Hiking tip: Daffodils in Bloom in Montreux

When in spring the first white fields of flowers appear above Lake Geneva, one of the most beautiful hiking seasons of the year begins around Montreux. The wild daffodils transform the meadows into a sea of white blooms that shine from afar. During the Belle Époque this so-called «Maischnee» was considered the highlight of the year and attracted visitors from all over Europe.

Even today it’s worth using the daffodil bloom as an occasion for a spring weekend in Montreux. While my timing in recent years never quite matched the flowering period or we preferred other plans, this year we deliberately reserved the extended May 1 weekend for a trip to Lake Geneva. And indeed we were really lucky and caught beautiful spring days.

The daffodil bloom in Montreux

In the Montreux–Vevey region there are several themed trails dedicated to the daffodil bloom that offer varied hikes with views. A specially set-upwebsiteinforms during the flowering period, from about mid-April to the end of May, about the current state of the daffodils along the six routes in total. Since the trails are at different elevations, the bloom occurs at different times in spring depending on weather and temperature.

Depending on the timing you can experience the daffodils either on the lower meadows above Montreux or somewhat later at higher elevations above Vevey. It’s therefore worth checking the development of the blooms in advance and planning the hike accordingly.

Discover the first blooming daffodils around Glion

The bloom appears particularly early in the fields in and around the two villages of Glion and Caux, which can be reached in about ten minutes by public transport from Montreux. The two places lie directly on the cogwheel railway line to the Rochers-de-Naye, which rise to just under 2,000 meters.

At Glion railway station an information panel provides a good overview of the course of the «Sentier des Narcisses de Glion» and shows where the daffodil fields can be found along the route. However, anyone expecting a leisurely stroll will quickly be proved wrong: in the first 1.5 kilometers the circular hike goes only one way — steeply uphill to Caux. At least we already spot the first flowering daffodil field on this section. Since the wild daffodils have declined sharply since the 1960s, they are now protected. Accordingly, signs along the route point out that the meadows must not be entered and the plants must not be picked.

Below the majestic Caux Palace we cross the cogwheel railway line. At this point it’s worth pausing briefly and looking back. You will be rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view over the Lake Geneva region.

The signposted daffodil trail then branches off to the left and leads into the forest. This section is not recorded as an official hiking trail on SchweizMobil, but is well worth it. The narrow path winds through a quiet woodland — apart from birdsong there’s hardly anything to hear and for a moment you feel far away from civilization.

After about 15 minutes the dense canopy opens up and gives a view of Les Avants on the opposite side of the valley, where there is also adaffodil trailruns.

At trail marker 938 a «Sentier des Narcisses» sign leads in a sort of U-turn back towards Glion. On the return route we encounter several more forest clearings and open meadows where the daffodils are in full bloom.

Key facts for the circular hike Glion – Caux – Echerègnes – Glion

The following hiking map shows the course of the «Sentier des Narcisses de Glion», laid out as a circular route. The route is signposted throughout and runs partly on official yellow-marked hiking trails (T1) and partly on yellow-marked paths that are not recorded in the official hiking trail network of swisstopo or SchweizMobil. The proportion of paved surface is pleasantly low and the path is mostly natural (not suitable for strollers!).

Technically the circular hike is easy and presents no particular difficulties. However, the ascent from Glion to Caux is somewhat demanding in terms of fitness. Those who prefer to take it easier can take the cogwheel railway one station further and start the tour in Caux.

Starting point	Station/Funi Glion (679 m a.s.l.)
Accessibility	accessible by public transport
Length	6.5 kilometers
Elevation	↗ 443 m ↘ 436 m
Duration	2:20 h
Destination	Station/Funi Glion (679 m a.s.l.)
Place to eat	Buffet de la Gare de Glion (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

Additional detour to the Rocher-de-Nayes

Because Glion lies directly on the cog railway line to the Rochers-de-Naye, the circular hike on the «Sentier des Narcisses de Glion» can be ideally combined with a detour to what is probably the most beautiful viewpoint in the region. Particularly convenient: the entire route up to the summit is covered by the GA. So anyone traveling with a GA, an SBB day ticket or the Swiss Travel Pass should not miss this opportunity.

Between 08:28 and 15:34 there is an hourly connection from Montreux to the summit. The journey takes just under 50 minutes, and about 40 minutes from Glion.

It is also striking how differently the vegetation appears in May: while in Glion at around 700 m a.s.l. everything already shines lush green, higher up there is often still snow, and the summit appears quite wintry at least on the north side. However, the short path to the viewpoint was mostly snow-free during our visit.

Since we didn’t have time at Glion station to visit the appealing «Buffet de la Gare de Glion», we used the wait for the descent on the Rochers-de-Naye to grab a quick bite at the summit restaurant «Alpin». The mixed platter with regional cheese – Vacherin and Gruyère – and various cold cuts was better than expected.

Practical tips for the narcissus bloom in Montreux

Catching the right time for the narcissus bloom

The daffodil bloom around Montreux typically lasts from mid-April until the end of May. Exactly when the meadows are in full bloom depends heavily on the spring weather. While the first daffodils in lower elevations often appear as early as mid-April, the flowering at higher elevations is delayed. It’s therefore worth checking the region’s official daffodil website before your hike, where the current flowering status for the various routes is continuously updated.

Accommodation tip in Montreux

In addition to the various daffodil hikes and the side trip to Rochers-de-Naye, there is plenty to discover in and around Montreux. Since the journey – for example from the Zurich region – takes about 2.5 hours, it’s worth planning to stay overnight.

This time we checked in at Hotel Mona (Partner link) checked in. The hotel emerged from the extensive renovation and rebranding of the former “Eurotel”, which opened in 1967 as a striking 16-storey building and long served as a symbol of modern tourism. The location right on the lakeside promenade and just a few minutes’ walk from the train station is hard to beat – and depending on the room, the view of Lake Geneva is, too.

Montreux Riviera Card

If you stay overnight in a hotel or a vacation rental in the region, you receive the Montreux Riviera Card. With it you can use public transport between Vevey and Villeneuve free of charge and benefit from discounts on numerous mountain railways and attractions. You can also use the rack railway line from Montreux via Glion to Caux for free. For the onward trip to Rochers-de-Naye you receive a 20% discount on the regular ticket price.