Train to Montreux – connections, tickets and travel guide

• Currency: Swiss franc (CHF) - payment cards are widely accepted, but cash is handy for smaller expenses.

• Best time to go: May-June and September - smaller crowds than in peak summer, daytime temperatures are 21-25°C.

• How much to go for: a weekend (Friday evening - Sunday) is enough for Chillon Castle, the promenade, the Freddie Mercury statue and a trip by train to Rochers-de-Naye.

• Practical tip: Montreux is expensive even by Swiss standards - budget and plan your accommodation in advance, especially in July during the Montreux Jazz Festival.

The best choice is May, June or September, when the weather is favourable for lakeside walks and queues at the attractions are shorter.

Spring (April–May)

• The daytime temperature is 15–21°C, so you can walk along the promenade without the heat.

• In May, the Golden Rose Festival takes place, attracting visitors from across Europe.

• Accommodation prices are lower than in summer, and you get into Chillon Castle faster than in high season.

Summer (June–August)

• The daytime temperature is 25–27°C, making this the peak season on Lake Geneva.

• In July, the Montreux Jazz Festival runs for a fortnight and draws large crowds, so accommodation prices are at their highest of the year.

• In August, the promenade and Chillon Castle remain very busy.

• Afternoon thunderstorms occur regularly, so it is worth packing a rain jacket.

Autumn (September–October)

• In September, the daytime temperature is 22°C and there are fewer tourists on the promenade and in the centre than in summer.

• Accommodation prices drop after the peak season.

• It gets cooler in October, but the views from Rochers-de-Naye over the autumn Alps are exceptional.

Winter (November–March)

• Lakeside temperatures during the day are 5–11°C, and cloudy, rainy days are common.

• In December, Christmas markets operate on the promenade with views of the lake and mountains.

• Nearby ski resorts such as Villars and Les Diablerets are in full swing, so Montreux can serve as a base for skiing.

You will reach Montreux with one change in Austria or Germany.

From Wrocław

• From Wrocław you travel approximately 14–16 hours with one change in Germany or Austria.

• On the final stretch of the route you travel along Lake Geneva, so you can see the Alps from the window.

• Overnight connections are available.

From Poznań

• From Poznań you travel approximately 15–17 hours via Germany or Austria.

• You change trains once, at a major interchange station.

• Overnight connections are available.

From Kraków

• From Kraków you travel approximately 16–18 hours with a change in Vienna or Salzburg.

• An evening departure allows you to arrive at Lake Geneva in the morning.

• You will change trains at the same station.

From Warsaw

• From Warsaw you travel approximately 18–20 hours with a change in Austria or Germany.

• An evening departure allows you to make the most of a full day at your destination.

• Overnight connections are available on this route.

Seat reservation is compulsory on the international leg. You can buy your ticket on Europodróże without creating an account – simply enter your email address and phone number, and your ticket is sent to your inbox and by SMS. Thirty minutes before departure you receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket. The earlier you buy, the greater the choice of seats and the better the price. For details, see the information on refunds and exchanges. With PKP Intercity, refunds can be made up to 20 minutes before departure and exchanges up to 30 minutes before departure.

You get around Montreux mainly on foot. The main attractions of the centre, such as the Freddie Mercury statue, the Casino and the promenade, are all close to the station.

You can reach attractions outside the centre by train, bus and mountain railway. Chillon Castle is accessible from the station, and Rochers-de-Naye is served by a mountain railway directly from the centre. A local transport ticket costs a few to several Swiss francs per journey – check current prices on site.

Chillon Castle is located a few kilometres from the centre. You can get there by train or bus. The route along the lake is also pleasant on foot, and the walk takes about 45 minutes.

Taxis and Uber operate in Montreux, but fares within the centre are expensive even by Swiss standards.

Where to stay:

• Centre (Grand-Rue, promenade area) – close to the station and attractions, higher prices, a good choice for a short city break.

• Territet (south-west) – quieter, closer to Chillon Castle, lower prices than in the centre.

Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon)

This 13th-century castle on a rocky island in Lake Geneva lies a few kilometres from the centre of Montreux. The visit takes 60–90 minutes – you pass through medieval chambers, dungeons and towers with views over the lake and the Alps. There is an entrance fee. You can get there from the centre by train or bus. It looks most beautiful at dusk, when the sun illuminates the walls from the lake side.

