By the Where to Stay in Switzerland editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
Stay in Montreux for the classic lakeside promenade, mountain views across the water and an easy walk or bus ride to Chillon Castle. It is also the start of the GoldenPass line to Gstaad and Interlaken. Our pick is the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, on the lakefront in the center.
Stay in Vevey, a few minutes west by train, for a smaller, quieter town at the end of the Lavaux vineyards. Stay in Lausanne for a real city with museums, a cathedral and nightlife, either up in the center or down by the lake at Ouchy. Lausanne also gives hotel guests a free transport card.
The Lake Geneva Towns Compared
| Town | Best for | By train | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreux | Lake promenade, Chillon, mountain trains | About 1¼ hrs from Geneva Airport | Quiet in the evening outside festival season |
| Vevey | A small lake town, the Lavaux vineyards | Between Lausanne and Montreux | Few hotels |
| Lausanne (center) | Museums, restaurants, nightlife | 40–50 min from Geneva | Very steep streets |
| Lausanne (Ouchy) | Lakeside palaces, walks along the water | Metro from Lausanne station | A metro ride to the center |
Map of Montreux Hotels
Central Montreux is at the top of the map; Territet, Veytaux and Chillon Castle are along the shore to the southeast.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Montreux stays →Where to Stay in Montreux
From the palace on the promenade to a hostel by the water, all within a short ride of the station.
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
Lakefront, central Montreux, Montreux
Our top pick: Montreux's 1906 Belle Époque palace on the lake, with indoor and outdoor pools and lake-and-Alps views.
Best for: A lakefront splurge
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Lake and Alps views
- Discounted second room for kids
More about this hotel
Montreux's 1906 Belle Époque palace on the lake, with 236 rooms, a 2,000 m² spa with indoor and outdoor pools, and lake and Alps views. Funky Claude's Bar has live music from Thursday to Saturday.
Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic
Avenue des Alpes, central Montreux, Montreux
A grand hotel from 1870 in the center of Montreux, for less than the palace.
Best for: A classic hotel for less
- Built in 1870
- Lake and Alps views
- Central Montreux
More about this hotel
A 155-room grand hotel from 1870 in the center of Montreux, with rooms facing the lake and the Alps and breakfast served by the lake. It is now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection.
Eden Palace au Lac
Rue du Théâtre, on the lake, Montreux
Right on the shore, with a lake-view terrace and family rooms.
Best for: Lake views for less
- On the lakeshore
- Lake-view terrace
- Family rooms and Villa Eden
More about this hotel
A 100-room hotel on the shore in the heart of Montreux, with lakeside rooms, a lake-view terrace and Restaurant Chez Gaston. Family rooms and a separate villa suit families and groups.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hôtel Masson
Veytaux, 10 minutes' walk from Chillon Castle, Montreux
A quiet old hotel with a big garden, a 10-minute walk from Chillon Castle.
Best for: Quiet and character
- 10 minutes' walk to Chillon Castle
- Large old garden
- Family rooms
More about this hotel
The oldest hotel in the Montreux-Vevey area, with 31 rooms and a garden of hundred-year-old trees in Veytaux, 10 minutes' walk from Chillon Castle. South rooms look over the lake and Alps; east rooms face the castle.
Montreux Youth Hostel
Territet, by the lake, Montreux
A budget base a few meters from the lake in Territet.
Best for: A budget lakeside stay
- A few meters from the lake
- Family rooms
- Stand-up paddle offer
More about this hotel
A lakeside hostel in Territet, a few meters from the shore, with multi-bed dorms, doubles and family rooms. It is closed for a seasonal break until 20 November 2026.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Whgler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to Stay in Vevey
Vevey has one grand hotel on the lake, a short walk from the old town.
Hotel des Trois Couronnes
Rue d'Italie, Vevey lakefront, Vevey
Vevey's lakefront grand hotel, with a spa and a Japanese restaurant.
Best for: Quiet luxury
- Lake and Alps views
- Spa with indoor pool
- Japanese kaiseki restaurant
More about this hotel
A lakefront hotel a few minutes' walk from Vevey's historic center, with views over Lake Geneva to the Alps. It has an indoor pool in its Puressens Spa and Manabu, a Japanese kaiseki restaurant.
Map of Lausanne Hotels
Ouchy and its lakeside hotels are at the bottom of the map; the old town and cathedral are on the hill above.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Lausanne stays →Where to Stay in Lausanne
Three by the lake at Ouchy or on the way up, and one budget hotel in the center.
Beau-Rivage Palace
Ouchy lakefront, Lausanne
Lausanne's lakeside palace in Ouchy, set in big gardens.
