Lausanne

Lausanne is the capital of the canton of Vaud, on the northern shore of Lake Geneva, and the base of the International Olympic Committee.

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Lausanne is the capital of the canton of Vaud, in French-speaking western Switzerland, on the northern shore of Lake Geneva about 51.7 km northeast of Geneva. The city is hilly. Its historic centre sits on three hills, and the Ouchy lakeside lies about 500 metres below the northern edge of the municipality, so expect steep streets and many stairs. The Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, consecrated in 1275, is the most important Gothic cathedral in Switzerland.

Lausanne has called itself the Olympic capital since 1994. The International Olympic Committee is based here, and the Olympic Museum has been in the city since 1993. Ouchy has bathing areas, marinas and lawns on the lake, and the Lavaux vineyards lie in the hills to the east. Plan one day for the old town and museums and another for the lake or the Jorat forest. July is the warmest month, averaging 20.5 °C.

Lausanne in five

Climb the cathedral tower, not just the naveEntry to Lausanne Cathedral is free and the tower costs CHF 6 for adults, free up to age 25. From 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 it opens 9:00 to 17:30, and the rose window stays closed until spring 2027.
Plan the Olympic Museum for a Tuesday to SundayLausanne Tourisme lists it open 9:00 to 18:00, closed Mondays except holidays, with adult entry at CHF 20. Holders of the Lausanne Transport Card pay CHF 16.
Ask your hotel for the Lausanne Transport CardGuests at partner hotels, serviced apartments, hostels and campsites receive it free, with bus, train and metro travel in the Mobilis zones and at least 20% off selected sights. Private rentals do not qualify.
Board a CGN boat at OuchyBoats leave Lausanne-Ouchy for Morges, Nyon, Geneva, Vevey and Montreux, and cross to French shores such as Evian. Check which pass you hold before buying a single ticket.
Start Lavaux from LutryLausanne Tourisme notes Lutry is five minutes away by train, so a short walk among the UNESCO vineyard terraces fits around the city sights. The longer train-out, walk-back route is in the Lake Geneva guide.Lake Geneva and Vaud

Things to do in Lausanne

See all attractions in Lausanne

Aquarium · LausanneAQUATIS Aquarium-VivariumBook tickets in advance, as the site recommends. Weekends bring more families, and the ticket counter can be busy at peak times.

Museum · LausanneCollection de l'Art Brut

Museum · LausanneCantonal museum of fine arts Lausanne

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to LausannePut the places you like in Lausanne on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Geneva (GVA), about 45 minutes by train
Getting there: SBB network, with TGV and EC links from Paris and Milan
Getting around: Metro, buses, trains and CGN boats from Ouchy
Best base: Near the station and Flon, or Ouchy for the lake
Time needed: 1–2 days; 3 with Lavaux and a boat day

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Cold, clear
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cold, quiet
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Spring
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Mild
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, lake walks
JuneRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low14°Long days
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm, lake days
AugustClear10 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Clear, calmer
OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Vineyard harvest
NovemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low5°Fog, early dusk
DecemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Lausanne, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Lausanne

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 1°
Humidity: 80%
Wind: 28 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Lausanne

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today9°5°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue10°6°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed10°6°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu12°6°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri12°7°11%Friday: Rain. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 11%.
Sat12°6°14%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.
Sun11°6°40%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 40%.

Updated 09:16 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8245 CHF

Amount

Converted to

CHF · Swiss Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Lausanne

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarCarnival in BernBern, a day trip
Jul–AugVerbier FestivalValais, a day trip
JulMontreux Jazz FestivalMontreux, a day trip
JulPaléo FestivalLake Geneva Region, a day trip
Jul–SepMenuhin Festival GstaadBernese Oberland, a day trip
JulGurtenfestivalBern, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Lausanne

Lake boats and rail passesCheck which pass covers each boatRead the guide

Olympic Museum and tower ticketsPlan around the Monday closureCheck availability

eSIM for LausanneMetro apps, boat times, vineyard mapsRead the guide

Insurance for LausanneCover for lake trips and hill walksRead the guide

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Rules for Lausanne, checked

Lausanne Cathedral: free entry; tower CHF 6 adults, free to age 25; 9:00 to 17:30 from 1 Oct 2026 to 31 Mar 2027; rose window closed until spring 2027.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Olympic Museum, 2026: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 to 18:00, closed Mondays except public holidays; adults aged 16 and over CHF 20.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Lausanne Transport Card: free for guests of partner accommodation, up to 15 days, with bus, train and metro in the Mobilis zones.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

Plan around Lausanne

All of Switzerland

Cities, mountains, passes and entry rules

Read the guide Lake Geneva and Vaud

Vineyards, boats and the Riviera shoreline

Read the guide Geneva

The lake's other big city and airport

Read the guide Fribourg and the Three Lakes

Medieval Fribourg and Murten inland

Read the guide Bern

The federal city by direct SBB train

Read the guide Montreux

Chillon Castle and the GoldenPass train, along the shore

Read the guide Swiss Travel Pass

When a pass pays on lake and rail routes

Read the guide

Lausanne FAQ

How many days do you need in Lausanne?

One to two days. Spend the first on the cathedral, the Palud square and the Olympic Museum at Ouchy. Add a second for Lavaux or a CGN boat. Choose Lausanne as a base for three days if you also want to reach Vevey, Montreux and Geneva.

Is Lausanne worth visiting?

Yes, for a steep, walkable city with a major Gothic cathedral and the world's Olympic headquarters, plus vineyards and boats on the doorstep. It is less famous than Geneva, which also means fewer crowds at the cathedral.

Is the Olympic Museum worth it?

It suits sports fans and families, who can spend most of a morning there. It is closed on Mondays except holidays, and tickets are CHF 20 for adults. If you only have time for one paid sight, the cathedral tower costs less.

How do you get from Geneva airport to Lausanne?

By train in about 45 minutes, according to Lausanne Tourisme, which also lists the distance as 60 km. Trains leave from the airport station, so there is no need for a transfer through Geneva's center.

Is public transport free in Lausanne?

Yes for guests of partner hotels, serviced apartments, hostels and campsites, who receive the Lausanne Transport Card for up to 15 days. Guests in private rentals do not receive it, so buy tickets for the Mobilis zones.