Lausanne

May to September is the best time for the lakeside and boat trips. Summer is warm and busy. Autumn is good for walks and wine villages nearby. Winter can be grey, and the lake fog sometimes hides the view. Rain falls throughout the year.

• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne is a large Gothic cathedral above the old town. Climb the tower for the best view in the city.
• La vieille ville de Lausanne has narrow streets, squares and stairs leading up from the market area.
• The Olympic Museum stands by the lake in a park and covers the history of the Games. It has a good café terrace.
• Collection de l’Art Brut shows art made outside the usual art world. It is one of the best collections of its kind.
• Château Saint-Maire is a medieval castle that now houses cantonal offices. You can see it from the outside.
• Palais de Rumine is a large museum building with natural history and archaeology.
• Tour de Sauvabelin is a wooden lookout tower in the forest north of the centre.
• Aquatis is a large freshwater aquarium. It is good for families.

• Walk the lakeside promenade in Ouchy at sunset.
• Visit Musée de l'Élysée for photography.
• Learn about Roman Lausanne at Musée romain de Lausanne-Vidy.
• Have a drink in the Le Flon district, a former industrial area with bars and shops.
• Shop at the market on Place de la Palud on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Rest in Parc de Mon-Repos or Jardin Botanique de Lausanne.

• Vevey is a lake town with a market and a statue of Charlie Chaplin. It is about 20 minutes away by train.
• Montreux is a lakeside town with a famous jazz festival and a nearby castle. It is about 30 minutes away by train.
• The Lavaux vineyards between Lausanne and Vevey are a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can walk between villages or take the train.
• Nyon is a small castle town on the lake, about 20 minutes away by train.

• Vevey, Montreux and Nyon lie along the lake and are easy to reach by train.
• Yverdon-les-Bains is a spa town at the southern end of Lake Neuchâtel.

• By air: Geneva Airport is the main gateway. Direct trains reach Lausanne in about 45 minutes.
• By train: Lausanne is a main rail hub. Trains run from Geneva in about 40 minutes, from Bern in about 1 hour and from Zurich in about 2 hours. Check times on SBB.
• By boat: lake boats run from towns in France and Switzerland to Ouchy.

• The old town is best explored on foot. The city has many hills and stairs, so wear comfortable shoes.
• Two metro lines, buses and trolleybuses serve the city. The metro runs between the lake at Ouchy and the station and up to the centre.
• Buy tickets at stops or in an app before you ride.
• Hotel guests receive a free transport card for the stay. Ask at check-in.
• Boats on Lake Geneva link Ouchy with other lakeside towns.

• A car is not needed in the city. Parking is limited and costly.
• The city centre has hills and one-way streets that are tricky for visitors.
• Public transport and trains reach most places.

Try a cheese fondue or raclette with white wine from nearby Lavaux. Perch fillets from the lake are common on menus. Papet vaudois is a regional dish of leeks, potatoes and sausage.

The cafés and terraces around Place de la Palud and Ouchy are good for a long lunch. Prices are high.

• Lausanne is very safe.
• Watch your bags near the station and in busy places.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Many streets are steep. Take care on wet cobbles.

Lausanne began as a Roman settlement near the lake, at the Vidy site. In the Middle Ages the city grew around the cathedral on the hill. It was ruled by a bishop until the 16th century.

In 1915 the International Olympic Committee moved to Lausanne. The city is now called the Olympic Capital.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: