Lausanne

Lausanne sits at the northern tip of Lake Geneva as the capital of canton Vaud, home to the International Olympic Committee and two major universities. The large student population fuels a vibrant nightlife and arts scene centered on the Flon district, while architecture buffs will find Switzerland's best-preserved Gothic cathedral at the summit of the old town. With two dozen museums including the Olympic Museum and the Collection de l'Art Brut, Lausanne offers cultural depth without the tourist crowds of Geneva or Bern.

Despite being highly international (42% foreign nationals in 2013), Lausanne is resolutely French-speaking. English is less commonly spoken than in Geneva, though service-sector employees and young Swiss generally speak some English—older generations often speak German instead. Most visitors manage fine with English alone.

Lausanne is the public transport hub of Vaud, served by SBB/CFF trains from Geneva (33 minutes), Bern (70 minutes), and other major cities. The city is also a gateway to canton Valais and its world-famous ski slopes.

The Metro M2 provides convenient access throughout the city, including direct service to Ouchy lakefront. From the railway station, visitors can take the metro to Flon, Riponne, or Bessières stations near the cathedral. The car-free old town is walkable but built on steep hills.

Lausanne is a year-round destination. Summer offers lakeside dining and vineyard walks in Lavaux; winter brings proximity to ski resorts in the Vaud Alps and Valais. The old town hosts farmers markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round.

Most hotels fall in the mid-price range, with luxury options befitting the IOC-hosting city. Budget travelers can find value at Jeunotel (beds from Fr. 32) near the university, or Lausanne GuestHouse (four-bed rooms from Fr. 36) near the station. Mid-range options include Hotel Regina (Fr. 84-135) in the old town, while splurges like Chateau d'Ouchy (Fr. 270-440) offer historic lakeside grandeur.

Lausanne's dining scene ranges from budget-friendly to Michelin-starred. For cheap eats, try Tibits vegetarian buffet in the train station (Fr. 1-30) or P'tit Bar for soups and salads. Holy Cow. serves what some call Switzerland's best burger (Fr. 20). Pinte-Besson offers classic Swiss cooking at the city's oldest restaurant (Fr. 15-25 lunch, Fr. 30-40 dinner). For fine dining, Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville de Crissier holds three Michelin stars with menus at Fr. 295-360. Nightlife clusters around Flon, Place du Tunnel, Place de la Gare, and Rue Marterey.

The Olympic Museum at Quai d'Ouchy 1 displays Olympic memorabilia including Carl Lewis' golden track shoes and Jean-Claude Killy's ski boots (Fr. 14). The Collection de l'Art Brut showcases outsider art by institutional artists (Fr. 10). Palais de Rumine houses five museums from fine arts to natural history (Fr. 4). Notre Dame cathedral offers free entry and sweeping views from its tower. For outdoor activities, climb the Sauvabelin Tower for 360-degree views of the lake and Alps, or explore the Sauvabelin Forest north of center. The old town's car-free cobbled streets and Saturday/Wednesday farmers markets are unmissable.

Lausanne is quite safe by day. By night, avoid Rue de Genève (prostitution centre) and the park by Tribunal d'Arrondissement. La Borde and Sauvabelin forest have bad reputations after dark. Begging has increased in the old town—report any begging children to police immediately. Place de la Riponne attracts drug addicts but has regular police patrols. The train between Lausanne and Geneva airport is a known target for bag snatchers. Lone women should remain alert after dark.

As of September 2021, Lausanne has 4G from Salt and 5G from Sunrise and Swisscom. WiFi is widely available in public places. The Fragbox cybercafé at Rue de la Tour 3 offers computer access (Fr. 5/hour, Fr. 2/hour with coupons) and speaks English, Italian, German, and Portuguese.

Switzerland is expensive—budget travelers should plan for Fr. 80-120/day minimum, covering dorm beds (Fr. 32-36), simple meals (Fr. 20-30), and public transport. Museums cost Fr. 4-15 each. The Lausanne Card offers savings on attractions and transit.

Lake steamers from Ouchy port offer stunning views of Lavaux terraced vineyards and the Dents du Midi peaks. Vevey (lovely lakeside city, Nestlé headquarters) and Montreux (Swiss Riviera jewel) are essential day trips. Evian, France (French bottled water capital) is 35 minutes by boat. Geneva is 33 minutes by train. For skiing, Leysin in the Vaud Alps is 45 minutes by train, while Verbier in Valais takes about an hour. Lavaux's UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards stretch between Lausanne and Vevey.

From Lausanne, the elegant lake steamer to Vevey or Montreux ranks among Switzerland's most scenic journeys. Geneva's international capital is just 33 minutes by rail. The Lavaux vineyards between Lausanne and Vevey are a UNESCO landscape worth exploring by train or boat. For alpine adventures, Verbier offers world-class skiing about an hour away.