Montreux is a cute town in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, northeast of Lake Geneva. Besides its spa facilities, Montreux is famous for its mild climate, awesome views, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Eight kilometers run from Clarens, through Chillon Castle, and up to Villeneuve. Combined with Vevey-Montreux, it’s home to around 85,000 people.
While Montreux has a lot to offer, in this article, we’ll highlight other towns nearby that are worth a visit. If you’re already in the area, you might want to look at a few nice towns around Montreux.
In this article, we will discuss 10 beautiful towns you can visit near Montreux, Switzerland.
1. Vevey
Five minutes from Montreux is the pretty town of Vevey. A jewel of this region, it is situated on the northern shores of Lake Geneva. Vevey has a spectacular Alpine panorama, a mild climate, vineyards, numerous excursion destinations in the region, and a fleet of paddlewheel steamers on the lake. Stunning hotels and a promenade lined with palm trees and flowers welcome visitors. There’s also a giant fork stuck in the lake for people who want something cool to see.
It has the world headquarters of Nestlé, an international food and beverage company founded in 1867. From 1952 to 1977, Charlie Chaplin lived in Vevey.
How do you get from Montreux to Vevey? From Montreux, take the direct train to Vevey. The train journey from Montreux to Vevey takes 5 minutes. Vevey is accessible from Montreux in 16 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Vevey |
| * Alimentarium * Fork of Vevey * Chaplin’s World * Musée Jenisch (Museum of Fine Arts and Prints) * Vevey Photography Museum * Swiss Museum of Games * Vevey History Museum * Eastern Orthodox Church * Swiss Reformed Church of Saint-Martin * City Hall * Place du Marché * Saint-Jean Tower and Fountain |
2. Aigle
The Swiss town of Aigle is located in the canton of Vaud right within the Rhone Valley and close to Montreux and Lake Geneva. This beautiful town has a castle, vineyards, and beautiful scenery. Aigle is a great place to come if you’re looking for a beautiful, yet relaxing town near Montreux.
Explore the beauty of Aigle Castle, a Swiss gem. Château d’Aigle features a Vine and Wine Museum surrounded by vineyards. In the old days, it was home to prominent people like the Barons of Aigle and the Lords of Compa. These days, you can visit the wine museum at your leisure.
The Church of Saint-Maurice, De la Dîme House, as well as the entire town of Aigle are all listed under the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.
How do you get from Montreux to Aigle? From Montreux, take the direct train to Aigle. The train journey from Montreux to Aigle takes anywhere from 9 to 16 minutes. Aigle is accessible from Montreux in 19 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Aigle |
| * Château d’Aigle * Vineyards of Aigle * Church of Saint-Maurice * De la Dîme House |
3. Lutry
The Swiss town of Lutry is in the district of Lavaux-Oron in the canton of Vaud. Lutry is between the Jorat region and Lake Geneva and not too far from Montreux. In addition to producing wine, it has beautiful architecture and historical sites.
Lutry Castle or Rôdeurs Castle, the Roman Catholic Church of Saint-Martin, the Swiss Reformed Church of Saint-Martin, and a Gothic facade house are some of the Swiss heritage sites of national significance. The whole region is famous for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces.
How do you get from Montreux to Lutry? From Montreux, take the direct train to Lutry. The train journey from Montreux to Lutry takes anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes. Lutry is accessible from Montreux in 27 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Lutry |
| * Lavaux Vineyard Terraces – a UNESCO World Heritage Site * Lutry Castle * Catholic Church of Saint-Martin * Reformed Church of Saint-Martin * Gothic Facade House * Entire Town of Lutry |
If you would like to read more about the different wine regions in Switzerland, check out our article 7 Best Idyllic Swiss Wine Regions Explained.
4. Morges
There’s a town called Morges on Lake Geneva, opposite Mont Blanc and not too far from Montreux. In the Middle Ages, it served as a seasonal Savoy court residence and bailiff’s seat.
