Vevey is one of those places we think we’ve already “done.” But spend a day here with fresh eyes and you’ll realise you’ve barely scratched the surface. Slow down, wander a little, and let Vevey remind you why people travel halfway across the world to stand where you stand.
Ease Into the Day
Start with coffee—good coffee. Eleven Coffee and Brew Society are your grab-and-go options for a quiet wander by the lake, while Café Céleste offers a soft landing if you want to linger. You can even start by coffee at the gare to fuel your day at KymèM. Feeling indulgent? Café au Bois d’Amour and their potato waffles will happily set the tone for the day.
From here, slip into the old town. Meander along Rue des Deux-Marchés, look up at the rooftops, and take your time with the murals scattered across the city. The giant lobster might be familiar, but when was the last time you actually stopped to admire it?
Let the Day Stretch Out
When the sun sits a little higher, lean into local life, meaning: wine. Caveau des Vignerons is an easy place to begin, or wander up toward Lavaux and enjoy a glass where the vines meet the sky. Tastings here have a way of turning into conversations with growers and newfound bottle loyalties.
Lunch can be as leisurely or as simple as you’d like. Le Café Littéraire offers views worth lingering over. But if you’re content with something handheld, grab a sandwich from Le Syrien, a burrito from Comelon, or a flaky pastry from Bread Store and take it lakeside. Ma Cocotte and Bla Bla are excellent if you’re settling in for a longer midday pause.
A sweet moment is mandatory: gelato by the port, scented by fresh waffle batter, or a stop at DAVID Chocolatier where the line between confection and art blurs deliciously.
Between Lake and Vine
Vevey’s lakeside path may be one of the most scenic 7 km in Switzerland, dotted with icons—the gleaming fork at the Alimentarium, Chaplin’s gentle wave, the Alps performing as if on cue. If you want height, take the funicular to Mont-Pèlerin or wander upward toward Chardonne or Chexbres. There’s a reason travellers plan entire holidays around this view.
Before the sun dips, step into a few boutiques you’ve maybe walked past a hundred times: ECOFFEY for cheeses and local goods, Balthazar for stationery that makes you want to write letters again, Sydney for coffee and little-kid treasures, and Aebi Fleurs for blooms and creative workshops. And why not take a sunset sauna detour in Steam on the Water?
End the Day the Vevey Way
Evenings here feel cinematic. Watch the colours shift across the water, steamers gliding through gold light. Then settle in—apéro at KJU for atmosphere, or something beautifully familiar like a fondue at Les Trois Sifflets. Vevey doesn’t force you to choose between stylish and cosy; it does both effortlessly. And if you want to go off the beaten path and try something different why not visit Nemnem.
Take the long way back to the station. Order something unexpected next time you’re here. Speak to someone new. Vevey rewards curiosity—and all it asks is that you look up.
Sometimes the perfect mini-escape is only 20 minutes from home.
