Step Off the Train and Straight Into Montreux Noël
Few Christmas markets sit this close to the tracks. Walk out of Montreux station, take the steps down towards the water, and within a couple of minutes you're among the first wooden chalets, with the smell of vin chaud, roasting chestnuts and melting cheese drifting up from the shore. The organisers tell visitors to come by public transport, and in December you'll see why.
That's good news if you've a bag with you. The climb back up is the only hard part, and there are escalators for the way up.
Once you're down by the lake, the Christmas market in Montreux stretches along the lakeside promenade, threads through the Grand-Rue and fills the old covered market on Place du Marché. Glowing chalets sell crafts, jewellery, Christmas decorations and Swiss specialities, while restaurant chalets serve cheese fondue with a view of the Alps. After dark, with the lights reflected in the water and the mountains turning pink across the lake, the festive atmosphere is hard to beat. The Ferris wheel on the market square is the landmark you'll steer by, and the Freddie Mercury statue on the waterfront is where everyone stops for a photo.
- The quays: the long lakeside stretch of market stalls, food stalls and restaurant terraces
- Place du Marché: the Ferris wheel and the covered market, where the Christmas'n'Rail drink is collected
- Grand-Rue: the street above the lake, closest to the steps up from the trains
Entry is free.
Opening hours change through the week and are in the box at the top of this page, with the restaurants staying open later than the gift stalls. On Christmas Eve everything closes in the late afternoon, which suits anyone catching an evening train out.
Which Trains Run to the Montreux Christmas Market?
Montreux sits on the main SBB line along the north shore of Lake Geneva, so the trains come to you. InterRegio services on the IR90 and IR95 run straight through from Geneva Airport, Geneva and Lausanne towards Brig, and regional RE33 services fill the gaps between them. No reservation is needed. Buy a ticket, find a seat and watch the lake.
For a lot of visitors, the ride along the shore turns out to be one of the best parts of the day.
| Starting from | Train | Change? | Seat reservation | Best side for the lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva Airport | IR90 or IR95 | Direct, or change at Lausanne | Not needed | Right |
| Geneva Cornavin | IR90 or IR95 | Direct | Not needed | Right |
| Lausanne | IR90, IR95 or RE33 | Direct | Not needed | Right |
| Bern or Zurich | Intercity, then a lakeside service | Change at Lausanne | Not needed | Right |
| Interlaken | GoldenPass Express | No change | Strongly recommended | The lake appears above Montreux |
| Paris | TGV Lyria, then a lakeside service | Change at Lausanne | Compulsory on TGV Lyria | Right |
From Geneva Airport
Geneva Airport has its own platforms right by the terminal, so you can land, follow the signs and be on a direct train to Montreux without going into the city. On a winter afternoon catch an earlier one than you think, as the light fades early in December and you'll want daylight for the vineyards and the shores of Lake Geneva.
From Lausanne
Lausanne is the hub. Services to Montreux leave several times an hour, so you can simply turn up on the platform. Beyond it, as far as Vevey, the line runs below the Lavaux vineyard terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with Lac Léman right beside the track.
Which side to sit
Heading east towards Montreux, sit on the right for Lake Geneva and the French Alps across the water. Coming back west, switch to the left.
Our guide to how Swiss trains work covers tickets, passes and reserving seats.
Christmas'n'Rail and Other Ways to Travel for Less
Montreux Noël runs its own rail deal with SBB RailAway. The Christmas'n'Rail offer gives you a discount on your public transport fare to the market, plus a reduced price on a Riviera Noël mug filled with mulled wine, tea or hot chocolate, with a pretzel on the side. You collect the drink at the New Bretzel stand under the covered market. It's sold while stocks last, so book in November if you want it.
Already holding a pass? A Swiss Travel Pass covers the SBB trains along the lake, and Half Fare Card holders get a discount on the Santa package up Rochers-de-Naye.
In past seasons a special direct train has also run from Fribourg on Advent Sundays. The organisers list it as coming soon for this year, so check the official Montreux Noël site nearer the time.
Santa's House: The Cogwheel Train to Rochers-de-Naye
Here's the bit only a railway can give you. Santa's House sits at the top of the Rochers-de-Naye, high above the lake, and the only way up is the MOB cogwheel train from Montreux. It grinds up through Glion and Caux, past snow-dusted chalets and pine woods, as the lake shrinks below you.
At the summit, Santa Claus waits in his grotto. Children love it, and on a clear day the view over Lake Geneva and the Alps wins round the grown-ups too!
It isn't a turn-up-and-go ride in December. The Santa trains need a reservation, sales open in mid-September and the popular dates sell out fast, especially weekends. The altitude and timings are in the box at the top of this page.
- Book the Santa train as soon as sales open in September
- Pick a weekday if you can, as weekends go first
- Bring your Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass for the reduced Santa package
- Pack hats, gloves and proper shoes, as it's far colder on the mountain than on the quays
- Plan to be back down in Montreux before the first Flying Santa of the evening
Book through the railway's own MOB website, where the Santa train is listed with the GoldenPass services.
Watching the Flying Santa Over the Lake
Every evening, Santa Claus flies in his sleigh from the lakeshore, over the water and across to the market square. It's the moment the whole market stops. Stand on the lakeside promenade between the Freddie Mercury statue and the Ferris wheel, or ride the wheel itself if the queue isn't long, and you'll have a clear view as the sleigh crosses the lake.
