7 days in Lake Geneva/French Switzerland area

I'd vote for Vevey - excellent transport links, not too big but not too small, has shops and restaurants, lakeside. La Tour-de-Peilz is also ok.

I like Montreux. The first part of my trip report from last year might give you some ideas on things to do in the area, regardless of where you end up staying.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-in-switzerland-my-trip-report

I agree with Carrie about Montreux. The miles-long lake promenade is lovely. Montreux is also the start of the Golden Panorama train if you want to take a long day trip to Interlaken to see the high mountains. Of course this is also doable from Vevey, which is just a short train ride from Montreux.

Thanks so much for these ideas!
Diane

We stayed ten nights in Montreux earlier this month and loved it. It is a truly perfect town. Next time, though, we're going to try Vevey. It has equally good rail connections and seemed a little more "real" (i.e. less touristy) to us than Montreux. You can't go wrong with either, though!

Hi Diane,

As other people mentioned, Vevey - La Tour de Peilz - Montreux can be equally good choices to set your base for the 7 days Swiss adventure. I live in La Tour de Peilz so I can a few small details, if it is not too late and you made your decision already. Also, just a quick note, the Airbnb is not as wide spread or cost efficient in Switzerland as in other countries.

Vevey
It is adorable, less famous maybe as Montreux, but not lacking at all the charm or the touristic attractions. There are several options in terms in accommodation, from hotels to aparthotels and maybe even Airbnb. The town is flat, easy to discover and have everything in walking distance - train station, the lake, the Old Town and lots of restaurants, a shopping center with cloth and and grocery stores in one place (Manor). The Charlie Chaplin mansion is above Vevey, 10 mins by bus. There are good train connections to almost every town in Switzerland.

La Tour de Peilz
It's great to live on a daily basis but there's only one hotel. Also, you'll have to take a bus or walk to Vevey everytime you'll want to have a day trip, as Vevey and Montreux are the train hubs of the Swiss Riviera.

Montreux
There are tons of options in terms of accommodation, it is easy to take trains to discover the region and not only and it is more famous than Vevey. However, the town is built on different terraces, at least 3, and there are many steep streets or stairs to take you from the lake level to the train lavel and from there even higher, to the old town area. There is not a concentrated area with stores and grocery stores, everything is spread out either along the lake, or the road from the train station level. This may be an inconvenient when you have luggage and also during the day, for the most simple routines.

I hope my suggestions are useful for all of you who consider to discover the somehow still-under-the-radar French region of Switzerland because Lausanne-Vevey-Montreux are great to set base in and take train rides to Geneva, Bern, Zermatt and tons of other destinations in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Fribourg, Valais.

Have a great vacation!

diane,

I stayed in Lausanne while visiting that area and thought it was a perfect home base, with easy access to both trains and boats. I always stay in hotels, so not sure on the availability of Air BnB's in that area? Although it has a lot of hills, the hotel provided me with a pass for the funicular so it was easy to get around.

We stayed in Lausanne for a week but after visiting I wish we had stayed in Vevey. To us, more charming and accessible than Montreux. Lausanne, however, seemed like a small version of Paris and was quite interesting. Still, I’d pick Vevey next time. There is a lovely train into the mountains from there to Les Pleiades and from Montreux you can also take a mountain train to Rochers de Naye. A boat trip to Evian is also nice.

A Swiss Pass may serve you well, or at least a half fare card.

Hi Diane,
We are in Montreux now (on the train after a day trip to Bern), after spending four days in Vevey. We absolutely LOVED Vevey. I would stay there in a heartbeat. Vevey is smaller than Montreux and yet close to Montreux and Lausanne by train.

We ended up spending a day and a half with a tour guide touring Lavaux and Montreux. We enjoyed our time with her immensely and learned so much about the area. If you want a personal touch I recommend you reach out to me through a private message.

We stayed at Base Vevey and thought it was a great apartment hotel. It is close to the train station and a short walk from the town of Vevey. It is sparkling clean and they have a beautiful roof top you can take advantage of. We bought some take away food a couple of nights because we had had big lunches out and enjoyed the view of the lake and the sunset.

We are now at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic and it is lovely, and we are enjoying it, but Montreux is more crowded than Vevey. (To be fair, there are a couple of events in town so that could be why it feels so busy.)

Anyway, I am sorry to be long winded but it is a beautiful area and we are thrilled we spent a week here. I hope you have a fabulous time.

Thank you all for this great information. This trip won't happen until next spring or summer, so we've lots of time to incorporate good ideas.
Diane