Understand
[edit]The city is the host to the International Olympic Committee and two major universities. As you might expect the large student population makes for a lively nightlife and arts community, revolving around the Flon district. You'll also find a number of quality restaurants and two dozen museums of note, including the Olympic Museum and the offbeat Collection de l'Art Brut. Architecture buffs will find the best preserved Gothic cathedral in Switzerland at the top of the town.
Despite being a very international city (42% of its population in 2013 were foreign nationals), Lausanne is a French-speaking city. English is not as commonly spoken as in Geneva and you will probably have trouble communicating with an average person on the street. Most service-sector employees speak a little English however, and the level of English amongst young Swiss tends to be high (amongst the older generation it is German that tends to be far stronger). A visitor will have little trouble getting around with just English.
History
[edit]There has been a settlement on the hill of Lausanne since at least the stone age, but most histories of the city trace its origin to the Roman camp Lausanna which occupied a position just down the hill toward the lake in what is now the village of Vidy.
Relocated to a more defensible hilltop in the Middle Ages, Lausanne's increasing wealth and importance were largely derived from its placement on the primary north-south routes between Italy and the north sea. It was the first major town north of the Saint Bernard pass, at least until the establishment of the bishopric of Valais.
In 1536 the Bernese took the city from the Dukes of Savoy as part of their drive to secure their southwestern frontier. The Bernese held the territory until Lausanne gained its independence from Berne after the invasion of a French army under Napoléon Bonaparte in 1798. The city was later, in 1803, admitted to Switzerland as the capital of Vaud.
Lavaux, the mini region of the northwestern shore of Lake Geneva from Lausanne to Montreux (sometimes called the Swiss Riviera) has been a second home to writers, artists and musicians for about 150 years starting with the Shelleys and Lord Byron, who partied and wrote in Lausanne (Frankenstein is rumoured to have been composed here). Other famous residents include Ernest Hemingway, who wintered here with his young family around the time related in A Movable Feast and Charlie Chaplin who lived in Vevey from the mid-1930s on.
- The Lausanne Tourism Office (at the main station, and in Ouchy where it shares space with the M2 station), ☏ +41 21 613-7373. Daily 09:00-19:00. The staff at the tourism board offices or over the phone can almost always place you in a hotel in your price range even at the very last minute. In addition they have a fantastic free map of the city and a huge assortment of useful printed materials in English as well as French, German, and Italian.
Orientation
[edit]The districts of Lausanne which are of primary concern to a visitor are the Cité, the Ville Marché, and the port of Ouchy. In between you'll find the Flon which is mainly a nightclub and shopping district these days, and the otherwise sleepy Sous Gare district just under the train station which boasts some of the best cafés in town. If you feel up for a hike it's also probably worth while to spend a few hours climbing around in the woods of Sauvebelin which is above and north of the Hermitage. These districts can be described as follows:
- Cité — this hill is the part of Lausanne's old town which goes back the furthest, and holds a lot of interest for travellers, being the site of the Cathedral, the Castle, MUDAC, several other museums, a children's theatre and a really good toy store.
- Ville Marché — the medieval city of Lausanne grew up with outdoor markets arranged around several of the entrances to the old city, together with the old city these markets make up the balance of the Old Town, including Place de la Palud, Place St. François, and Place Riponne.
- Flon — the original rail line into Lausanne once came up the Flon river into this valley, but there was no way to go through town, so it was supplanted in the 19th century with a line one ridge further south which could serve destinations in the Valais and Italy. Today the former warehouses of the Flon Valley are mostly occupied with trendy restaurants and discos.
- Ouchy — once a fishing village, Ouchy was incorporated into the City of Lausanne in the mid-19th century to serve as a port on Lac Léman. The incredible views of the lake and the Alps, and the cooler air in summer make Ouchy a popular place in the summer months. There's a major cluster of hotels and restaurants around the port. The district is also where the Olympic Museum is located.
- Sous Gare (literally "Under the Station") — in the 19th century Lausanne expanded to fill all of the land between the current location of the train station and the port of Ouchy. This is mostly a district of apartment buildings and houses, but it's worth a walk through, if only for the Café de Grancy and the park on the Crêt de Montriond.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]The closest airport, Geneva airport (GVA IATA) is served by almost all European carriers, and by four daily trans-Atlantic flights, one from Washington-Dulles on Continental, one from New York, JFK on Swiss, one from Newark on Continental and one from Montreal on Air Canada; otherwise when flying from the US you will have to change planes at your airline's hub airport. Trains between Geneva Airport and the Lausanne CFF station take about 45 min and run at least twice each hour, except for the wee hours of the morning. A full fare from Geneva-Airport to Lausanne is Fr. 27. Zurich airport provides an alternative, with more frequent trans-Atlantic service mainly via Swiss.
By train
[edit]Lausanne is served by one of the most efficient passenger rail services in the world, the Swiss Federal Rail system. Trains run daily roughly each half-hour between 04:45 and 01:30 from Geneva, Zurich, Berne, Lucerne, Neuchatel, St. Gallen, Brig, Biel, and points in between. All trains from elsewhere in Switzerland to Geneva passes through Lausanne and there are also frequent local trains, so on average there's a train to or from Geneva each 15 minutes in the daytime. The fast direct IC trains take just over half an hour from Geneva while the local trains stopping at small stations can take up to almost an hour. There are four trains daily from Paris Gare de Lyon via the SNCF's TGV high-speed train, and one direct train per day from Venice, and three from Milan. The Italian rail service also provides night trains from Rome and Venice.
1 [dead link] Train station (Gare CFF), Place de la Gare 9. 24 hr lockers, Fr. 6-9.
By bus
[edit]International buses arrive daily from Spain, France, and major cities in Central Europe. Many buses pass through Geneva or Basel before stopping in Lausanne.
