One day in Montreux

I didn’t know much about Montreux before booking a overnight stay there, en route from Italy to France. We were going to pass through Switzerland somewhere, and chose Montreux on a bit of a whim, based a lot on the picturesque setting and the hotel that looked like it could have been from a Wes Anderson film. Oh, and the Swiss Alps in the background really didn’t hurt either. It was a brief stop, but the perfect taste of such a sweet town. We visited during December, to coincide with the famous Christmas markets on the shore of Lake Geneva. We arrived from Milan by train, and my eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing - before we’d even left the train platform! Montreux is also the setting and inspiration for Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke on the Water’ (good luck getting that guitar riff out of your head now), and is a popular spot for the annual jazz festival. I don’t think it would matter what time of year you visit, it’s always going to be gorgeous!

Planning your own trip to Montreux? Here’s what worked for us;
SEE — the Christmas markets, the houses in old town — Montreux is the perfect place to wander and admire all the charming streets and buildings
SHOP — Christmas markets with local artisans and wares, and the antique stores around the town
STAY — Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic , it really lives up to the majestic part of the name!
SNACK — raclette, fondue, and any festive snacks! Our visit coincided with the Christmas markets that take place around the city each December, so we made sure to sample plenty of Swiss and festive fare! We visited Tea Room de la Baye for breakfast, a 15 minute walk (uphill) but with stunning views and a lookout on the way. Sitting at the window of the cafe while you enjoy a house made croissant is the stuff dreams are made of.