What's on in Montreux, Switzerland through the year

Peak crowds — Chateau-d'Oex Balloon Festival, Christmas holidays in Switzerland

• Festival

  Chateau-d'Oex Balloon Festival

  20 Jan – 2 Feb · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Around nine days in late January when dozens of hot-air balloons lift off over the snowy Pays-d'Enhaut, about an hour from Montreux on the scenic MOB line. Flights depend on wind, and the night glow is the evening highlight. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Chateau-d'Oex Balloon Festival, Carnaval de Monthey

• Festival

  Carnaval de Monthey

  12–17 FebCarnivalCrowded

  The Chablais' big carnival, running for over 150 years, fills Monthey from the Thursday before Lent to Shrove Tuesday with parades, satire and bars in the streets. About half an hour from Montreux by train via Aigle. Source ↗

Still on: Chateau-d'Oex Balloon Festival (20 Jan – 2 Feb (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Cully Jazz Festival

  10–18 AprMusic festivalBook early

  Nine days of jazz in the wine village of Cully, twenty minutes along the lake by train: ticketed concerts in tents and the temple, plus free late sets in the cellars and caveaux of the old town. Source ↗

Still on: Carnaval de Monthey (12–17 Feb)

Busy — Easter holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Cully Jazz Festival (10–18 Apr)

Busy — Spring holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Narcissus on the slopes

  15 May – 10 Jun · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  Wild narcissi cover the meadows above the lake at Les Pleiades for two or three weeks in late spring, which the locals call the May snow. The peak moves with the season by a fortnight. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Season

  Lake swimming season

  20 Jun – 15 Sep · usuallySea warm enough

  The Vaud shore swims from late June, and the water holds into September after the festival crowd has gone. The lidos between Montreux and Vevey are where the town actually goes.

• Season

  Rochers-de-Naye walking season

  20 Jun – 15 Oct · usuallyTrail season

  The cog railway climbs to 2,000 metres in under an hour and the ridge walking runs from late June to mid-October. Below it, the Lavaux terraces are walkable most of the year.

Still on: Narcissus on the slopes (15 May – 10 Jun (usually))

Peak crowds — Montreux Jazz Festival, Summer holidays in Switzerland

• Festival

  Montreux Jazz Festival

  3–18 JulMusic festivalCrowdedBook early

  Sixteen days in July that book out the whole Riviera, with the free lakeside stages as good a reason to come as the paid halls. Rooms as far as Lausanne move with it. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Swiss National Day

  1 AugNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  1 August is a public holiday nationwide. Towns and villages hold speeches, lantern walks and bonfires, fireworks go up after dark unless a dry summer brings a ban, and most shops close. Source ↗

Still on: Lake swimming season (20 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)), Rochers-de-Naye walking season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Swiss National Day, Summer holidays in Switzerland

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Lake swimming season (20 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)), Rochers-de-Naye walking season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), Swiss National Day (1 Aug)

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Season

  Lavaux grape harvest

  15 Sep – 15 Oct · usually

  The terraced vineyards between here and Lausanne are picked from the middle of September, and the cellars along the walking path open as you go. Chasselas, and a lot of it.

Still on: Lake swimming season (20 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)), Rochers-de-Naye walking season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Autumn holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Rochers-de-Naye walking season (20 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), Lavaux grape harvest (15 Sep – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Montreux Noel, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Montreux Noel

  20 Nov – 24 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  A market strung two kilometres along the lakeside promenade for five weeks, with a Christmas set-up inside Chillon castle and a Santa on the mountain. It ends on Christmas Eve. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Montreux Noel, Christmas holidays in Switzerland

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Montreux Noel (20 Nov – 24 Dec)