By boat
[edit]Boats ply the Swiss and French shores of Lake Geneva with several daily ferries from Evian, Montreux, Geneva and many smaller lake shore towns. See the boat company website[dead link] for timetables and prices. Lunch and dinner cruises are also popular with tourists. Most of the ferries are meant as scenic trips and not the fastest way to get around. If travelling from Geneva to Lausanne, a boat trip is worth the time on a clear day.
Get around
[edit]
On foot
[edit]Walking is a great way to get around Lausanne. There are a number of sites within a short walk of the main railway station with the largely car-free streets beginning right across the street with Rue du Petit-Chêne, which leads up to Place St. François in the old town. From there, more pedestrian streets lead to the Flon quarter with many bars, clubs and restaurants, to the shopping streets between Place St. François and Place de la Riponne, and to the old city near the cathedral. When planning your walk, consider that Lausanne is unusually steep for a city of its size, with many streets that can look deceptively easy on the map, and this may pose a challenge especially to those with reduced mobility. The Metro M2 line (see below) covers much of the steepest parts of the city and therefore is a good alternative to walking.
By metro
[edit]
Lausanne is the smallest city in the world to have a metro system. There are two Metro lines provided by Transports publics de la région lausannoise[dead link] which have their hub at the Flon Metro station. The new M2[dead link] is a fully automated subway system connecting Ouchy to the northern suburb of Epalinges via the central station, Flon, and multiple stops in the old town. M2 can be a little surprising to new arrivals, as both the route and even some stations are really steep: for instance at the Gare, the platform is tilted, so do please hold on tight. The Bessieres station near the cathedral is situated at a steep section of one of the old town's hills and the elevator ride from the station up to the bridge (you can see the city below through the windows of the elevator) is not something you get to experience in most other subway systems. The M1 serves points west, including the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).
There is also a local railway operated by the private LEB[dead link] company, with trains connecting with the other two metro lines at Flon which run out to the far northern suburbs of Echallens and Bercher, but with increasing frequencies it has started to function as a third Metro line.
A free metro and bus pass valid for two weeks is provided to all Lausanne hotel guests.
Metro (and bus) tickets are sold from vending machines at all stops, and at the main train station and the Flon. Normal tickets are sold by distance, as determined by a zone system. You can determine the number of zones your ticket needs to cover by inspecting the diagram on the ticket machines, or on the free map available at all ticket-sales points. Tickets are available for single rides, return, and in day and week passes. Most ticket machines at Metro and bus stops do not issue change. The CFF Abonnement General rail passes are good for unlimited travel throughout the TL and LEB system.
If you have a CFF pass for non-Swiss travellers you should ask at the main station if your pass covers the local transit system, since some passes do and others don't.
As of Jul 2013 a "short ride" ticket costs (3 stops max, valid 30min) Fr. 1.90, a one-hour ticket, Fr. 3.50 and a day ticket Fr. 8.80. As in Geneva, there are ticket vending machines at the stations.
By bus
[edit]Clean and fast buses, also provided by TL[dead link], are very frequent and form a dense enough network that you will rarely find yourself more than a few hundred feet from one bus stop or the other. Some trolleybuses look like a train with two wagons where the actual bus is towing a "motorless" wagon.
By bike
[edit]Bicycles can be borrowed for Fr. 6/day with a Fr. 90 deposit at Lausanne Roule, who has one location in the city centre (just outside the Lausanne Flon Metro station—the address on their web site is wrong) and one in the west-side suburbs in Renens. They are adding additional locations, including one in Ouchy. It's possible to take a bike in one location and give it back at the other one. A third location also exists in Vevey, but one-way rentals cost Fr. 10. The bike ride from Lausanne to Vevey is beautiful. On your left are endless vineyards and to your right is Lake Geneva and the Alps. Get a booklet on this ride from Lausanne Roule for free.
Beware that the city is pretty steep, but the lakefront is very nice. There is a handy 1:10,000 'Carte Velo' printed in 2006 but still downloadable from the city website. This map helps those new to the city find the preferred bicycling routes in the area. Throughout the city is an excellent network of paths, marked bicycle lanes, and bypass tunnels that will help get you through the most busy intersections. The routes by the lake are simply beautiful but can get quite busy with strollers, roller bladers, and cyclists at peak times during the summer.
See
[edit]- 1 Collection de l'Art Brut, Av. des Bergières 11 (bus 2 toward Désert, stop at Jomini, bus 3 toward Bellevaux, stop Beaulieu), ☏ +41 21 315-2570. Tu-Su 11:00-18:00. This must-see collection of works by untrained artists will at turns delight, amaze, baffle, and irritate. Many of the artists whose works are shown here found life difficult or impossible outside (or inside) of institutions, finding solace and purpose in sometimes compulsive acts of creation. Fr. 10.
- 2 Palais de Rumine, Place de la Riponne 6, ☏ +41 21 316-3310. Tu W 11:00-18:00, Th 11:00-20:00, F-Su 11:00-17:00. Based on an Italian renaissance design, this lovely building is not as old as it looks. There are five different museums inside with exhibitions covering subjects ranging from fine arts to natural history. Fr. 4.
- 3 [dead link] Musée d'archéologie et d'histoire, Place de la Riponne 6, ☏ +41 21 316-3430. Tu-Th 11:00-18:00, F-Su 11:00-17:00. Fr. 6.
- 4 [dead link] Musée des Beaux-Arts, Place de la Riponne 6, ☏ +41 21 316-3445. M-Th 11:00-20:00, F-Su 11:00-17:00.
