on the history and culture of food, which is worth a visit as well. The city of Vevey, where the Fork is located, is easily accessible by train or bus. The city center is just a short walk from the lake, and there are many restaurants and cafes around, so it is convenient for visitors to enjoy a meal after viewing the Fork.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Canton of Vaud

Lavaux Vinorama

5.1

Puidoux · 11.1 km from Montreux

70 reviews

Lavaux Vinorama is situated on the lakeside slopes between Lausanne and Vevey, right in the heart of the Lavaux vineyard terraces. Since the Middle Ages, winemakers have cultivated these slopes into terraced vineyards, which are dotted with villages, old-fashioned taverns, and wine cellars. Ample sunshine, light reflected from the lake, and heat stored by stone walls all nourish the vines, making Lavaux a renowned wine region in Switzerland, where Chasselas white wine is the signature. This is not a traditional museum displaying ancient artifacts, but a tasting center dedicated to Lavaux wines. The interior features nearly 300 wines selected by local winemakers, resembling a wine library where you can find everything from Chasselas white wines from different estates and red wines made from the ancient Lavaux variety Plant Robert, to Grand Cru vintages. The tasting experience is also layered. You can start with a horizontal comparison of several Chasselas wines, followed by an in-depth tasting that includes Grand Cru white wines paired with cheese. With a glass in hand, you can sit in the indoor tasting area to savor the wines slowly, or step out onto the terrace to take in the view of Lake Geneva and the shadows of the mountains on the opposite shore. You can also join a guided walking tour of the terraces organized by the venue, ranging from short tours of 1 or 2 hours to half-day tours that include a wine cellar visit, which can be followed by a tasting.

No. 9 of Best Things to Do in Canton of Vaud

Statue Charlie Chaplin

4.3

4.0/5

10 reviews

The Charlie Chaplin statue is located in Corsiers on the shore of Lake Vevey, only about 500 meters away from the estate where Charlie Chaplin lived in his later years. Inspired by the style of "Modern Times", artist John Doubleday created the classic image of Charlie Chaplin leaning on a cane. The base is scattered with sculptures of top hats and leather shoes, which allude to his wandering screen life. Take bus No. 201 from Vevey Railway Station and walk to the estate; if you drive, you can park in the free parking lot next to the estate. The statue is located at the entrance of the vineyard trail, with Lake Geneva and the Alps in the background. The light in the early morning or at dusk is suitable for taking silhouette photos. You can visit the nearby area in series: walk east to the Chaplin family cemetery, and go west to the Vevey Food Museum to see the bread dance props of "The Gold Rush". In summer, open-air silent film screenings are often held by the lake. For specific schedules, please check the official website of the Vevey Tourism Bureau.

No. 3 of Ski Resorts in Switzerland

Glacier 3000

6.8

3.6/5

18 reviews

Glacier 3000 is located on the way from the shores of Lake Geneva to the Alps, so it is easily accessible from Geneva, Montreux, Lausanne, etc. If you have limited time in Switzerland, this is a great place to save time viewing the glaciers and have fun with the snow. The restaurant on top of the hill was designed by world designer Mario Botta and is futuristic. From here you can see the European peak Mont Blanc, Switzerland's iconic Matterhorn and the Jungfrau. There are also a variety of snow and ice sports available here: snowboarding, snow golf, snow bus and dog sledding. Here you can enjoy ice and snow fun even in summer. In addition, it is also a paradise for hiking from October to May. Climb the Oldenhorn at 3123 meters, or try the glacier hike from the summit cable car station ScexRouge to the Sanetsch pass and the fixed rope route to Gemskopf.

Ormont-Dessus · 24.4 km from Montreux

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Canton of Vaud

The Olympic Museum

6.4

4.8/5

142 reviews

The International Olympic Committee has been located in Lausanne since 1915, and Lausanne is also known as the "Olympic Capital", and this museum on the shores of Lake Leman is also a famous Olympic museum in the world. Opened in 1993, the museum is the largest Olympic competition information center in the world. It shows people the history of the Olympic Movement from ancient Greece to the present through art, documents, films, etc., and combines sports, art, Olympic spirit and culture. combined. There are also conference halls, bars, coffee houses, and a sculpture park overlooking the Alps and the lake, which is very suitable for taking pictures.

Lausanne · 22.6 km from Montreux

Corsier-sur-Vevey · 6.3 km from Montreux

Chaplin's World

4

5.0/5

2 reviews

Chaplin's World is located in Vevey, Switzerland, serving as a museum and cultural center dedicated to the life of cinematic master Charlie Chaplin. Visitors can stroll through Chaplin's former residence, experiencing the living and creative environment of this comedy legend. The museum displays Chaplin's film props, manuscripts, photographs, and personal belongings, vividly recreating his glorious journey from the silent film era to sound cinema. Additionally, visitors can try making their own short films in the interactive experience zone, participate in film workshops, and gain deeper insights into the secrets of filmmaking. Chaplin's World is not just a cultural journey but also a feast of art and creativity.

Selected for Best Things to Do in Switzerland

Olympic Park

6.2

4.9/5

46 reviews

Olympic Parkis located in the Ouchy district on the shores of the lake in Lausanne. It is the front garden of The Olympic Museum, with green space spreading out in layers along the slope and extending all the way to the shores of Lake Geneva. Lausanne is known as the Olympic Capital, and the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee is located in this city. This lakeside green space, covering over 8,000 square meters, is the perfect prelude to visiting The Olympic Museum—it is less of an ordinary park and more of an open-air sports sculpture museum. The park is dotted with over 40 sports-themed sculptures, most of which are gifts to the International Olympic Committee from various national Olympic committees and international sports organizations: the "Cyclists" group sculpture, gifted by Hungary, cleverly uses wheels to form the image of the Olympic rings; the bronze "Athlete Tying His Hair," gifted by Greece, has a prototype that can be traced back to ancient Greek sculptures from the 5th century BC; in addition, there is the rounded "Girl with Ball" by Colombian artist Botero, the "Relay Runner" from Monaco, and a memorial statue of the famous Finnish long-distance runner Nurmi. Artistic styles from different countries converge in this same green space; walking through and viewing them is like flipping through a three-dimensional history of the Olympics.

Lausanne · 22.6 km from Montreux

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Canton of Vaud

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Lausanne Cathedral

5.1

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4.8/5

13 reviews34 booked

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Alimentarium - Food Museum Vevey

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From Zurich: Swiss Cheese, Chocolate & Wine Private Tour

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Wine tour in the canton of Vaud - Lavaux vineyards

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· 1 review

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Restaurant Les Armures popular restaurant reservation service in Geneva, Switzerland

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12D11N • France + Switzerland - Paris + Geneva + Bern + Interlaken + Lucerne + Zurich

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Montreux Today's weatherShowers 10-15℃

Montreux weather for the next 2 days11/12: 8-13℃, 11/13: 2-10℃

Free things to do in Montreux

Lake Geneva

7.5

Saint-Prex · 29.2 km from Montreux

555 reviews

The Fork - Alimentarium

5.6

11 reviews

Statue Charlie Chaplin

4.3

4.0/5

10 reviews

Montreux · 712m from downtown

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4.5/5

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Lausanne Cathedral

5.1