Lausanne, Switzerland

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Lausanne

Experience a Lausanne, Switzerland vacation in a truly elegant city, not far from Geneva, on Lake Geneva. Its hillside setting on the lake facing the Alps is truly spectacular. Its old quarter, La Cité, has an impressive medieval cathedral. Lausanne is a university city with a vibrant student population. The Swiss Hotel School is located here, as well as the International Olympic Committee headquarters, which has a fascinating Museum on the Olympics with all kinds of exhibits and a library of Olympic videos. Musée de l'Art Brut has an unusual but fascinating exhibit of art by untrained artists including imprisoned criminals, mental patients, and eccentrics.

Enjoy the green city during your Lausanne, Switzerland vacation with many parks and gardens to explore. Its southern exposure on the Lake gives it a wonderful climate for all kinds of vegetation. Ouchy is the city's marina, which is beautiful and has excellent restaurants and fantastic yachts. The best beach is Vidy, where bikes and skates can be rented to explore the walkways along the Lake. In the summer, Lausanne holds many outdoor festivals, street performances, and street parties, and the pedestrian-only shopping areas are excellent.

A Lausanne, Switzerland vacation is a great starting point for your family’s excursions in Switzerland. From here, high speed trains depart almost hourly to Paris and Milan, and it is a major junction for numerous train lines through Switzerland. Because of this, Lausanne makes a great base for trips into the Bernese Oberland or the Valais by train. Large luggage can be stored in the lockers at the train station while you take short trips with smaller bags, and on your way back through you can simply exchange for clean clothing.

There are many wonderful tours and excursions in Switzerland. You can spend your Lausanne, Switzerland vacation exploring the Lake Geneva area, by boat, train and cable car. Ride up to the surrounding peaks of the Alps where revolving restaurants have spectacular vistas. Or take a train to the charming medieval stone town of Gruyère, famous for its cheese, or a lake steamer to the resort of Montreux, nicknamed the "Swiss Riviera" because of its warm climate with palm trees and other tropical vegetation along the lake and in the parks.

Attractions and Activities

Discover Lausanne

Your Lausanne, Switzerland vacation will be situated on the shores of Lake Geneva and host The Swiss Hotel School as well as the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. It is a friendly and international city offering many attractions and activities to tour!

Mountain Excursions in Lausanne

Zermatt
Enjoy a full-day excursion in Switzerland by rail. The journey takes you along Lake Geneva and through the breathtaking beauty of the Valais. From Brig, the route climbs through rugged valley landscape to Zermatt and the majestic Matterhorn. This popular excursion can also be combined with a trip by cogwheel railway up to the Gornergrat or with a cableway to the Klein Matterhorn.

City Excursions in Lausanne

Bern – Switzerland's Captivating Capital
Only a one-hour rail trip away from the city, Beautiful Bern is a sight to see during your Lausanne, Switzerland vacation. This is a city of medieval magic, listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Attractions include the famous clock tower, the bearpits – home to Berne's heraldic animals – and excellent shopping arcades.

Montreux – on Lake Geneva
Just 30 minutes away from Lausanne, Montreux is the most frequented resort on Lake Geneva. This trip can be combined with a visit to the Castle of Chillon.

Chateau de Chillon
In a unique setting on the shores of Lake Geneva stands one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the country. The Castle of Chillon is an iconic sight for every Lausanne, Switzerland vacation. Erected in the 13th century on older foundations, the Castle of Chillon was the residence of the Counts of Savoy throughout the Middle Ages. Originally a fortress, the Castle of Chillon underwent numerous transformations with a view to its adaptation to the advances in the defensive and offensive weapons of the age. Other modifications were occasioned by amenities and embellishments suited to the pomp and ceremony of life in the castle. Many prominent figures in history stayed there: emperors, popes and princesses.

Geneva
Beautiful Geneva, home to about 200 international organizations, among them the United Nation's European Office, and the International Committee of the Read Cross, is approx. a 40 minute commute (by train) during your Lausanne, Switzerland vacation. Geneva is also considered being a "City of Peace".