- 5 Musée Historique de Lausanne, Place de la Cathedral 4, ☏ +41 21 315-4101. Tu-Th 11:00-18:00, F-Su 11:00-17:00. A collection of maps, images and documents about the history of Lausanne, and the Lake Geneva region from the earliest times through the long Bernese occupation to liberation and the present day. A beautifully hand-crafted diorama of 16th-century Lausanne is worth a visit all by itself. Fr. 4, students Fr. 2.50.
- 6 Mudac, Place de la Cathédral 6, ☏ +41 21 315-2530. Tu-Su 11:00-18:00, Jul-Aug M 11:00-18:00. The museum of design and contemporary applied arts. Fr. 10.
- 7 Musée de l'Elysée, Av. de l'Elysée 18, ☏ +41 21 316-9911. Tu-Su 11:00-18:00. A world-class photography museum, located in a splendid park. Very close to the Olympic Museum. Fr. 8, students Fr. 4.
- 8 Espace Arlaud, Place de la Riponne 2 bis, ☏ +41 21 316-3850. W-F 12:00-18:00, F-Su 11:00-17:00. Fr. 6.
- 9 La Tour d'Ale. One of the few surviving parts of the medieval ramparts, the tower provides a good excuse to visit rue de l'Ale and rue de la Tour. While you can admire it from outside it's closed to visitors.
- 10 Fondation de l'Hermitage, Rte du Signal 2, ☏ +41 21 312 50 13. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00, Bank holidays 10:00-18:00. Built in 1841 as a residence for the banker Charles-Juste Bugnion, the Hermatage occupies its own wooded space on the hill above old-town, with marvellous views of the Cathedral and the Alps. The family donated the house and land to the City of Lausanne in 1976, which now uses the building to host first class travelling international art exhibitions. Adults Fr. 15, Seniors Fr. 12, Students and unemployed Fr. 7, Under 18 free..
- 11 Musée Romain Lausanne-Vidy, Chemin du Bois-de-Vaux 24, ☏ +41 21 315 41 85. Tu-Su 11:00-18:00. On display are architectural finds from the settlement site just across the road which still features the remains of walls and a forum from the time of Caesar. Fr. 8 , students Fr. 5.
- 12 Notre Dame cathedral, Place de la Cathédrale, ☏ +41 21 316-7161. M-F 07:00-19:00, Sa Su 08:00-18:00. At the summit of the mountain that the old town is built on. The cathedral is architecturally quite interesting with a lot of small towers and windows. There is a fantastic look over the city and the surroundings from the tower, but as the cathedral is situated at the top of the city, already the view from the small square outside it worth taking a picture of. Free.
- 13 Olympic Museum, Quai d'Ouchy 1, ☏ +41 21 621-6511, fax: +41 21 621 65 12. 1 May to 30 Sep: daily 09:00-18:00, 1 Oct to 30 Apr: Tu-Su 09:00-18:00. The museum advertises itself as presenting "wealth of memories which will keep your passion for Olympism burning". The sculpture garden, overlooking Lac Léman, is open to the public. Closed on Mondays from 1 Nov-31 Mar. Items on display include Jean-Claude Killy's ski boots and Carl Lewis' golden track shoes. Fr. 14 for the whole museum, Fr. 7 for just the temporary exhibitions. Children get in half price. Children under 10 admitted free.
- 14 Aquatis, Route de Berne 144 (Metro M2, station Vennes, motorway A9, exit Vennes), ☏ +41 21 654 23 23, [email protected]. 1 Nov-31 Mar: 10:00-18:00; 1 Apr-31 Oct: 09:00-19:00. The largest freshwater aquarium-vivarium in Europe, opened in 2017. Over 10 000 fish, 100 reptiles and amphibians in 46 aquariums, vivariums and terrariums. Visit takes about 2 hours. Fr. 29 for adults, Fr. 19 for children over 5 years old, free for younger children. Family prices and student discounts available..
Do
[edit]
- Explore The Old Town. From the railway station you can take the convenient metro up to either Flon, Riponne or Bessières (close to the cathedral). Alternatively, if you don't mind climbing, the car-free section of old town really starts right across from the train station, with a steep walk up the hill. Shops keep strict hours: M-F 10:00-19:00, and Sa 10:00-18:00. On Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round almost all of the huge car-free area becomes a vast farmers market. Thanks to the hills making it hard to pave over, Lausanne's old town is larger than most found in Swiss cities, with the notable exception of Zurich. You can spend days wandering the old cobbled streets and still not know all of its nooks and crannies. After the shops close there are dozens of quaint, cozy, hip, or just warm restaurants, cafés and nightclubs, especially considering that at Place Central the old town joins with the Flon nightclub/gallery district. Wander as long as you like, there's no charge of course.
- Explore the Sauvabelin Forest (north of the centre). Don't miss the freely accessible Sauvabelin tower, from which you have a 360° view of the lake, the Alps and the Jura. Then go down to the city centre through the park of the Fondation de l'Hermitage (see above).
- Enjoy the lakefront of Ouchy. Take Metro 2 to Ouchy, et voila, as you leave the metro station you'll find the lake (and on a clear day the Alps) stretched out in front of you. The lake front also offers restaurants, bars, and the Chateau d'Ouchy castle/hotel.
- Climb up the Cathedral Tower. The view from the top of the Cathedral tower is well worth the climb. Ask the nun at the souvenir shop in the Cathedral. From 22:00 until two in the morning, a watch man shouts the hours, perpetuating a tradition that dates back to 1405.
- Football: FC Lausanne Sport play soccer in Swiss Super League, the top tier. Their home ground is Stade de la Tuilière (capacity 12,500) 3 km north of city centre.
- FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy were relegated in 2024 and play in the Challenge League, the second tier. Their home ground is La Pontaise (capacity 15,700) the Olympic stadium 2 km north of city centre.
