Montreux Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Flying Santa

The Montreux Christmas Market, Montreux Riviera Noël, runs from Friday, 20 November to Thursday, 24 December 2026 on the quays of Lake Geneva in Montreux, Switzerland. More than 150 chalets line the lakeside promenade between the CGN boat landing stage and Place du Marché, and Santa flies over the market on a wire every evening.

This guide covers the confirmed 2026 dates and hours, the Flying Santa times, Santa’s House on Rochers-de-Naye, the medieval Christmas at Chillon Castle, what to eat and buy, and how to get there by train.

When does the Montreux Christmas Market open in 2026?

The Montreux Christmas Market opens on Friday, 20 November 2026 and closes on Thursday, 24 December 2026, according to montreuxnoel.com, the organiser’s official site. The opening hours for the craft and gift chalets are listed below.

Takeaway food and drink stands close 1 hour after the craft chalets, and restaurants take last orders 30 minutes before closing. The market stays open in rain and snow, and entry is free.

Where is the Montreux Christmas Market?

The Montreux Christmas Market stretches along the quays of Lake Geneva in the centre of Montreux, from the CGN boat landing stage to Place du Marché, where a Ferris wheel and the covered market hall stand. The address is Quai de la Rouvenaz, and the market is only 200 m (0.1 mi) from Montreux train station.

The quays are flat and fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Montreux Noël is part of Riviera Noël, which links the Christmas markets of Montreux, Vevey and Villeneuve along the same stretch of lakeshore.

How old is the Montreux Christmas Market?

The Montreux Christmas Market was first held in 1995, when 4 Montreux shopkeepers, Monique Berney, Pascal Bettex, Norbert Müller and Yves Cornaro, set it up to bring visitors to the town in the low season. The first edition had 80 chalets on the Grand-Rue from 15 to 24 December 1995. The market later moved its chalets to the lakeside quays, and the organisers say it now draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

What are the main attractions at the Montreux Christmas Market?

The main attractions at the Montreux Christmas Market are the Flying Santa, the Ferris wheel, Santa’s House on Rochers-de-Naye and the Christmas cruise on Lake Geneva. The sections below cover each one with its 2026 dates and times.

The Flying Santa

The Flying Santa is a free show in which Santa crosses the sky above the market in his sleigh, pulled by reindeer, between the CGN landing stage and Place du Marché. He flies every day at 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00, with an extra flight at 16:00 on weekends and on 22 and 23 December.

The organiser’s recommended viewing spot is on the quays between the Freddie Mercury statue and the Ferris wheel. The show goes ahead in rain, and only storms or strong winds cancel a flight.

The Ferris wheel

The Ferris wheel (Grande Roue) stands on Place du Marché and looks out over Lake Geneva, the Alps and the lit-up market. It is one of the few paid attractions at the market and needs a ticket.

Santa’s House on Rochers-de-Naye

Santa’s House (La Maison du Père Noël) is at the summit of Rochers-de-Naye, 2,042 m (6,699 ft) above sea level, and it is reached only by the Santa train, a cogwheel railway from Montreux station that takes about 55 minutes. It opens from 20 November to 24 December 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, plus Monday 7, Tuesday 8, Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 December, according to the MOB railway.

Children meet Santa inside his house and leave with a gift. Tickets are sold as one package covering the train and the visit, and the organiser does not recommend the trip for children under 3 because of the altitude. Plan on about 1.5 hours at the top on weekdays and up to 3 hours at weekends, not counting the train.

The Flying Santa cruise

The Flying Santa cruise is a 45-minute loop on a Belle Époque boat from Montreux towards Chillon Castle and back, timed so you watch the Flying Santa from the lake. It sails on Saturday 5, 12 and 19 December and on Monday 21, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 December 2026, departing at 15:45, 16:45, 17:45 and 18:45.

A drink and a sweet snack are included for adults, and children get a snack with juice or a hot drink. Booking is required, and Swiss rail passes and Half Fare Cards do not apply to this cruise.

What else is on near Montreux at Christmas?

Three more Christmas events run within a short train or bus ride of the Montreux market, each listed below with its 2026 dates.