Other Excursions in Lausanne

Cruises on Lake Geneva
April – October. (included with some Swiss Rail Passes!)
Half-day or evening excursions in Switzerland are just as fun. Enjoy a leisurely cruise on a modern motorship or one of the renovated stately steamers. Excellent catering and banquet facilities.

Sports in Lausanne

In 1994, Lausanne was elected ‘Olympic capital’. Sport isn’t just a big word; more than 300 active sports clubs and fifteen international sports federations make Lausanne a true ‘sportsville’.

Lake Geneva is also the perfect location to enjoy water activities during a Lausanne, Switzerland vacation. Amateurs as well as pros train and compete at the shores of Lausanne. The rowing club of Lausanne was founded in 1878 and has therefore a long tradition.

The forests above Lausanne are a paradise for hiking, mountain-biking and cross-country skiing, golf friends walk the greens on a wonderful 18-hole golf course and skating and cycling along the lake is fun for everyone.

Entertainment in Lausanne

Lausanne is also a city for active night owls; bars, nightclubs, pubs, discos, jazz clubs, theatres etc. – a wide range of establishments.
Have a fun Lausanne, Switzerland vacation while visiting an opera, concert, theatre or seeing the ‘Bejart Ballet’, a Swiss ballet based in Lausanne.

Shopping in Lausanne

All kinds of shops can be found during your city excursions in Switzerland – watchmakers, bookshops, outfitters, food stores etc. You don’t have to walk miles but find everything within close proximity.

Browse through the City Center Market every Saturday morning (food and non-food) or pay a visit to the Flea Market every Thursday at Place Chauderon to get a unique souvenir of Lausanne.

Events in Lausanne

Every year, the ‘Festival de la Cité’ (City festival) is held in the summers since 1973 the “Prix de Lausanne” (prize of Lausanne, a dance competition) attracts friends of dancing. A fun event for sumer Lausanne, Switzerland vacations.

Marathon
Known as the “green” marathon, with no cars disturbing the event, the Lausanne Marathon is a popular race in every runner’s agenda.

Athletics
Next to the meeting in Zurich, the ‘Athletissima’ in Lausanne is good for new world records. Top athletes meet every year to delight the onlookers with faster races and better results.

Link to other current Lausanne events

Museums in Lausanne

Lausanne is the site of about twenty museums, giving you the opportunity to learn more about Swiss history during your excursions in Switzerland. Three of the most visited museums in the city are:

Olympic Museum
Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was the initiator of this museum. It was founded in June 1993 and is the second most visited museum in Switzerland. Learn about main themes—the Olympic Games starting with ancient Greek up to the latest summer and winter games—during your next Lausanne, Switzerland vacation.

Art Brut Collection
Art brut, the synonym for ‘Outsider Art’ or literally translated ‘Raw Art’ or ‘Rough Art’ is a label created by the French artist Jean Dubuffet. A lot of ‘Outsider Art’ show extreme mental states, unconventional ideas or fantasy worlds. Jean Dubuffet’s collection, containing thousands of works, can be visited in Lausanne.

Musée de l’Elysée (Elysee Museum)
This museum is completely focused on photography. There are various exhibitions to visit. A great collection can be admired in eight rooms on four floors.

Location and Map

Lausanne is situated in the south-western part of Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva, 65 km (40.4 miles) from the closest airport Geneva, 30 km (18.6 miles) from Montreux and 230 km (143 miles) from Zurich. Lausanne can also be reached by international trains (3 hours and 40 minutes by TGV from Paris), by Pendolino from Milan and Intercity from Frankfurt or Munich. The travel time by train from Geneva is 40 min. You can also begin your Lausanne, Switzerland vacation by traveling on a boat (across the Lake Geneva).

Begin planning out your excursions with our Switzerland trip planner now.

Our Lausanne, Switzerland vacation guides can help you get the most out of this beautiful city. Fill out our Switzerland trip planner to get started!

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