What about Vevey or Mauntrex?
Dec 30th, 2005, 12:59 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi lovetotravel27,
Both Vevey and Montreux (note spelling!) are at the foot of a lake, so of course both are flat there. Vevey is flat throughout its area, I think, from the lake to the old town to the train station, and on. On the other hand, Montreux gets hilly as soon as you cross the street from the lake -- up to the train station is a hill, and from the train station to the old town is a monster. However, if you're like most tourists, you'll take a taxi to and from the train station and will spend your days there around the (flat) lake.
Vevey has a popoulation of about 16,000, and it is pretty much an average French-Swiss town with a few hotels, grocery shops, antiques shops, and some department stores.
Montreux has a population of about 23,000, and it is pretty much a resort area. The lakeside promenade is crammed with hotels and cafes, and the main street has a lot of tourist, trinket, and watch shops. It has a casino in the center of town, as well as a monster, multi-level "Forum" with parking, shopping (a HUGE grocery store), restaurants, and apartments on the upper floors. Watching the folks wander down the flowered lakeside promenade is like watching the people around the Eiffel Tower -- an endless stream of interesting people from all over the world.
Vevey's strong point, I think, is its old town. Montreux's strong point is its flowered lakeside promenade.
Good luck deciding!
s
Both Vevey and Montreux (note spelling!) are at the foot of a lake, so of course both are flat there. Vevey is flat throughout its area, I think, from the lake to the old town to the train station, and on. On the other hand, Montreux gets hilly as soon as you cross the street from the lake -- up to the train station is a hill, and from the train station to the old town is a monster. However, if you're like most tourists, you'll take a taxi to and from the train station and will spend your days there around the (flat) lake.
Vevey has a popoulation of about 16,000, and it is pretty much an average French-Swiss town with a few hotels, grocery shops, antiques shops, and some department stores.
Montreux has a population of about 23,000, and it is pretty much a resort area. The lakeside promenade is crammed with hotels and cafes, and the main street has a lot of tourist, trinket, and watch shops. It has a casino in the center of town, as well as a monster, multi-level "Forum" with parking, shopping (a HUGE grocery store), restaurants, and apartments on the upper floors. Watching the folks wander down the flowered lakeside promenade is like watching the people around the Eiffel Tower -- an endless stream of interesting people from all over the world.
Vevey's strong point, I think, is its old town. Montreux's strong point is its flowered lakeside promenade.
Good luck deciding!
s
Dec 30th, 2005, 02:58 PM
#4
I love them both. Vevey is flatter overall. Montreux is flat along the lake but the street up to the Old Town is very steep. Vevey is more "typical Swiss" and Montreux has a more international flavor from more foreign visitors. They are similar in their setting along Lac Leman, the quai (flat, long, lakeside promonade). I would consider them equally beautiful.
Dec 30th, 2005, 07:39 PM
#5
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We stayed in Glion, above Montreux (not flat there 
).
But wanted to mention that it is easy to go back and forth between either town, either via rented bikes or quick train ride.
So whichever you choose, it is still nice to visit the other town.
). But wanted to mention that it is easy to go back and forth between either town, either via rented bikes or quick train ride.
So whichever you choose, it is still nice to visit the other town.
Dec 31st, 2005, 03:50 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi SusanEva -- I also love Glion, and have stayed there (at the Victoria) four times! I really love going down to Territet on the funicular and mixing with the locals; in fact, several times I shared the funicular car with the staff of the hotel! I've also walked between Montreux & Glion a few times (but then of course I was DONE for the day!). On some future trip, I'd like to walk from Glion to Les Avants.
And, to your list of transport between Vevey and Montreux I'd like to add the ferry (schedules at www.cgn.ch) and the bus (#1). The bus is slow, but again I enjoy mingling with the locals -- the young mothers with their babies in strollers, the matrons doing the weekly shopping with their carts, the older couples coming into town for lunch . . . Ah.
See ya!
s
And, to your list of transport between Vevey and Montreux I'd like to add the ferry (schedules at www.cgn.ch) and the bus (#1). The bus is slow, but again I enjoy mingling with the locals -- the young mothers with their babies in strollers, the matrons doing the weekly shopping with their carts, the older couples coming into town for lunch . . . Ah.
See ya!
s
Dec 31st, 2005, 08:45 AM
#7
As others have said getting between the two towns is a snap. I like the bus (for reasons Swandav mentions) as well as the train. Both are quick and reasonably priced. Depending on exactly what part of each town you are going to or from sometimes one is slightly more convenient than the other.