Medieval Christmas at Chillon Castle

Chillon Castle holds a Medieval Christmas over 3 weekends in 2026: 28 and 29 November, 5 and 6 December, and 12 and 13 December, according to the castle’s own site. Artisans work in the castle rooms, jugglers and medieval dancers perform, a choir sings in the chapel, and you can make beeswax candles or an Advent wreath and taste hypocras, a medieval spiced wine. The castle recommends booking in advance.

Chillon Castle is 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Montreux, reached by bus 201, by boat or on foot along the lake path in about 45 minutes.

Vevey Riviera Noël

Vevey Riviera Noël runs from 19 November to 31 December 2026, so it is the market to visit if you are on the Riviera between Christmas and New Year. Because of building work on Vevey’s Place du Marché, the 2026 event is centred on the Village de Noël on Place Scanavin in the old town, which has chalet restaurants serving fondue.

Villeneuve Riviera Noël

Villeneuve Riviera Noël runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, according to Montreux Riviera Tourism. Its Village des Lutins (Elves’ Village) is aimed at families, with a carousel, a candle workshop, crêpes and churros.

What food can you eat at the Montreux Christmas Market?

Listed below are the foods you can eat at the Montreux Christmas Market, from Swiss cheese dishes to street snacks.

• Cheese fondue. The traditional market fondue is served in the market’s restaurants, including a version with bacon and onions.
• Raclette. Melted cheese scraped onto potatoes, sold from stalls along the quay and one of the Swiss foods worth trying in Vaud.
• Roasted chestnuts. Sold hot at stalls along the promenade.
• Wood-fired grills and game sausages. Grilled meats and game sausages at the market’s food stands and restaurants.
• Fondue hot dogs. A hot dog topped with melted fondue cheese, sold at the takeaway stands.
• Crêpes, waffles and churros. Sweet snacks sold throughout the quays.
• Bretzels. Soft pretzels from the New Bretzel stand in the covered market.

What can you drink at the Montreux Christmas Market?

Listed below are the drinks served at the Montreux Christmas Market.

• Vin chaud. Mulled wine, the standard market drink, served in a reusable cup.
• Christmas tea. A hot tea served as the non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine.
• Hot chocolate. Served at the drinks stands and included in the market’s RailAway train offer.

Every cup carries a deposit of CHF 2 (about $2.50, €2), which you get back by returning the cup to one of the dedicated stands, or you keep the cup as a souvenir.

What can you buy at the Montreux Christmas Market?

The Montreux Christmas Market sells handmade crafts and gifts from more than 150 chalets, many run by local artisans. Listed below are the main types of gift you will find.

• Handmade jewellery. Pieces made by the artisans at their own chalets.
• Scented candles. Candles made and sold by the artisans.
• Clothing. One-off garments from the craft chalets.
• Wooden objects. Wooden gifts and decorations made by the artisans.
• Local specialities. Regional food products to take home.

How much does the Montreux Christmas Market cost?

Entry to the Montreux Christmas Market is free, and so is the Flying Santa show. Only some attractions need a ticket, such as the Ferris wheel, Santa’s House on Rochers-de-Naye and the Flying Santa cruise.

The market is cashless in 2026. You pay by card or with Twint, the Swiss payment app, and every card except American Express is accepted. Cash is accepted only in the restaurants and at the New Bretzel mulled-wine stand, and if you only have cash, you can load it onto a QR-code card at the information point and pay with that across the market.

How do you get to the Montreux Christmas Market?

You get to the Montreux Christmas Market most easily by train, because the market is 200 m (0.1 mi) from Montreux station and parking in town is limited.

First, take the train. Geneva Airport has a station under the terminal with direct trains to Montreux in about 1 hour 15 minutes, Lausanne is about 20 minutes away, and Zurich about 2 hours 40 minutes with one change. The market’s RailAway offer with Swiss railways (SBB) gives up to 50% off the train journey and 50% off a souvenir mug with mulled wine, Christmas tea or hot chocolate and a pretzel. To compare international connections, check train times to Montreux.

Second, use the local buses. VMCV buses 201 and 204 are free on weekends from 13:00 until the end of service during the market, and bus 201 runs along the whole Riviera from Vevey through Montreux to Chillon and Villeneuve.

