Vevey

Getting there

By train Trains between Geneva and Montreux travel along the northern shore of Lake Geneva and stop in Vevey. From elsewhere in Switzerland, you need to change in Lausanne. From Geneva the ride is about an hour and as of 2018 a return ticket costs Fr. 58. 1 Gare de Vevey. (updated Oct 2018)

By bus Take bus 1 from Montreux or Chateau de Chillon to Vevey's city centre and funicular.

By car Vevey is next to the east-west autoroute A9, and A12 connects the city to Berne in the northeast. For a more scenic drive, there's always the lakeside highway 9 from Lausanne or Montreaux.

Getting around

You can walk most of the old town but for an excursion take the mountain railway to Pleiades for some great views and skiing in season. Make sure you get the Riviera Card at your hotel, you'll be able to use the bus for free. You can also get a free bike for whole day with Fr. 20 deposit, which just in front of "COOP" super market next to the train station.

See

Beautiful views from the lake and the lake shores. Musee l'Histoire de Vevey (from the main train station take the main street, turn left and go along until you'll encounter the signs). (updated Oct 2018) Monument de Henryk Sienkiewicz (in the Grand Hotel du Lac). The famous Nobel-prize winning writer's monument is in the Grand Hotel's garden, but the hotel's personnel is happy to help and talk about it. The writer was living and working there during his political emigration from occupied Poland. (updated Oct 2018) 1 Alimentarium, Quai Perdonnet 25. Tu - Su 10:00 - 17:00, from October to March closes one hour earlier. Food Museum (Nestle) Adults Fr.13. (updated Oct 2018) 2 Fork of Vevey. 8-metre-tall stainless steel fork on the shore of Lake Geneva. (updated Oct 2018) 3 Villa Le Lac, Route de Lavaux 21 (in the Corseaux district, west of downtown). Designed by Le Corbusier in 1923, this is one of 17 of his buildings to be listed as a world heritage site. (updated Jul 2016) 4 Chaplin's World, Route de Fenil 2, 1804 Corsier-sur-Vevey (3 km from city center), ☏ +41 842 422 422. The vast estate, near Vevey, where supreme movie legend Charlie Chaplin lived with his family from 1953 to his death in 1977. The museum has been 15 years and an estimated Fr. 60 million in the making, and has two parts: the actor's house, and "the Studio", a newer building with a reconstruction of a Hollywood studio, that allows visitors to enter Chaplin's artistic environment. (updated Feb 2018) 5 Le Nest, Chaussée de la Guinguette, ☏ +41 21 924 40 40. Museum about Nestle's History (updated Oct 2018) 6 Swiss Camera Museum (Museum suisse de l’appareil photographique). (updated Oct 2018) Museum de la Confrérie des Vignerons. (updated Oct 2018) 7 Musée Jenisch, avenue de la Gare. (updated Oct 2018) 8 Swiss Museum of Games (Musée suisse du jeu), Au Château, ☏ +41 21 977 23 00. (updated Oct 2018) Roman Catholic Church of Notre-Dame. (updated Oct 2018) Orthodox Church. (updated Oct 2018)

Do

1 Mountain Pelerin. From the main train station take the Bus 1, direction Vevey-Funiculaire (ticket Fr. 2.80). Alternatively, it's a walk of seven blocks. The ticket for the funicular costs Fr. 10.80 (return) and offers nice views. The views and atmosphere on the Mont Pelerin are marvelous, but do take a hike trip to its summit where the telecommunication tower is located. It takes a bit more than an hour to get there, following an asphalt path through the rural area, yet, sometimes it is rather sloppy but nothing special. The elevator for the tower costs Fr. 5 (Fr. 3 for children <16yr, but it sells only children tickets due to a fault) and is fully automatic. It offers magnificent panoramic views on the Alps, Vevey and Montreux. (updated Aug 2015) In the summer you can rent a pedal boat or motor boat and take a trip on the lake. Rates vary from Fr. 18 for 1/2h on a pedal boat up to Fr. 220 for the largest motor boat for which you'd need a boat drivers license.

Buy

Vevey is full of charming shops, including boutiques, jewelry stores, book stores, and more, which you can find simply by walking around the city. This is a very limited list. For the best experience, explore the cute shopping district for yourself!

Bookstores La Fontaine. Charming, well-stocked bookstore with a range of offerings. Friendly and helpful staff. Boutique Parenthèse enchantée. Boutique with apparel for babies and mothers. Ly Thanh Vevey Sàrl. Offers Asian groceries that are difficult to find elsewhere in Switzerland. VELOMANIA Vevey. Cycling shop that also offers bike repair services. Bikes and e-bikes are available for sale. Wonderful service with knowledgeable employees. McOptic. No relationship to McDonald's. On the pricier side, with a large of cute eyewear for sale - stop in if you forgot your sunglasses to enjoy the kind employees.

Eat

National Bar. Expect the service to be a little slow when it's busy but if you're not in a hurry and are out for a good time the great atmosphere makes the wait worthwhile. The food is great and they keep changing the menu every month. During the summer they have a great terrace and in the winter it's the best place to go. It's just outside the main square on the right side if you're facing the lake. (updated Oct 2008) Restaurant des Trois Sifflets, Rue du Simplon 1, ☏ +41 21 921 14 13. The cheese fondue arrives with quite the fanfare. Restaurant Denis Martin, Rue du Château 2, ☏ +41 21 921 12 10. Tu-Sa from 19:00 onwards. If you're into molecular cuisine à la Heston Blumenthal. From Fr. 280. (updated Nov 2016)

Drink & nightlife

Charlies (just outside the main town square). During the summer they open the bar right on the border of the lake, it's the best place in town to relax and have a couple of beers until sunset. (updated Oct 2008) Le Ve. (updated Oct 2008) The Rocking Chair. (updated Oct 2008) le Bout du Monde. Drink a toast to "the end of the world". (updated Oct 2008)

Sleep

Budget Riviera Lodge backpacker, Grande place 5, ☏ +41 21 923 80 40, [email protected]. Rooms 2, 4, 6 or 8 beds from Fr. 27. (updated Oct 2008)

Mid-range Les Negociants, Rue du Conseil 27, ☏ +41 21 922 70 11, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2008) Egli Bed and Breakfast, Chemin du Petit-Centenaire 8, 1802 Corseaux, ☏ +41 21 922 60 87. They have a cat, so beware if you are allergic. Views of the lake are amazing. You are staying in someone's home though. Nice place to start the wine hike or go up the funicular for dinner.

Splurge Hotel Du Lac, 1 Rue d'Italie, ☏ +41 21 925 06 06. It opened in the winter of 2006 and it's an absolutely beautiful hotel, get a room facing the lake. (updated Oct 2008) Astra Pavillon, Place de la Gare 4, ☏ +41 21 925 04 04, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2008) Hôtel des Trois Couronnes, Rue d'Italie 49, ☏ +41 21 923 32 00, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2008) Modern Times Hotel, Chemin du Genévrier 20, ☏ +41 21 925 22 22, [email protected]. This hotel is right after the highway exit, has nice view over the city. You need a car if you stay ther