The flight times are in the box at the top of this page, with an extra early flight on Saturdays.
On selected Saturdays CGN also runs a Flying Santa Cruise on the lake, which needs booking ahead.
Catching a train straight after? The platforms are close, but the crowds heading uphill after each Flying Santa are thick. Allow more time than the walk alone, or watch from the Grand-Rue end of the market so you're already nearer the steps.
What to Eat and Drink Between Trains
Food is half the reason to come. The restaurant chalets serve sit-down fondue and raclette, and the takeaway stalls keep going for an hour after the craft stalls close.
- Cheese fondue, in a restaurant chalet or as a takeaway
- Raclette from Valais, scraped straight onto your plate
- Vin chaud and hot chocolate to warm your hands
- Roasted chestnuts, crêpes and churros on the way back to the station
Book a restaurant table for a Friday or Saturday night, as the popular chalets fill up.
Chillon, Vevey and Villeneuve: Riviera Noël by Bus and Train
Montreux isn't the only stop. The towns along the shore now run their Christmas events together as the Riviera Noël, and the local trains and VMCV buses link them all.
- Château de Chillon: the medieval castle on the water holds Christmas weekends in Advent. Take VMCV bus 201 from Montreux, or walk the lakeside path if the weather's kind.
- Vevey: a few minutes west by rail, with a smaller Christmas village and food stalls close to the platforms.
- Villeneuve: a short hop east, with an elves' village aimed at younger children.
Bus 201 runs along the shore between Vevey, Montreux, Chillon and Villeneuve. You can see the castle in the afternoon and be back for the Flying Santa without a car, which matters, as parking in Montreux during the market is limited and fills up at weekends.
Arriving the Scenic Way on the GoldenPass Express
If you're staying in the Bernese Oberland, there's a far better way to reach the lake than going round by Bern. The GoldenPass Express runs from Interlaken to Montreux without a change, through Zweisimmen and past Gstaad and the snowy Pays-d'Enhaut, before winding down the mountain to Lake Geneva. Its carriages adjust to the change of track gauge, so you never leave your seat.
Reserve a seat. It's compulsory in Prestige class and strongly advised in first and second, as a ticket alone doesn't guarantee you a place in the busy Christmas season.
It turns a market visit into a proper rail day trip. Ride down in the morning, spend the afternoon at the market, then head back along the lake after dark.
Getting to Montreux From the UK by Train
You can do the whole trip by rail. Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, cross the city to Gare de Lyon, then board a TGV Lyria to Lausanne, where a lakeside service finishes the trip. Seat reservations come with the TGV Lyria fare.
Our guide to the train to Switzerland from London covers the Eurostar connection, and the Paris to Switzerland by train page explains the TGV Lyria routes. Flying instead? Geneva Airport is the easiest for Montreux, and a hotel in Montreux or Vevey lets you stay for the evening lights.
Is There an Escorted Tour to the Christmas Market in Montreux?
Yes. Newmarket's Swiss Christmas Markets break is a short escorted trip built around Montreux Noël. You fly to Geneva, where your tour manager meets you and transfers you to the alpine village of Château-d'Oex, with half-board nights at the Hotel Roc et Neige. One day is spent at the market on the shore of Lake Geneva, with time to visit Chillon if you wish, and there's an optional excursion to the Christmas markets in Bern.
What it takes off your hands is the planning: the airport transfer, the hotel and the trip to the market are organised, with no tickets to buy or connections to time. One thing to know before you book: the flights include the airline's basic hand luggage, not a hold bag, so add one if you plan to bring gifts home.
The tour card on this page shows the dates and the current from price, or see the Swiss Christmas Markets break with Newmarket.
Travelsphere doesn't run a Christmas market tour here, but its Winter in Switzerland week in late winter rides the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken down to Montreux and includes a guided tour of the castle at Chillon. The market has closed by then, though the lake and the snow are still there. Have a look at Travelsphere's Winter in Switzerland if you'd rather see the region with a Holiday Director and fewer crowds.
Planning a Christmas Rail Trip Around Montreux
Montreux works well as a day trip from Geneva. It's even better as one stop on a longer festive rail trip. Pair it with the station market in Zurich or the stalls in Basel and Lucerne for a taste of the European Christmas market season without a car.
Our guide to the Christmas markets in Switzerland compares the big cities, the Zurich Christmas market page covers the market inside the main station, and our Christmas markets by train page lists the escorted festive holidays. Check the Montreux Noël details on MySwitzerland, book the Santa train early, and let the trains bring you right to the lake.
Holidays that include this
Let a tour manager handle the tickets, seat reservations and luggage.
Travelsphere
The Best of Switzerland
The big three scenic trains in one week, with flights, hotels and a Holiday Director taking care of every connection.
- Bernina Express
- Glacier Express
- GoldenPass
From £3,379about £422 a day · per person
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Travelsphere
Winter in Switzerland
A snowy week based in Interlaken: mountain railways, the GoldenPass to Montreux, chocolate and fondue.
- GoldenPass Express
- Jungfrau cogwheel trains
From £2,229about £318 a day · per person
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Newmarket Holidays
Swiss Alpine Glories and the GoldenPass Train
A week in the Pays-d'Enhaut riding the GoldenPass line both ways, with Grindelwald and Gruyères.
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From £1,792about £224 a day · per person
See datesPrices are per person sharing, from the operators' own sites when we checked in October 2026. They change with dates and offers, so check the live price before you book.
