Is Lausanne Worth Visiting? A Guide to the Swiss City

Switzerland is one of the most visually impressive countries we’ve ever visited.

That cowbell just hits differently when it’s set against the Swiss Alps.

Not every Swiss city is postcard-perfect, though.

Now that I’ve spent a few weeks on a tour of Switzerland, I can describe my preferences for some places over others. If Lausanne, Switzerland, is on your list for travel in the region, my honest take on the town may be useful to your planning.

You can also toss that opinion out since everyone should experience places for themselves. You do you. I’ll share some fun things to do in this Lausanne travel guide regardless!

What is Lausanne known for?

Lausanne is famous for being the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee and the home to the Olympic Museum. That’s reflective of its place in the sports world as the Olympic Capital.

It’s also known for its vibrant cultural scene, a medieval Old Town, and its placement on Lake Geneva, which means high potential for scenic lake views.

Is Lausanne worth visiting?

Lausanne is worth visiting if you’re already in the region as a stopover with lovely views of the Alps and Lake Geneva.

We enjoyed it, but it wasn’t our favorite city in Switzerland. We found it quite expensive for what we were doing (and consuming), so once is enough for us. It also didn’t boast the impressive aesthetics we enjoyed on the rest of our Swiss road trip.

Sometimes it does come down to vibes.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t things that might place it higher on your list. There’s plenty to be impressed by when it comes to Lausanne.

Lausanne is easy to get to.

We took a ferry from our base in Évian-les-Bains on the French side of Lake Geneva. It took just 35 minutes, and ferries were frequent throughout the day. You can even bring your dog with you on most of them if they’re not as anxious as Kimmy. 

If you love the sound of a scenic boat ride, Évian-les-Bains isn’t your only option. Check out the ferry site for options like Geneva or Montreaux.

Lausanne is well-connected by train to other Swiss cities like Zurich, Bern, and Geneva, and by high-speed lines from big hubs outside of Switzerland like Paris. If you drive, keep in mind that there’s virtually no free parking in Lausanne.

Note: Don’t expect free parking anywhere in Switzerland unless it comes with your accommodations.

Lausanne is home to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Lausanne is known as the Olympic Capital because this is where you’ll find the IOC headquarters. That makes it pretty important in the sports world and anyone who follows ice dancing as aggressively as I do.

Honestly, now that we’ve been to the Olympics in person following the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, I have a new appreciation for the Games. They’re incredible.

The IOC has been based in Lausanne since 1915. I’ll get into what you can see while you’re there related to the Olympic Games, but if you’re a fan of the summer and winter editions, you should prioritize the Swiss town.

The Olympic Museum is really good.

This should be at the top of places to visit in Lausanne. We spent a good chunk of time reading inspirational stories about Olympic athletes at the Olympic Museum, and you really should, too. It’s one of the best things to do in Lausanne.

Fun fact: You’ll also learn more about Olympic mascots than you ever thought you needed. I had quite a good time reading the shade thrown at Whatizit, the computer-generated mascot during the Olympics in Atlanta. 

The organizers of the museum were not super impressed that he had no connection to the city, state, or country overall. It was an early AI fail. We should have known better then, but we’ve doubled down on the robots since.

Leave some time to explore the gardens outside the museum, too. You’ll see some fun facts about high jumpers and sprinters and get to run your own race unless you’re sharing the field with multiple school groups as we were.

Lausanne has a nice museum scene overall.

There are other fun museums to investigate in Lausanne outside of the sports-themed ones, especially if you didn’t get as nice of weather as we did. You’ll find several in the city’s new arts district, Platforme IO. 

Here are a few to consider if you have a few days in Lausanne:

• Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts: The Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, or MCBA, is a collection of works from the Renaissance to contemporary periods. The focus is on Swiss artists, but you’ll find international works represented, too.
• Collection de l’Art Brut: This one is at the top of my list if we ever return to Lausanne. It showcases art by self-taught artists, often from marginalized groups, as a way to challenge traditional art norms.
• Hermitage Foundation: The Fondation de l’Hermitage is dedicated to temporary art exhibitions featuring locals from the Canton of Vaud and international artists. The view of Lake Geneva doesn’t change, though.
• Photo Élysée: This photography museum, which used to go by Musée de l’Élysée, has an extensive collection of over 100,000 photographs. That includes 10,000 photographs that used to belong to Charlie Chaplin.

READ MORE: If you’re an art fan, don’t miss out on charming Giverny, the former home of Claude Monet.

Its setting on Lake Geneva is lovely.