Concerts and theatre
[edit]- 1 Métropole, Rue des Terreaux 25, ☏ +41 21 340-9200. M 09:00-19:00, Tu-F 08:30-19:00, Sa 08:00-18:00. A major concert hall for western Switzerland, the Métropole books dance, world music, pop, jazz, etc. If you are passing through town at the right time you might catch anything from the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra to the Cure here.
- 2 Espace de Terreaux, Rue des Terreaux 14, ☏ +41 21 320-0046. The local council of Protestant churches has de-consecrated the chapel located across the street from the Metropole 2000 shopping centre and now uses it to present weekly concerts with a mix of sacred and profane acts ranging from American gospel singers through Eastern European Klezmer bands to puppet theatre for children.
- 3 Arsenic, Rue de Genève 57, ☏ +41 21 625-1136, [email protected]. Specializing in more offbeat acts the Arsenic books a full schedule of avant-garde theatre, jazz and pop music, and installation/performance art throughout the fall, winter and spring.
- 4 Théâtre de Vidy, Av. Jaques-Dalcroze 5, ☏ +41 21 619-4545.
- 5 Théâtre Boulimie, Place Arlaud 1, ☏ +41 312-9700. The sanctuary of Swiss humour.
- 6 Théâtre 2.21, Rue de l'Industrie 10, ☏ +41 21 311-6514.
- 7 Les Docks, Av. Sévelin 34, ☏ +41 21 623-4444. Live music and bar.
- 8 Le Romandie, Place de la Riponne 10, ☏ +41 21 311-1719. Rock club and live music. See their web site for the program.
- 9 Théâtre Kléber-Méleau, 1020 Renens-Malley, ☏ +41 21 625-8429.
Buy
[edit]
The usual Swiss trinkets are available in a couple of places around town, although they are not nearly as ubiquitous as in Geneva or Berne. The real draw here is a colourful farmers market on Saturdays and Wednesdays in the steep, winding streets of Old Town. There are plenty of boutiques and department stores as well. Pretty much everything is closed on Sunday, except in Ouchy, part of which is on federal land.
Mixed in with the expected and the posh are a couple of things which might surprise you:
- 1 Maniak, Rue de Genève 7, ☏ +41 21 312-5840. M 12:00-18:30, Tu-F 10:30-18:30, Sa 10:00-18:00. A punk/goth/alt oriented fashion warehouse.
- 2 [dead link] Pompes Funèbres, Place de l'Europe 8, ☏ +41 21 312-5842. The name of this shoe-store, a spin-off from Maniak above, means "Funeral Services", of course pompe can mean either a ceremony or a sort of shoe, so there you go. They carry all of the trendy lines; Dr Martens, Camper, and others.
- 3 Coup de chapeau, Place Benjamin-Constant 1, ☏ +41 21 311-5405. M 13:30-18:30; Tu-F 09:30-12:00, 13:30-18:30; Sa 09:30-12:30, 13:30-17:00. A hat store is pretty much guaranteed to be a bit of an anachronism in the 21st century, and so that's probably why there aren't very many of these. That's probably also the reason that this little shop in Lausanne has clients from all over the world.
- 4 Bazar d'Ouchy, Av. d'Ouchy 76 (Botom of Ouchy Av.), ☏ +41 21 616-2377. 09:30-12:45, 14:15-18:45. Have we mentioned the usual Swiss trinkets? Well, if that's what you're in for you could do a lot worse than to stop at this friendly, and well stocked shop near the M2 in Ouchy. Everyone there speaks English perfectly, so don't hesitate to ask.
Eat
[edit]Budget
[edit]The usual tricks for budget travel dining work in Lausanne as well. There are three grocery stores inside the train station which are open every day until midnight (a bit expensive), Aldi is in the back of the station below track 9, and it represents a good alternative. There are plenty of great places to take your picnic: for instance, you might try the Crêt de Montriond. To get there go below the railways, take the stairs and go to the main avenue, then turn to the left. After the turn you should see a green hill around the size of a five-storey building directly in front of you. If you are closer to the port of Ouchy, there are two groceries open every day: "Migros" which is near the Mövenpick Hotel and another "Coop Pronto", which is just uphill from the Chateâu d'Ouchy.
If you have a valid student ID, many budget and even some mid-range restaurants offer a student menu for a reduced price.
- 1 P'tit Bar, Rue Louis-Curtat 6. Daily until 19:00. Tiny, as the name would indicate this place can accommodate around 12 people at a time, and that's with strangers seated together at the tiny table, (it works out to be a good place to meet people.) They only serve lunch: salads in the Summer and excellent soup in the winter.
- 2 Tibits, Place de la Gare 11, 1003 Lausanne (In the train station, at the west end of platform 1), ☏ +41 32 531 38 88, [email protected]. 06:30 - 23:00. A fully vegetarian buffet with a few made-to-order fast food options (veggie burger), and excellent local wine in the classic setting of the old "Buffet de la Gare". Tibits didn't renovate the space but rather lovingly restored it and it shows. Fr. 1-30.
- 3 Crêperie de la Chandeleur, 9 Rue Mercerie (in the car-free section of the old town, between the Place de la Palud and the cathedral), ☏ +41 21 312-8419. Tu-Sa 10:00-23:00. This cute little crêperie offers the crêpes in a homey Breton atmosphere. If you are travelling with children this is a great place for lunch or dinner as you will be in good company with the owners and locals, and the kids can amuse themselves with the large collection of toys. Fr. 25-30.
- 4 Holy Cow!, Rue Cheneau de Bourg 17. M-W 11:00-22:00, Tu-Sa 11:00-23:00. Possibly the best burgers in Lausanne. Their "Elvis Blue Cheese" burger is rated the best burger in Switzerland by gourmet blog theburgerblog.ch. The restaurant seats about 30 but it gets rather crowded in the evening. But it's definitely a must try. Fr. 20.
