Christmas Magic by the Lake: Lausanne & Montreux
These cities are elegant and have loads of old-world charm, with a twinkly festive spirit that lights up as Christmas approaches. Both Lausanne and Montreux come alive with the sparkle of Christmas markets that rank among the best in Europe.
Lausanne
Lausanne, often called the “Olympic Capital” thanks to its status as home to the International Olympic Committee, is a lively cultural hub built across three tiers of hillside overlooking the lake. Visitors can enjoy the Musee Olympic and the Olympic Parc or walk the medieval streets of the Old Town, crowned by the Gothic splendour of Lausanne Cathedral.
Cobbled lanes wind between boutique shops, cosy cafés and grand Belle Époque buildings, while the crisp winter air carries the scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. Lausanne is a city that blends creativity with heritage, with world-class art and museums, such as Plateforme 10, and Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts, stunning modern architecture and atmospheric bistros serving hearty Swiss fare.
Bô Noël, the city’s beautifully curated Christmas festival, spills through the streets from late November. The markets are divided into themed “villages”, from the atmospheric craftsmen’s stalls around the cathedral to the gourmet market at Place de l’Europe, where you can tuck into local specialities such as raclette, fondue and vin chaud.
There’s even a children’s village filled with magical storytelling sessions, workshops, sledging and visits from Santa. The decorations are beautiful, with glowing sculptures and creative light installations everywhere, and a Ferris Wheel on the waterfront giving the city a fun, festive atmosphere. You can wander for hours around Lausanne’s steep streets, with the lake twinkling below, it’s an especially photogenic Christmas destination.
For a traditional, classic hotel, central and with amazing views over the lake, check out Hotel de la Paix.
Montreaux
Just along the lake, around a 30-minute train ride away, lies Montreux, a resort that captures the essence of Swiss Riviera glamour.
Famed for its jazz festival in summer, Freddie Mercury connections and its serene palm-lined lakeside promenade, Montreux transforms in winter. It becomes a storybook setting, where snow glitters on the mountains and festive lights dance on the water. It’s relaxed, romantic, and the scenery is simply breathtaking, drawing in visitors from across Switzerland and beyond.
Stretching for over a kilometre along the lakeside promenade, the Christmas market features more than 170 chalets selling handcrafted gifts, Swiss chocolates, wooden toys and artisan ornaments. The scent of candied fruit, sweets and gaufres (crunchy chocolate dipped waffles) fills the air, and the twinkly lights shimmer in the reflection of Lake Geneva.
The Grinch himself would feel festive wandering through this beautiful market!
The Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic is in the true Belle Epoque style and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a central location in Montreux. The lakeside view from the restaurant is stunning.
Santa’s House & Flying Santa
There are plenty of places for adults to relax and enjoy a little sip of vin chaud, but also loads for children. Every so often Santa pops down to check on the market, and if you’re lucky you can wave him goodbye as he sets off into the sky on his sleigh.
There is also the opportunity to visit him at his nearby home at Rochers-de-Naye, reached by a cogwheel train that climbs into the mountains!
Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle (Château Chillon) is just a short bus ride from Montreaux, where you can find a simply stunning medieval Christmas market. Chillon Castle is one of Switzerland’s most famous landmarks, and the setting for Lord Byrons poem, The Prisoner of Chillon.
It’s incredibly popular throughout the year, but Christmas brings minstrels, candlelight and costumed characters to create a truly magical festive experience. It should be on your list no matter what time of year you’re visiting, but to catch the festive market and entertainment here is a total treat.
Together, Lausanne and Montreux offer the perfect mix of lakeside luxury, Alpine beauty and seasonal sparkle, within easy striking distance of the airport in Geneva (about 40 mins by train). If you want to sip mulled wine beneath fairy lights, shop for handcrafted gifts, or simply soak up the view of snow-tipped peaks across Lake Geneva, these Swiss gems capture the very best of Christmas, elegant, enchanting, and effortlessly festive.
By Sally Bendall
Image credit Sally Bendall and Dreamstime
