The Montreux Christmas market, known locally as Montreux Noël, runs from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 along the quays of Lake Geneva. More than 150 chalets line the lakeside promenade between the CGN boat landing and the covered market at Place du Marché, about 200 metres from the station. Santa flies over the water on a sleigh in the evenings, and a cogwheel train takes children up to his house on the Rochers-de-Naye. Entry to the market is free.
Arriving with luggage? Find luggage storage in Montreux before you head down to the lake.
Montreux Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | Friday 20 November – Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Opening hours | Mon–Wed 11:00–21:00, Thu–Fri 11:00–22:00, Sat 10:00–22:00, Sun 10:00–20:00; restaurants until 23:00 |
| 24 December | 11:00–17:00 |
| Location | Lakeside quays from the CGN landing stage to Place du Marché |
| Chalets | More than 150 |
| Entry | Free |
| Currency | Swiss francs (CHF) |
| Nearest station | Montreux, about 200 m |
Opening Hours
| Day | Craft chalets | Restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Wednesday | 11:00 – 21:00 | 11:00 – 23:00 |
| Thursday – Friday | 11:00 – 22:00 | 11:00 – 23:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 – 22:00 | 11:00 – 23:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 – 20:00 | 11:00 – 23:00 |
| 24 December | 11:00 – 17:00 | 11:00 – 17:00 |
Takeaway food stands close an hour after the craft chalets, and restaurants take last orders 30 minutes before closing. The organisers post any changes on the official Montreux Noël website.
What to See at the Montreux Christmas Market
The setting does most of the work here. The chalets run along the lake with the Alps on the far shore, so the walk from one end to the other is the main event, especially at dusk when the lights come on. Craft stalls sell decorations, wooden toys, candles and local products, and the old covered market hall at Place du Marché is where many of the food stands gather.
The show people come for is Santa’s flight. Several times each evening he crosses the sky above the market in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, suspended from a cable. It’s free to watch from the quays. On selected dates in 2026 (21 and 28 November, 5, 12, 19 and 21 December) there’s also a Flying Santa Cruise for families on a Belle Époque paddle steamer from the CGN landing, which needs a ticket booked in advance.
Santa’s House on the Rochers-de-Naye
Above Montreux, at 2,042 metres, Santa has a house on the Rochers-de-Naye. The cogwheel train from Montreux station takes about 55 minutes to climb there, and children get to meet him and receive a small present. Tickets are limited and sell out on weekends, and the organisers advise against it for children under three. Ticketing for 2026 opened in September, so book early if this is the reason for your trip.
Food and Drink
- Cheese fondue, the obvious choice by the lake. The fondue “tubes” on the Le Safran terrace and the hunting fondue at Tatanka need a reservation.
- Raclette and malakoffs, the fried cheese fritters from the Vaud side of the lake.
- Vin chaud (mulled wine) or a glass of white wine from the Lavaux terraces just up the shore.
- Pretzels, roasted chestnuts and Swiss chocolate for the walk back to the station.
Prices are in CHF and in line with the rest of Switzerland, so a fondue dinner by the lake is a proper meal out rather than a snack.
Chillon Castle and the Lakeside Walk
Chillon Castle sits on a rock in the lake about 3 kilometres east of the market. You can walk there along the flower-lined promenade in under an hour or take the 201 bus. The castle charges admission and holds Christmas events on some Advent weekends, so check its programme before you go. On the way you’ll pass the Freddie Mercury statue on Place du Marché, a short detour for Queen fans.
Getting to the Montreux Christmas Market
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Montreux station | Walk down to the quays | About 3 min |
| Lausanne | Direct SBB train | About 20–25 min |
| Geneva | Direct SBB train | About 1 h |
| Geneva Airport | Direct SBB train | About 1 h 15 |
| Bern | Train, usually with a change in Lausanne | About 1 h 30 |
| By car | Chailly P+R (149 spaces) or Saussaz (140 spaces), CHF 8 | Varies |
SBB sells a RailAway offer for the market with 50% off public transport and a voucher for a mulled wine or tea and a pretzel, collected at the New Bretzel stand under the covered market. Local VMCV buses on lines 201 and 204 are free on weekends from 13:00. Parking in the centre fills up fast, so the train is the easier option.
Tips for Visiting
- Come in the late afternoon, walk the quays in daylight and stay for the lights and Santa’s flight after dark.
- Weekends are busy, particularly in December. A weekday visit is much calmer.
- Book the Rochers-de-Naye trip and the Flying Santa Cruise before you travel.
- It gets cold and windy by the water after sunset. Bring a hat and gloves.
- The promenade is narrow in places and packed in the evening, so leave the suitcase behind if you can.
Luggage Storage for the Montreux Christmas Market
Montreux is a popular day trip from Geneva and Lausanne, and a stop for travellers on the GoldenPass line towards Gstaad and Interlaken. Wheeling a case along the quays on a busy evening isn’t much fun.
Radical Storage has a verified partner hotel in Montreux where you can leave your bags while you visit the market. Book online in a minute, drop your luggage and pick it up before your train. Every bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free, and travellers rate the service 4.8/5. Availability in a small town is limited on December weekends, so book ahead.
- Luggage storage near the Christmas market on the Montreux quays.
- Luggage storage in Lausanne if you’re coming from there and want to travel light.
Montreux Christmas Market FAQ
Montreux Noël runs from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 on the Lake Geneva quays. On 24 December it closes at 17:00.
Craft chalets open Monday to Wednesday 11:00–21:00, Thursday and Friday 11:00–22:00, Saturday 10:00–22:00 and Sunday 10:00–20:00. Restaurants stay open until 23:00.
Yes, entry is free. Santa’s house on the Rochers-de-Naye and the Flying Santa Cruise are ticketed and should be booked in advance.
Santa flies over the market and the lakeside quays in a sleigh suspended from a cable, several times each evening. You can watch for free from the promenade.
Take a direct SBB train from Geneva to Montreux, which takes about an hour. The market starts about 200 metres from Montreux station.
Radical Storage has a verified partner hotel in Montreux. Book online, drop your bags and collect them before your train, with protection of up to €10,000 per bag.
