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Min. time required: 2:00
Season: all year
Recommended season: early January to late June and early September to late December
Max. altitude: 438 m (1437 ft)What is Chillon Castle? 
The Chillon Castle ("Château de Chillon" in French) is a well-preserved 12th-century castle on the shores of Lake Geneva in South-Western Switzerland. It's open to visitors and can be reached in just 10 minutes from Montreux.
The Chillon Castle is one of Switzerland's most popular cultural destinations. You can roam the interior and exterior of the site and learn all about its history, using brochures or audio info. Guided tours are available too.
➤ Castle prices, tickets and reservations
Chillon Castle prices in 2025
An entrance ticket to Chillon Castle costs CHF 15 per adult and CHF 7 per child if you don't have a rail pass. For Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) holders, a visit to the castle is free.
Find more rail pass discounts here.
Where to buy your tickets
Entry tickets can be bought online in advance. You can buy them at the castle’s ticket desk too.
Reservations
Reservations are not required if you explore the site on your own, unless you plan to visit with a group of 15 people or more. Get in touch with the Chillon Castle at least 48 hours before your planned visit in that case. Guided tours have to be booked in advance as well.
➤ Discounted castle access with your rail pass
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Free:
|
How to get to Chillon Castle: directions and map
Chillon Castle is located in Veytaux, directly on the shore of Lake Geneva and about 10 minutes from Montreux. It can be reached by train, bus or boat, on foot, and by car. As the car park can be full on busy days, I advise making use of the excellent public transport options.
How to travel to the castle by train, bus, or boat
This is how you can reach the castle by public transport:
- Take a local train from the directions of Montreux (4 minutes) or Villeneuve (3 minutes). The walk from the train stop "Veytaux-Chillon" to the castle takes 6 minutes.
- Take a bus to "Veytaux, château de Chillon", for example from Montreux (10 minutes), Villeneuve (6 minutes) or Vevey (25 to 35 minutes). It's a 2-minute walk from the bus stop to the castle.
- Board a boat to "Château-de-Chillon (lac)", for example from Montreux (15 minutes), Villeneuve (10 minutes) or Lausanne (2 hours). From the jetty, you'll reach the castle in just 2 minutes on foot.
How to get to the castle on foot
There’s a paved, easy footpath along the lake between Montreux and Villeneuve, so you can combine a visit to the castle with an easy walk.
How to reach the castle by car
You can drive up to the castle. There’s a large car park. If it's full, you can use the Tronchenaz car park in Villeneuve and continue to the castle by bus, boat, or train.
Opening dates and timetable info
Chillon Castle opening dates and hours
The castle is open all year round, except for December 25 and January 1.
These are the opening hours:
- From November to February, the castle is open from 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:00).
- From April to September, you can visit the castle daily from 09:00 to 19:00 (last entry at 18:00).
- In October and March, the castle is accessible from 09:30 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:00).
How to plan your journey with the Swiss timetable
These are the destinations to enter when planning your visit in the timetable:
- The train stop is called "Veytaux-Chillon".
- The name of the bus stop near the castle is "Veytaux, château de Chillon".
- The name of the boat dock is "Château-de-Chillon (lac)".
Note that boat services on Lake Geneva are limited in the winter season.
Best months for a castle visit
The Chillon Castle can be visited nearly year-round. Each season has its pros:
- April to early October is best if you want to take pictures of the castle and the lake. There's green vegetation on the hills and the lake boulevard is adorned with colorful flowers.
- November to March is low season (except for the weeks around Christmas and New Year's Eve). The weather may not be great, but since most of your exploration is indoors, that's no problem. There are fewer tourists than in summer.
Although the castle site is quite large, it can feel crowded if there are many tourists. That's why July and August are my least favorite months for this excursion.
Weather info and forecasts for Veytaux
You don't need good weather for a trip to the Chillon Castle. Of course, the views over Lake Geneva are prettier if it's sunny. The castle itself is more photogenic in good weather too. But most of your visit will be indoors, so this is a perfect excursion for rainy days.
What to expect from a visit to Chillon Castle
Exploring the ancient site
You can explore the castle on your own in about 2 hours, using a free information brochure, touchscreens, and headphones along the route. That’s what Arno and I prefer: we can visit the property at our own pace. Additional options:
- At CHF 6 per person, you can rent an audioguide for more information and background stories. Nine languages are available, including English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Korean.
- Download the Chillon Castle app with a proposed itinerary, audioguides, and extra information. The app costs CHF 3 and can be shared with up to 6 people. The app too is available in several languages.
- Alternatively, you can request for a guided tour at least 2 working days in advance.
The site includes underground chambers, courtyards, the great halls, several themed chambers, a weapons room, and a chapel.
More cultural offers: exhibitions and wine
The building houses several (temporary) culture and art exhibitions. It also has a connection to wine, which goes for the entire Lavaux region on Lake Geneva. The winemaker in charge grows grapes at the castle’s own 12.500 m2 vineyard. Both red and white wines are produced.
Catering and souvenirs
If you want to take a break, you can do so in the park next to the castle. You can have a bite in Café Byron. A snackbar is open in good weather too. After your visit, you can shop for souvenirs.
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How to combine a castle visit with other excursions
Other activities close to the Chillon fortress are:
- a boat trip over Lake Geneva;
- a visit to Rochers-de-Naye;
- exploring Montreux and/or Lausanne.
If you’re making a transfer trip between the Lake Geneva area and the Valais (for example Sion, Brig or Zermatt), a visit to the castle can be a nice break along the way.
Chillon Castle FAQ
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Can I join guided tours through the castle?
Yes, there are several guided tours. Examples are basic tours, interactive tours and wine-themed tours. They all have to be booked in advance. Additional costs apply.
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Is this excursion interesting for children?
Absolutely! There are special discovery tours for kids and family trails. Ask for them at the ticket desk. In addition, there are family workshops in weekends and educational workshops during school holidays.
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How long does a castle visit take?
If you skip the audio guides and explore the castle on your own, a quick tour can be done within 1,5 to 2 hours. But there’s a lot to explore, so a visit can easily take half a day or even a whole day.
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Is Chillon Castle accessible for wheelchairs and prams?
The castle isn’t fully wheelchair accessible. Nor are prams allowed, so you can best bring a baby carrier instead.
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Can I store my luggage while visiting the Chillon Castle?
Yes, there’s a luggage area in the castle.
It’s more pleasant to enter the site without large pieces of luggage though. You can use lockers at the railway station of Montreux. And if you’re visiting the castle while traveling from one base town to the other, consider having your luggage transferred for you. Learn all the details here.
History of the Chillon Castle
The Chillon Castle was built in or before the 12th century. The first written testimony dates back to 1150. The Counts of Savoy controlled the fort then. It was gradually expanded over the following centuries. It served as a fort, arsenal, and prison.
The Bernese habitants took it over for a while, until the Vaudois Revolution of 1798. The castle’s ownership was then passed on to the Canton of Vaud. By that time, it began to attract writers and artists.
A major restoration project was started by the end of the 19th century. Restoration is still going on today!
➤ Where to buy Chillon Castle tickets: trusted options
Promotions
There are currently no promotions available.
- www.chillon.ch: guided tours
- www.chillon.ch: audioguides, visitor app, and kids' itinerary
Dates and times
- www.chillon.ch: opening dates and times
Prices
- www.chillon.ch: entrance prices
Boat Lake Geneva
Rochers-de-Naye
Town walk Lausanne
Montreux
Lausanne
