Queen – The Studio Experience in Montreux: inside the band's legendary studio

Inside the Mountain Studios of Montreux, where Queen wrote its legend

Set in the heart of the Casino Barrière de Montreux, the Queen – The Studio Experience exhibition occupies the former Mountain Studios, the recording studio the band owned between 1979 and the mid-1990s. It is here, facing Lake Geneva, that Queen recorded several of its albums, including its very last. The place has been preserved and turned into a small living museum, entirely free. You come across the original mixing room, the band's personal items and the hushed atmosphere of a real studio. For a family passing through the Riviera, it is a short, free and surprisingly memorable stop, even for those who know Queen only by name.

What your children will discover

Children step into an out-of-the-ordinary place: not a classic museum room, but a real recording studio frozen in time. They discover the control-room mixing console, photos and mementoes from the band's personal archives, as well as items linked to the history of Queen and Freddie Mercury. The most moving room, the “Made in Heaven Room”, lets you stand in the exact spot where Freddie recorded his last song. It is tangible, visual, and it speaks to music lovers and the curious alike.

What you do there and the atmosphere on site

The highlight for children is being able to play sound engineer: a replica of the console lets you “remix” a Queen track yourself, raising or lowering the tracks (vocals, guitar, drums). You wander freely at your own pace, with headphones or a screen, in a calm and intimate atmosphere. The visit is short and made without pressure. It is exactly the kind of stop you slip in between a walk by the lake and a snack, without having to book or open your wallet.

Before you go

• Recommended age: from 6, but the experience appeals above all to children from 8-10, teenagers and music-loving parents.
• Duration: allow about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Price: free entry.
• Booking: no booking needed for families.
• Stroller / wheelchair accessibility: single-level access announced, strollers accepted (to be confirmed on site).
• Transport: Montreux CFF station about fifteen minutes' walk away; buses and town-centre car parks nearby.
• What to bring: not much, the exhibition is indoors and visited quickly.
• Best season: all year round, also ideal as a stop on rainy days.

Tips from parents

• Play your children one or two Queen songs before the visit: they will recognise the tracks and have much more fun with the mixing desk.
• As the experience is short, combine it with a walk along Montreux's flower-lined quays and the Freddie Mercury statue, right by the lake.
• As it is free, do not hesitate to go in even for a quick visit with young children.
• Let your children operate the mixing console themselves: it is the moment they like best.
• Check the opening times before travelling, as the venue is inside the Casino Barrière.

Useful information

• Address: Casino Barrière de Montreux, Rue du Théâtre 9, 1820 Montreux
• Official website: Queen – The Studio Experience
• Opening times: open 7 days a week; opening times to be confirmed on the official website before your visit.
• Access: Montreux CFF station about 15 min on foot; buses and town-centre car parks nearby.

Want other outings? Find all our activities in Montreux.

Why we recommend it

Because it is rare to be able to step for free into such a legendary recording studio, on the shore of Lake Geneva, and let your children play apprentice producers there. It is short, lively, and it passes on a piece of music history without ever being boring. A lovely interlude to fit into a family day on the Riviera.

In a nutshell

A free and original immersion in the former Queen studios in Montreux, where young and old remix the band's hits facing the lake.