- 5 La Croquignole, Rue de l'Ale 16. A café in the old town on the street to the Ale tower with a variety of sandwiches and other freshly baked products.
- 6 Le Charlot, Rue Pichard 8. If you’re looking for a tasty sandwich this is where to go to. The sandwiches are a real pleasure to the eye and in the mouth. Wide selection. The sauces are great.
- 7 La Mosaïque, Av. d'Ouchy 70. Very good Ethiopian cuisine. Recommendation to enjoy your meal at the lake and the mountains.
Mid-range
[edit]- 8 Léonardo, Esplanade du Flon. A health-focused Italian place with a diverse and lively young staff. The ample salad bar is a big draw, and a good value but the dishes à la carte are also very good. It offers several variations on hand-made spaghetti alla chitara, various bruschetta options, and a veggie burger.
- 9 Sicily (Restaurant Pizzeria Sicily) (Bus stop Vallonnette), ☏ +41 21 653 04 02. 08:30-23:00. A bit out of the way, but totally worth the short bus ride, Sicily is a family-run Italian restaurant with, as the name implies, southern Italian and Sicilian specialities. The quality is well beyond what you would expect for a neighbourhood restaurant, and the warmth of welcome goes even farther. Fr. 20.
- 10 Café de Grancy, Av. du Rond-Point 1 (one block south of the main train station, Métro: Grancy), ☏ +41 21 616-8666. The Grancy offers a full dinner menu of substantial quality, which always includes a few good vegetarian options. The reason many travellers will want to visit however is to linger - outside of dinner hours - over a coffee and a book or newspaper, or to really catch the spirit of the place your still-unfinished master's thesis. It's as though the front door is some kind of science-fiction transporter which links it directly to Berkeley. Fr. 3 for coffee, Fr. 3.50-4.20 for a glass of wine or a beer. Fr. 16 for the (amazing) risotto of the day.
- 11 Café Saint Pierre, Galeries Benjamin Constant 1 (Métro: Bessières), ☏ +41 21 323-3636. Another good spot brought to you by the Café de Grancy team, the Saint Pierre offers a daily lunch menu and a range of small dishes in the evening, with a good selection of wines, etc. The place packs up on weekend evenings (including Thursday) so get there early. Fr. 30-40.
- 12 Poco Loco, Place Chauderon 5 (also accessible from the Flon district off of Rue de Genève), ☏ +41 22 329-1111. M-W 11:30-14:00, 18:00-23:59, Th 11:30-14:00, 18:00-01:00, F 11:30-14:00, 18:00-02:00, Sa 18:00-02:00. So you probably aren't going to travel to Switzerland for the Mexican food, but if you get a hankering while you're there you could hardly do better than this noisy, popular, and fairly authentic joint which is attached to a Spanish-language cinema and a hip bar. The dessert menu offers a selection of Mexican cigars, tequilas, and of course sweets. Moderately vegi-friendly, they do have vegetarian fajitas and a "spinach wrap". 30-35 Frfor dinner.
- 13 Java, Rue Marterey 36 (between Rue Enning and Place de l'Ours), ☏ +41 21 321-3837. There's something very welcoming about this little bar/restaurant that makes it a fantastic place to linger for a few hours before staying on for a dinner of one of Java's many gorgeously presented Mediterranean inspired dishes, or one of the large selection of savoury crêpes. Vegetarians will feel right at home. ~Fr. 20 for dinner.
- 14 Mövenpick, Av. de Rhodanie 4, ☏ +41 21 612-7612. Daily 06:30-23:30.
- 15 Pinte-Besson, Rue de l'Ale 4, ☏ +41 21 312-5969, [email protected]. M-F 08:00-24:00. This, the oldest restaurant in Lausanne offers utterly classic Swiss cooking of very high quality. Also serves as the neighbourhood bar. Fr. 15-25 (lunch); Fr. 30-40 (dinner).
- 16 Ristorante St-Paul, Av. d'Echallens 72, ☏ +41 21 544-7391. Evenings Tu-Sa. Mathilde and Nazzareno Raffa, veterans of the pan-Italian kitchen at the Hotel Angleterre in Ouchy have made a big impression in Lausanne culinary circles with this perfectly authentic southern Italian bistro. Naturally the focus is, as in Puglia is on seafood, but there's plenty to keep vegetarians happy as well. Mathilde's English is perfect and her knowledge of Italian wines is nearly encyclopaedic, so when presented with the wine card just ask her what she thinks.
Splurge
[edit]- 17 Le Club, Flon Valley (take Metro M2 to Flon, then walk to the esplanade). Upscale Italian cuisine in a large trendy all-glass restaurant. Try the truffle ravioli. In the summer the terrace, insulated from motor traffic, is a big draw for singles of all persuasions. Free Wi-Fi. Expect to pay around Fr. 50 per person for dinner..
- 18 MYO, 1 allée Ernest-Ansermet (in the park of Montbennon), ☏ +41 21 323-2288. A high-quality sushi/fusion restaurant with a superb view of the lake and the alps. Vegetarians fear not! The creativity of the chef extends to non-seafood items as well. ~Fr. 60 per person.
- 19 Eat Me, Rue Pépinet 3 (near the Place Saint-François), ☏ +41 21 311-7659. The restaurant, orchestrated by the Chef Stéphane Goubin, proposes a gastronomical voyage "around the world" between Rome, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Bangkok. From Fr. 60 per person.
- 20 l'Accademia, 11 Place du Port (in the hotel Angleterre), ☏ +41 21 613-3434. Very high-end Italian cooking in a warmly decorated room. The service is impressive, as is the wine list. Of course you pay for what you get. From Fr. 60 per person.
