About Lausanne
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.
Cheap flights to Lausanne
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $672 from Vancouver, travelling 3 Dec – 14 Dec. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
- JFK New York to Lausanne17 Nov – 15 Dec · GVA from$825
- YTO Toronto to Lausanne19 Mar – 28 Mar · GVA from$674
- WAS Washington to Lausanne1 Dec – 7 Dec · GVA from$913
- BOS Boston to Lausanne19 Jan – 17 Feb · GVA from$761
- ORD Chicago to Lausanne4 Nov – 11 Nov · GVA from$842
- LAX Los Angeles to Lausanne21 Apr – 28 Apr · GVA from$869
- MIA Miami to Lausanne9 Dec – 17 Dec · GVA from$898
- SFO San Francisco to Lausanne18 Nov – 25 Nov · GVA from$860
Cheapest month to fly
Airlines travellers compared most often: Aer Lingus, ITA Airways, Austrian Airlines, Air Canada, KLM, TAP Air Portugal.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to LausannePlaces to visit in Lausanne
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Lausanne Cathedral
ReligiousA Gothic cathedral above the old town, where a night watchman still calls the hours from the tower. Climb the tower for views over the lake and city.
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Olympic Museum
Museum · 2 mi from centreA lakeside museum on the history of the Olympic Games, with interactive exhibits and medals. Stroll the park outside, filled with sculptures and views of the Alps.
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Ouchy
Neighborhood · 2 mi from centreLausanne's lakeside district with a long promenade, grand hotels, and the departure point for Lake Geneva ferries. Take a boat across the lake to Évian in France for an easy half-day trip.
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Lavaux
Nature · 6 mi from centreSteep terraced vineyards along the lake, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk part of the trail between villages and stop at a wine cellar for a tasting.
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Chillon Castle
Historic · 16 mi from centreA medieval castle on a rocky island in Lake Geneva near Montreux, made famous by a poem by Lord Byron. Take a boat from Lausanne to arrive in style.
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Collection de l'Art Brut
MuseumA museum of outsider art created by self-taught artists, psychiatric patients, and prisoners, displayed in an old manor house. Allow a couple of hours, as the works are unusual and often deeply moving.
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Palais de Rumine
MuseumA grand Italian Renaissance-style palace on Place de la Riponne housing several museums, including fine arts, zoology, and archaeology. Several of the permanent collections are free, so it works well on a rainy afternoon.
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Gruyères
Neighborhood · 22 mi from centreA medieval hilltop town with a castle and a famous cheese named after it. Visit the cheese dairy at the bottom of the hill to see cheese being made.
Things to do in Lausanne by type
10 tours, tickets and experiences across 3 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Day Trips & Excursions 8 experiences Adventure to the Alps Mountains and Geneva Lake -
City tours 2 experiences Lausanne Christmas Markets - Small Group Tour -
Gastronomy & nightlife 2 experiences Gruyères-Golden From Lausanne
- 1-3 hours 1
- Senior 1
- Couples 1
- Youth 1
- Families 1
- Small group 1
Top experiences in Lausanne
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 10 available.
Glacier 3000 - Montreux - Cable Car & Montreux City From Lausanne
From $261 per adult
Col du Pillon - Montreux From Lausanne
From $132 per adult
Interlaken and Jungfrau with Mountain Train Ride from Lausanne
From $427 per adult
Interlaken Day Trip from Lausanne
From $107 per adult
Lausanne Walking Tour
From $379 per adult
Where to stay in Lausanne
Popular hotels in Lausanne, out of 72 properties you can book.
Tulip Inn Lausanne Beaulieu
From $192 per night
Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa
From $358 per night
Aquatis Hotel
From $165 per night
Angleterre
From $224 per night
Beau Rivage Palace
From $735 per night
Zleep Hotel Lausanne-Chavannes
From $116 per night
Hotel Continental
From $164 per night
Lausanne Palace
From $355 per night
Château d'Ouchy
From $276 per night
Movenpick Hotel Lausanne
From $208 per night
Hotel Mirabeau, BW Signature Collection
From $216 per night
Agora Swiss Night by Fassbind Lausanne
From $187 per night
Best time to visit Lausanne
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Lausanne is August, when average daytime highs are around 76°F and rain falls on about 11 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Lausanne weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 54° 47° 100%
- Thu 22 Oct 54° 44° 78%
- Fri 23 Oct 54° 46° 95%
- Sat 24 Oct 50° 44° 89%
- Sun 25 Oct 56° 45° 79%
- Mon 26 Oct 53° 40° 66%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Swiss franc (CHF)1 US dollar ≈ Fr0.83
- Languages
- German, French, Italian, Romansh
- Calling code
- +41
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Europe/ZurichUTC+2
- Capital
- Bern
Upcoming public holidays in Switzerland
- Christmas DayWeihnachten
- New Year's DayNeujahr
- Ascension DayAuffahrt
- Swiss National DayBundesfeier
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Lausanne
These are the airports closest to central Lausanne. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- GVA Geneva International Airport32 mi (52 km) from the city centre
- SIR Sion Airport40 mi (64 km) from the city centre
- NCY Annecy – Haute-Savoie – Mont Blanc Airport49 mi (78 km) from the city centre
Getting around Lausanne
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.
By metro
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.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[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.
By bus
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
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.
Lausanne travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Lausanne?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Lausanne is August, when average daytime highs are around 76°F and rain falls on about 11 days a month.
What is the weather like in Lausanne?
August is usually the warmest month in Lausanne, with average highs of 76°F (24°C). January is the coolest, with average lows of 29°F (-2°C). The wettest month is typically September, with about 166 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Lausanne?
Geneva International Airport (GVA) is the closest airport, about 32 miles (52 km) from the centre of Lausanne. Other nearby airports include Sion Airport (SIR, 40 mi) and Annecy – Haute-Savoie – Mont Blanc Airport (NCY, 49 mi).
How much are flights to Lausanne?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Lausanne in the last 30 days was $672 from Vancouver, travelling 3 Dec – 14 Dec. November is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $672.
What currency is used in Lausanne?
Lausanne uses the Swiss franc (CHF). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ Fr0.83.
What time zone is Lausanne in?
Lausanne uses the Europe/Zurich time zone (currently UTC+2). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Lausanne?
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.
What are the best places to visit in Lausanne?
Top sights in Lausanne include Lausanne Cathedral, Olympic Museum, Ouchy and Lavaux. A Gothic cathedral above the old town, where a night watchman still calls the hours from the tower. Climb the tower for views over the lake and city.
What are the top things to do in Lausanne?
Popular experiences you can book in Lausanne include Glacier 3000 - Montreux - Cable Car & Montreux City From Lausanne, Col du Pillon - Montreux From Lausanne and Interlaken and Jungfrau with Mountain Train Ride from Lausanne. Destina Holidays offers 10 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Lausanne?
The most popular types of experiences in Lausanne are day trips & excursions (8), city tours (2) and gastronomy & nightlife (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Lausanne?
Popular areas for hotels in Lausanne include Lausanne. Well-reviewed options include Tulip Inn Lausanne Beaulieu and Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa.
How many hotels can I book in Lausanne?
Destina Holidays currently lists 72 properties in and around Lausanne, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
