Explore Top Tourist Places And Things To Do In Lausanne, Switzerland

Lausanne is the capital city and the biggest town of the canton of Vaud in Romandy, Switzerland situated on the shores of Lake Leman. With a population of about 1,40,000 in the municipality, it is the 4th largest city of Switzerland located 62 km northeast of Geneva. The attractive and vibrant city attracts visitors with its Old Town at the top, the train station and commercial districts in the middle as well as the former fishing village of Ouchy - a primary territory for the waterfront cafe at the bottom. Known for EPFL’s Research Institute, the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, well-architectured museums and exciting neighborhoods, Lausanne is set upon Lake Geneva and a perfect cultural combination of best European cities surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

Best Time To Visit Lausanne

June-August is the best and ideal time to visit the capital city of Switzerland. During this time, the weather is warm, humidity is low and temperatures are pleasant. It is great to visit the city in summer as it rains for over half its days in summer, instead of winters when the temperature drops down to zero degrees and you will not be able to explore anything.

How To Get To Lausanne?

Lausanne has an excellent transportation system connecting to the rest of Switzerland and many parts of Europe. You can get to Lausanne in any of these primary modes of transportations - Plane, Train/Bus and Private airport transfer.

By Plane - The closest airport to Lausanne is Geneva airport situated 60 km from the city. You can book a flight from Geneva airport to Lausanne. It is the international airport of Geneva located 4 km northwest of the city center.

By Train/Bus - The city has excellent train connections to the rest of Switzerland, Paris, and Milan. There are five trains per hour are available for the Geneva airport to Lausanne. Take a direct train to Lausanne and get there within 45 minutes.

Private Airport Taxi - You can also take a private airport taxi to Lausanne to get to the city hassle-free and stress-free without facing the inconvenience of foreign public transports. The professional chauffeurs will pick you up from the airport and drop at your destination in luxury cars on time with the utmost comfort and luxury.

Best Places To Visit In Lausanne

It is small and easy to walk around the city with plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars to tempt you. Home to Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn, Lausanne is the 2nd largest city lying on the lake Geneva against a picture-perfect background. Surrounded by three hills, rich vineyards, and sparkling Lake Geneva, Lausanne is the most exciting and cool destination in all Switzerland.

1. Olympic Museum - Dedicated to the Olympics, and sports, the Olympic museum is a great place to visit with family or friends. You can explore many exciting displays, games, interviews with eminent sports personalities and medals as well as Olympic torches and many more.

2. Notre-Dame cathedral - One of the most popular landmarks of Lausanne, Notre Dame is a Gothic-style cathedral which is often considered as the Queen of Lausanne’s Old Town and attracts visitors with its large towers and rose windows. 

3. Musée de L” Elysees - The famous museum in the city is a stylish mansion and exciting place for photography lovers where you can see more than 1 lakh photographs inside the museum from the color photographs of Gabriel Lippmann to the contemporary style of Jeff Wall. 

4. Ouchy - This is the most famous waterfront of the city and the best place to relax and sit while enjoying beautiful vistas. Located in the South of Lausanne, you can get the incredible views of the Lake and alps.

5. Place de la Palud - It is an exciting market square in Old Town well known for its fountain of Justice in the center, clock with animated scenes from local history and market stalls selling local farm produce.

Best Hotels To Stay In Lausanne

This Swiss city is a beautiful vacation destination with medieval streets, Gothic architecture and amazing scenery all the time. To help you decide where to stay in Lausanne, here we have come up with the best hotels and areas.

1. Luxury Hotels – Beau-Rivage Palace holds the reputation of being one of Europe's favorite hotels. It is located in 10 acres of parkland on the banks of Lake Geneva offering stunning architectured rooms and suites with breathtaking views across the lake. Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa sits in an elegant Art Nouveau-style building in the center of the city and offers 1500 meter squares spa area with an indoor and outdoor pool, 2 private spas, and a modern fitness room.

2. Mid-Range Hotels - Hotel des Patients is situated in a clam area in Switzerland and one of its type of hotel combining accommodation for guests and patients at the same time. The rooms are spacious and equipped with a terrace and balcony. Hotel des inventions are a 5-minute drive away from Lausanne and feature modern-decorated rooms and Swiss restaurants.

3. Budgeted Hotels - With its own beautiful garden in the heart of the city, Elite hotel offers an easy approach to Rue de Bourg, the opera, the entire historic center as well as bus and metro lines. There is buffet breakfast for the guests and a great place to explore cathedrals and old town. The Moxy Lausanne city offers air-conditioned rooms, a bar and free Wi-Fi with modern rooms.

Where To Eat In Lausanne?

With the wonderful views of the surrounding mountains, the city offers a good selection of great bistros and restaurants from local food to international cuisine and gourmet delicacies. 

1. La Table d’Edgard

2. Café Saint-Pierre

3. La Pinte Besson

4. Café Romand

5. Eat Me

6. Bleu Lezard

7. Café Grutli 

8. Café des Artisans

9. Caffé Bellini

10. Le Barbare

Essential Things To Know Before Visiting Lausanne

Currency - Swiss Francs (CHF) are the official and widely accepted currency in Switzerland, Europe while Leman is a local currency in Geneva to shop local products.

Money Exchange - You can exchange your currency at the airport and railway stations. There are a few Kiosks as well in the area but for safety purposes, it is recommended to opt for the airport or station.

Budget - Switzerland is one of the most expensive cities to visit in Europe, so it is wise to stick to your budget including food, alcohol, and shopping. 

Language - The most commonly spoken language of Lausanne is French and people rarely speak English. So, brush-up your French skills and learn some phrases.

Customs - The people in Lausanne maintain a high-level dressing-sense, so casual dressing will not work. The city is mainly known for plenty of fashionable boutiques in the city, so fashion is very important.

Final Words!!!

Surrounded by vineyards and the fourth largest city of Switzerland, Lausanne is the must-visit city during your stay in the country. It is the Olympic capital where various games are celebrated. From statues of athletes in the parks to the stunning sculptures, the city has everything. It is the city that will amaze you with its beauty and rich history as well as gives you a real idea of the importance of sports. Apart from that, there are plenty of museums and other historical monuments to witness every art and culture lover. Book your next Lausanne trip and enjoy the whole trip in luxury by making a booking VIP Lausanne transfer from Geneva airport in advance.