Is Montreux safe?
Very safe. Pickpocketing in busy trains and festivals is the main petty risk; cold water and mountain trails need care.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-19.
- Homicide rate in Switzerland: 0.6 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Switzerland: 2.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Montreux at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Occasional bag theft on trains and at events like the jazz festival; violent crime against visitors is very rare. |
| At night | Streets along the lake are well lit and calm at night. Trains and buses end around midnight; check the last departures. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Streets are quiet and well lit; normal care with late trains and taxis. |
| Other risks | Cold lake water and sudden storms; Icy mountain paths on Rochers-de-Naye in winter; Fast trains and trams at crossings |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake petition or charity collectors asking for signatures and cash
- Taxi drivers charging high flat fares from Geneva airport
- Rental listings asking for deposits before viewing
Take care
- Busy trains at festival times: pickpockets
- Lake swimming away from guarded beaches: cold water, fast weather change
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Most municipalities require official fee-paid rubbish bags; dumping household waste is fined.
- Motorways need the CHF 40 vignette, and speeding fines are severe.
- Night-time and Sunday quiet hours are taken seriously in apartments.
How Montreux compares in Switzerland
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Zurich | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lucerne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Interlaken | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Zermatt | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bern | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Basel | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lugano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Grindelwald | 5/5 · Very safe |
| St. Moritz | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Montreux | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Geneva | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lausanne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Montreux safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Streets are quiet and well lit; normal care with late trains and taxis.
Is Montreux safe at night?
Streets along the lake are well lit and calm at night. Trains and buses end around midnight; check the last departures.
What is the crime rate in Montreux?
Occasional bag theft on trains and at events like the jazz festival; violent crime against visitors is very rare. Nationally, Switzerland records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Montreux?
Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
More about Montreux
Going to Montreux solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Montreux Riviera Tourism
- Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)
- Hôpital Riviera-Chablais
- Montreux Oberland Bernois (MOB)
- CGN Lake Geneva boats
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.