The Montreux Jazz Festival takes place every July on the shore of Lake Geneva, and Montreux is 91 km from Geneva Airport, about 1 h 05 by motorway. Getting there is straightforward; the real question for most visitors is how to get back after a concert that finishes late at night. AirportsTransfers.ch provides direct transfers from the airport or Geneva and pre-booked returns that wait for the final encore.
- Distance from GVA: 91 km, about 1 h 05
- When: every July, over about two weeks
- Where: the lakeside quays and concert halls in the centre of Montreux
- Key challenge: late-night returns after headline concerts
- Group option: a van or minibus for friends or corporate guests
The festival in brief
Founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs, the Montreux Jazz Festival has grown far beyond jazz to include rock, soul, blues, pop, hip-hop and electronic music. Its paid concerts take place in halls within the convention centre by the lake, while a large part of the festival is free: open-air stages, bars, food stands and boat events stretch along the quays, attracting crowds every day and evening. A statue of Freddie Mercury, who recorded in Montreux, stands on the waterfront and is a popular stop for visitors.
The setting is a large part of the appeal. The quays face the lake and the French Alps, and summer evenings are long, so many visitors arrive in the afternoon to enjoy the free programme before their concert.
Getting to Montreux from Geneva
The A1 and A9 motorways follow Lake Geneva past Lausanne and above the vineyards of Lavaux before descending to Montreux. Lausanne, 61 km from Geneva Airport, is roughly two-thirds of the way. In normal traffic the drive from the airport takes around 1 h 05, but summer weekends and festival evenings bring heavier traffic around Montreux itself. The town's centre is narrow, squeezed between the lake and the hillside, and parking during the festival is limited.
Trains run along the lake between Geneva and Montreux and are a good way to arrive. The challenge comes later in the evening.
If you are staying in Geneva and making a single evening trip, consider travelling out by car as well. The chauffeur can collect you from your hotel or office in the late afternoon, giving you time on the quays before the doors open, and the same driver brings you home after the show, so there is only one booking to manage.
The late-night return
Headline concerts often finish late, and many visitors want to stay for the free stages and bars afterwards. Late-night train services towards Geneva are limited, and after the last train you are dependent on the few taxis available in a busy town. A pre-booked chauffeur removes this uncertainty: the driver waits at an agreed point near the quays, and you leave when you are ready.
- Agree a meeting point: streets near the festival area can be closed to traffic
- Share your phone number: the chauffeur can message you when in position
- Allow for crowds: leaving the venue after a big show takes time
- Book in advance: demand is highest on weekend nights
Arriving by air for the festival
Many festival-goers fly into Geneva from across Europe and beyond. With flight tracking, your driver knows when you actually land and waits in arrivals with a name sign; waiting time is included if the plane is late. From the airport you can go directly to your hotel in Montreux or along the Riviera, or straight to the festival if you are arriving on the day of a concert. Luggage stays in the car until you reach your accommodation.
Corporate guests and groups
The festival is also popular for corporate hospitality, with companies inviting clients to concerts and dinners on the Riviera. A Mercedes V-Class takes up to 7 guests, and a Mercedes Sprinter minibus suits larger groups travelling together from Geneva. A chauffeur by the hour can cover a full evening: collection from offices or hotels in Geneva, the drive to Montreux, waiting during the concert and the return. For VIP guests, the Mercedes S-Class offers a discreet arrival.
Booking festival transport with AirportsTransfers.ch
Book online, choose your vehicle and see the fixed price per vehicle before paying securely by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Options include one-way transfers, return trips with a late-night pick-up, and a chauffeur by the hour from 2 hours. Child seats are available on request for families attending the free daytime events, and companies can receive an invoice. For festival-night changes or group bookings, call or WhatsApp AirportsTransfers.ch on +41 78 346 56 77, at any hour.