I’m not going to pretend that Lausanne isn’t pretty as you come off that ferry boat. I found that things became less charming as we moved away from the lake, but that’s typical of many European cities with a waterfront.

If it’s a nice day, don’t be bashful about lingering here. It’s not going to get better as far as lovely spots to relax in Lausanne.

READ MORE: Speaking of waterfront cities, the French Riviera is spoiled with choice. Learn more in my guide to Nice!

The architecture is a mix of new and old.

You’ll obviously see the old stuff in the Old Town, Lausanne’s city center. The Town Hall on Place de la Palud, the town square, and the incredible Lausanne Cathedral are worth your admiration. 

Fun fact: Every hour on the house, the mechanical clock near the square shows animated scenes of local history. 

As you start walking through the city, you’ll see a cityscape that blends that rich history with modernity. I’ve seen some writers describe this with some disdain. It doesn’t feel as ancient as other European towns, so it’s not as compelling.

I like what they’ve done with the place. While it may not hold the charm of Swiss towns that haven’t embraced a more modern aesthetic, it makes Lausanne an example of how styles can coexist. As an Olympic hub, it has to show some level of modern innovation. 

I don’t say any of this to suggest Lausanne isn’t a safe place to be.

Lausanne isn’t known for being one of the safest Swiss cities, but it’s still much safer compared to most big cities in the United States. Your biggest risk is pickpockets, but even that kind of activity isn’t as common as more touristed centers.

You’ll find all kinds of hidden nooks if you explore on your feet.

We were only in Lausanne on a day trip. Despite working through the town quite efficiently, we kept coming upon little things that would catch our eye as we navigated the hills.

One was EPIQ, a beer shop that had empty bottles of Pliny the Elder, a rare beer from Russian River Brewing Company in California, in the window. 

It turned out to be a trick — it would be highly unlikely to find it in Europe, let alone Switzerland — but the shop had an excellent selection nonetheless.

If you give yourself time to wander here, you’ll find fun things to see and atmospheric corners to explore. 

All of those hills will get that booty workin’.

I’ll be honest. I did complain about all of the hills in Lausanne. This is a hilly city if there ever was one. 

We didn’t take advantage of the public transport options here, but would on a repeat visit. The city’s trams are one option, but they’re not as efficient as the metro. You can get from the heart of the city center to the lake in about five minutes.

The town also has buses to take advantage of if where you’re going isn’t serviced by trams or trains. 

Honestly, I’m not sure why we worked so hard. Maybe it was the chocolates for later.

Note: If you know you’ll be using various modes of transit, check out the Swiss Travel Pass to see if you’d save some money that way.

Good hills mean good views, too.

There is an excellent panorama spot next to the Lausanne Cathedral that I’ll get into next. This was my favorite view in town after what felt like many miles of climbing. 

I’m sure it wasn’t that bad, but it felt like more than a short walk for sure if you ask my glutes.

If you have more time than we did, you can go to the top of the observation deck at Sauvabelin Tower. You get 360-degree views from the tower, built in 2003. Enjoy the mountains and Lake Geneva from here.

It’s home to a church with an interesting history.

The Lausanne Cathedral used to be Catholic, and then it became Protestant. This is a reflection of the city’s shift in religious power. No matter who’s in charge, this place has been a pilgrimage site and major religious center since it was consecrated in 1275. 

It was covered in scaffolding during our visit, which shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’ve ever been anywhere in Europe, but I’d say it’s worth the hike for the views.

There’s a wine scene here.

Anywhere you stop will likely have local wine on the menu. The Lavaux vineyards are closest if you have time for a wine tour. 

We didn’t, as we only had one day in Lausanne, but did sample the local Chasselas at lunch and then again back home with a bottle from the Cave Du Chardon. Brian liked both, but my glass at lunch was much tastier and brighter.

It just goes to show you that a single grape in different hands can mean different things. 

The restaurants in Lausanne are pricey but pretty tasty.

We wanted to dine at a historic spot in the city, so naturally, we hoofed it up the hill to Pinte Besson. We were seated right away for lunch, about midway through their afternoon service, without a reservation.

I’ll say this: They did seem to run out of specials of the day by that time. It didn’t help that the table next to us ordered three schnitzels. (That’s what Brian wanted.) 

I had a smoked trout salad that was a little sad, but Brian’s open-face sandwich stole the show. It was slathered in cheese and topped with a runny egg. 

Was it all overpriced? Yes, even by French standards. Prices seemed to be about 10-15% higher than we were used to living in France or even compared to just over the lake. 