- 21 la Table d'Edgard, Rue du Grand-Chêne 7-9 (in the Lausanne Palais Hotel), ☏ +41 21 331 3215. Known for inventive and subtle cooking and super attentive service, the Table has won a Michelin star, one of two in central Lausanne. From Fr. 100 per person.
- 22 Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville de Crissier, Rue d'Yverdon 1 (bus 18 Crissier-centre gets you fairly close, or take a cab), ☏ +41 21 634-0505. The top of the top in Suisse Romande or possibly in Switzerland. Reviewers use words like "incomparable", "stellar", and "spectacular" when writing about the culinary stylings of (sadly deceased) chef Benoît Violier. They have three Michelin stars which is as high as the scale goes (and quite rare), and 19 (out of 20) points in the Gault et Millau (also quite rare). Consider reserving several months in advance. The Menu will run you Fr. 295-360, without wine..
Drink
[edit]The sheer number of nightlife spots makes it hard to choose which ones to list. As a general rule they tend to be clustered into nightlife districts, like the Flon, Place du Tunnel, Place de la Gare, and Rue Marterey. This list tries to present one or two individual establishments from each of those clusters, plus a few which are a bit more off the beaten path.
The city's official website has surprisingly good music listings, so if you would like to see what's going on during your visit give it a try.
Bars
[edit]- 1 Le Bourg, Rue de Bourg 51, ☏ +41 21 311-6753. W 18:00-01:00, Th 18:00-03:00, F Sa 18:00-04:00. A great place to see up-and-coming jazz and performance oriented acts from all over the continent. The place is a real theater with a tiny bar in front, and the booking is simply amazing for a room which can hold maybe 30 people tops, with acts ranging from French accordion jazz or gypsy jazz to Coco-Rosie-like "new folk" to famed Chicago and NYC DJs. You would not be alone in asking how they can pull that off. Fr. 4.
- 2 La Bossette, Place du Nord 4, ☏ +41 21 320-1585. Restaurant and bar, relaxed atmosphere, reasonable prices and good beer.
- 3 Black Luna, Place de l'Europe 7 (inside of the Flon Metro station, near the M1 track), ☏ +41 21 311-4427. Tu-Sa until 02:00. A cool, dark cave of a place inhabiting the former location of N²O and Luna before it, Black Luna offers a floral environment, an excellent bar-food menu and good drinks, as well as a little bit of a respite two steps from the Flon nightlife district, and practically inside the Flon Metro station. Fr. 3.50-7.00 for a beer or a glass of wine.
- 4 Bar Tabac, Rue Beau-Séjour 7, ☏ +41 21 312-3316. This friendly café has a huge selection of Belgian beers and French wines. The décor is understated hip, the climate is calm, and the clientèle is a very pleasant mix.
- 5 Café Couronne d'Or, Rue des Deux-Marches 13, ☏ +41 21 311-3817. Su Tu 16:00-23:59, W 08:00-23:59, Th-Sa 08:00-01:00. Another fine place for a drink over your master's thesis, or a conversation with friends, the Couronne packs them in on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday evening. Cosy old bar in a small alley between Riponne and Tunnel.
- 6 Café du Château (Brasserie Artisanale), Place du Tunnel 1, ☏ +41 21 312-6011. Daily from 17:00. The Brasserie offers a number of beers made on the spot including a speciality, 100% natural ginger beer. They also have a kitchen offering a range of tasty pizzas at reasonable prices. Service au bar means you have to order at the bar or you'll wait some time to be noticed and served. A pint of ginger (or other) beer will set you back Fr. 5, a pizza Fr. 15. Pizza and homemade beer until 04:00 on weekends.
- 7 Bleu Lézard, Rue Enning 10. The Bleu Lézard is a popular student hangout with a restaurant-café-bar upstairs and a dance floor in the basement. There's usually live music on Wednesdays and DJs on the weekends. Perfect place for a late Sunday brunch. Fr. 4 for a beer.
- 8 Le Lounge (Chateau d'Ouchy), Place du Port 2 (near the end of Metro M. The Lounge is on the east side of the Chateau, facing the Vaudois Alps), ☏ +41 21 331-3232. M-F 10:00-01:00, Sa Su 10:00-02:00. The Lounge of the Chateau d'Ouchy hotel has comfy white sofas, and a pretty impressive collection of Scotch whiskeys, but the real draw is that feeling that you've wandered into a James Bond film.
- 9 El Cavalo Blanco, Av. d'Ouchy 66 (just up the road from the Chateau). A faux-English pub no longer, the former White Horse is now a tapas bar, and a darn good one. Attention: the sangria blanco (white-wine sangria punch) is dangerously good.
- 10 MGM, Rue du Lac 14 (50 m east of Métro Ouchy), ☏ +41 21 616-3881. A red storefront facing the lake and the Alps, the MGM has two terraces: the usual sort on the sidewalk, and better yet a deck on the second floor which makes for a great place to relax and enjoy a drink while taking in the view of the Massif du Chablais in the lingering sunlight of a summer evening.
- 11 XIIIème Siècle, Rue Cité-Devant (In the old city, behind the Cathedral). Daily 22:00-05:00. Claiming to be a bar for students this "13th century" basement bar really gets going after midnight, when the other bars start to close. The dancing (and massive pulling) goes on until 05:00. A big plus: the very clean bathrooms are 21st century. Drinks are a bit pricier here than elsewhere though. Fr. 5 beer.
- 12 Le Lapin Vert, Ruelle du Lapin Vert (In the old city, behind the Cathedral), ☏ +41 21 312-1317. F Sa until 03:00. Rock Bar. Beer, sweat and loud music.
