Lausanne
Save30 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓Show on the map
Tips
10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Gothic cathedral with a panoramic tower view.
3 tips
- Climb the tower for views
- Free entry to the nave
- Night watchman calls the hours
📷 Photos
- 2
Museum of the Olympic Games beside the lake.
3 tips
- Allow 2 hours
- Enjoy the lake terrace
- Closed on some Mondays
📷 Photos
- 3
Lakeside promenade with views of the Alps.
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Good for a stroll
- Evening light is lovely
- Cafes along the quay
📷 Photos
- 4
Medieval castle turned hotel on the shore of Lake Geneva.
3 tips
- Photograph from the quay
- Hotel is not open for tours
- Take the metro down to Ouchy
📷 Photos
- 5
Old town square with a painted fountain and town hall.
3 tips
- Watch the clock figures at the hour
- Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Pretty cafes
📷 Photos
- 6
Museum of outsider art assembled by Jean Dubuffet.
- Must know: Closed Mondays
2 tips
- Allow 1.5 hours
- Unusual and memorable collection
📷 Photos
- 7
Wooden observation tower above Lausanne.
3 tips
- Walk or take a bus
- Great views over the lake
- Free entry
📷 Photos
- 8
Former warehouse district now a trendy nightlife area.
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Good for dinner
- Evening is lively
- Easy metro access
📷 Photos
- 9
Fine arts museum at the Plateforme 10 art district.
- Must know: Closed Mondays
2 tips
- Combine with mudac and Photo Elysée
- Near the train station
📷 Photos
- 10
Covered wooden staircase linking the old town to the cathedral.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Photograph the covered stairs
- Short climb
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Lausanne tips
Transportation
- Claim the Lausanne Transport Card: Hotel guests usually receive a free Lausanne Transport Card for buses and the metro during their stay.
- Ride the m2 metro: Lausanne's steep metro links the lakeside at Ouchy to the train station and upper town, saving a tough uphill walk.
- Cruise with CGN: CGN lake boats sail from Ouchy to lakeside towns and across Lake Geneva to Evian in France, some on historic paddle steamers.
Security
- Enjoy a safe city: Lausanne is very safe, but watch for pickpockets around the station and busy nightlife areas like the Flon.
- Check passport for France: Day trips to Evian cross into the EU, so carry your passport or ID when taking the boat across the lake.
- Swim at official spots: Lake Geneva can be cold and deep; swim at supervised beaches like Bellerive and check conditions on windy days.
Saving
- Shop at supermarkets: Coop and Migros have good takeaway meals and picnic food, much cheaper than eating out in Switzerland.
- Drink from fountains: Public fountains provide clean, cold drinking water, so carry a reusable bottle instead of buying drinks.
- Hike through Lavaux: Walking the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyard terraces between villages like Lutry and Cully is free and spectacular.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack for cold winters: Winters are chilly and grey, and the cold bise wind can bite; bring a warm coat, scarf and gloves.
- Enjoy warm summers: Summers are pleasant and sunny, warm enough for a lake swim; bring swimwear and sun protection.
- Wear sturdy shoes: Lausanne is built on steep hills with many stairs, so comfortable shoes with good grip are essential.
Cultural
- Share a fondue: Fondue and raclette are Swiss classics, and around Lausanne look for papet vaudois with saucisson and local malakoffs.
- Plan for quiet Sundays: Most shops close on Sundays, so stock up on Saturday; station shops are often the exception.
- Be punctual and greet shopkeepers: Swiss culture values punctuality, and saying bonjour when entering a shop is expected politeness.
Local Hacks
- Hear the night watchman: A watchman calls out the hours from Lausanne Cathedral's tower each night, a tradition dating back centuries.
- Visit the Olympic Museum: Lausanne is home to the International Olympic Committee, and the lakeside Olympic Museum park is worth a stroll.
- Taste wine in Lavaux: Small wine cellars and caveaux in the Lavaux villages open for tastings, especially on summer weekends.
1-day itineraries in Lausanne
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 2
Escaliers du Marché and around
🕘 9:30–16:45📍 5 stops
- 1Escaliers du Marché
- 2Cathédrale de Lausanne
- 3Place de la Palud
- 4Flon
- 5Collection de l'Art Brut
Day 2 of 2
Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts and around
🕘 9:30–16:15📍 4 stops
- 1Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts
- 2Musée Olympique
- 3Quai d'Ouchy
- 4Château d'Ouchy