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City guide

Lausanne, Switzerland

Lausanne is the capital and largest city of the Swiss French-speaking canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. The Olympic capital, it is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway between the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and facing the French town of Évian-les-Bains across the lake.

Type City

Why go

  • City in Switzerland.
  • Served by Lausanne la Blécherette Airport.

History

Lausanne is the capital and largest city of the Swiss French-speaking canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. The Olympic capital, it is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway between the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and facing the French town of Évian-les-Bains across the lake. Lausanne is 51.7 kilometres northeast of Geneva, the nearest major city. The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland convenes in Lausanne, although it is not the de jure capital of the nation.

Restaurants & places to go

Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Th 10:00-18:00; Fr 10:00-16:00 · Place Cosandey, Lausanne, 1015 · montreuxjazzcafe.com
Indoor
Restaurant · restaurant · 18 Route de Cojonnex, Lausanne, 1000 · berceau-des-sens.ch
Indoor
French, Restaurant · Le Cinq, établissement incontournable perché au dernier étage d'un immeuble au cœur de la ville de Lausanne. Notre restaurant offre 45… · lecinq.ch
Indoor
Lebanese, Mezze, Sandwich, Burger, Shawarma, Kafta, Soujouk, Falafel, Baklawa, Osmalliyah, Mouhalabieh, Hommos, Moutabbal, Labné, Fattouch, Tabboulé, Feuilles… · beiruthouse.ch
Indoor
Cambodian, Japanese, Restaurant · Restaurant Cambodgien Opening hours: We-Su 11:30-22:00 · 77 Chemin de Boissinnet, Lausanne, 1010 · belasia.ch
Indoor
Regional, Burger, Salad, Cake, Dessert, Restaurant · café - bar - restaurant Opening hours: Mo-Th 07:00-01:00; Fr 07:00-02:00; Sa 09:00-02:00; Su 10:00-01:00… · etoileblanche.ch
Indoor
Pizza, Italian, Swiss, Restaurant · Une cuisine méditerranéenne et de saison à déguster dans une ambiance chaleureuse et familiale. Cuisine italienne… · pizzeria-grosse-pierre.ch
Indoor
Restaurant · Entrée par la Rue de Bourg 11 Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-15:00 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options · 11 Rue de Bourg, Lausanne, 1003 · restaurant-lecho.com
Indoor

292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Lausanne la Blécherette Airport 2.1 km to the centre
Lausanne, VD, CH
Outdoor
Montricher Airfield 19 km to the centre
Montricher, VD, CH
Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Lausanne-Ouchy
Ferry terminal · 2.5 km from the centre · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Pully
Ferry terminal · 3.6 km from the centre · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Lutry
Ferry terminal · 5.2 km from the centre · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Saint-Sulpice
Ferry terminal · 5.5 km from the centre · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Cully
Ferry terminal · 9.2 km from the centre · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Morges
Ferry terminal · 9.9 km from the centre · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Lausanne - Pully
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Pully - Lutry
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Saint-Sulpice - Lausanne
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
CGN 3100: Lausanne-Ouchy (lac) => Pully (lac) => Lutry (lac) => Cully (lac)
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
CGN 3100: Cully (lac) => Lutry (lac) => Pully (lac) => Lausanne-Ouchy (lac)
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
Morges - Lausanne
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman
Outdoor
CGN 3150: Lausanne-Ouchy (lac) => Morges (lac)
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor
CGN 3150: Morges (lac) => Lausanne-Ouchy (lac)
Ferry route · Compagnie générale de navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Lausanne la Blécherette Airport; 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Lausanne-Ouchy, 2.5 km); routes include Lausanne - Pully, Pully - Lutry, Saint-Sulpice - Lausanne.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Lausanne, Switzerland. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

National rail
National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach

Tours & experiences