Lausanne lies on the shores of Lake Geneva in a hilly landscape between the Jura and the Alps. The lake, the city’s history and its diverse cultural offerings shape a stay here. When planning, it is worth choosing a focus: the museums and historic Cité offer different discoveries from the viewpoints, green spaces and activities by the water.
City history and museums
The historic centre developed around the hill of the Cité and is divided into five historic districts: Cité, Palud, Pont, Bourg and St-Laurent. From the cathedral tower, the view stretches across the rooftops of the Cité, Lake Geneva and the Alps. A guided tour of the historic centre includes, among other things, the medieval Cité, the Gothic cathedral, the Escaliers du Marché, Place de la Palud, Hôtel de Ville and the Flon district. As tour times may change, it is advisable to check the current schedule for the tour beforehand.
Several distinct themes are worth exploring for art and culture. In the heart of Lausanne, PLATEFORME 10 brings together the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA), the Musée cantonal de design et d’arts appliqués contemporains (mudac) and the Musée cantonal pour la photographie (Photo Elysée). At the MCBA, Le Nabi serves seasonal, local and homemade cuisine. The Palais de Rumine houses the Naturéum—the cantonal natural history museum for geology and zoology—the Musée cantonal d’archéologie et d’histoire, and the Lausanne Cantonal and University Library.
The Musée Historique Lausanne presents the city’s economic, social and cultural development; its exhibitions include a model of the Cité from 1638. The Collection de l’Art Brut offers a different perspective on art, with works by self-taught artists who worked outside traditional art circles. The Olympic Museum was founded by the IOC on the shores of Lake Geneva in 1993. Its permanent exhibition explores the origins of the Olympic Games, the competitions and the spirit of the athletes through screens, objects and sports equipment. Since 1994, Lausanne has held the official title of “Olympic Capital”.
Green spaces, views and Lake Geneva
The landscape also offers different perspectives on the city. The Tour de Sauvabelin is 35 metres high; from the top, the 360-degree panorama takes in Lausanne, Lake Geneva, the Alps and the Jura. Parc de Sauvabelin is home to farm and forest animals, and offers walking paths and panoramic views over Lausanne and the lake. The Fondation de l’Hermitage combines a landscaped park with a viewpoint over Lausanne and an internationally renowned museum.
The botanical garden lies at the foot of Montriond Hill and is home to more than 6,000 plant species from Switzerland and around the world. Those looking to combine a walk with several viewpoints can also follow the Lausanne panoramic route, a downhill walk that passes ten viewpoints. In some parts of the city, molasse—the rock that shapes Lausanne’s landscape—is visible at the surface.
There are more activities to choose from along the lakeshore. Pedal boats and small boats are available for hire at the Quais d’Ouchy. Activities accessible in Lausanne from Lake Geneva also include boat trips, water skiing and wakeboarding; seasonal participation requirements may vary. A stay focused on the water offers a different experience from a day spent among museums and historic districts.
Plan your arrival and stay
Lausanne is accessible by road, rail, air and boat on Lake Geneva. Local and public transport options include buses, the metro, the RER, bicycles and boats. If you plan to use several forms of transport, you can check current connections for the dates of your visit; specific timetables may change.
The pedestrian market is also part of city life: it takes place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and has around a hundred stalls run by craftspeople and other local vendors. The exact mix of stalls may vary. To decide how to spend your time during your stay, consider the different options: historic districts and museums, viewpoints and walks, or Lake Geneva and its activities.
Discover more destinations: Lausanne, Bussigny, Belmont-Sur-Lausanne, Renens, Crissier, Epalinges, Romanel-Sur-Lausanne, Riviera-Pays-D'enhaut.
For the main travel overview: Vaud.
