Lausanne Hotels

Lucky Lausanne

Life in Lausanne is almost like Grandma threw off her dressing gown, took you out into town for the usual church visit… then stuffed you full of beer and cheese before shouting you drinks at an underground club. The medieval centre of Lausanne is a grand old dame and the Gothic Lausanne Cathedral is just one of her ancient gems.

The beautiful Lake Geneva setting lends itself to the grand museums Musée de l’Elyséeand the Musée Historique de Lausanne (plus 22 others), as well as to slow walks, more cathedrals and picnics. But the real draw card is the arts scene. You’ll find underground bars playing jazz at all hours, tiny restaurants with the best food in the city and pop-up galleries run by students and locals. So get on your restored vintage bike, grab a beer and get involved. Age is no excuse.

Lausanne's Top 10

Lausanne History

• Palais de Rumine – A building based on an Italian renaissance style. Five different museums are found inside of the building.
• Musée Romain lausanne-Vidy – A Roman settlement site which features the remains of walls from a time when Caesar ruled.
• Cathedral Tower – The view from the top of the Cathedral Tower is well worth the climb. Tourists who are unable to explore the whole of Lausanne should climb to the top of this tower to take in the main sights from above.
• La Tour d'Ale – A few surviving parts of a medieval rampart.
• Fondation de l'Hermitage – Constructed in 1841, this building plays host to travelling international art exhibitions.

Lausanne Art & Culture

• Collection de l'Art Brut – This museum is home to a must-see collection of artwork in Lausanne.
• Olympic Museum – A museum presenting memories from the Olympics. The sculpture garden, which overlooks Lac Léman, can be explored by the public.
• Musée Historique de Lausanne – Here, tourists will find a collection of maps, images and documentation relating to the history of Lausanne.
• Mudac – A museum of design and contemporary arts.
• Musée de l'Elysée – A world-renowned photography museum found in a beautiful park.

Lausanne Shopping

• Maniak – One of Lausanne’s most popular shopping destinations.
• Pompes Funèbres – A shoe store selling all the most fashionable shoes around.
• Coup de Chapeau – A hat store that boasts clients from all over the world.
• Boutique Séduction Lingerie – A lingerie store featuring brands such as Banana Moon.
• Saturday Old Town Market – A colourful farmers’ market located on the winding streets of the Old Town.

Gay & Lesbian Lausanne

• 43 10 CLUB – Located in downtown Lausanne, this unique gay-friendly bar welcomes tourists and locals alike.
• Trixx – Trixx night is held on Sundays at the MAD-Club. This popular night out attracts mostly men and some lesbians.
• One Café – As its name suggests, this café welcomes all genders and is where tourists can relax in Lausanne.
• L’entrée – A classy bar lounge ideal for Sunday brunch.
• Le Saxo – A gay-friendly bar open Wednesday to Sunday.

Lausanne Outdoor

• Vidy Park – This beautiful park dates back to the 1960s. It is the ideal spot to enjoy a peaceful day out in Lausanne.
• Vidy Beach – Located west of Vidy Park, this beach is where Lausanne tourists popularly visit.
• Vidy Harbour – Located in the centre of Vidy Park, tourists can check out the boats at this harbour.
• Vidy Pyramids – Located west of Vidy Park, the pyramids are a Lausanne hotspot.
• Lausanne Skate Park – The HS 36 Skate Park is home to Lausanne’s annual roller contest.

Lausanne Sport

• Watch Lausanne Hockey Club play at their home arena, CIG de Malley.
• Enjoy a game of rugby at the Chavannes-Centre Sportif courtesy of the Stade Lausanne Rugby Club.
• Check out the talents of the Montriond Lausanne F.C. at the Stade Olympique.
• Take a trip to Vidy-Lausanne and see the Lausanne-Sports Aviron rowing club in action.
• Catch the Tour de Romandie as it passes through Lausanne. This exciting cycling race is a part of the UCI World Tour.

Lausanne Events

Ballroom-dancing enthusiasts flock to Prix de Lausanne in early February, where dancers compete to win a prestigious scholarship.

April sees the Carnaval de Lausanne take over the city with parties, rides, entertainment, music and local fare to nosh on.

June gives tourists what they want at the Fête de la Biere et des Musiques Festives. Sample over 200 types of Swiss beer at this traditional summer beer festival.

Outdoor Movies by the Lake sees July take advantage of Lausanne’s stunning backdrop. This is a rare chance to enjoy Hollywood on a big scale, alfresco-style.

New Year’s Eve is a huge celebration across Switzerland. Lausanne parties as hard as anyone, with booze, events and fireworks.

When To Go

• July and August are the hottest months, with average temperatures of around 25°C (77°F) during the day and 14°C (57ºF) at night. The daylight hours are longer, which sees restaurants and bars open late.
• Temperatures drop to around 17ºC (63ºF) in September and October.
• Although the winter months get chilly, there’s a festive glow about the city and far fewer tourists.

Getting Around

• Walking is a great way to get around the city centre.
• The metro has its hub at the Flon Metro Station, and tickets are fairly cheap as long as you work out where you’re going first.
• Bikes can be hired for very reasonable rates. Be prepared, though – there are lots of hills!

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