Lausanne

Lake views, vineyards and Olympic spirit

Lausanne stands along Switzerland’s western shore where Lake Geneva meets rolling hills. The city spreads across cobblestone streets lined with cafes and historic buildings that reflect its long connection to water trade and education. At its heart is the lakeside promenade where locals gather for walks and summer concerts. Nearby the Olympic Museum displays medals and artifacts from global competitions held in this compact urban setting. Public transport connects neighborhoods efficiently making it easy to explore museums universities or nearby vineyards without a car.

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City in Switzerland

$$$+

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.8

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Most signage is bilingual, and locals in the service industry are helpful. You’ll have no trouble communicating, but a few French phrases are always appreciated.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Lausanne Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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Strong in lakeside views and cultural life. Walk hillside streets, visit museums and Olympic attractions, relax along Lake Geneva and enjoy cafés with alpine views.

Place score

7.7

Best at:

Spotless

Walkable

Lakes

Fine dining

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

👩 8

Solo

❤️ 8

Couples

Switzerland – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type J Type C: Type J: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Swiss Franc (CHF) £1 ≈ CHF 1.10
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Switzerland is very cashless-friendly, with credit and debit cards widely accepted. Mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also increasingly common. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in Switzerland. Most service charges are included in bills. In restaurants, rounding up to the nearest 5 CHF or leaving 5-10% is common. Taxi drivers and hotel staff appreciate small tips for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed and socially acceptable in Switzerland, but being disruptive is frowned upon. Alcohol can be consumed in parks, trains, and outdoor events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned indoors in public places but allowed in designated areas. Outdoor smoking is common.

Swiss National Day (August)	Expect celebrations, parades, and fireworks throughout the country.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events are common, with tourist areas being busier than usual.
Easter (March/April)	Many attractions are closed, but some areas offer special events and celebrations.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Switzerland is famous for its natural beauty, well-organised transport, and multilingual culture. The Swiss Travel Pass is highly recommended for tourists.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Lausanne, Switzerland

🌨️

Jan

❄️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

☀️

Apr

🌦️

May

🌦️

Jun

☀️

Jul

☀️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌦️

Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Lake Geneva boat services run most often April to October, reduced in winter

Lavaux vineyard terraces are at their most colourful during the harvest, late September to October

Christmas market runs late November to late December

Don't miss

🏅 Explore the Olympic Museum and its interactive sports exhibits
🚶‍♀️ Walk along Ouchy Promenade and enjoy Lake Geneva views
⛪ Climb Lausanne Cathedral’s tower for stunning city panoramas
🍷 Taste local wines at vineyards in nearby Lavaux terraces
☕ Wander the old town’s markets and boutique cafés
🛥️ Catch a boat cruise across the shimmering Lake Geneva waters

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Why travel to Lausanne?

Lausanne is a dream for lovers of art, food and nature. The city’s compact size makes it easy to explore, from the atmospheric Old Town and its iconic cathedral to the innovative Plateforme 10 arts district and the world-famous Olympic Museum. The lakeside Ouchy district offers a resort vibe, while the nearby Lavaux vineyards (a UNESCO site) are perfect for wine tasting and walks with epic views. Lausanne’s nightlife is lively and its gastronomy scene is both traditional and creative. Downsides? It’s hilly – bring good shoes – and Switzerland’s prices can be a shock, especially for dining and hotels. Watch for pickpockets in busy areas and expect crowds during major festivals or summer weekends. Still, Lausanne’s blend of lake, mountains and city life is hard to beat.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Collection de l’Art Brut
2 The Olympic Museum
3 AOC Lavaux - Villette
4 Place de la Palud
5 Escaliers du Marché

🎡Places for activities

1 Plateforme 10 (3 musées)
2 Lausanne-Flon
3 Sauvabelin tower

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Lake Geneva
2 Le Panorama
3 Jardin botanique
4 Signal de Sauvabelin
5 Parc de Milan
6 Bois du Jorat
7 Parc de Mon-Repos
8 AOC Lavaux - Villette

🛍️Shopping

1 Bujard Vins
2 Manor

🎈Events

Festival de la Cité
Lausanne Lumières (light festival)
Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival
Athletissima athletics meet
Fête de la Musique
JazzOnze+ Festival
Lausanne Carnival
Christmas Market at Place St-François
Olympic Week
Lavaux Classic (music festival)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Prepare for steep hills; comfortable shoes make sightseeing easier.
Keep valuables secure on transit and in crowds; pickpocketing can happen in busy areas.
Plan nightlife transport ahead; stick to well-lit routes and use official late services.
Ride the M2 metro for views and efficiency, then stroll Ouchy lakeside at sunset.

How to travel to Lausanne

Lausanne is well connected by train (about 40 minutes from Geneva, 2 hours from Zurich). Geneva Airport is the nearest international airport, with direct trains to Lausanne. Ferries cross Lake Geneva to France and nearby Swiss towns. The city is easy to reach by car, but parking is expensive and limited downtown.

Access summary

From Geneva Airport (GVA): direct trains to Lausanne station, about 45–60 minutes.
From Geneva city: frequent trains along Lake Geneva, roughly 35–45 minutes.
From Paris: direct TGV Lyria high-speed trains, typically around 3.5–4 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Lausanne

Lausanne offers everything from luxury lakeside hotels and boutique city stays to budget hostels and guesthouses. Most accommodations are near the city center or Ouchy. Book early for festivals or summer weekends-rooms fill up fast and prices rise. Many hotels include a free Lausanne Transport Card.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Agora Swiss Night by Fassbind

8.8

Starling Hotel Lausanne

8.9

Aquatis Hotel

8.7

Royal Savoy Hotel and Spa

9.3

Palmiers by Fassbind

8.6

Continental Hotel Lausanne

8.7

Hotel des Patients

9.1

Movenpick Lausanne Hotel

8.7

Hotel de la Paix Lausanne

9.0

Lausanne Palace

9.3

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Lausanne

Lausanne is compact but hilly – expect lots of steps and inclines. The city has an excellent public transport network (metro, buses, trams) and the Lausanne Transport Card (free with most hotel stays) gives unlimited local travel. Walking is the best way to explore the Old Town, but use public transport for Ouchy, museums or the vineyards. Biking is possible but challenging on steep streets.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+70 %

Daily expenses in Lausanne are around 70% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+6 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CHF) is 6% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now is more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£115	£246	£623
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£50	£113	£215
🍝 Food per day	£50	£117	£339
🚕 Transportation per day	£15	£17	£69

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£47
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£22
🍟 Fast food combo	£16
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£17
☕ Cappuccino	£4.80
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£8

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.80
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£41
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.70

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£20
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£105
🤧 Cold medication	£13
💇 Basic haircut	£30

Safety information overview

General safety

Lausanne is very safe, with a low crime rate. Petty theft and pickpocketing can occur in busy areas like train stations or markets — keep an eye on your belongings. Nightlife is lively but safe; stick to well-lit areas at night.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with modern clinics and pharmacies throughout the city. No special vaccinations are needed. Tap water is safe and delicious. Emergency services are reliable and accessible.

Accessibility

Most main attractions, hotels and public transport are accessible, but steep hills and cobbled streets in the Old Town can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Public transport is modern and well equipped for accessibility.

Tap water

Tap water is safe, clean and widely available. Public fountains are found in parks and squares — refill your bottle as you explore, especially in summer or after a hike.