Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Can I stop briefly in Montreux?

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Can I stop briefly in Montreux?

Next month we are traveling from Paris to Murren by train. I want to go through Montreux so we can take the Golden Pass route towards Murren. If possible I would like to have lunch in Montreux and visit Chillon before taking the Golden Pass train. When I make reservations for the Golden Pass how much time should I expect to spend in Montreux? Is there luggage storage in the train station?

There is a Panoramic Golden Pass train from Montreux at approx.1430 and 1630. Your choice, but the second one is leaving it a bit late for your final destination. Chillon is longish walk, or a bus ride from Montreux, and I would give it a much lower priority than the Golden Pass train ride if you have to choose. Yes you can store luggage in lockers at Montreux station.

Geo & Tony, I'm sorry, but I can't find the Golden Pass leaving Montreux at 16.30. The Golden Pass site lists the last departure at 14.30 (arriving Interlaken Ost 17.24). I checked the Swiss rail website, and all departures after this time go via Lausanne & Bern, not Zweisimmen (which is the GP route). Maybe I got stuck on the winter timetables page? Is there a summer departure that's not posted yet? The Swiss rail site also shows the trip from Paris to Montreux at 8.40 - 13.19 or at 10.30 - 15.19. So you'd have to leave Paris at 8.40 (mighty early for me on vacation!), only to arrive at 13.19 and only have one hour before the departure on the Golden Pass. At most, you'll only be able to walk down to the lake and have a glass of wine/cup of coffee. I'd say you have to make one of those difficult choices here. Stay overnight in Montreux, or skip the Golden Pass, or only stay an hour in Montreux. s

Hello all, s, you must specify your inquiry "via Gstaad" or any other village along the Golden Pass route. I found a train leaving 15:05 from Montreux, arriving 19:27 at Muerren with 5 changes along the Golden Pass route. There is still a later one leaving 16:26, arriving 20:27 at Muerren with 5 changes, too. You will have enough time to walk along the lake promenade and have a coffee (maybe in the wonderful garden of Hotel Eden au Lac). I recommend to skip Chillon. Time is too tight. Ingo

Thanks to all for your kind help. I guess it was wishful thinking on my part. I would rather keep the 3 nights in Murren (hiking). I'll have to get my castle fix elsewhere, possibly Tuscany. We'll be traveling from Paris to Murren June 24th. How far ahead should I reserve the Golden Pass seats and which are the best seats? Is there a surcharge for the Golden Pass when using the Europass? Are there any places near the Montreux train station where I can pick up something for a quick lakeside picnic?

First, here is the Golden pass web site: http://www.mob.ch/GPS/main.htm?e If you want Panoramic train (GPP*) you have 14:26 or 16:26 train. The VIP seats reservations are compulsory so you pay for the reservation fee, few CHF if done in Switzerland, I think it was $11 plus ~$10 handling if done in the US. Whether you want to pay premium in US has to do is how badly you want the good seats. Look at the Golden pass web site, the panoramic train is 5 train composition with locomotive in the MIDDLE, so the very front and end of the train is available for passengers. These are the premium seats, no extra reservation fee, just need to be early. There are 8 of these in front, 8 of these at back. We reserved 3 months ahead for our July trip to get these end seats. It turned out that there were hardly anyone one the Montreux-Zweisimmen so we could have just gotten reservation on the day of departure, but the same train going back to Monteux was jam packed with tour group and doubted there were any seats of any kind left. So I can't tell if what would be like next month. Regarding timing, I see there is 7:44 TGV leaving Paris, arriving Montreux after train change at 12:19. It is not impossible to visit Chateau de Chillon and catch the 16:26 train, if you take a taxi. It is just few minutes from the station. The taxi in Switzerland is expensive, I think I paid about $12 one way. Only you can decide if skipping Chillon is ok this time. The Swiss castles have different feel from German, French, etc castles. It was tough for us to fit Chillon into our schedule. But everytime I am in some travel related stores and see a poster with Chateau de Chillon, I am glad I went to the Chateau. If you do go Chateau, you can skip probably skip an extra cost, time consuming trip to the top of the Chateau. Rick Steves says it's not worth the time or money, and having done that I agree with his assessment. The view from the top window was ho hum, the rooms on the way to the top were bare.