- 13 The Great Escape, Rue de la Madeleine 18, ☏ +41 21 312-3194. It has several screens showing sporting events, and though seating inside is limited, it has a very nice outdoor terrace particularly in warmer months. On weekdays it tends to have a rather calm and relaxed atmosphere; however, on weekends it can get rather crowded and rowdy.
- 14 Taco's Bar, Rue de Genève 17 (in a basement in the Flon), ☏ +41 21 320-1525. Pool and live music, of reasonably large size.
- 15 La Mise En Bière, Rue de la Tour 14 1004, ☏ +41 21 311 39 12. M-F 15:00-22:00, Sa 11:00-22:00, Su closed. Craft beer bar with a rotation of ~30 beers on tap foreign & domestic. Also has a well stocked store next door. Staff mostly speak English. Closes very early, so plan ahead.
To perhaps a surprising degree for visitors from outside of Swiss Romande gay nightlife is very well integrated into nightlife at large. Most Lausanne nightspots are definitely gay-friendly, and many have a mixed straight-gay bar staff. There are a couple of places though which either advertise themselves as gay, or just have a majority gay crowd rather than just being gay-friendly. If that's what you are looking for there are a number of such bars along the avenue de Tivoli.
Clubs
[edit]- 16 Le Romandie - Rock club Lôzane, Place de l'Europe 1b. As a members-run cooperative the Romandie can offer just about the cheapest drinks imaginable in Switzerland, but the main point is the bands. The calendar leans pretty heavily toward hard rock and heavy metal they also book folk or other acts on a weekly basis as well as hosting friendly, late-night parties with DJs. Another draw is the room itself: the club stretches between 2 arches of the bridge of Place de l'Europe.
- 17 Les Docks, Av. Sévelin 34. Located in an industrial zone, this room offers concerts once or twice a week, from French "chanson à texte" to metal (mostly world music, though).
- 18 MAD, Rte de Genève 23. One of the largest Swiss dance club with international DJ appearances. Thursday RnB & student nights, Friday trance & techno, Saturday house clubbing, Sunday TRIXX & Jungle gay nights. Difficult to enter after midnight. Check local listings for details.
- 19 D!, Place Centrale. Dance club with international DJ appearances, occasionally concerts. Doesn't get started until after midnight. Check local listings for details.
- 20 [dead link] Amnesia Club, Av. Jaques-Dalcroze 9 (by the lake).
- 21 La Ruche Club (The Hive), Rue de la tour 41. A very popular place to dance on minimal music, there's sometimes psychedelic trance. A strange place, attended by a lot of very weird kinds of insects. "On s'retrouve à la ruche!" they say. Upstairs is the associated Café Hydromel (hydromel is a kind of mead).
Sleep
[edit]Most of the hotels in Lausanne are in the mid-price range, though there are also a number of luxury hotels as you would expect in the city which hosts the International Olympic Committee. There are also a few cheapies.
Budget
[edit]- 1 ADA-Logements, Av. de Tivoli 60, ☏ +41 21 625-7134. A good value bed and breakfast with 12 rooms, with a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Fr. 50/100.
- 2 Jeunotel, Ch. du Bois-de-Vaux, ☏ +41 21 626-0222. This hotel near the university and sporting complexes offers 55 casual rooms aimed at younger travellers, with 6 rooms designed for the needs of chaperones. Starting at Fr. 32 for a bed in a triple, Fr. 54/85 for singles without/with shower.
- 3 Lausanne GuestHouse, Epinettes 4, ☏ +41 21 601-8000, [email protected]. Near the CFF railway station, thus in easy range of the centre of Lausanne. It's in a nice 19th-century town house. Unfortunately the guest house is scheduled for demolition in a few years to make way for another rail platform. Place in a four-bed room starting at Fr. 36, Fr. 88 for a single (with shower)..
Mid-range
[edit]
- 4 Hotel Regina, Rue Grand St-Jean 18 (in the old town; metro Flon, bus to Place Bel Aire), ☏ +41 21 320-2441, fax: +41 21 320 25 29. Desk open until 22:00. This cute little hotel is in a great location for exploring the old town and the Flon gallery and nightclub district. The staff are super nice, and they offer free Wi-Fi to their guests. Fr. 84-135.
- 5 Raisin, Place Palud 19, ☏ +41 21 312-2756. This traditional inn still offers a handful of remodelled rooms. The location is as central as it gets. Fr. 110/220.
- 6 Hôtel City, Rue Caroline 5, ☏ +41 21 320-2141. A nice well-kept hotel at the other end of pont Bessières from the Cathedral, and thus offering some magnificent views. Fr. 125-160/160-195.
- 7 Hôtel des Voyageurs, Rue Grand St-Jean 19 (in the old town; metro Flon, bus to Place Bel Aire), ☏ +41 21 319-9111. Just across the street from the Regina, and offering rooms of a similar quality. Fr. 149-178/219-260 single/double.
- 8 Mövenpick, Av. Rhodanie 4 (on the waterfront at Ouchy, just down from the Metro station), ☏ +41 21 612-7612. The Swiss ice-cream and hospitality giant's Lausanne location is a very good value for the price, if you're going to spend that much anyway. There are three very good value (splurge quality, mid-range prices) restaurants downstairs to choose from. The main one offers fusion dishes and — a rarity for Europe — a good choice of California wines. Fr. 180-360/194-440 singles/doubles.
- 9 Hotel Continental, Place de la Gare 2 (just in front of the train station of Lausanne), ☏ +41 21 321 8800, fax: +41 21 321 8801. A 10-minute walk from the historic quarter and the shopping area. The hotel has also the Grill Olympia where you will be able to taste authentic cuisine. All ingredients come from local suppliers with the greatest emphasis on quality. Specialities of the Steak House Olympia include different grilled meats as well as tiger fish and meat fondue.
