How should travellers use Bern, Lausanne and Montreux?
Bern, Lausanne and Montreux are not usually the loudest names on a first itinerary, but they can make Switzerland feel less like a lift-ticket exercise. Use them for slower city-lake pacing, not as filler between bigger mountain bases.
Answer
Bern, Lausanne and Montreux work best when they are given a purpose. Bern is useful for a compact old-town feel and a change of pace from the Alps. Lausanne and Montreux fit better into a Lake Geneva route, where the pleasure is water, promenades, vineyard views and a softer rhythm. What they should not become is itinerary padding: one more stop because the train map made it look harmless. Switzerland is expensive enough that filler nights hurt. Add these places when you want a calmer Swiss city-lake mood, a break from mountain weather chasing or a route that naturally passes through the west.