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Chateau Chillon – Switzerland’s most famous castle is a couple of miles from Montreux, easily accessible by foot, boat, bicycle, bus, train or car. This medieval castle is situated on its own small rocky island in Lake Geneva, connected by a wooden footbridge. Kids will love exploring the spooky cellars made famous by Lord Byron’s poem “The Prisoner of Chillon.” |
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The castle often hosts festivals, concerts, and demonstrations of medieval fencing and artillery. There are nice grassy areas nearby for a picnic next to the lake. |
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Food Museum (Alimentarium) – Created by the Swiss food company Nestlé, this museum is both an educational and fun place for families. Here, children learn about where there food comes from, nutrition and watch a 3-D film that takes viewers through the digestive system. There's also chance to do some tasting along with the learning. Visiting chefs display their techniques and a restaurant offers snacks and meals. This museum is located at Quai Perdonnet on the lakefront. |
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Swiss Museum of Games – Housed in a 13th century castle on the shores of Lake Geneva, this museum will appeal to kids of all ages. Its exhibitions include games from around the world, some of which are available for visitors to play. Tournaments are often held here, drawing fans of games such as chess and Mah Jong. The castle courtyard has an area where kids can play hopscotch, cat and mouse, and other classic games. The museum is in La Tour-de-Peilz, between Vevey and Montreux. |
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Bike ride – The distance from Vevey to Montreux is about five miles, a perfect leisurely and mostly flat ride predominantly along the wide lakefront promenade. This is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, get an overview of the area and a little exercise. Rental bikes, including children’s bikes, are available for rent at either town’s train station or at Montreux’s youth hostel. |
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Le Bouveret – |
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 Aquaparc – Switzerland’s wildest water park, open all year, has an indoor wave pool and kiddie area, an outdoor lazy river and enough waterslides to keep any thrill-seeker happy. Parents will appreciate the whirlpools, fitness area, sauna and steam rooms, which they can enjoy while their little ones are looked after by the free babysitting service (up to 90 minutes). |
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Swiss Vapeur Parc – Pint-sized train fans will enjoy a ride on a miniature train that’s just their size at the Swiss Vapeur Parc. The mini trains take visitors through tunnels, over bridges and past tiny replicas of famous Swiss landmarks. Open mid-March through the end of October. |
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Around Montreux – |
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Rochers-de-Naye mountain railway – Just one hour’s journey from Montreux, a whole different alpine landscape can be experienced with a train ride to Rochers-de-Naye. Here, kids can get a peek at furry little marmots, who are are kept in enclosures for visitors to see, as well as the alpine gardens featuring many native species of plants. |
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Gruyeres – This ancient walled town perched on a hilltop is crowded in summer, but even so, it’s worth a visit because of its beauty and famous cheese. Before hiking up the hill, visit the Maison du Gruyère demonstration cheese dairy, which offers an excellent audio tour in English of the cheese factory and art of cheese making. Samples of various Gruyère cheeses are included. |
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Next, proceed up the short but steep hill, passing meadows where sheep graze in summer. Pass through the massive stone wall to enter the picture-perfect cobblestone village. It’s a beautiful place to wander around or stop for a bite to eat in one of the many cafes with a view over the valley below. At the end of the village, there is a 13th century castle, Chateau de Gruyeres, with beautiful gardens to explore. |
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Cailler Chocolate Factory (Broc) – Visit the oldest chocolate factory in Switzerland. A tour is offered of the chocolaterie with the highlight being a visit to the tasting room. It can be difficult to restrain oneself with limitless trays of chocolate laid out. Best advice: bring a bottle of water to sip between samples in order to keep taste buds from being overwhelmed. |
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Winter activities – |
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Leysin is a great destination for those looking for winter family fun. Thrill-seeking kids will go crazy at the Tobogganing Park Leysin, where steep ramps send riders racing through a banked snow track. There’s a tamer version for the under six set. Leysin also has an ice skating rink and of course, skiing. There’s loads of ski trails and lifts, plus a dedicated snow park for snowboarders. |
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Les Mosses offers one of the most kid-friendly places to learn to ski anywhere. A dedicated area has been set aside that will entice little ones with inflatable cartoon characters, mini jumps and a kid-sized rope tow. Kids nine and under ski free, while parents can sip a hot chocolate and watch all the action from the nearby restaurant. |
