Journey to Switzerland's Lake Geneva Region

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around Montreux is with the Riviera Card. There is a 2005/2006 card for the Montreux-Vevey Riviera-Lavaux area that will save people a lot of money in discovering the shores of Lake Geneva and the foot of the Alps. The diversity of excursions can be on a bus, train, or boat. All sports are included, as well as most entertainment offered by the region. One can spend his or her time ideally this way.

With the card, you can travel free of charge on the VMCV bus network and at half-fare on train excursions and buy museum and theme park entrance tickets with a 50% reduction. On presentation of the card, they also offer people "one for the road" at their information points. That is a shot glass of lovely red or white wine--I brought back my Gifted Darling shot glass with a map and many memories of Montreux.

We had a fantastic balcony with views of Lake Geneva and the Chillon Castle. It was a four-star property with two wonderful restaurants on-site. There was an extremely helpful staff--more than one person at all times. Rooms have wireless access to Internet, even without your own laptop, as well as access via web TV in the room. There are safes in the rooms, minibars, patios, chairs on the patios, etc. Breakfast was included--a wonderful, full buffet. Staff speaks English naturally, and there's someone on call 24 hours a day.

This is lovely dining right on the promenade waterfront, only a few steps away from the water. It has a fun ambience and gorgeous lake views. I really enjoyed myself and was happy they had so many food choices. You will find it open very late, with a big crowd, so reservations are a good idea.

Montreux is known as the Pearl of the Swiss Riviera. Castles, outdoor cafes, shopping, Lake Geneva, fantastic views, gorgeous strawberry-pink sunsets, a business central location, as well as fabulous hotels... the most exciting, of course, was the Raffles Hotel. It is right in the middle of the area by the lake, where you can walk on the path about a short 45 minute walk from the Montreux Tourism Board. In there they will give you discount coupons and helpful flyers and pamphlets to let you know the schedules of what is going on in the city. There is a fantastic gorgeous casino, Montreux Casino.

Montreux is only 45 minutes from Geneva! The airport is so centrally located, it's a cinch! The town of Montreux is so fascinating; it is from the 19th century. Chillon is the best known castle. There are a lot of jazz festivals and classical musical events every year. Montreaux has a mild climate, and the walking area is several miles like a promenade. I enjoyed the backdrop of mountains in the back around Lake Geneva and the gorgeous statues and flowers everywhere. There are, surprisingly, palm trees all over the place and along the promenade. People walk, jog, and bicycle ride on the path around the lake in the center part of town. You can see the wonderful trains coming around the bend and waterfalls as well - the Golden Pass. Nightclubs and discos are galore in the central area and all around for dinner or engaging at night.

There is a wine museum in the entrance of Chillon Castle. It is very interesting. It is exciting, as the wines are very prized possessions and many have been stored through the ages. They sell the wines from the region and you can also escape and go into the actual chambers of the castle, which I did with fascination and glory. The architecture is very Gothic and there are approximately 24-25 bldg. units to go in and out of with lake views, and you can see the famous rail and tunnels peeking through the castle walls and windows! Some remodeling is still taking place and closed off to the public.

The ceiling is painted with Gothic art and is gorgeous - golds and hues of red and green. The oldest part dates back to the 13th century. It is a restored museum and Count Peter II of Savoy. They have dungeon furnishings, Gothic and from the Lord Byron days, from this period. Quite unique. With the mountains and Lake Geneva and vineyards all in the background out doors and also gifts to be purchased and postcards, T-shirts right outside. Groups can be accommodated as well. Totally awesome weather, warm, wondrous, and gorgeous statues, figurines, and palm trees. Tons of gorgeous swans, boats in the little harbor, and flora and fauna everywhere.

A very pleasant Amrita Hiking Trip-Ballade en Montagne was fun and interesting, with hiking comrades in the mild temperatures of the Montreux Valley, with the Lake Geneva and mountain range views.

Lots of fun during the Summer with Jazz festivals in the Leman Tradition. There are people walking around together as couples families or groups, as well as single people passing the crowds and chatting with very friendly people in the area.

