Three lakeside towns, three personalities. Montreux, Vevey and Lausanne are all within a short train ride along Lake Geneva, but they feel very different — and the right choice depends on what you want from your trip. This guide compares them head to head.
Short answer: choose Montreux for festivals and the Riviera resort feel; Vevey for a calmer, food-loving lakeside town with Chaplin’s World and the Alimentarium; Lausanne for a bigger city with more nightlife, shops and Olympic history. All three are ~10–30 minutes apart by train.
Tip: wherever you stay, a day on the lakefront connects them all — use the Montreux Riviera Card if you base yourself on the Riviera, and the CGN boats to travel by water.
Photo : Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In this guide
Montreux: the Riviera resort
Montreux is the Swiss Riviera’s jewel — the Jazz Festival, the lakeside promenade, Chillon at its door and the mountains behind.[1] It is the most tourist-orientated of the three and the most atmospheric in summer and December.
Vevey: calm, food & film museums
A short train west, Vevey is quieter and more local: the Alimentarium food museum, the world’s tallest fork, and Chaplin’s World at nearby Corsier. It is wonderful for families, food-lovers and anyone wanting an authentic lakeside town.[1]
Lausanne: the big lakeside city
Lausanne, half an hour by train, is the region’s city: the Ouchy lakefront, Olympic Museum, universities, shops and a livelier nightlife. Choose it for city energy rather than resort charm.[1]
Which is right for you?
- Festivals & charm: Montreux.
- Calm, food, families: Vevey.
- City life, museums, nightlife: Lausanne.
- Best of all: base on the Riviera and visit the others by train or boat.
Base yourself by the lake
RivieraHost manages apartments across Montreux and Clarens — a relaxing lakeside home with the whole Riviera a short train away. Chillon sits at Montreux's doorstep, Vevey is about 10 minutes off by rail, Lausanne around 30, and the mountains above Rochers-de-Naye make a morning trip. The Montreux Riviera Card covers local transport and the CGN boats link the shore by water.
Check availabilityRelated: 12 best places in Montreux & Vevey · Best time to visit Montreux · Montreux in 1, 2 or 3 days
10+ years in hospitality. BBA Hospitality (Glion), MSc Tourism (FHGR), MSc Data Science (HSLU).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Montreux or Vevey?
Montreux for festivals and resort atmosphere — the Jazz Festival, the lakeside promenade and Chillon at its door, most atmospheric in summer and December — while Vevey is a calmer, food-and-family lakeside town with the Alimentarium museum and Chaplin's World at nearby Corsier. They are only 10 minutes apart by train, so you can base in one and visit the other.
Is Lausanne close to Montreux?
Yes — about 30 minutes by train along the lake, which makes it an easy day trip in either direction. Lausanne is the region's big city, with the Ouchy lakefront, the Olympic Museum, universities, shops and a livelier nightlife, so you can take in its city energy while still basing yourself on the quieter, more resort-like Riviera.
Should I stay in Montreux or Lausanne?
Stay in Montreux, or Vevey, for Riviera charm — Chillon at the door, the promenade and the mountains behind — and choose Lausanne if you want a bigger city with more nightlife, shops and Olympic history. All three sit about 10-30 minutes apart by train, so basing on the Riviera and visiting the others by train or CGN boat gives you the best of each.
What is the best base for Lake Geneva?
Montreux is the classic Riviera base — central, atmospheric and well-connected to Chillon, Vevey, the Lavaux vineyards and the mountains. Trains reach Vevey in about 10 minutes and Lausanne in roughly 30, the CGN boats travel the open lake, and the Montreux Riviera Card covers local transport and cuts entry at sights such as Chillon and Rochers-de-Naye.
Sources
- Regional destination guides on this site (Montreux–Vevey best-of, best time to visit, itinerary) and general Lake Geneva destination knowledge.
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.