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Montreux is famous for its beautiful location on Lake Geneva and the most frequented resort in the southwestern part of Switzerland. The town stretches along the shores of a large bay facing south and rises in tiers to heights covered with woods and vineyards which shelter it from the north and east winds. The mildness of its climate makes Montreux and its neighboring villages a climatic resort all the year round and earns it the name of Vaud Riviera for its lakeshore. On the shores of Lake Geneva you will find fig, bay, almond and mulberry trees and even cypresses, magnolias and palm trees flourishing at truly Mediterranean temperatures. This exceptional climate is by far the mildest on the north side of the Alps: vines grow at an altitude of nearly 2,000 ft., walnut trees up to 2,300 ft. and fruit trees up to 3,250 ft. 

Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, and enhanced by the spectacular background of the Alps, Montreux is regarded to be one of the noblest resorts in Switzerland. Besides the historic architecture, the picturesque lanes, historical sights and exclusive shopping facilities, Montreux's attractiveness has grown by its numerous international festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival (in July), the International Choral Festival (the week following Easter) and the September Musical Concert. Visitors of Montreux find plenty of attractions and activities during both, summer and winter: hiking and biking along the shores of Lake Geneva and in the vineyards of Lavaux, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, or on the Rochers-de-Naye mountain above Montreux, where also skiers and snowboarders are welcome, and of course, an excursion to the Chateau de Chillon, the famous castle on its rocky Lake Geneva islet - the most visited Swiss historical sight - Montreux simply is one of the "Musts" of every travel to Switzerland. more attractions and activities in Montreux and the Lake Geneva region.

Location:
Montreux is located in southwestern Switzerland - the Lake Geneva Region, at 390 m (1,280 ft) above sea level on the north-eastern shores of Lake Geneva.

City Map of Montreux

Distances to other popular Swiss Destinations:

Destination	Distance		Travel Time in Minutes
	km	miles	by Train	by Car
Zurich	207	129	154	approx. 120
Bern	87	54	92	approx. 55
Luzern	194	121	161	approx. 120
Basel	179	111	154	approx. 105
Lugano	359	223	305	approx. 210
Geneva	92	57	70	approx. 60
St. Moritz	405	252	364	approx. 290
Interlaken	145	90	131	approx. 90
Grindelwald	162	101	179	approx. 120
Zermatt	142	88	154	approx. 145

Getting to Montreux:
By Plane: 
Geneva - Cointrin is the nearest international airport just 90 km (56 miles) from Montreux, and easily reached within approx. 1 hour by train or car. Visitors arriving at the Zurich - Kloten International Airport get to Montreux within 2.5 - 3 hours by train or car.

By Train:
International trains such as the TGV from Paris, the Pendolino from Milan or the Intercity from Frankfurt or Munich, as well as numerous fast trains from all major Swiss cities stop in Lausanne where one needs to change trains for a 20-minute ride to Montreux. There are direct trains from Geneva Airport to Montreux every hour. Travelers from destinations in Central, Northern or Eastern Switzerland might want to consider traveling to Montreux with the Golden Pass scenic train (from Lucerne to Montreux via Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland), or the Glacier Express (from St. Moritz, Davos or Chur via Andermatt to Brig/Visp in the Rhone Valley).

By Car:
The A9 motorway traverses the Montreux Riviera region; it connects in Lausanne to the A1 motorway for travelers arriving from the west (Geneva, France), and in Vevey to the A12 motorway for travelers arriving from the northern, eastern and central parts of Switzerland (Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne). This motorway is worth the drive with its pastoral landscapes and the fabulous view of Lake Geneva as it descends towards Vevey. The A9 motorway also passes through the Rhone Valley, and travelers to Montreux arriving from the south - either from France via the Col the la Forclaz Pass, or from Italy via the St. Bernard Pass or Tunnel get on the A9 in Martigny.