The Marché de Noël à Montreux is by far the largest and best Christmas market to visit in the Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) region of Switzerland in 2025. See Santa flying in his sleigh over the lakeshore market every evening or visit Santa’s workshop, a Christmas village, and a medieval festival in Chateau de Chillon. The Montreux Christmas Market is open from November 20 to December 24, 2025.
The best Christmas market in French-speaking Switzerland, and one of the largest in the country, is the Marché de Noël à Montreux. Each Christmas holiday season, around 170 market stalls sell Christmas fare at the traditional Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt) in the town center and on the lakeside quays and in the covered market in Montreux. Further holiday cheer is added by a medieval festival at Chateau de Chillon Castle and Santa’s workshop at the top of Rocher-de-Naye, an Alpine peak with wonderful views of Lake Geneva and the mountains. Visit the Village des Lutins (elves) in nearby Villeneuve while the smaller market in Vevey continues until the New Year.
Hotels in Montreux and ski resorts such as Zermatt and Leukerbad come at a premium during Christmas time — cheaper deals may be easier to find in Geneva and Lausanne, where hotels aim more at business travelers, who are less likely to visit during the Christmas period.
2025 Montreux Christmas market dates: 20 November to 24 December 2025 (31 December in Vevey)
The Marché de Noël à Montreux Christmas Market
The annual Marché de Noël à Montreux is the largest and best Christmas market to visit in western Switzerland. It comes closer to a proper German Weihnachtsmarkt than any other market in the region. However, the Montreux Advent market remains distinctly French-Swiss in presentation, festive atmosphere, wares, and winter holiday foods on sale. Wine and good food are important, with well-known restaurants running many of the food stalls.
The main Christmas market in Montreux consists of around 170 stalls and chalets on the quays of Lake Geneva, the covered market (Marché Couvert), and in Grand Rue. These sell anything from antiques (Brocante de Noël) to arts and local crafts. Jewelry, Swarovski crystals, and clothes are common, as are household items and Christmas decorations.
In 2025, the Montreux Christmas market is open from November 20 to December 24, 2025. Opening hours are generally 11 am to 8 pm (10 pm on Friday and Saturday). Food stalls often stay open an hour or two later. On weekends, the market opens at 10 am. It closes late afternoon on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas Day (December 25) are mostly quiet with Swiss people preferring private and family celebrations. Restaurant reservations are almost essential on these two days and are hard to get at the last minute.
Food and Drink At the Montreux Christmas Market
The best food at Montreux Noël is in the Village des Bûcherons area, where several restaurants serve a variety of menus. However, many stalls scattered throughout the market sell more traditional Christmas market food to go.
Vin chaud (mulled wine / Glühwein), hot chestnuts, grilled sausages, crepes, and chocolates are particularly popular foods. In contrast to the German Christmas market custom, mulled wine is sold in disposable cups, but Montreux souvenir mugs are available from a few stands.
Most years, a guest country is invited to share its Christmas traditions and special events at the Montreux Marché de Noël. The guest country stalls are near the covered market and the ever-popular Freddy Mercury statue — the perfect place for selfies.
Children and Family-Friendly Marché de Noël à Montreux Christmas Market
Children and families enjoy the various family-friendly stalls and play areas at the Christmas market in Montreux. On the upper floor of the covered market, children can color their own candles or bake Christmas cookies.
Every afternoon at 17:00, 18:00, and 19:00, Santa Claus flies over the Montreux Noël lakeside promenade in his sleigh. (Also at 16:00 on Saturdays.)
The big Ferris wheel near the covered market is a big hit with children, but on a clear day, adults will enjoy the fantastic views too. The bird-eye views of Montreux are spectacular and, in clear weather, extend far over Lake Geneva and the Alps. Chateau de Chillon can be seen for a few seconds while the big wheel is at its highest point. (Around CHF8 per ride.)
Medieval Christmas Festival at Chateau de Chillon Castle
Chateau de Chillon Castle near Montreux is a great destination for children and adults of any age. Chillon claims to be the most popular castle in Switzerland. This historic site is one of the best places to visit at any time of the year.
However, during Advent weekends, a special medieval market and festival are held at the castle. The festival involves medieval food, music, arts, and technology – the main themes covered differ each weekend.
The Chateau de Chillon Marché Médiéval Festival de Conte is held at the castle most Advent weekends from 2 to 5 pm. Admission to the castle and fair is around CHF15 – child fares and family discount tickets are available.
Santa’s Workshop at Rochers-de-Naye
A popular outing for families with children is Santa’s workshop at the top of Rocher-de-Naye alpine peak. The only way to scale this peak is on a MOB Golden Pass train — a novelty train ride to a White Christmas far more likely than on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Rochers-de-Naye is a 2,042 m (6,611 ft) high peak with marvelous views over Montreux, Lake Geneva, and the mountains. During most of the Montreux Christmas season, Santa’s workshop (La Maison du Père Noël (House of Father Christmas) aux Rochers de Naye) is open mostly on Wednesdays to Sundays.
