When you book a night in a hotel, holiday apartment, B&B or campsite anywhere in the Montreux Riviera region, you are automatically entitled to a card issued with your accommodation: free travel on the local public transport network, plus discounts of up to 50% on many of the region's biggest attractions.[2] In practice the Montreux Riviera Card turns a stay by the lake into a genuinely cheaper few days.
This guide explains what the card covers, which zones and mountain lines it applies to, how you actually receive it, and the handful of terms worth knowing before you travel.
Key points: the Montreux Riviera Card gives free travel on the whole “Mobilis” Montreux Riviera network (zones 70–78),[1] discounts of up to 50% on attractions including Château de Chillon, Chaplin’s World and the Alimentarium,[2] and free or discounted access to the Rochers-de-Naye and Les Pléiades mountain railways.[1]
Short answer: it is a free visitor card issued with your stay that covers all local public transport in the Montreux–Vevey region and gives up to 50% off a long list of museums, castles and activities.[2]
In this guide
What is the Montreux Riviera Card?
The Montreux Riviera Card is financed through the Tourist Tax and offered to you exclusively by your host — most of the hotels, holiday apartments, B&Bs and campsites in the region hand it to you with your stay.[1] The tourist board describes it as “a real key that gives you free travel on public transport and discounts on many activities”.[2]
It is the same idea as the guest cards of many Swiss resort towns, but for the whole stretch of lakefront from Montreux down to Villeneuve and Vevey: the further you travel by bus and train and the more you visit, the more the card pays for itself.
Free transport: the whole Mobilis network
With the card, travel is free on the entire “Mobilis” Montreux Riviera public transport network — zones 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78.[1] That covers the lakeside line and buses linking Montreux, Territet, Veytaux, Villeneuve, La Tour-de-Peilz and Vevey, plus the hills above the shore on the Mont-Pèlerin side.
Because most of the region’s highlights sit on or just off that network, you rarely need a separate ticket: Château de Chillon, the lakeside promenade, the Lavaux vineyard stops and Vevey’s museums are all reachable on the card.[1]
Discounts: castles, museums and mountain trains
On top of free transport, the card cuts the entry price of many of the region’s paid attractions.
| Reduction | What it applies to |
|---|---|
| 50% off | Château de Chillon, Chaplin’s World by Grévin, Alimentarium, Bex Salt Mines, Aquaparc, guided city walking tours, and many museums (Montreux Museum, Vevey History Museum, Swiss Museum of Games, Fort de Chillon and more) |
| 30% off | Cinemas: Hollywood, Rex 1·2·3 and Astor |
| 20% off | Maison Cailler, Glacier 3000, Plateforme 10, the Montreux–Rochers-de-Naye train and the Vevey–Les Pléiades train |
| Free | Queen “The Studio Experience” and entry to Casino Barrière Montreux |
The two mountain railways in the 20% line deserve their own note, because each combines a free section with a paid finish.
The two mountain lines
On the Montreux–Glion–Les Rochers-de-Naye line, the supplement for the summit counts only on the Haut-de-Caux–Les Rochers section — the card gets you free travel to Haut-de-Caux, then 20% off to the top.[1] On the Vevey–Blonay–Les Pléiades line, the 20% reduction applies on the Les Chevalleyres–Les Pléiades section, after a free ride to Les Chevalleyres.[1]
That makes the card especially valuable if Rochers-de-Naye or Les Pléiades is on your list — the free-bus up from Montreux or Vevey plus a reduced ticket to the summit is one of the better-value combinations in the region.
How you get the card
There are two ways.[2]
- By email: you receive it in the e-mail sent 3 days before your arrival.[2]
- On arrival: from your host, at check-in.[2]
If you are staying in a holiday apartment, ask your host about it when you book — every visitor staying in the region’s accommodation is entitled to it, and it costs nothing extra.
Terms worth knowing
Three points before you rely on it. The card is financed by the Tourist Tax, it is personal and non-transferable, and it cannot be combined with other benefits.[2] In other words, present your own card and do not expect to stack it on top of another discount for the same ticket.
How hosts make it easy
For anyone managing a villa or apartment by the lake, the Montreux Riviera Card is a low-cost way to add real value to a stay. The RivieraHost team passes the card to guests at every checked-in apartment along with local transport tips, so visitors can head straight out to Chillon, Vevey or the vineyards without buying separate tickets.
Staying in Montreux or Vevey?
RivieraHost manages a portfolio of apartments across Montreux, Clarens and Vevey — walking distance to the lakefront, the bus and the stations the Montreux Riviera Card covers. Every guest receives their card on arrival.
Check availabilityRelated reading: 12 best places to visit in Montreux and Vevey · Luxury travel guide to Montreux & the Swiss Riviera · Montreux Jazz Festival: what to see & how to book · Montreux & Vevey 2026 events calendar · Montreux Christmas Market visitor guide
10+ years in hospitality. BBA Hospitality (Glion), MSc Tourism (FHGR), MSc Data Science (HSLU).
Frequently asked questions
Is the Montreux Riviera Card really free?
Yes. It is financed through the tourist tax and given to you at no extra cost by your accommodation — hotel, holiday apartment, B&B or campsite.
Which public transport does the card cover?
Free travel on the whole “Mobilis” Montreux Riviera network — zones 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78 — spanning the lakeside towns from Chillon and Villeneuve up to Vevey and the hills above.
Does the card cover the Rochers-de-Naye and Les Pléiades trains?
Partly. Travel is free to Haut-de-Caux on the Montreux–Rochers-de-Naye line and to Les Chevalleyres on the Vevey–Les Pléiades line, with 20% off the final section to each summit.
Do I get a discount at Château de Chillon?
Yes — Château de Chillon is on the card’s 50% list, alongside Chaplin’s World, the Alimentarium, Bex Salt Mines and many local museums.
How do I receive the Montreux Riviera Card?
You get it by email 3 days before your arrival, or directly from your host at check-in. It is personal and non-transferable, and cannot be combined with other benefits.
Sources
- MOB (Mobilité, transports publics de la Riviera), official Montreux Riviera Card page — mob.ch/en/pages/mrc
- Montreux Riviera (Montreux-Vevey Tourisme), official Montreux Riviera Card page — montreuxriviera.com
Base yourself in Montreux
RivieraHost’s apartments sit steps from the lake — with kitchens, more space and better value than a hotel for families and groups. Every one is right on this guide’s doorstep.