Gruyères is a beautifully preserved medieval village in the idyllic countryside of western Switzerland. The village is tiny, just one cobblestone lane within the fortress walls, lined with the attractive facades of shops, hotels, and residences.

Location: in the countryside northeast of Montreux - see on map

It's a lovely place for a short stroll and lots of picture taking, with the surrounding mountains a stunning backdrop. At the far end of the village, you'll find the Castle of Gruyères, which you can explore for fee.

Plan to spend about 1 hour here, longer if you visit the castle museum or sit down for lunch.

We always combine this village with a visit to the nearby Maison de Gruyères dairy and Cailler Chocolate Factory.

How to get there

By public transport: The Gruyères train station is just below the village, next to the Gruyères cheese dairy. From Montreux or Lausanne 1h15, Bern 1h20, from Interlaken 2h40

From the train station, it's about a 10 min walk uphill to the village center. To save yourself the walk, you can ride the bus to Gruyères, ville, which drops in the parking lot.

By car: There are three big parking lots just outside the village at Route de la Cité 100, 1663 Gruyères. From Montreux 35 mins, Lausanne 45 mins, Bern 50 mins, Interlaken 1h30

Chocolate train: If you'd like an easy packaged tour, you can visit Gruyères via the "Chocolate Train" tour from Montreux. The tour includes a train ride to the area (Montbovon), then a charter bus to the Gruyères cheese factory, Gruyères village, and Cailler chocolate factory. The fee includes entrance to cheese factory and chocolate factory, but not the Gruyères castle.

What to eat

If you have time, we suggest stopping for lunch at one of the outdoor cafes to try traditional Swiss dishes, including fondue. We usually eat at Gruyère Traditions, which has patio seating in the village and in back with mountain views. If it's a cold day, the interior is very cozy with stone walls and timber ceilings.

At a minimum, you must try this region's signature dessert of meringue dipped in Gruyères double cream, served in a wooden bowl. If you are short on time, you can buy a box of meringue and pot of double cream to go at one of the shops and have a picnic later.