It's not yet Christmas Eve, but Santa Claus seems to be taking his sleigh for a test drive.

He and his reindeer are warming up for their global present-giving journey by flying over the Montreux Christmas Market in Switzerland.

Santa’s trajectory takes him from Montreux pier up to a point over the lake itself where it stops before showing off its turbo boost capabilities, taking it even further and higher.

His illuminated sleigh lights up above 160 chalets, selling a host of Christmas products and treats.

As temperatures drop to near freezing, warm drinks are the order of the day, and the Swiss canton of Vaud, within which Montreux sits, has its own version of traditional mulled wine.

Montreux Christmas Market has become a popular destination in the lead up to the festive season.

The market was set up in 1994 by a group of friends who wanted to inject life into a town that, despite being a music Mecca during the famous summer jazz festival, was largely empty in winter.

Now in 2025, the market extends 1,500 metres along the lake, and has become one of Switzerland’s most exciting Christmas destinations.

Liliane Maibach, Riviera Noël’s PR chief, says there’s no doubt about the main reason people come here.

"You don’t have any other market like this, with this view on the lake. I think it’s pretty spectacular,” she says.

Many people you’ll meet here are Swiss, but there’s an increasing number of visitors from overseas.

“We have between 500,000 and 600,000 visitors a year here. And 50% of them are from Switzerland. And the other 20% are from Europe. And 30% are internationally coming from Asia or other countries - Asia and America," says Maibach.

Santa is staying put, let’s hope he doesn’t get too cold.

And if visitors start feeling the chill, there are plenty of places to warm up.

Alice Man and Mya Khan are visiting from the United States, and flying Santa was high up in their wishlist.

"We love it, it’s our first day here, it’s really nice, very much holiday market vibes, Christmas vibes,” outlines Alice Man.

Back in Montreux, night has fallen and Santa is making one more trip before bedtime.

AP video shot by Jez Fielder