We are planning a trip to Switzerland and are looking at 2 days in Montreux - primarily because we have free night certificates at the super swanky Fairmont there. What else is there to do in town? We probably don't want to do day trips away because we'll want to spend more quality time at the hotel than we normally would.
Edit: Planning for June or August
we are staying there on our next trip in june and intend to visit the castle, nearby.
we are staying there on our next trip in june and intend to visit the castle, nearby.
As I recall, you can walk to the Chateau de Chillon from Montreux. It's maybe a mile? Also, there are boats on the lake which make stops at various towns. Check the schedule and you can plan as long or short a trip as you like. It's quite pleasant to sit and watch the landscape go by.
You can indeed walk between Chateau du Chillon and Montreux. It is a nice walk on the lakeside path.
When is your visit? That might help generate more answers.
Thanks guys, that sounds nice.
Topic updated with trip months above (good idea)
I live in Montreux and belong to the Fairmont Montreux Palace Gym/Spa. June will not be as busy as August. The climate is mild here and it can get very warm in the summer. What are your interests?
Hi @lacleman -
How nice to live there! Looks beautiful and we are looking forward to it. Unfortunately it is looking like August due to my husband's work schedule, so we will have to brave the crowds at the Fairmont.
We are history buffs so always like to see anything particularly notable in that regard. We also like music - I know we are missing the jazz festival by a few weeks, which is too bad, but can't do anything about that. I love classical music in particular as well. I know the Menuhin festival is going on in Gstaad around that time but not sure how doable that is with our current schedule.
Even at it's busiest, the Fairmont is quite reserved. The hotel is located at a premier location, right at the main center directly across from the lake and a short walk away from the train in the rear. The summer is always busier, but August is much less than during the jazz. It can get hot. The palace is an historic, old building. I have not stayed in their rooms, but it's less common to have built in air conditioning in hotels here. If you find it warm, you can oftentimes request a portable unit for your room. If you think you like to have one, I would request it in advance.
As far as what to do, the best place to look during your dates are on the link below, which outlines all of the activities here. If you are staying on a Saturday or Tuesday morning, take the bus in front of the palace and go to the marche in Vevey between 7-12, a 15 min bus ride. Exit at the BCV bus stop, walk towards the lake. Very worthwhile.
looks like A/C is standard at the Fairmont in all rooms but thanks for the info! We will keep that in mind for other locations.
Thanks very much for that schedule! And we will be there on a Saturday so that's a great suggestion for a quick sightsee.
Much appreciated!
The castle is definitely a must and since you will be there in the summer, I highly recommend light clothing (or layering), as the castle was pretty stuffy/muggy in some of the areas when we were there last Sept. We stayed closer to Lausanne, so you can take the train over there and visit that city as well (the Olympic Museum was interesting). And we also took a day trip (if you have a car) out to Gruyeres and the Cailler chocolate factory, both of which I'd recommend and the countryside was so beautiful.
No need for a car to visit the chocolate factory and Gruyeres. Here's a link to an article about the chocolate train and Gruyeres. From the palace, exit the rear and the train station is a five min walk away and departs directly from here. Chateau de Chillon is less than ten min by bus, but that stretch is not very scenic. If it's a nice day, definitely follow the lake path Quai des Fleurs to Chateau, a 20 min walk from hotel.
i'm not crazy about chocolate so we probably won't go out that way but thanks for the suggestions!
I now you said you didn't want to do daytrips, but if you do change your mind, Lausanne is less than a half hour away by frequent trains. They have two very worthwhile attractions - the Museum of Outsider Art (Collection de l'art brut) and the Olympic Museum. If either of these interest you, they're well worth the trip.
The most memorable thing I did in that area was see Audrey Hepburn's grave (in Tolochenaz, west of Lausanne), but I realize that's a very specialized interest. There are actually lots of famous people buried in the area - looking online, I found Richard Burton, David Niven, Vladimir Nabokov, Charlie Chaplin, Graham Greene, James Mason, Coco Chanel, and Peter Ustinov. Well, tourists go to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris - why not cemeteries in Switzerland?
In the realm of things you're more likely to do, I enjoyed strolling the Montreux waterfront - it's a nice place to just hang out.
Harold, you're right, probably we will just end up doing some strolling :-)
The train ride to Lausanne is really quick! Maybe we will do that. Thanks for the ideas!