Ingo, Ah yes, there it is! Thanks for jogging my memory. Greg, I've been using this: www.goldenpass.ch, which apparently isn't as up to date as yours! Geo, I think you have a great idea to get a picnic lunch and take it to the lake -- then wash it down with a glass of wine at the cafe at the Eden au Lac as Ingo suggests. Or, another of my favorite cafes is Les Terrasses de Pavillon across from the Port du Territet -- it's a much quieter area -- and if you lean way over to your left you can still see Chillon! It would be a nice backdrop for your lunch. You can catch a bus to Territet, then just walk down to the lake. I think there is a small grocery store inside the Montreux train station where you can pick up some sandwiches & bottled water. There is a *huge* grocery store inside the Forum next to the Casino right on the waterfront. Have a great trip! Be sure to let us know how it went and what you decided. s

This is my first European trip and since I was little I've wanted to visit a castle not made by Disney. I would gladly get up early to catch the 7:44 TGV from Paris. That would give us 4 hours in Montreux. If we allow 2 hours for a Chillon visit including getting there and back by taxi we would still have 2 hours for our picnic lunch. Does that sound feasable? From what I've read there isn't much to do in Murren at night anyway so I wouldn't mind getting there that late. That still gives me 3 full days for exploring around Murren before heading for Luzern on the fourth day. Thanks for the Golden Pass and eating information. I've read almost every guidebook there is but the information provided by all of you has been just as helpful.

Geo, Chillon is the perfect choice as a castle not made by Disney! I suggest not to go by taxi – very expensive. The public transportation system in Switzerland is perfect. You can leave the train from Lausanne or Geneva (where you have to change on your way from Paris) in Vevey or Montreux. There is a local bus (No. 1) running from Vevey via Montreux and Chillon to Villeneuve. The bus stop in Vevey is right in front of the railway station. In Montreux you have to go down the stairs to the main road on the waterfront to get to the bus stop. So I recommend to leave the train in Vevey and take the bus to castle Chillon (direction Villeneuve). You will have enough time to visit the castle. 2 hours are okay. Wish you a great trip! Ingo

Ok Geo, More stuff to frustrate you and take up your time: Read Byron's "Prisoner of Chillon" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" to get you in the mood for Lake Geneva! s

It's settled. We'll get off in Montreux (I don't mind stairs) and have a nice lakefront picnic. Afterwards we'll spend 2 hours visiting Chillon via bus. We'll go back to the area near the train station and relax until it's time to get back on the train. I'll get to cross one of my childhood dreams off my list thanks to you guys. I really appreciate it!!!!! Swandav, It just happens that my future mother in law has a copy of "Prisoner of Chillon". I'll have to ask her to lend it to me. Thanks again.

Absolutely take the Panoramic and pray for a fine day. Murren is very special. There may not be much to do in Murren, but when you are there the fact of being in such exceptional surroundings may relieve some of your compulsion to stay on the go. Why not walk a bit and perhaps take a few of the cable cars to poke around the valley. If you plan to make substantial use of the public transportation system, you should consider getting the Bernese Oberland Regional Pass. I had one last year and the year before. Good value for those using the trains, funiculars, lake steamers, post buses, etc. In the immediate region, you get unlimited use for the period specified (4 or 7 days, I believe) and discounts of either 25% or 50% for the adjoining region. I don't recall their website address, but you can find it easily by searching.

Actually out of the 5 weeks we'll spend in Europe, Murren is the stop I am the most excited about. The photos I've run accross while doing my research take my breath away. I can just imagine what the real thing will do.