What to see in Lausanne, Switzerland: places, when to go and how to get there

What to see in Lausanne

The places in and around Lausanne, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

And the other 140, by what you come to do:

Museums and art: Vevey Photography Museum, Swiss Museum of Games, Cantonal Museum of Zoology, Chaplin's World - The Studio, Cantonal Museum of Geology in Lausanne, museum of traditions and boats of Lake Geneva, Lausanne Museum of History, Cantonal monetary museum, Alimentarium, Hermitage Foundation, Musée Bolo, Musée du château de Morges, Lausanne-Vidy Roman Museum, Claude Verdan Foundation - Museum of the Hand, HumuS, Typewriter Museum Lausanne, Museum of the House of Wheat and Bread, Musée Forel, Musée de la Chaussure
Temples: Saint Barbara Church, Vevey, Notre-Dame du Valentin, Église Saint-François (Lausanne), Saint-Laurent Reformed Church, Saint-Martin Reformed Church, Rabten Choeling, Christ Church Lausanne, Catholic Church Notre-Dame, Reformed Church, Reformed church
Nature: Tour de Sauvabelin, Mont Valeur, Jura Vaudois Nature Park, Rochers de Chaudin, Biotope, Grand Cuney, Jorat Nature Discovery Park, Réserve Forestière des Vieux-Chênes
History: Oron Castle, Beaulieu Castle, Bossonnens Castle, Glérolles Castle, Lousonna, D'En-Bas Castle, Blonay Castle, Mestral Castle, Rue Castle, neolithic menhir stone row, Château d'Attalens, then baillivale residence, Hauteville Castle, Ussieres Château, Aile Castle, Lutry Castle, Rochefort château, castle House Rivaz-de-Nucé (community house), Vullierens Castle, Tour de Marsens, Tour Haldimand, Villa romaine du Prieuré, Échallens Castle, Town Hall, Les Roseaux, Morges–Stations de Morges, Assens Tumulus
Architecture: Pont Chauderon, Grand Pont, Bessières bridge
With kids: Zoo de Servion, Aquatis Hotel, Endemic and tropical birds, Parc de Sauvabelin, Piscine de Bellevaux, Piscine du Vieux-Moulin, Tropiquarium de Servion
Hiking: 43-Alpine Passes Trail, Arboretum de Riex, Cabane de la Rotta, Chemin des Blés, Chemin panorama alpin, La Cabane à Joseph, Le Ranch, Les Tâtris, Littoral du Léman, Pavillon de Valmont, Refuge de Grandvaux, Refuge de Reule, Refuge des Quatre Croisées, Refuge du Grand-Jora, Sur les pas des Huguenots et des Vaudois du Piémont
Hot springs: AquaVie, Port du Basset
Food and drink: Birrificio Due Fusti, Blaise Duboux, Brasserie de Montbenon, Brasserie du Haut-Lac, Cave Bernard Chevalley, Cave de la Pinaudaz, Cave des Remans, Cave du Bon, Cave du Brantard, Cave du Signal, Cave du Village, Caveau de la Pierraz, Caveau Mélanie Weber, Domaine Badoux-Parisod, Domaine Croix Duplex, Domaine de Joli Clos, Domaine de la Crausaz, Domaine des Abbesses, Domaine des Allours, Domaine des Rueyres, Domaine Montimbert, Domaine Neyroud-Fonjallaz, DRUNKBEARD, Dubois Vignerons, Espace corsalin, Gaillard et Fils SA, Gianni Bernasconi, Girardet, La Bacchanale, La Challensoise, La Châtaigneraie, La Nébuleuse, La Pérégrine, Le 135, Le fils du soleil, Le Parrain, Les Boucaniers, Maurice Neyroud, O'Bled, Toveyre, Urban Kombucha
Mountains: Chalet La Planiaz, Chalet Scout
Snow: Froideville, L’Essert – Abondance, Les Prévondes
Diving: Lac Léman - Hirondelle, Lac Léman-Point du Suchet
Stargazing: Observatoire de Lausanne, Observatoire de Vevey

When to go to Lausanne

The best time to visit Lausanne is December to March and May to October; also possible: April and November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

JanBest time8:46
FebBest time10:05
MarBest time11:36
AprPossible13:21
MayBest time14:48
JunBest time15:36
JulBest time15:17
AugBest time14:00
SepBest time12:19
OctBest time10:38
NovPossible9:08
DecBest time8:24

Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight

In June there are 15 h 36 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 24. In July, 159 of the 164 places are at their best.

When to go to Switzerland in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.

Getting to Lausanne

The nearest main airport is Geneva International Airport (GVA, Geneva), 53 km as the crow flies. How to get around Switzerland (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.

Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)

Other towns nearby

And all of Switzerland, in its country guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see in Lausanne?

The best known: Olympic Museum, Lausanne Cathedral, Cornettes de Bise, Cape au Moine, Château d'Ouchy. In all, 164 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

When is the best time to visit Lausanne?

December to March and May to October; also possible: April and November. In June there are 15 h 36 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 24.

How do you get to Lausanne?

The nearest main airport is Geneva International Airport (GVA), 53 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.

How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Lausanne as the destination and these 164 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Things to see in Lausanne (Switzerland): 164 places and when to go

In a nutshell