Markets are twice a week on the pedestrianized Grand-Rue in the heart of the old town. It also has an impressive castle, Morges Castle, with multiple museums. They also have a big Tulip Festival in April and May.
How do you get from Montreux to Morges? From Montreux, take the direct train to Morges. The train journey from Montreux to Morges takes 37 minutes. Morges is accessible from Montreux in 24 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Morges |
| * Morges Castle and Military Museum of Vaud * Tulip Festival in April and May * Grand-Rue, and the buildings at Grand-Rue 54 and Grand-Rue 94 * Temple * The City Hall |
5. Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains is a beautiful town about an hour from Montreux. Yverdon-les-Bains has a rich history that includes the Alemanni, the Romans, and the Savoys. It’s also known for its thermal springs, which have been used as mineral baths since the Roman era.
Castellans of the Savoy dynasty used to live in Yverdon-les-Bains Castle (Château d’Yverdon). This Swiss heritage site has four towers and is considered a national treasure.
How do you get from Montreux to Yverdon-les-Bains? From Montreux, take the direct train to Yverdon-les-Bains. The train journey from Montreux to Yverdon-les-Bains takes 1 hour and 3 minutes. You can also go to Yverdon-les-Bains via Lausanne. Yverdon-les-Bains is accessible from Montreux in 48 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Yverdon-les-Bains |
| * Thermal Center at Yverdon-les-Bains * Yverdon-les-Bains Castle (Château d’Yverdon) * Museum of Yverdon * Musée Suisse de la Mode * Yverdon-les-Bains Beach |
6. Nyon
On the banks of Lake Geneva, near the border with France, is a charming town with a relaxed vibe called Nyon. This lovely lakeside town is about 25 kilometers northeast of Geneva; it’s actually part of the bigger Geneva metro area. It’s about an hour away from Montreux.
The whole old town of Nyon is on the Swiss Heritage Inventory. A notable Swiss heritage site of national significance is Nyon Castle. Also worth checking out are the following: the Museum of the History of Porcelain, the Roman Colonia Iulia Equestris, the Roman Museum, and the Swiss Reformed Church of Notre Dame.
Nyon is also the headquarters of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Headquarters.
How do you get from Montreux to Nyon? From Montreux, take the direct train to Nyon. The train journey from Montreux to Nyon takes 57 minutes. Nyon is accessible from Montreux in 58 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Nyon |
| * Nyon Castle * Museum of the History of Porcelain * Colonia Iulia Equestris * Swiss Reformed Church of Notre-Dame * Manoir at Rue Maupertuis 2 & 4 * Nyon Roman Museum * Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Headquarters |
7. Romont
This hilltop town of Romont, first mentioned in 1177 as Rotundo Monte, has a lot of historic sites. It is located in the canton of Fribourg The pretty town of Romont is an hour from Montreux by train, and even less by car.
The town itself is also included in the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. It’s also in this area that you’ll find Romont Castle, which Peter II of Savoy probably used during the 13th century. The castle itself also has an elegant courtyard.
The Stained Glass Museum of Switzerland is right at Romont Castle. It has medieval glass art and reverse glass art. Romont has the biggest collection of reverse glass paintings in the world. In addition to fortifications, there’s a collegiate church.
How do you get from Montreux to Romont FR? From Montreux, take the train to Lausanne. In Lausanne, take the connecting train to Romont FR. The train journey from Montreux to Romont FR takes 58 minutes. Romont is accessible from Montreux in 35 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Romont |
| * Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu – Cistercian Monastery * Romont Castle * Swiss Stained Glass Museum – in Romont Castle * Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption * Town fortifications |
If you would like to learn more about some of Switzerland’s best medieval places like Romont, check out our article 10 Beautiful Medieval Towns in Switzerland.
8. Gruyères
Gruyères is one of Switzerland’s most beautiful towns, located in the canton of Fribourg. In addition to being known for cheese with the same name, it also has a castle and a well-preserved medieval center. Montreux is only an hour away by train, and even less by car.
