Montreux

Montreux needs 1 day: Chillon Castle, on a rocky islet in Lake Geneva and immortalized by Lord Byron in «The Prisoner of Chillon», is nearly the sole reason for the stop. May-September is best, coinciding with the famous Montreux Jazz Festival in July. It's pricier than other lakeside towns due to its international tourist profile. The area's microclimate, sheltered from cold winds by the Alps, allows palm trees to grow right by the lake, unusual for Switzerland, and its lakeside promenade is one of the most elegant in Europe.