Things to do in Montreux

Montreux sits on the north shore of Lake Geneva, about 1 to 1h15 by direct train from Geneva. Its flower-lined lakefront promenade, sheltered by hills behind, runs mild enough for palm trees and fig trees, and the town is best known for the Montreux Jazz Festival each July, when hotel prices and crowds rise sharply.

Château de Chillon is a few kilometres away, reachable by bus or on foot along the lake, not inside the town centre itself. Expect a touristy, expensive base in summer; Vevey nearby is smaller and more local, Lausanne a bigger city with more everyday life. Snow on the lakefront in winter is occasional, not guaranteed.