Montreux Christmas Market Noël – Flying Santa Claus

I’m not a-off Christmas market visitor. My detours into the Christmas-inspired mulled wine hustle and bustle can be counted on one hand every year. This year I wanted to see the highly acclaimed Christmas market in Montreux in the canton of Vaud with my own eyes. How much truth is there in the ravings? Is he really that great?

Every year for 20 years, the waterfront in Montreux has been transformed into a festive Christmas market. The magnificent location directly on the shores of Lake Geneva and the focus on traditional crafts and regional cuisine is the recipe for success of Montreux Noël. It is regularly voted one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Switzerland and attracts almost half a million visitors from Switzerland and abroad.

So last Friday (and Saturday – yep, twice in a row Christmas market) I mingled with the numerous visitors. Early on Friday evening, the crowd of visitors kept in a pleasant setting. No pushing, no queuing. I found the installation with floating stars in front of the Freddie Mercury statue enchantingly beautiful. The highlight of all children is the flying Santa Claus. Admittedly, I also lifted my eyes up and stood still fascinated until Santa Claus had whizzed past us.

We stuck to the obligatory program – stocked up on unhealthy sweets, drank Christmas tea with a strong shot of rum from the official Montreux Noël cups, tasted the best chestnuts in Switzerland and let ourselves drift from stall to stall. We admired the colorful Ferris wheel from the safety of the ground.

Conclusion: yes, the Christmas market in Montreux is definitely worth a pre-Christmas trip. I recommend visiting the market during the week. On Saturday evening, the crowd was too big for me.

• Duration: 22 November to 24 December 2018
• More information: Montreux Noël