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Lausanne

Lausanne Travel Guide

Hillside Lake Geneva city — Olympic capital, old town & water sports

📍 Destination Overview

Lausanne, capital of the Swiss canton of Vaud, rises on a south-facing slope above Lake Geneva, facing France across the water. Home to the International Olympic Committee, it is the Olympic Capital, its museum full of past torches and medals. A Gothic cathedral, scholarly university air and lakeside paths for walking, cycling and sailing complete the scene.

📍 Location
Canton Vaud, Switzerland · north shore of Lake Geneva (Léman)
🗓️ Best Season
May
Sep
🕐 Time Difference
6 hours behind Beijing (7 in summer)
✈️ Transport Note
By train to Geneva or Lausanne; lake ferries connect the shore
🗓️ Suggested Stay
1-2 days (stop between Geneva & Montreux)
🎯 Keywords
Olympics, lake sports, old town, vine terraces

☀️ Best Time to Visit & Climate

🌞 Lakeside summer (May–Sep)
Peak season for swimming, sailing, kayaking and lakeside picnics — evenings turn the Alps golden over Ouchy.
January
❄️
4°/-1°
February
🌨️
6°/0°
March
🌸
11°/3°
April
🌿
15°/6°
May
🌷
19°/10°
Good
June
☀️
23°/14°
Best
July
☀️
26°/16°
Best
August
🌤️
25°/15°
Best
September
🍇
21°/12°
Good
October
🍂
15°/8°
November
🌨️
9°/3°
December
❄️
5°/0°

📷 Top Attractions

View All Attractions →
No.1 Lausanne
Chateau Saint-Maire
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
No.2 Lausanne
Church of St. Sulpice
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
No.3 Lausanne
Musée de l'Elysée
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
No.4 Lausanne
Palais Rumine
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
No.5 Lausanne
Cimetiere du Bois-de-Vaux
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
No.6 Lausanne
Collection de l'Art Brut
Sightseeing
Sightseeing

🎯 Lausanne Experiences

Olympic park & museum walk
Wander the medal galleries and Olympic sculpture park on the IOC's hill, soaking up the spirit of Citius, Altius, Fortius.
Lake Geneva ferry trip
Sail from Ouchy across Léman to bathe at Évian, or cruise the shore past Montreux to Chillon Castle.
Vaud countryside winery tasting
Ride the lakeside train or cycle into the terraced vines, sampling local wines at a family winery over a lake-view lunch.
The best time to visit Lausanne is May through September, when the lake is alive with sports and the vineyards are green — the Olympic city at its most vibrant. For quieter charm, spring blossom in April or golden lakeside October work beautifully too.

🚌 Transport & Stays

City Transport
✈️
Plane + train
Fly to Geneva and take the ~40-minute intercity train to Lausanne; or connect via Zurich on Switzerland's punctual rail.
Geneva–Lausanne train about CHF 25–45
🚌
Regional trains & ferries
Lausanne is a regional hub — Montreux and Geneva are easy, and lake ferries link the harbours.
to Montreux about CHF 15–20
🚠
Getting around town
The tiered city is served by the M2 metro and a historic funicular; walking the slopes is a pleasure too.
single ride about CHF 2.5–3.5
Recommended Stay Areas
🏨 Old town hillside
Near the cathedral and museums, all quiet stone lanes and cafés.
🏖️ Ouchy lakeside
Lake-view rooms and harbour life on the doorstep — stroll, cycle or sail.
Free Consultation

Plan your Lake Geneva Olympic-city trip

Reach Lausanne, stay in the old town or by Ouchy, tour the Olympic Museum, then cycle and sail the lake out to Chillon Castle at Montreux.