Chillon Castle sits on a rocky island at the edge of Lake Geneva near Montreux and Villeneuve, Switzerland. The first written mention of the castle dates to 1150, although archaeological evidence shows that the site was occupied much earlier. Today, visitors come to explore its courtyards, underground rooms, great halls, towers, historic paintings, and lakeside setting. If you are planning a visit, knowing the current Chillon Castle ticket prices, discounts, opening hours, tour options, and accessibility limits can make the day much easier.
Quick Answer
Chillon Castle currently charges CHF 15 for standard adult admission and CHF 7 for children aged 6-15. A reduced ticket costs CHF 12.50, while the family ticket is CHF 35. Swiss Travel Pass and several other eligible pass holders can receive free admission. Regular individual tickets can be bought online or at the castle.
Key Takeaways
- Standard adult admission is CHF 15, while children aged 6-15 pay CHF 7.
- The reduced rate is CHF 12.50, and the family ticket is CHF 35 for 2 adults plus 1-5 children aged 6-15.
- Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Museum Pass, ICOM, and eligible Raiffeisen card holders are among those listed for free admission by Chillon.
- Individual visitors do not have to reserve in advance, but guided tours and qualifying group visits require advance arrangements.
- The historic castle is not easily accessible to wheelchair or walker users because the visitor route includes narrow passages, uneven surfaces, and many stairs.
Chillon Castle Ticket Options and Prices
The current individual ticket prices below are published by the Chillon Castle Foundation. Prices can change during special events or themed days, so check the official ticket page again shortly before your visit.
| Ticket | Current Price | Who It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | CHF 15 | Age 16 and over |
| Child | CHF 7 | Ages 6-15; visitors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult |
| Reduced | CHF 12.50 | Students, apprentices, pensioners, people receiving disability benefits, and Swiss military personnel in uniform |
| Family | CHF 35 | 2 adults plus 1-5 children aged 6-15 |
An audioguide can be hired on site for CHF 6 in addition to admission. Chillon also lists its mobile audioguide app at CHF 3. For a self-guided visit, the castle recommends allowing about one to two hours.
Note: The castle’s booking forms separate children aged 5 and under from paying participants. Because the main current individual-price table does not display a separate price for that age group, check the official ticket office when booking if you are visiting with a child aged 5 or younger.
Chillon Castle Opening Hours
Chillon Castle is open through most of the year, but hours change by season. The official schedule is:
| Period | Opening Hours | Last Entry |
|---|---|---|
| April-September | 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. |
| March and October | 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| November-February | 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
The castle is closed on December 25 and January 1. Because opening times and special-event arrangements can change, confirm your date on the official visit page before traveling.
Special Discounts and Promotions
Chillon Castle has several official discounts and partner offers. These are more useful than relying on generic seasonal promotions because each offer has its own eligibility rules.
- Swiss Travel Pass: Chillon lists free admission for eligible Swiss Travel Pass holders.
- Swiss Museum Pass, ICOM, and Raiffeisen: These are also listed among the free-entry offers on Chillon’s current visitor page.
- Montreux Riviera Card: The listed admission rate is CHF 7.50 for adults and CHF 3.50 for children.
- RailAway: Chillon lists a public-transport and admission discount through its RailAway partnership. Check the live offer when purchasing because package conditions can change.
- CGN: Chillon lists a discount on eligible combined cruise-and-admission tickets and a discount for eligible Horizon card holders.
- Caritas Culture Card: The official site lists a 30% reduction on the adult individual ticket from November 1 through March 31, excluding special events.
The official discounts page should always be checked before purchase because card eligibility, partner conditions, and special-event exclusions can change.
Pro Tip: If you already plan to travel around Switzerland with a Swiss Travel Pass, check whether your pass includes the museum benefit before buying a separate Chillon Castle ticket.
