Food, photography and local history offer different ways to shape a stay in Vevey. Museums, exhibitions and themed tours provide a variety of ways to explore the city. When looking for hotels in Vevey, you can start by considering which focus you want your trip to have: food culture, art and collections, or the history of the place.
Food and local history
The Alimentarium is the world’s first museum dedicated to food and nutrition science. It presents food and nutrition from historical, scientific and cultural perspectives. Guided culinary tours with tastings complement a museum visit; check the current programme before your trip.
At the Musée Jenisch Vevey, the Cabinet cantonal des estampes comprises more than 40,000 works from the Renaissance to the present day. The museum also houses a collection of more than 11,000 drawings. The Pavillon de l’estampe presents three temporary exhibitions each year; check the exhibition calendar for current dates before your visit.
The Musée historique de Vevey displays part of its collections on the second floor of the Château, a manor house dating from the 16th century. Regional themes and special collections are spread across eight exhibition rooms. The permanent exhibition includes archaeology as well as medieval objects and manuscripts—another way to explore history, distinct from the printmaking and drawing collections at the Musée Jenisch.
Photography in museums and around the city
The Musée suisse de l’appareil photographique is located on Lake Geneva at the Grande Place, in the heart of «Vevey, ville d’Images». Its collection includes photographs and equipment; visitors can operate some of the instruments. The museum offers courses, workshops and other activities throughout the year. For specific dates, check the current events calendar.
L'Appartement - Espace Images Vevey is a permanent exhibition space for contemporary photographers in the heart of the CFF railway station. Admission is free; exhibitions change, and admission arrangements may change. Check the latest visitor information in advance.
Every two years, the Biennale Images Vevey presents outdoor photography exhibitions in streets, parks and unusual locations around Vevey. The recurring event is free for visitors and lasts three weeks; individual editions and exhibition locations may vary.
Regional produce and wine country
On Tuesdays and Saturdays, producers and local residents gather around a wide selection of regional products at the Grande Place. As this is a regular market, check the current schedule before your visit. Vevey’s chocolate-making history is another theme to explore: industrial chocolate production began here, and milk chocolate was invented here. A themed tour explores the places and history of the industrial pioneers involved.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lavaux is part of the region’s wider context. This cultural landscape stretches from Lutry to Vevey, has been shaped by people since the 11th century and comprises 10,000 vineyard terraces. This takes you beyond the city without conflating Vevey’s own museums and cultural offerings with the surrounding landscape.
Guided walks and cultural traditions
The Vevey City Tour is a two-hour public guided walking tour. It covers urban development, architecture, monuments and influential figures. Availability is seasonal; check the current schedule. A different perspective is offered by the themed tour «Vevey vue par des écrivains célèbres»: it takes visitors to places where numerous writers lived or stayed and features excerpts from texts inspired by Vevey. Booking details may change. The two tours therefore differ mainly in their focus: urban development and architecture in one, literary connections in the other.
The Fête des Vignerons has been held in Vevey since 1797, approximately five times per century. In an area of the Confrérie des Vignerons that is open to visitors, film clips trace the history of the Fêtes since the beginning of the 20th century. Another area open to visitors displays costumes, engravings and numerous objects from past editions.
The CGN landing stage Vevey-La Tour is a four-minute walk from the Alimentarium; the route follows the lakeshore towards Vevey. Routes and landing-stage operations may change, so it is advisable to check the latest information. Jardin Doret offers shaded areas, changing facilities, toilets, showers and a children’s playground. These facilities may be seasonal or subject to change; check the conditions before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Jongny, Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Chardonne, Chardonne VD, Les Avants, Montreux, La Tour-De-Peilz, La Lécherette.
For the broader travel overview: Riviera-Pays-D'enhaut.
