Royal Plaza Montreux
by the TopOfHotel team
Royal Plaza is the rare 5-star where every room comes with a Lake Geneva view and a balcony, pool and spa included, for noticeably less than the Fairmont.
Royal Plaza is the rare 5-star where every room comes with a Lake Geneva view and a balcony, pool and spa included, for noticeably less than the Fairmont.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Royal Plaza Montreux is a 5-star on the Lake Geneva waterfront, a 5-minute walk from the Fairmont, and its one real distinction is that every room has a lake view and a private balcony. It is a newer building than the grand hotels around it, and that shows in the 154 rooms — wood floors, cream curtains, modern furniture. The line that comes up again and again in reviews is opening the balcony door first thing and finding the lake right there. Some of the Suite rooms have balconies big enough to eat on. It scores 8.8/10 on Agoda.
Food and amenities
The standout facilities are the wellness ones: a decent-sized indoor pool that works in summer and winter alike, a spa with a full range of massage and treatments, and a gym with current equipment. Reviewers single out how clean the spa is and how good the service there is. On the food side, Le Jaan serves French-Swiss dishes with a lake view, Yo! Sushi handles Japanese fusion, and the Lobby Lounge bar runs all day. The one catch is breakfast: the buffet is an extra charge of about $40-50, and some guests think that is steep next to the room rate.
Location and getting there
You are on the Lake Geneva waterfront in central Montreux, a 5-minute walk from Gare de Montreux station and the same to the Fairmont if you cut through the park. Chillon Castle is a 25-minute walk along the lake or a 5-minute drive. The promenade runs right past, so getting around on foot is easy.
Things to know before booking
This is still an expensive hotel even though it sits below the Fairmont — rates climb to about $710 at the top end. The mood is firmly modern, so if you are coming to Montreux for the old-world Belle Epoque feel, the period hotels nearby will suit you better. And remember the breakfast is not included — budget the extra or book a rate that folds it in.
Our take
Royal Plaza is the pick for couples and families who want a contemporary 5-star with a lake view and balcony in every room and the full set of facilities, at roughly 30% under the Fairmont. Choose Royal Plaza if you like things modern; choose the Fairmont if classic Belle Epoque is what you are after.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Every room faces Lake Geneva and comes with its own private balcony — no gambling on which side you get.
- Indoor pool that works summer and winter, plus a spa with massage and treatments and a well-equipped gym.
- Rooms are modern rather than period, which suits travellers who do not love the old-world look of the Belle Epoque hotels nearby.
- Two restaurants — Le Jaan for French-Swiss food with a lake view and Yo! Sushi for Japanese fusion — plus an all-day lounge bar.
- A genuine 5-star from around $280 a night, roughly 30% below the Fairmont a few minutes up the lake.
- Still expensive for a general traveller, even though it undercuts the Fairmont — rates run up to about $710 at the top.
- The feel is contemporary, not the classic Belle Epoque atmosphere some people come to Montreux for.
- Breakfast is not included and costs extra (about $40-50), and a few reviewers find that steep next to the room rate.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Montreux
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Montreux — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- The balcony is the whole point — order breakfast up and eat it outside with the lake in front of you.
- The indoor pool is the practical edge over open-air pools nearby: it is just as good in winter as in summer.
- Book ahead through Agoda or Booking and you may land a rate that includes breakfast, which beats paying for it separately.