The Christmas market and Festival du Rire bring out many friendly, fun people, and people come here from all over the region to see the lights in the winter season and the theatre performances. There are classical music concerts.

The funicular railway is the best way to discover this small tourist resort; it has a flavor of yesteryear--antique, even, if you may--and it is a place with an altitude of 1,156m that has hiking trails of yesteryear, so you don't want to miss the trail with panels and a sled run. Adult prices are 10CHF.

I went on this tour, and it was simply amazing. It is underground and a world of the salt mines of Bex. The tour has mazes of passages, shafts, and stairs of gigantic caverns. I just LOVE caverns and caves! This is a perfect itinerary for singles, couples, families, and a characteristic of the various and many mining techniques that were used in the beginning of the first gallery, excavated in 1684 and of course up to this present time and era!

A very upscale, swanky casino with three very, very nice, gorgeous deluxe restaurants. Gorgeous flowers and statues, figurines, and gorgeous furnishings, carpet, and wallpaper. Excellent service. Be sure to bring your passport, or you cannot access nor enter the casino. This is the talk of the land in any foreign country to you, passport-wise, out of your own!. Even if you don't gamble, it's a must to see such glam! And don't forget the people-watching--no telling what famous person you might run into here!

I really thoroughly enjoyed the Golden Pass Rail once I got on it and we passed so many fantastic views! The wine vineyard selection along the route was served, a Montreux wine called Swiss Weiss Weine on the menu. It was 20cl and about 7.00 CHF Swiss francs. Reasonable - about $5 in U.S. prices. Fantastic and mellow! It was vins blancs for the white wines. I also munched out on a nice ham baguette sandwich for about 5.90 CHF Swiss francs, about $4 or so U.S. prices. So yummy with the ham and cheese - the cheeses in this region are simply fantastic.

The train ride was so smooth. The sky was azure blue and I could see glacier-capped mountaintops all along the way, making the scenery wonderful. I met some lovely people from Japan along the way. The train conductor will check your pass, so be sure you have first class - highly recommended by me and the experts, pass on you and that it is valid! Gorgeous animals along the way - a zoo of nature! Cows and horses. Vineyards – gorgeous, all lined up. I was honored to be sitting in seat no. 56.

It cannot be surpassed. Only maybe the Orient Express can be near as fun!

The glory of walking down the exciting and fabulous esplanade several miles around Lake Geneva and on my path to Chillon Castle, dining out and shopping… I experienced the most fascinating mountain views, gorgeous figurines, and passionate, colorful flora and fauna here in Montreux Valley at the base of Lake Geneva. The shoreline is fantastic. There’s seafood and Mediterranean food as well as American and of course pizza made homemade daily and fresh. Casino and shopping handy, easy to catch cabs, buses, and rail to an adventure day trip to other close by places. Montreux has it all – friendly, easy to get along with people who speak English very well and also French and German. Very friendly and safe place to be.

I really enjoyed the views along the Golden Pass of the Harbour as well as the fig trees and magnolias. Montreux-Vevey is just such a delightful area that you won't find in any other area of Switzerland. The people are warm--a lot of French-speaking people, and the English language is also widely spoken. The French are very romantic and warm and have fantastic foods and cultural experiences in this area. I was delighted on my business trip to have had a few extra days in the area as well, so I know I can service and sell with personal knowledge the Swiss Rail pass and hotels in the area or, better yet, a package deal with discounts to anyone who contacts me. I am a Swiss network specialist and have just updated my out-of-the-country workshop and gotten a new diploma on my cities and cultural experiences, as well as attended a supplier workshop in Basel.

Since 1906, Le Montreux Palace, which is now Raffles a couple of years now, is located at 100 Grand Rue and is simply one of the best spas in the world. It's right in Montreux, footsteps from Chillon Castle, near the train station along the banks of Lake Geneva.. There are 10 womb-like salons, including the ambience and relaxation of waterfalls and stone-type floors, which are various spa treatments and a full fitness center!! You can also have dual massage, as in couple's romantic treatment, and the one where there are four massage therapists massaging you at once. Heavenly!!Trust me.