Guided Tours and Additional Experiences
Chillon offers self-guided visits as well as several official guided experiences. The original city-tour and hiking options do not reflect Chillon’s actual tour program. Current core options include the following:
| Experience | Duration | Current Price | Group Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-guided visit | About 1-2 hours | Admission; optional CHF 6 audioguide | Individual visitors |
| “Must see, must do” guided tour | 50 minutes | CHF 110 per group + admission | Up to 40 |
| Medieval-costume guided tour | 50 minutes | CHF 160 per group + admission | Up to 30 |
| In-depth tour | 80 minutes | CHF 160 with official guide or CHF 230 with costumed guide + admission | Up to 30 |
Guided tours can cover areas such as the cellar, prison, great halls, chapel, Bernese chamber, duke’s chamber, and sentry walks. Languages vary by tour. Chillon also offers tour-and-wine-tasting packages with its Clos de Chillon wine. Package prices, group minimums, and durations vary, so use the official guided-tour page for the option that matches your group.
Some scheduled public events can include a guided experience in the admission price. For example, Chillon has offered Sunday guided tours during the April-September season. These scheduled events should not be confused with privately booked guided tours, which normally cost extra.
Booking and Reservation Information
Ordinary individual admission does not have to be reserved before arrival. According to Chillon’s official FAQ, tickets can be purchased at the castle or online, and online admission tickets can be bought up to three months in advance.
Online tickets are generally non-refundable. The official FAQ states that changing the visit date may be possible when the ticket price remains the same and the request is made at least three days before the visit.
Guided tours follow a different rule. They must be requested at least 72 hours, or three working days, in advance through the booking system or in writing and must be confirmed by Chillon’s booking department. Only official Chillon Castle guides are authorized to lead guided groups inside the monument.
Note: You can arrive and buy an ordinary individual ticket without an advance reservation. The 72-hour rule is especially important for guided tours and qualifying group arrangements.
Group Visits and School Trips
Chillon Castle provides separate arrangements for groups and schools. The regular group rate applies to groups of at least 15 people when the visit is booked in advance under the castle’s group conditions.
Current group admission is CHF 12 per adult and CHF 6 per child aged 6-15. An admission-plus-audioguide group package is listed at CHF 16.50 per adult and CHF 11 per child. The group rate requires advance booking at least 72 hours, or three working days, before the visit.
School groups can also arrange educational visits. Chillon provides age-appropriate resources and special school-trip conditions. Certain pupils and guardians from compulsory state education in the Canton of Vaud may qualify for free admission when the required school documentation is presented. Other schools and older students have separate rates, so teachers and organizers should use Chillon’s official group or school booking system rather than assuming the standard individual price applies.
Accessibility and Facilities for Visitors
Chillon Castle is a protected historic monument, and the main visitor route is not easily accessible for people using wheelchairs or walkers. Narrow passages, numerous stairways, cobbled surfaces, and the historic building layout limit access to many rooms.
Wheelchair or walker access is possible in specified areas including the cobbled courtyards, cafeteria, adapted toilets, Bazaar, and Café Byron. The courtyard stones may become slippery in wet weather. Visitors with reduced mobility can be dropped off by car at the drawbridge before the vehicle is moved to the roadside parking area.
Chillon also provides audiovisual terminals in the cafeteria that offer a virtual look at areas of the castle that may be difficult to reach. The official individual-price list currently shows free admission for a person with a motor or visual disability, with an accompanying person included, while a person presenting a disability insurance card is listed under the CHF 12.50 reduced rate. Check the official accessibility and pricing information before visiting if access requirements will affect your route.
Warning: Do not assume that the castle’s towers, upper rooms, prison route, and other historic spaces are wheelchair accessible. Contact Chillon before your visit if a member of your party has significant mobility requirements.
Getting to Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle is between Montreux and Villeneuve on the shore of Lake Geneva. Public transport is often the easiest option because parking beside the monument is limited.
- Train: Regional trains serve Veytaux-Chillon station, which the castle describes as about a six-minute walk away.
- Bus: VMCV bus line 201 serves the “Chillon” stop directly in front of the castle, with frequent services from the surrounding Riviera communities.
- Boat: Seasonal CGN services stop close to the castle, with the Chillon landing point about 100 metres from the entrance.
- Car: From the A9 motorway, use the Montreux or Villeneuve exit. Free roadside car and coach parking is available for up to three hours with the required parking permit, but spaces are limited.
- Walking: The lakeside route is about 4 km from Montreux and about 2 km from Villeneuve.