Splurge
[edit]- 10 Chateau d'Ouchy, Place du Port 2 (across the street from the M2 Ouchy station), ☏ +41 21 616 74 51. It's a still a castle, freshly renovated. On the downside the prices have been elevated into the stratosphere making what used to be a deal into a splurge. Of course it still has the magnificent view of the Vaudois alps. Fr. 270-440.
- 11 Lausanne Palace, Rue du Grand-Chêne 7-9 (next to park Montbenon), ☏ +41 21 331 31 31. Reception operates 24 hours per day 365 days per year. This stylish 5-star just off of the old town offers superb views of the lake and mountains, and three different restaurants including the Table d'Edgard which has a Michelin star. Starting at Fr. 350/450. Fr. 2,600 for the presidential suite..
- 12 Beau-Rivage Palace, pl Port 17-19 (across from the Chateau d'Ouchy), ☏ +41 31 613 33 33. The absolute pinnacle of Lausanne guest accommodations, the Beau-Rivage practically defines luxury. It's a perfect choice for delegations to the IOC, or for anybody whose boss is footing the tab. Fr. 410-680/470-780 singles/doubles..
Stay safe
[edit]Lausanne by day is quite safe for a city of its size. By night, however, it does take on a bit of an edge. Due to the number of clubbers and migrants in the city there are a few bad apples amongst them.
Begging is becoming a problem in the old town. New organized groups have started to appear, as well as the occasional lone begging child. The most affected areas are Lausanne-Flon and Saint-François during daytime. Common sense in most cases: if the beggar is offensive or impolite, it's organized begging. Legitimate beggars are generally passive and silent. Do not encourage organized begging and immediately report cases of begging children to the nearest policeman or security guard.
Places to avoid at night are Rue de Genève (a prostitution centre in the area) and the park by the Tribunal d'Arrondissement. La Borde and the forest of Sauvabelin also have a bad reputation at night. Brawls related to the high concentration of clubbers and drunk people on week-end nights, which used to rank Lausanne #1 for criminality in Swiss cities in the past, seem to have diminished these last years.
There are also several areas such as the train station and Chauderon where you may find yourself hassled by drug dealers. However their business is not usually mugging and these areas tend to be very busy and under police observation.
Place de la Riponne can be a fairly scary area as it is the city-assigned congregation area for drug addicts. However it tends to have constant foot traffic and regular police patrols. Locals vastly overstate how dangerous it actually is due to its previously far worse state.
Lone women should be particularly aware when walking about after dark, though attacks are rare.
Additionally be aware on the train between Lausanne and Geneva airport; it is a well known target for bag snatchers.
Stay healthy
[edit]Dial 144 for emergency telephone assistance (in French).
- 1 CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 46, ☏ +41 21 314-1111. 24 hour emergency medical care at this, the University Hospital of Canton Vaud.
- 2 Permanence PMU-Flon, Voie du Chariot 4, ☏ +41 21 314 9090. Monday to Saturday 07:00-21:00, Sunday and public holiday 09:00-19:00. Emergency medical care.
- 3 Centre Médical de Vidy, Route de Chavannes ll (just off Maladière roundabout), ☏ +41 21 622-8888. M-F 07:00-23:00, Sa Su 09:00-23:00. Open for Emergency medical care daily. You can just turn up!! Very quick service in this new, modern emergency treatment centre.
- 4 Hôpital de l'Enfance, Rue Montétan 16, ☏ +41 21 213-7777. 24 hour emergency medical care for babies and children.
- 5 Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Ave de France 15. For emergencies with eye problems.
- Pharmacie 24 SA, ☏ +41 21 613-1224. Daily 08:00-23:59. This service provides for pharmacy service at one or more Lausanne pharmacies between. Call for the pharmacy open nearest you. Be ready to state your current address in French, or have someone at reception do it.
- 6 Pharmacie de la Gare (in the train station). If you are staying in the old town this will almost certainly be the pharmacy you are referred to by 24 SA at least until it closes at 23:00.
Connect
[edit]As of Sept 2021, Lausanne has 4G from Salt and 5G from Sunrise and Swisscom. Wifi is widely available in public places.
- Fragbox, Rue de la Tour 3 (in the centre of Lausanne, one street above rue de l'Ale. Bus: Place Bel-Air). An amazing cybercafé and permanent LAN party. They speak English, Italian, German and Portuguese. It's a highly equipped centre, with 35 computers. You can install any software you need. Fr. 5/hour and goes down to Fr. 2/hour with coupons.
Go next
[edit]One of the nicest ways to spend an afternoon anywhere is to take a boat from the port of Ouchy on the Lakefront of Lausanne to either Vevey or Montreux. The Steamboats of the CGN offer you an amazing view of one of the most gorgeous corners of our planet. On the left side of the boat you can take in the beautiful vineyards of Lavaux, and on the right side the Masif of Chablais, and the Franco-Swiss alpine giants, the Dents du Midi.
Here's a partial list of selected daytrips, in order of distance:
- Lavaux - Terraced vineyards and one of the prettiest landscapes anywhere stretching between Lausanne and Vevey.
- Vevey - A lovely city in a cove, and the corporate home to the Nestlé chocolate and food empire.
- Montreux - The jewel of the Swiss Riviera
- Evian - The French bottled water capital. 35 minutes by boat.
- Geneva - The international capital by default, 33 minutes by rail
- Leysin - A laid back ski resort in the Vaud alps above Montreux, about 45 minutes by train.
- Neuchâtel - The picturesque city on Lake Neuchâtel, about 45 minutes by train.
- Verbier - A popular ski resort in western Valais, about an hour by train.
- Berne - The Swiss capital, 70 minutes by rail.