Planning a Trip

Getting There

Montreux not only lies on the famous Orient Express line linking Paris to Milan, but it's also connected to the link between Geneva and the Simplon Tunnel. Dozens of trains stop at Montreux every day headed in both directions. The most famous is the Train Panoramique, a big-windowed train with a transparent roof that links Montreux to Interlaken. Passengers who take this conveyance often continue, after a change of train, on to Lucerne in a conventional railway car. For bookings, contact M.O.B. (Société Montreux-Oberland-Bernois), Gare de Montreux (tel. 021/964-55-35; www.mob.ch). For more Swiss rail information, dial tel. 0900/300-300.

If you're driving, Montreux sits in the middle of a network of superhighways linking Germany, France, and Italy with Switzerland. The divider of the traffic coming from Germany via Bern is just outside Montreux. From that vantage point, you can go either east or west across Switzerland.

In addition, Montreux is one of the stops on the east-west steamer route between Villeneuve and Geneva. Travel by lake steamer from Lausanne is about 1 hour, or about 3 hours from Geneva. Most boats depart between May and September, with limited service throughout the rest of the year. For information and bookings, contact CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation) in Lausanne (tel. 0848/811-848; www.cgn.ch).

Visitor Information

The Montreux Convention & Tourist Information Office, rue du Théâtre (tel. 021/962-84-84; www.montreuxtourism.ch), is opposite the boat-landing pier. Throughout the year it's open daily from 9am to 6pm.