The castle recommends public transport where possible. If you drive, avoid leaving valuables in your vehicle; lockers are available inside the castle.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit to Chillon Castle
Allow roughly one to two hours for a normal self-guided visit, and more if you want to spend time photographing the exterior, walking beside the lake, eating nearby, or joining an additional experience. Going earlier in the day can also give you more time before the final-admission cutoff.
Families with babies should know that prams, pushchairs, and buggies cannot be used on the castle visitor trails. Chillon recommends a baby carrier instead, and pushchairs must be left in the designated unattended cloakroom area.
Cameras are permitted inside the castle, but selfie sticks are not allowed inside and drones cannot be flown over the castle grounds. Ordinary pets are not allowed inside the grounds; qualifying assistance dogs are permitted under the castle’s stated conditions.
If you bring food, picnic benches are available in the gardens and by the nearby beach. The castle also has food options on site and Café Byron nearby. Be careful around the lakeside beach because there is no lifeguard and strong currents can occur near the monument.
It is also worth exploring the area beyond the castle. Montreux, Villeneuve, the Lake Geneva waterfront, and boat services make it easy to combine Chillon with other activities without trying to fit several unrelated ticket products into one castle admission.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current Chillon Castle ticket prices?
Current standard individual admission is CHF 15 for adults aged 16 and over and CHF 7 for children aged 6-15. The reduced ticket is CHF 12.50, and the family ticket is CHF 35 for 2 adults plus 1-5 children aged 6-15. Special-event prices can differ.
Are discounts available for Chillon Castle tickets?
Yes. Chillon lists reduced individual pricing plus several partner offers. Examples include the Montreux Riviera Card, RailAway and CGN offers, and eligible free entry with the Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Museum Pass, ICOM, and Raiffeisen.
Do I need to purchase Chillon Castle tickets in advance?
No. Ordinary individual admission can be purchased on arrival. Online tickets are also available and can be bought up to three months in advance. Guided tours and qualifying group visits have separate advance-booking requirements.
What is included in a regular Chillon Castle ticket?
Regular admission covers the normal castle visitor route and exhibitions included with standard entry. Optional audioguides, private guided tours, wine experiences, workshops, and some special events may involve an additional charge.
Are guided tours included with admission?
Standard privately booked guided tours are not included. The regular 50-minute guided tour is currently listed at CHF 110 per group plus admission. Chillon may also schedule public events where a guided experience is included in admission, so check the calendar for your visit date.
What are Chillon Castle’s opening hours?
From April through September, the castle is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with last entry at 6:00 p.m. In March and October it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with last entry at 5:00 p.m. From November through February it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:00 p.m. It is closed December 25 and January 1.
Is Chillon Castle free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Chillon’s current visitor information lists the Swiss Travel Pass among its free-entry offers. Check the conditions of your specific pass and carry the required proof when you visit.
Is Chillon Castle wheelchair accessible?
Only partly. The main historic visitor route is not easily accessible to wheelchairs or walkers because of many stairs, narrow passages, cobbles, and heritage constraints. Accessible areas include the courtyards, cafeteria with adapted toilets, Bazaar, and Café Byron, and audiovisual terminals provide a virtual view of other areas.
Are there extra fees for exhibitions or activities?
The normal visitor route and standard exhibitions are generally covered by ordinary admission, but private guided tours, wine experiences, workshops, special events, and themed days can have additional or different pricing. Always check the event listing for your date.
Sources
- Chillon Castle Foundation: Visit — current admission prices, discounts, opening hours, transport, practical information, and accessibility.
- Chillon Castle Foundation: FAQ — ticket purchasing, advance-booking rules, payment information, and guided-tour requirements.
- Chillon Castle Foundation: Guided Tours — current guided-tour durations, prices, group sizes, languages, and booking terms.
- Chillon Castle Foundation: Self-Guided Tour — recommended visit duration and audioguide information.
- Chillon Castle Foundation: Castle History — historical periods, first written record, architecture, strategic location, and collections.
- Chillon Castle Foundation: Swiss Travel Pass — free-entry offer and transport information for eligible Swiss Travel Pass holders.