The MOB Golden Pass cogwheel trains from Montreux travel to the top of Rochers-de-Naye via Glion and Caux in just less than an hour. Seat reservations are essential and should be made well in advance for weekend travel.
Train reservations are possible from mid-September. Seats are only reserved for the train ride up the mountain — free seating on the down ride. On weekdays, visitors spend around 90 minutes on the mountain (excluding transportation), and on busy weekends, up to three hours.
The return fares and basic admission charges from Montreux are around CHF39 (CHF19 for children) to Rocher-de-Naye. The Junior Card is not valid, and other general tickets require a surcharge. The half-fare card gives only around CHF10 discount. Even children under 6 years have to pay around CHF10.
Christmas Market in Vevey in 2025
In an attempt to spread the Christmas market visitors a bit, Vevey and Villeneuve have joined Montreux from 2024 with their own contributions to the Riviera Noël. The small market in Vevey has long hours and is near the train station. It is worth checking out when there, but hardly a top destination like the Marche de Noël in Montreux.
In Vevey, the main attractions are a Christmas market on the large market square, an ice skating rink, and a restaurant area on Place Scanavin. A special attraction of the Vevey Noël is the gourmet food and the opportunity for small groups (8 to 12) to rent an exclusive wooden hut, chalet, or private room for a special dinner. The Alimentarium usually arranges special Christmas events too.
The Vevey Christmas market also has longer opening hours than Montreux. The market is open daily from 22 November to 31 December 2025 from 11 am to at least midnight. (I would double-check on Christmas day before setting out!)
The Elves’ Village in Villeneuve
The Elves’ Village (Village des Lutins) is the main attraction of Christmas market celebrations in Villeneuve. The village and associated rides are aimed at smaller children. A few further stalls sell typical Christmas market food and items.
The market in Villeneuve is usually open from Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 18:00. On weekends, it may open at 10:00 and some nights continue until 20:00.
Transportation to the Marché de Noël à Montreux Christmas Market
Getting to the Montreux Noël Christmas market is easiest by public transportation. Parking in Montreux is limited, and on weekends most drivers will have to park in smaller villages and special parking lots (free) near Montreux and take a shuttle bus (CHF5) to downtown Montreux.
It is far easier to arrive by train in the heart of Montreux. The train station is just a flight of stairs (escalators available for the up journey) away from the Christmas market. Similarly, when traveling to Vevey or Villeneuve, use the train and simply stroll to the markets.
Montreux has good train connections to other Lake Geneva towns, including Lausanne, Genève, and Geneva Airport (GVA). Easy connections to Fribourg and Bern draw visitors from German-speaking parts of Switzerland to the Montreux Weihnachtsmarkt.
The Golden Pass panorama trains are a fantastic way to arrive in Montreux during the festive season from Gstaad, Zweisimmer, Interlaken, and Luzern. Trains are also available to the Rhone Valley and ski resorts in the Alps. See Swiss Railways for online timetables and tickets. Train tickets booked at Omio may be significantly cheaper if taking a specific train.
The winter boat schedule for boat cruises on Lake Geneva is very limited. Passenger ferries do not operate near Montreux, while regular cruises are limited to a few sailings on Sundays and dinner / fondue cheese cruises from Lausanne or Genève on Thursday and Friday nights.
- See also Transportation to Montreux for more details on getting to Montreux by public transportation.
More Christmas Markets in the Lake Geneva Region
Marchés de Noël / traditional Christmas markets have become popular marketing tools in the Lake Geneva region (and the whole Switzerland tourism sector for that matter) in the past few years. The best Christmas markets in the region are in Montreux, Geneva, and Lausanne but seemingly every small town promises Christmas markets during December. Unfortunately, very few of the smaller Christmas markets are worth going out in the cold. A few notable exceptions include the Christmas market in Coppet held early in December and the indoor Christmas market held mid-December in Morges.
Many traditional Swiss villages put up Christmas trees in town squares and decorate main streets with Christmas lights during the holiday season. From late November to early in the New Year, the city center of Geneva and its luxury shop windows are particularly beautifully decorated with fairy lights and imaginative displays. Medieval Gruyère is always worth visiting but particularly beautiful if blessed with a White Christmas.
Christmas music is mostly piped in at the festive markets but many concerts are scheduled in churches and other venues in the Lake Geneva region. Lausanne Cathedral has a magnificent pipe organ and perfect acoustics for Christmas carols.
The best Swiss Christmas markets are in the German part of Switzerland, with the Basel Christmas market probably the best.