Before you go

Your trip to Lausanne.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Lausanne – Vaud Destination Lausanne and Montreux Capital

How to get there

Aeroporto de Genebra (GVA) Genebra · 62 km
Lausanne 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Geneva airport (GVA), direct trains arrive in Lausanne in about 40 minutes. From central Genebra it’s around 35–40 minutes; from Bern about an hour and ten minutes; from Zurich just over two hours. Check before booking.

How many days

One day covers the cathedral, la Palud, Ouchy and the Musée Olympique. Two days allow adding Plateforme 10 or the Collection de l'Art Brut and a walk in Lavaux. With three days there’s time for a steamship cruise to Montreux and Chillon.

When to go

From May to September the waterfront livens up and boats run more often; in July the Festival de la Cité takes place in the historic centre. European autumn brings the grape harvest in Lavaux. In winter, from December to February, museums are the best option.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The m2 metro handles the hills between the lake and the centre, city buses serve the neighbourhoods and regional trains reach the villages of Lavaux. Parking in the centre is difficult.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Lausanne

Morning
Palud and cathedral
Start at Place de la Palud, climb the Escaliers du Marché and visit the Cathédrale de Lausanne.
Afternoon
Ouchy and Musée Olympique
Take the m2 metro down to Ouchy, have lunch near the lake and visit the Musée Olympique and its park.
Late afternoon
Léman waterfront
Walk along the quays of Ouchy to the Château d'Ouchy and watch the sunset over the lake.
Evening
The cathedral guet
Have dinner in the centre and go up to the cathedral square near the hour to hear the guet.

2 days in Lausanne

Day 1

Morning
Historic center
Palud market (Wednesdays and Saturdays), Escaliers du Marché and cathedral.
Afternoon
Museums
Plateforme 10, next to the station, or the Collection de l'Art Brut.
Late afternoon
Ouchy
Take the metro down to Ouchy's waterfront and walk to the Musée Olympique.
Evening
Flon
Have dinner in the Flon district, near the station; it's full of restaurants and bars.

Day 2

Morning
Train to Lavaux
Take the regional train to Lutry or Cully and walk up through the vineyards.
Afternoon
Cully to Saint-Saphorin
Walk along the terraces to Saint-Saphorin, passing Epesses and Rivaz, with a stop at the Lavaux Vinorama.
Late afternoon
Return by the lake
Board a CGN boat in Saint-Saphorin or Rivaz and return to Ouchy.
Evening
Dinner in Ouchy
Dine by the lake, in Ouchy.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is Lausanne far from Genebra?

No. They are about 60 km apart and the train takes 35 to 40 minutes.

Does Lausanne have many hills?

Yes. The city rises from the lake up to the Cité, and the m2 metro handles almost all the climbs.

What not to miss in one day in Lausanne?

The cathedral, the Palud with the Escaliers du Marché, Ouchy waterfront and the Musée Olympique.

Is it worth staying overnight in Lausanne instead of Genebra?

For those who want to see Lavaux and Montreux, yes: Lausanne is halfway between them and has frequent trains in both directions.

What language is spoken in Lausanne?

French. English is widely spoken in hotels, museums and restaurants.

Back to Lausanne