kleeblatt

Hi Swandav,

Where are you now? In Switzerland yet?

altamiro

>It takes 30 minutes to take the train from Montreux to near Chillon?

Last time I looked on the SBB site it was 3 min by local train, not 30...
There are also strange connections where you take a train past Veytaux-Chillon to Villeneuve and backtrack almost all the way by the next train - these take 26 min, but they seem to defeat their own purpose.

scrb

It sounds like the trolley/bus along the lake would be more scenic than taking the train to Veytaux-Chillon then?

altamiro

>It sounds like the trolley/bus along the lake would be more scenic than taking the train to Veytaux-Chillon then?

The train line is right on the water edge. The road where the bus goes is somewhat higher up the slope.

scrb

Does the Veytaux-Chillon station or stop have luggage lockers or places to stow bags (including a 26-inch roller)?

Or would I have to change trains in Montreux anyways, from the Zermatt train to another train headed to Veytaux-Chillon?

Cicerone

Sorry, the DIRECT TRAINS (i.e. no-change) to Veytaux-Chillon takes 3 minutes. It’s the trains which require a change in Villenueve which take 30. As I mentioned originally, it does not make a lot of sense to take the Villenueve train, as you are back tracking.

Scb, when coming from Zermatt you have to make a change in Montreux for every train to Chillon, so IMO you are better off storing your bags in Montreux rather than lugging them onto another train. There should be lockers in Chillon, but at that small a station I can’t say how many nor how large they would be.

alatmiro, in Zurich were I used to live, those buses which run on lines were not called “trolley’s” which is why the word was confusing me.

swandav2000

Hi scrb,

Yes, thanks for asking! I've been in Wengen since Saturday and am having a great time! I've been skiing on ice, but we just got a dump of snow last night; can't wait to get out and ski!

s

Dukey

If you are using a SwissPass it will cover the ride on the trolley bus from Montreux to Chillon or you can, as someone suggested, walk along the lake front pathway.

The train station at Chillon is not right AT the castle but a short distance away..along that same lakefront pathway.

gfeibleman

Cicerone and others:

I am coming in late to this discussion but it seems like this is the right place. Next week I am headed to go ski in Val d'Isere but fly into Geneva. We are staying at the airport and have a day and a 1/2 in Geneva on the front end and an evening on the back end.

We wanted a day trip out of Geneva.
Montreux seemed like a good day trip unless you more experienced swis travelers have a better idea.

If we did a day trip out of Geneva what would be your suggested itinerary?

swandav2000

for gfeible,

What would you like to do or see while there? Do you want to stroll lakeside promenades or explore museums, cathedrals, & castles?

If it were me, I'd take a train to Villeneuve and walk back to Montreux, passing Chillong along the way. Alternately, I'd take the train to Vevey and spend the day exploring the old town next to the lake.

btw, big apologies to schuler, who sent me greetings on this thread on 23 Jan. I mis-identified you!! Big sorry! I hope to make amends in person maybe this summer, eh?

s

gfeibleman

We are 4 guys looking to kill a day before heading off to ski. So probably castle, cathedral etc. better than a lovely stroll. would you mind telling more of the towns you mentioned? Thanks

enzian

Not sure ho wold you are, but. . . my 30-something sons love the Chateau du Chillon, the castle spoken of. Lots of history; you are free to explore all on your own. You can walk, or take a bus, from Montreux. I guess there's a train stop closer if you are clever, but we just walked from Montreux.

swandav2000

Hi gfeibleman,

Yes, Chillon is a good bet for you (not "Chillong" as my mis-typing fingers wrote); check it out at www.chillon.ch. The ferries won't be running, but you can get there by walking from Villeneuve or from Montreux; or you can take bus #1 from either town; or you can take the local train from either one to Territet (not sure if the train still stops at Chillon).

There is a cathedral in Geneva that might interest you, but I'm not sure of its name -- St. Peters? I've heard the view is great from its heights.

There is a military (artillery) museum in Morges, set in a castle. So you could see both a castle and the museum at one time!

I personally love Villeneuve, on the other side of Chillon. It's a tiny town with a neat old section and some better restaurants than are in Montreux (Cafe de Paris).

Information at www.montreux.ch, www.montreux-vevey.com, www.morges.ch.

Good luck!

s

gfeibleman

thanks. just what I needed. Think it would cheaper to rent a car and drive as there would be 4 of us?
NOt familiar with rail prices as we usually just take the Train to Zermatt via Visp so don't know the one day R/T fares

swandav2000

Hi again,

You can get your schedules and fares at www.rail.ch. The fare from the Geneva airport to Montreux is 62 chf round trip. Don't know how much a car will be for a day --

s

gfeibleman

swandav2000
I am now in Val d'Isere France but followed your suggestions re MOntreux

We took the trainto Vevey, then hopped back on to chillon castle which was great. then we walked along the lake to Villeneuve and enjoyed the little old street and shops. Followed your suggestion and had dinner at Cafe de Paris. It looks like nothing but the food was great and they just kept adding free courses b/c they liked us. Late train back to Geneva. A full day and we never even saw MOntreux. Perfect day trip and no rain until we got back

Of course I broke my collarbone siing in france but that is another story. thanks again.