First-time visitors
Start with a stroll along the lakeside promenade by the Montreux Palace, visit the old town's narrow streets, and consider a private tour to the Gruyères cheese and chocolate factories.
See suggested experiences
Preview travel guide
Things to do in Montreux
Montreux offers lakefront promenades along Lake Geneva, historic old town streets, and nearby alpine ski areas. Below: bookable tours and tickets via Viator including day trips and ski lessons while our full editorial guide develops.
- Live partner inventory
- Updated daily
- Part of Visit Network
Editor’s preview picks
Bookable experiences in Montreux
Montreux offers a range of activities focusing on its lakeside location, cultural venues, and nearby alpine landscapes. Visitors can plan their days around music festivals, historical sites, and outdoor excursions suitable for different seasons.
5.0(18)
via Viator
Half Day Morning Private Ski Lesson in Verbier
From $510
Book →
5.0(18)
via Viator
Full Day Private Ski Lesson in Verbier
From $824
Book →
5.0(11)
via Viator
Half Day Afternoon Private Ski Lesson in Verbier
From $510
Book →
5.0(8)
via Viator
Private Gruyères Tour Including Cheese and Chocolate Factory Visit from Montreux
From $353
Book →
5.0(3)
via Viator
Discover Montreux’s most Photogenic Spots with a Local
From $142
Book →
5.0(2)
via Viator
Private transfer from Verbier to Geneva Airport
From $682
Book →We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Plan by travel style
How are you travelling?
A starting point for shaping the trip around the way you actually travel — not a fixed itinerary.
Families
Families can enjoy the lakeside parks and gentle walking routes, plus the Gruyères tour which includes hands-on visits to cheese and chocolate makers. Nearby Verbier offers ski lessons suitable for children during winter.
See suggested experiencesCouples
Evenings along the lakeside with views of the Alps are suited for couples, as is a private local-led photo tour capturing Montreux’s architecture and shorelines. Dining options along the lake offer quiet settings.
See suggested experiencesCulture lovers
Visit the Montreux Museum in the old town and stop at Château de Chillon nearby. The region’s musical heritage is visible in local landmarks along the lakefront.
See suggested experiencesFood & local flavour
Montreux’s markets and local shops feature regional cheeses and chocolates, especially in the Gruyères area; tours often include tastings and factory visits to sample these.
See suggested experiencesEasy wins / short stays
A short visit includes a morning lakeside walk, an afternoon Gruyères cheese and chocolate factory tour, and a relaxing evening in Montreux’s old town.
See suggested experiencesTop experiences by type
Browse by what you want to do
Landmark tickets
Look for tickets to Château de Chillon, Montreux Museum, and guided visits to Gruyères cheese and chocolate factories.
See optionsMuseums & culture
Montreux Museum and Château de Chillon offer historical insights along with smaller local exhibits focusing on the region.
See optionsWalking tours
Walking tours often focus on Montreux’s old town narrow streets and the lakeside promenade, highlighting architecture and local history.
See optionsFood & wine
Food experiences frequently include visits to Gruyères’ cheese dairies and chocolate factories with tastings.
See optionsRiver & boat tours
Boat tours on Lake Geneva offer views of Montreux’s shoreline and the surrounding Alps.
See optionsDay trips
Popular day trips from Montreux include Gruyères for cheese and chocolate, and Verbier for alpine skiing.
See optionsFamily activities
Family-friendly options include lakeside parks in Montreux, cheese factory tours in Gruyères, and beginner ski lessons in Verbier.
See optionsTransfers & practical travel
Private transfers from Verbier to Geneva Airport provide practical transport options for travelers to and from Montreux.
See optionsTrip-planning notes
A short guide to Montreux
What should you book ahead in Montreux?
For major landmarks, limited-capacity museums and popular day trips, advance booking is usually the safest option in Montreux — the queues at headline sites in peak season are real, and the cheapest timed slots tend to sell out first. Anything ticketed where the visit depends on a specific date or time should be locked in two to four weeks ahead when possible.
What can usually wait until you arrive?
Neighbourhood wandering, casual food stops and most flexible sightseeing rarely need to be booked in advance. The same goes for transport you only commit to once you've seen the weather and the queues. Leave room in the itinerary for the small discoveries — they're often what people remember a year later.
Tickets, guided tours or passes?
Single tickets work when you know what you want and you're happy to navigate independently. Guided tours buy you context — useful at sites where the story matters more than the views. Multi-attraction passes only make sense when you'll genuinely use three or more included tickets in the time window. Do the maths before you buy.
A simple first-trip plan
Morning at the headline landmark with a skip-the-line ticket. Lunch in a neighbourhood you haven't planned. Afternoon at a museum or one guided walk. Evening at a relaxed viewpoint, food spot or short cruise. That single pattern, repeated across two or three days in Montreux, handles 80% of a first visit without burning anyone out.
Quick answers
The short version
Direct answers to the questions most travellers actually ask before they book.
- Best things to do in Montreux for first-time visitors
- Walk the lakeside promenade, visit the old town, see Château de Chillon nearby, and take a guided tour to Gruyères for cheese and chocolate tastings.
- What should you book ahead in Montreux?
- Book private ski lessons in Verbier during winter, the Gruyères cheese and chocolate factory tours especially on weekends, and Château de Chillon tickets in summer.
- Best Montreux experiences by travel style
- Families benefit from lakefront parks and cheese factory tours; couples enjoy lakeside evenings and photo tours; culture lovers focus on Montreux Museum and Château de Chillon; food fans prioritize Gruyères tastings and local markets.
- How to choose tours and tickets in Montreux
- Choose guided tours for complex day trips like Gruyères; single tickets suffice for self-guided visits to Château de Chillon; ski lessons require booking through tour providers.
- Simple first-trip plan for Montreux
- Spend a morning by Lake Geneva, afternoon in the old town and Montreux Museum, and a day trip to Gruyères, followed by local dining along the lake.
Compare booking partners
Compare more Montreux tours and tickets
Each partner has a different sweet spot. Use this as a shortcut to the right catalogue for what you're trying to book.
Headout
Best for lakefront and local tours
Headout offers straightforward booking for Montreux’s lakefront experiences and local guided tours.
Browse HeadoutGetYourGuide
Best for day trips from Montreux
GetYourGuide provides a wide selection of day trips including Gruyères and Verbier ski lessons.
Browse GetYourGuideTiqets
Best for museum and timed entry tickets
Tiqets excels at delivering timed-entry tickets for Montreux museums and Château de Chillon.
Browse TiqetsViator
Best for ski lessons and private tours
Viator covers a broad range of private ski lessons in Verbier and Gruyères tours from Montreux.
Browse ViatorFAQ
Frequently asked questions about Montreux
- Chillon Castle is a 10-minute train ride or a 20-minute walk from Montreux’s center. Tickets can be purchased on site or online in advance.
The Visit Network
175 destinations.
Going live, city by city.
Visit Montreux is one of 175 destination micro-sites across the Visit Network — independent guides, written by editors who actually go.
You may also be interested in: VisitLucerne.com, VisitZug.com
175
Destinations
23
Live now
66
Countries
Contact
Get in touch about VisitMontreux.com
Are you a hotel, tour operator, local guide, contributor, or potential partner? We're expanding the Montreux guide and would like to hear from you. Send us a note and we'll reply personally.
- → Direct reply, no auto-responder
- → Typical response within 1–2 business days
- → Partnerships, listings and offers reviewed personally