There’s Gruyères Castle, which is now also a museum. You can also find the HR Giger Museum at St-Germain Castle. You should also check out the houses at Rue du Bourg 7, 39, and 47 and the barn at Grange du Laviau. Beyond the town, you can also drop by the Gruyères Cheese Factory, Moléson Mountain, or the reservoir Lake of Gruyère.
How do you get from Montreux to Gruyères? From Montreux, take the train to Montbovon. In Montbovon, take the bus to Gruyères. The entire journey from Montreux to Gruyères takes 1 hour and 9 minutes. Gruyères is accessible from Montreux in 35 minutes by car. The train station of Gruyères is around 1 kilometer away from the medieval town.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Gruyères |
| * Entire medieval town center of Gruyères * The town fortifications * Gruyères Castle * Saint-Germain Castle * Gruyères Cheese Factory * Lake of Gruyère |
If you would like to learn more about Gruyères, check out our article Gruyères, Switzerland: A Romantic Little Town.
9. Estavayer-le-lac
Estavayer-le-Lac is a small, pretty Swiss town on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel in the canton Fribourg. The whole town of Estavayer-le-Lac is on Switzerland’s Inventory of World Heritage Sites. Estavayer-le-Lac has a rich history, with a 12th-century Savoy castle and Gothic abbey church.
On top of the hills overlooking Lake Neuchâtel, the Château de Chenaux castle is a picturesque, medieval landmark. And it’s open to the public. Among the other places to visit in Estavayer-le-lac are the De Rivaz Chapel, Sacré-Coeur Chapel, the Collegiate church of Saint-Laurent, the fortifications, and more.
You’ll be glad you stopped by this little but beautiful spot near Montreux.
How do you get from Montreux to Estavayer-le-Lac? From Montreux, take the train to Lausanne. In Lausanne, take the train to Yverdon-les-Bains. In Yverdon-les-Bains, take the train to Estavayer-le-Lac. The train journey from Montreux to Yverdon-les-Bains takes 1 hour and 16 minutes. Estavayer-le-Lac is accessible from Montreux in 1 hour and 3 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Estavayer-le-Lac |
| * Chenaux Castle (Château de Chenaux) * De Rivaz Chapel * Sacré-Cour Chapel * Church of Saint-Laurent * Convent of the Dominican * Fortifications * House de la Dîme * Font Beach (Plage de Font) |
10. Saillon
The picture-perfect village of Saillon is in canton Valais. It’s a perfect place to grow figs, almonds, and grapes too. There are vineyards all around Saillon.
The first mention of Saillon was in 1052 as Castellum Psallionis. Saillon was ruled by the Savoys for two centuries. In this period, the town became a Savoyard commercial and military center in Valais. The Bayart Tower, a 19-meter-high keep built by the Savoys, overlooks the Rhone Valley.
Saillon’s bandit Farinet is also famous. There’s a museum dedicated to Farinet and his counterfeiting methods called the Museum of Counterfeit Coins (Musée de la Fausse Monnaie). The museum has a comprehensive history of fake and real Swiss money.
How do you get from Montreux to Saillon? From Montreux, take the train to Martigny. In Martigny, take the bus to Saillon, Collombeyres. The entire journey from Montreux to Saillon takes 1 hour and 3 minutes. Saillon is accessible from Montreux in 38 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Saillon |
| * Bayart Tower * Bains de Saillon * Musée de la Fausse Monnaie (Museum of Counterfeit Coins) |
If you would like to learn more about Saillon, check out our article Saillon: A Beautiful Medieval Village in Valais, Switzerland.
Final Thoughts: Best Towns Near Montreux
We have covered some of the best towns to see near Montreux. The above list isn’t exhaustive and doesn’t even include bigger cities nearby worth visiting like Lausanne, Geneva, and Martigny.
Gruyères would be my favorite if I had to pick just one. We’ve been there a few times and I always find the town so fairytale-like. The Lavaux Wine Terraces in Lutry and the surrounding areas are also worth a visit.
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