Third, if you drive, follow the signs to the Park & Ride car parks on the edge of town, such as Chailly P+R, and take the free weekend shuttle into the centre. For trips further into the Alps, book a rental car in advance. Our Switzerland transportation guide covers Swiss rail passes and tickets in detail.

Where to stay near the Montreux Christmas Market?

The most convenient base is the Montreux lakefront, a short walk from the market and the station. Clarens is cheaper and Territet is quieter, and both sit on bus line 201. Listed below are 3 hotels from our Montreux guide.

• Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic. A renovated Belle Époque hotel above the quay, about 50 m from Montreux station, with lake-facing rooms and a terrace over the promenade. Check dates for the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic.
• Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. The Belle Époque palace hotel on the waterfront, opened in 1906, with a spa and the Montreux Jazz Café inside. Check dates for Fairmont Le Montreux Palace.
• Hotel Mona. A four-star hotel on the lake in Territet, with lake and Alp views from every room and the Chillon walk starting outside the door. Check dates for Hotel Mona.

Book early for market weekends, and compare hotels in Switzerland on Booking.com if these three are full. Any overnight stay in Montreux, Vevey or Villeneuve also gets you the free Montreux Riviera Card, which covers local buses and trains.

Where to eat near the Montreux Christmas Market?

The Montreux Christmas Market has its own chalet restaurants on the quays, serving fondue, game dishes and Swiss specialities, and they take reservations for groups of 8 or more. For a meal off the market, La Rouvenaz on Rue du Marché has cooked Italian food and lake fish since 1965, and the Montreux Jazz Café in the Fairmont is open to non-residents.

Montreux also works on a longer Swiss Christmas trip, alongside the Zurich Christmas Market and the Basel Christmas Market. Our guide to things to do in Montreux covers the rest of the town, from Chillon Castle to the Queen Studio Experience.

Montreux Christmas Market FAQ

What time is the Montreux Christmas Market open?

The Montreux Christmas Market is open from 11:00 to 21:00 Monday to Wednesday, 11:00 to 22:00 on Thursday and Friday, 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturday and 10:00 to 20:00 on Sunday. On Christmas Eve, 24 December 2026, it closes at 17:00.

What time does the Flying Santa fly in Montreux?

The Flying Santa flies over the Montreux Christmas Market every day at 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00. There is an extra flight at 16:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and on 22 and 23 December.

Is Montreux worth visiting in December?

Montreux is worth visiting in December for its Christmas market, which combines a lakeside setting, a Flying Santa and a mountain-top Santa’s House within one short trip. Chillon Castle’s Medieval Christmas weekends and the Vevey and Villeneuve markets are a bus or train ride away.

Is the Montreux Christmas Market cash only?

The Montreux Christmas Market is not cash only; it is cashless. Stalls take cards (except American Express) and Twint, cash is accepted only in the restaurants and at the New Bretzel stand, and you can load cash onto a QR-code card at the information point.

When is the best time to visit the Montreux Christmas Market?

The best time to visit the Montreux Christmas Market is on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, which the organiser names as the quietest days. Weekends are very busy, so if you come on a Saturday, go in the morning.

How do you get from Geneva to the Montreux Christmas Market?

You get from Geneva to the Montreux Christmas Market by direct train from Geneva Airport or Geneva station, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes from the airport. The market starts 200 m from Montreux station.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 4 tips below come from the organiser’s 2026 pages and the railway’s own calendar, and each one changes how you pay or when you go.

1. Bring a card, not cash. The market is cashless in 2026: chalets take cards and Twint but not American Express, and cash only works in the restaurants and at the New Bretzel stand.
2. Check Santa’s House days before you plan the trip up. Santa’s House on Rochers-de-Naye opens Wednesday to Sunday only, plus 7, 8, 21 and 22 December, so most Mondays and Tuesdays have no Santa at the top.
3. Stand between the Freddie Mercury statue and the Ferris wheel at 17:00. That stretch of quay is the organiser’s recommended spot for the Flying Santa, and the 17:00 flight runs every day of the market.
4. Go to Vevey if you are on the Riviera after Christmas. Montreux closes at 17:00 on 24 December, but Vevey Riviera Noël runs until 31 December 2026.

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About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers Montreux and the rest of Switzerland for independent travellers, including the Christmas markets, hotels and train travel worth booking, and updates this page when prices, dates and rules change.