The Swiss city of Lausanne is known for being the home of the Olympics. It’s one of the largest cities in Switzerland and sits along the shores Lake Geneva, so you can imagine how picturesque it is. This French-speaking city is regularly visited for a day trip from Geneva. However, there are lots of unique things to do in Lausanne to keep you busy.
Lausanne has a rich history, dating back over 8000 years. The Romans built a prosperous city along the lake before its inhabitants moved to higher grounds. Throughout the medieval period and the age of Enlightenment, Lausanne underwent a series of changes physically, culturally, and religiously, which has helped shape it into the city that it is today.
The main attractions in Lausanne are relatively close to one another. But for those of you who would prefer not to walk everywhere, you’ll be pleased to know that Lausanne is the only city in Switzerland with an underground network. Whether you’re spending one day in Lausanne, a weekend in Lausanne, or longer, the best small city in the world is sure to captivate you. So, is Lausanne worth visiting? I’ll let you be the judge of that.
Best things to do in Lausanne
From the old town of Lausanne down to the waterfront and beyond, there are many incredible things to do in Lausanne. Spending more than a day in Lausanne is recommended so you can explore the city in its entirety. But if you only have a few hours you should be able to add most of these suggestions to your itinerary.
Go on a food tour
One of the hardest things to decide when visiting a new city is where to eat. When we visited the city, Lausanne Tourism had put together a fantastic concept that allowed us to eat at places that are popular with locals. Unfortunately, it looks like Taste My Swiss City is no longer available on their website, but you can still plan your own self-guided food tour in Lausanne.
Places such as the Bleu Lézard, Lemoncha, Royaume Melazic, and Brasserie de Montbenon are all great options if you’re looking for unique places to eat in Lausanne. If you’re wondering “is Lausanne worth visiting for the food” then the answer is a big yes!
Ouchy
One of the most scenic places in Lausanne has to be Ouchy. It’s a beautiful part of the city along the waterfront with tree lined promenades, unique points of interest, and some pretty amazing restaurants too. It’s also home to the popular hotel Château d’Ouchy which is housed within a renovated medieval castle.
We spent 2 days in Lausanne and each day we made sure to come down here. We also brought our lunch down here one afternoon so we could enjoy the lake views. It’s one of the best free things to do in Lausanne.
Olympic Museum
As the official Olympic capital, it may come as no surprise that there’s an Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Before heading inside, take a moment to appreciate the various sculptures situated around the outside of the museum that depict various sports. Don’t forget to take a look at the Olympic flame too.
The inside of the museum is laid out on multiple floors. There are plenty of interactive aspects that are great for keeping children entertained. You not only get to learn about the history of the Olympics, but you can also get up close with famous pieces of sports equipment, memorabilia, medals, and the Olympic torches. It’s one of the top things to do in Lausanne and is probably one of the best museums you’ll visit.
Eat fondue
If you still find yourself wondering if Lausanne is worth visiting, maybe the thought of eating some traditional fondue will entice you. Le Vieil Ouchy is considered by many tourists and locals as the best place to eat fondue in Lausanne. It’s situated in an historic building in Ouchy, along the shore of Lake Geneva, and offers a warm and inviting atmosphere to customers.
They serve their popular half and half fondue, but they also have a couple of unique flavours such as the tomato fondue and the truffle and champagne fondue which are definitely a step up from the traditional version. We ordered a single portion of both and it’s difficult to decide which one we enjoyed most. It’s not hard to see why Le Vieil Ouchy is one of the most popular places to visit in Lausanne.
Sauvabelin Tower
One of the more unique things to do in Lausanne is to take a bus to the Sauvabelin Forest and climb up the wooden Sauvabelin Tower. It was built in 2003 and offers panoramic views of Lausanne and the surrounding area, including three geographical regions of Switzerland. The tower is completely free to climb up, and it really is an architectural marvel. It’s certainly one of the Lausanne attractions worth adding to your itinerary if you have some spare time or you’re spending more than a day in Lausanne.
Explore the old town
Many of the main things to do in Lausanne are located within the old town. I love walking around old towns, and Lausanne’s didn’t disappoint despite its small size. The first thing you should visit in the old town is Lausanne Cathedral, which is considered to be one of the finest pieces of gothic architecture in Europe.
Other places to visit in Lausanne’s old town include the Escaliers du Marché, Place de la Palud, St. François Church, and the Hôtel de Ville. You could easily spend a full day exploring the streets here, but it’s doable in a couple of hours if you don’t have much time to spare.
Lausanne City Pass
Take advantage of the Lausanne City Pass while you’re here because it will save you quite a bit on entry fees. There’s a 1 day pass or a 2-3 day pass, with the 2-3 day pass including a chocolate treat from Durig Chocolatier. We used the 2-3 day pass which gave us entry to the Olympic Museum, the Belfry Tower of the Cathedral, Fondation de l’Hermitage, Lausanne History Museum, and the Vaud Museum of Fine Arts. There are lots of things to do in Lausanne and this pass gives you access to a lot of the main attractions.
The 2-3 day pass doesn’t include public transportation like the 1 day pass does. However, if you’re staying at a hotel in Lausanne you’ll be given a complimentary pass anyways which includes all modes of transportation within the city.
Where to stay in Lausanne
Best Western Plus Hotel Mirabeau Lausanne
Lausanne is small compared to other cities like Geneva and Zurich, so to get the most out of your visit you’ll want to stay somewhere central. The Best Western Plus Hotel Mirabeau Lausanne is the perfect hotel to base yourself from as it’s located halfway between the old town and Ouchy. It’s also only a 5 minute walk from the train station. This historic hotel has a total of 75 rooms in the Art Deco style, with many having a lake view and lots of space to relax.
We stayed in one of their stunning lakeview suites which was situated on the top floor of the hotel. Our suite was very spacious with a separate bedroom and living room, a large tiled bathroom with various amenities that included bathrobes and slippers, and a second toilet near the main entrance. The large double bed was very comfortable so we had a great two nights sleep here. There’s also desk space in the living room to get work done, as well as a TV in both rooms and a coffee machine.
The balcony overlooking Lake Geneva was my favourite part of this suite, and at sunset the view was incredible. If the lakeview suite is available when you’re making a booking, it’s worth paying that little bit extra for so you can enjoy this view from the moment you wake up.
Breakfast is located in the hotel’s restaurant, and is served in a buffet style. It’s a traditional continental French breakfast with a few hot food choices such as eggs and sausages. Overall we were very happy with the breakfast at Hotel Mirabeau and it was the perfect way to start our day. If you enjoy staying in historic buildings that have still retained much of their original charm, and have incredible views, then booking a couple of nights at the Best Western Plus Hotel Mirabeau Lausanne is a no-brainer.
>> Click here for the most up to date prices at the Hotel Mirabeau <<
So, is Lausanne worth visiting? The answer is a resounding yes! I would suggest spending at least 48 hours here because there are a lot of things to do in Lausanne even though the city is smaller than you might expect. We stopped in Lausanne after visiting Geneva for a few days, on our way to Bern, and we’re so glad we were able to see the majority of the city and taste some delicious Swiss food along the way. Lausanne should be on anyone’s Switzerland itinerary, even if it’s just for a day trip though.
Have you had the pleasure of visiting Lausanne before? I’d love to hear what you thought about the city, or if you know of anything else I should add to my list of things to do in Lausanne. If you have any questions about an upcoming trip you’re planning, please leave me a comment below or get in touch via email. You can also find more travel tips on my Instagram page.
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