Promenade on Lake Geneva

The promenade stretches for more than 10 km along the lake shore, with the Bernese Alps visible on the other side. Walking the entire route takes 1.5–2 hours, but you can walk just a chosen section. Admission is free. You will encounter the fewest people in the morning.

Freddie Mercury Statue

The statue stands on the Place de l'Indépendance by the lake. Freddie Mercury had a home in Montreux and recorded here with Queen at Mountain Studios. A visit takes only a few minutes – take a photo and read the information panels. Admission is free.

Rochers-de-Naye

The summit sits at 2,042 m above sea level and is reached directly from Montreux station by mountain railway. The round trip takes about 4 hours, including time at the top. There is an entrance fee. In good weather you can see Lake Geneva, the Alps and Mont Blanc. It is noticeably cooler at the summit than at the lake, so it is worth bringing a jacket.

Montreux Casino

The Belle Époque-style building stands on the promenade. The casino made rock history: after the fire of 1971, Deep Purple wrote the song Smoke on the Water. Entry to the casino is paid and requires ID. Check the current programme of concerts and shows before your visit.

Jazz Museum

The museum showcases more than 50 years of Montreux Jazz Festival history – you will find recordings, photographs and memorabilia of jazz and rock legends. The visit takes 60–90 minutes. There is an entrance fee.

One-day itinerary

In the morning, walk along the promenade and see the Freddie Mercury statue. Before noon, head to Chillon Castle, where the visit takes 60–90 minutes. In the afternoon, take the mountain railway up to Rochers-de-Naye if the weather is good, or visit the Jazz Museum if it is raining. In the evening, have dinner by the lake with views of the Alps.

Weekend itinerary

Friday evening: arrive in Montreux, have dinner at one of the restaurants along the Grand-Rue or on the promenade. In the evening, take a stroll along the promenade with views of the illuminated mountains.

Saturday: in the morning, visit Chillon Castle, where the tour takes 60–90 minutes. In the afternoon, take the mountain railway up to Rochers-de-Naye and see Lake Geneva and the Alps from over 2,000 m. In the evening, have dinner in Territet, away from the most touristy part of town.

Sunday: in the morning, walk along the promenade, see the Mercury statue and visit the Jazz Museum. In the afternoon, pick up chocolate, cheese and Queen-related souvenirs before departing.

What to eat

Fondue and raclette – traditional Alpine dishes available in most restaurants. Fondue is ordered for a minimum of 2 people. You will find a more local atmosphere and lower prices in small establishments in Territet than in restaurants along the Grand-Rue.

Lake Geneva perch – a local freshwater fish pan-fried in butter with lemon. This is a speciality of the lakeside restaurants on the promenade.

Swiss chocolate – buy it in patisseries and delicatessen shops in the centre. Prices in Switzerland are sometimes lower than in Polish import shops.

Wines from the Rhône Valley – white and red, produced on terraced vineyards above Lake Geneva. A bottle of local wine is a souvenir that is hard to find outside Switzerland.

Where to eat:

• Grand-Rue (centre) – tourist restaurants, higher prices, convenient location.

• Rue du Théâtre and Rue de la Paix in Territet – local establishments, quieter, lower prices than in the centre.

Approximate meal prices

Souvenirs

• Swiss chocolate – buy in delicatessen shops; prices are lower than at tourist stalls.

• Cheese – local selection in delicatessen shops near the centre.

• Watches – wide selection in shops along the Grand-Rue and promenade.

• Alpine handicrafts – shops on the promenade and Grand-Rue have the largest selection.

• Queen-related memorabilia – souvenirs linked to Freddie Mercury's history in Montreux.

Montreux is among the more expensive resorts in Switzerland. The table below shows approximate daily costs per person, assuming at least one overnight stay.

• Budget: hostel or accommodation outside the centre, meals at bistros and fast-food outlets, main free attractions plus one paid attraction.

• Mid-range: three- or four-star hotel or a flat in the centre, mid-range restaurants, Chillon Castle and the Rochers-de-Naye mountain railway.

• Comfortable: four- or five-star hotel on the lake, premium restaurants and a full sightseeing itinerary.

Approximate prices for selected attractions: Chillon Castle entry costs a few tens of zlotys, and the Rochers-de-Naye mountain railway return ticket costs between a few tens and over a hundred zlotys. The promenade and the Freddie Mercury statue are free.