Best for: Grand hotel lovers
- Ten acres of lakeside gardens
- Guerlain spa with indoor pool
- Anne-Sophie Pic restaurant
More about this hotel
A lakeside palace in Ouchy, open since 1861, set in ten acres of gardens with tennis and padel, a Guerlain spa with an indoor pool, and the Anne-Sophie Pic restaurant. Rooms and suites face the lake and the Alps.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Panoramasuisse, CC BY-SA 3.0
Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa
Avenue d'Ouchy, between the center and the lake, Lausanne
Indoor and outdoor pools and a children's pool, between Lausanne and the lake.
Best for: Families who want a spa
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Children's pool
- Rooftop restaurant
More about this hotel
A hotel between Lausanne's center and the lakeshore with heated indoor and outdoor pools, a children's pool, a 24-hour gym and a rooftop Italian restaurant. There is also a brasserie, a lobby bar and Japanese gardens.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Hôtel Angleterre
Place du Port, Ouchy, Lausanne
Lakeshore pavilions at Ouchy with a summer pool, for less.
Best for: Lakeside for less
- On the lakeshore at Ouchy
- Outdoor pool in summer
- Lake-view Italian restaurant
More about this hotel
Four pavilions on the lakeshore at Ouchy, with lake- or garden-view rooms. An English garden holds an outdoor pool (May to September), and the Italian restaurant faces the lake.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Patrick Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Swiss Chocolate by Fassbind
Rue Marterey, near the cathedral, Lausanne
A budget chocolate-themed hotel near the cathedral and the metro.
Best for: A budget city base
- Free Lausanne public transport
- Rooms for up to 4
- Near the metro and cathedral
More about this hotel
A 63-room chocolate-themed hotel near the cathedral and a metro stop, with singles up to quadruple rooms and free public transport in Lausanne during your stay. Breakfast is extra unless your rate includes it.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Maicomaico, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Geneva Hotels at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
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Fairmont Le Montreux PalaceLakefront, central Montreux, Montreux · SplurgeA lakefront splurgeCheck prices -
Grand Hotel Suisse MajesticAvenue des Alpes, central Montreux, Montreux · Mid-rangeA classic hotel for lessCheck prices -
Eden Palace au LacRue du Théâtre, on the lake, Montreux · Mid-rangeLake views for lessCheck prices -
Hôtel MassonVeytaux, 10 minutes' walk from Chillon Castle, Montreux · Mid-rangeQuiet and characterCheck prices -
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Royal Savoy Hotel & SpaAvenue d'Ouchy, between the center and the lake, Lausanne · SplurgeFamilies who want a spaCheck prices -
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Swiss Chocolate by FassbindRue Marterey, near the cathedral, Lausanne · BudgetA budget city baseCheck prices
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
Belle Époque palace
|
Lakefront, central Montreux, Montreux | Splurge | A lakefront splurge | Check prices |
|
|
Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic
Historic grand hotel
|
Avenue des Alpes, central Montreux, Montreux | Mid-range | A classic hotel for less | Check prices |
|
|
Eden Palace au Lac
Lakefront hotel
|
Rue du Théâtre, on the lake, Montreux | Mid-range | Lake views for less | Check prices |
|
|
Hôtel Masson
Historic small hotel
|
Veytaux, 10 minutes' walk from Chillon Castle, Montreux | Mid-range | Quiet and character | Check prices |
|
|
Montreux Youth Hostel
Hostel
|
Territet, by the lake, Montreux | Budget | A budget lakeside stay | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel des Trois Couronnes
Historic lakefront hotel
|
Rue d'Italie, Vevey lakefront, Vevey | Splurge | Quiet luxury | Check prices |
|
|
Beau-Rivage Palace
Grand hotel
|
Ouchy lakefront, Lausanne | Splurge | Grand hotel lovers | Check prices |
|
|
Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa
Hotel and spa
|
Avenue d'Ouchy, between the center and the lake, Lausanne | Splurge | Families who want a spa | Check prices |
|
|
Hôtel Angleterre
Lakeside hotel
|
Place du Port, Ouchy, Lausanne | Mid-range | Lakeside for less | Check prices |
|
|
Swiss Chocolate by Fassbind
Themed city hotel
|
Rue Marterey, near the cathedral, Lausanne | Budget | A budget city base | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Getting Around Lake Geneva
- From Geneva Airport: about 1¼ hours by train to Montreux. From Geneva city, Lausanne is 40 to 50 minutes. See where to stay in Geneva.
- Along the shore: Lausanne to Montreux is about 20 minutes by train, and Vevey is about halfway between them.
- Free transport in Lausanne: guests at partner hotels, hostels, serviced apartments and campsites (not private rentals) get the Lausanne Transport Card for up to 15 days. It covers 2nd-class buses, trains and the metro in the Lausanne area and gives at least 20% off many attractions.
- Into the mountains: the GoldenPass Express runs direct from Montreux to Interlaken in about 3¼ hours. Zermatt is about 2 hours 40 minutes by train, changing in Visp. See where to stay in Zermatt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.