Folks around here love hanging out al fresco, so you’ll likely have some competition for the same, but there are quite a few options to choose from if your pick is too busy. Here are a few more that were on our list:

• Brasserie de Montbenon: This upmarket eatery is a local favorite in the lovely Esplanade de Montbenon.
• Hungry Bear: This is from the same owners as the Sleep Bear coffee shop, so you know they can at least name establishments well.
• The Luncheonette: Try this one for lunch, naturally, or a Polish dinner. Those are dinners that are timed after lunch but before the usual dinnertime. It’s a mood.

There is so much chocolate to try.

One of the first things we had to do on our trip through Switzerland was buy some Swiss chocolate. Lausanne has quite a few options for you. Durig Chocolatier is a popular option with a few shops around town.

Our pick was Blondel, where I spent way too much money on a small box of truffles that I forced us to spread out over the next few days. They were delicious, though. I’ll give ‘em that.

This city is expensive, especially if you want to feel a little fancy.

Ice cream with a lake view is nice, too.

If you’re visiting on a warm day, as we were in July or August, you may want to pair those overpriced truffles with a scoop or two of ice cream.

Our pick was Glaces Veneta Ouchy near the port as we waited for our ferry. Brian got his usual cookies and cream while I went luxe with a peach wine sorbet. You’ll get lovely lake views while you wait, too.

If you’re not anywhere near the water, La Bise is a gelateria that was also on my list.

France is just over there.

It’d be hard for me to see France from across a lake and not visit, just to compare the two sides.

I’ve already mentioned that we stayed on the French side because it was much less expensive, especially since we were traveling with a pet. It’s so easy to do with Lausanne as your base.

That’s likely Évian-les-Bains you’re looking at, by the way, and it’s excellent. They have free Evian water flowing from a city tap!

It’s a great base for day trips.

If you don’t mind the higher cost of accommodations in Lausanne, it’s a decent base for day trips in the region, both on the French and Swiss side.

I’ve already mentioned Évian-les-Bains and the vineyards of Lavaux as worth your time, but here are a few more:

• Montreux, Switzerland: We stopped by this picturesque town on our way to Chillon Castle, a medieval castle that sits on an island on Lake Geneva. It’s just over half an hour’s drive from Lausanne. 
• Gruyères, Switzerland: I had to prioritize this one during our travels through Switzerland for the cheese, obviously. Visit La Maison du Gruyère if you feel the same, or steal my one-day guide. This one is just a 45-minute drive from Lausanne.
• Geneva, Switzerland: If you have an urge to see this hub for international diplomacy, it’s easy enough to do. Geneva is about an hour from Lausanne by car, but it’s quicker if you take the InterCity (IC) trains.
• Yvoire, France: This medieval town felt like a snapshot in time. Spend a few hours admiring its old streets and local chateau. You can get there in about an hour and 40 minutes if you drive. It’s a little faster by train and ferry, but transfers are involved.

How Much Time to Spend in Lausanne

You should spend a full day in Lausanne to get to know the town. There are quite a few cultural sites and museums for you to browse with more time, but one day will give you enough time for the highlights.

Where to Stay in Lausanne

I don’t think you need more than a day to visit Lausanne, but we can agree to disagree.

We’re on a budget, so we spent nearly a week on the other side of the lake in Évian-les-Bains. If your pockets are deeper or you’re traveling outside of the pricey summer months, you can stay in Lausanne instead.

The Château d’Ouchy, or Castle of Ouchy, is an aspirational option for me. The hotel is one of the first things you’ll see stepping off the ferry, so it’s hard to miss. It’s the image featured above, by the way.

If that’s not in your budget, either, use the map below to browse your options:

Lausanne is worth seeing, but isn’t a “must-see.”

We enjoyed our day in Lausanne, but felt like it was plenty to determine whether we’d prioritize it on trips to Switzerland in the future.

We have so much left to see in Switzerland, especially out in the mountains, that I’m not sure we’ll be back. Don’t quote me on that, though. Those fancy truffle balls were pretty good, and I’ve been to places that were much less than fine multiple times.

I’m looking at you, Las Vegas.

Planning more travel in France? Check out these guides:

• A Golfer’s Guide to Le Golf National
• A Guide to the Best of Beautiful Antibes
• Colmar Is a Perfect Trip for Christmas Fans
• Why Visit Alsace and Strasbourg for Holiday Fun
• A Guide to Nice, Even in the Rain

More ideas for where else to visit on European trips:

• A Detailed Guide to Bruges From Brussels
• A Guide to the Perfect Day in Marseille
• How to Plan the Best Day in Lille
• Spend the Day Visiting Montpellier
• A Guide to the Best Attractions in Bologna

Want to see more?