Tourist Attractions in Lausanne

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Lausanne

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Lausanne

Lausanne is a major jewel in the necklace of picturesque cities located on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is set amidst manicured vine terraces and green alpine meadows. Like most Swiss cities, Lausanne gives the impression of a quiet harbour where you want to settle down after a hectic and eventful life.

The city is literally buried in greenery, its relatively small territory has several parks and squares with panoramic views of the Alps and the lake. Lausanne has a lot of historical sights. Tourists will definitely be interested in strolling along the promenade Uschi or the central square Palu, visiting the Lausanne Opera House and going to the ancient cathedral.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Lausanne

Lausanne

 0/5

The largest lake in Central Europe and one of the most picturesque. Its clear water reflects snow-capped peaks and wooded slopes of the Alps. The northern part of the lake belongs to Switzerland, and there is a resort area with first-class hotels and private residences – a real “Swiss Riviera”. The name “Lake Leman” is more popular among locals. Geneva, Lausanne, as well as the resorts of Montreux, Yverdon-les-Bains and Vevey stand on its shores.

Ouchy

 0/5

Lausanne’s promenade, located on the shores of Lake Geneva. The promenade extends beyond the city and links it to neighbouring Morges and Montreux. The local harbour has a marina where yachts moor and a pier where pleasure boats depart on the lake. Hand swans and seagulls swim by the shore and are constantly fed by tourists. The quay offers a magnificent view of the picturesque mountain ranges.

Place de la Palud

 4.4/5

1796 reviews

The main square of the historic part of Lausanne, surrounded by houses from the 17th to 19th centuries. In the middle is the colourful fountain of Justice from the 16th century. Twice a week the square hosts a market, which is visited even by chefs of famous restaurants to buy the best quality products. A pedestrian zone is organised around the Pale, covering the streets adjacent to the square.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Lausanne Palace

 4.6/5

1670 reviews

A luxurious palace of the early 20th century, built in the Neo-Renaissance style by architect G. André. It was built on the money of Gabriel Ryumin, a Russian immigrant who bequeathed 1.5 million francs to the city. Until 1980 the University of Lausanne was located here. The palace now houses museums devoted to archaeology, geology, history, art and a library.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Château St-Maire

 4.3/5

293 reviews

Saint-Mer is the headquarters of the government of the canton of Vaud. The castle was built in the 15th century as a bishop’s residence, but in 1536 it was confiscated from the church in favour of the state. Some of the interior retains medieval features (e.g. the bishop’s room with its stuccoed Gothic fireplace), while other rooms have been reconstructed with a more modern look.

Open time

Château St-Maire

 4.3/5

293 reviews

In 1117, a tower was built on the embankment of Lake Geneva at the request of Bishop L. de Durnay, which was to become part of a powerful fortress in the future. A few centuries later, the structure was rebuilt as a bishop’s residence. By the 19th century, nothing remained of the structure due to a major fire. In 1885, the tower was restored, and a full-fledged palace in neo-Gothic style was added to it. Today, Ushi Castle is home to a luxury hotel.

Open time

The Olympic Museum

 4.6/5

8178 reviews

Temporary and permanent expositions of the museum are related to the history of the Olympic movement. Most of the exhibits are interactive, i.e. they seem to enter into a dialogue with visitors. In the museum you can read the diaries of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. The exposition was created in 1993 on the initiative of the International Olympic Committee.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Collection de l'Art Brut

 4.6/5

848 reviews

Art Brut contains the creations of mentally ill people, as well as those who are considered marginalised by society – vagrants, criminals, clairvoyants, urban lunatics. The collection consists of exhibits collected by the artist J. Dubuffet, who himself created about 10 thousand paintings. The museum opened in 1972. Since then, its collection has grown considerably. At the moment it consists of several thousand pieces.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Musée de l'Elysée

 4.5/5

650 reviews

The museum’s collection is housed in a picturesque baroque mansion. It is dedicated to the art of photography. It displays images that trace the development and refinement of this visual genre in Switzerland and the rest of Europe since its inception. The museum constantly hosts themed exhibitions. There is a beautiful green park around the building, where you can take a stroll after visiting the exhibition.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Hermitage Foundation

 4.6/5

950 reviews

The museum is housed in a mid-19th century villa in the middle of the city park. It consists of several hundred paintings by local painters as well as artists from other European countries. Sufficient attention is also paid to the works of modern masters. There are paintings by Udo, Bossien, Degas and Placiottu. Every year the Hermitage organises two or three international exhibitions.

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Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts

 4.4/5

370 reviews

The museum’s collection is housed in the Maison-Godard mansion, which dates back to the second half of the 17th century. The exhibition consists of works by designers, illustrators, architects and fashion designers. In addition to the two permanent exhibitions, there are daily temporary themed vernissages on current topics. The museum also hosts concerts, dance performances and plays.

Open time

Lausanne Opera

 4.6/5

221 reviews

The opera house was built in 1871. At first, the stage was known as the “Casino Theatre”. Until 1971, it showed mainly operettas, then it began to focus more on operas. The building was reconstructed in 1931, after which it acquired Art Deco elements. Today, the Lausanne Opera House hosts symphony concerts, works by famous composers and famous performers.

Open time

Monday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Lausanne Cathedral

 4.6/5

5583 reviews

A 13th century Gothic church belonging to the Protestant denomination. In the 19th century, under the direction of E. Viollet-le-Duc, the building was reconstructed, after which the appearance of the cathedral was significantly changed. Due to the fragility of the stone from which the building is constructed, the temple is constantly in need of restoration work. In the 18th century, it was even tried to be demolished for this reason and a sturdier structure was built.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Église réformée Saint-François

 4.4/5

272 reviews

A Gothic church built in the 13th century on the Place Saint Francois. In the XV century, a 56-metre bell tower was added to the church. It used to be a monastery of the Franciscan Order, but gradually it became dilapidated and fell into disrepair. It was finally demolished in the early 20th century. After the victory of the Reformation, the church was stripped of excessive decorations, so the modern interior has a rather modest appearance.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 PM

Lausanne

 4/5

1840 reviews

Lausanne railway station was built in the mid-19th century. The surviving Art Nouveau building was erected in 1911-16 according to a joint project of two architectural bureaus. Major reconstruction was carried out in the 1990s. Trains depart from the station in the direction of Geneva, Bern, Domodossola and Olten, as well as high-speed trains to Milan and Paris. There is a metro station nearby.

Open time

Sauvabelin Tower

 4.7/5

2071 reviews

The tower is located in the park of the same name. Its height is 35 metres. The structure is remarkable because it has one of the best observation platforms, offering a circular panorama of Lausanne, the Alps and the picturesque Lake Geneva. The tower was built in 2003 as a symbol of the new millennium. It is made entirely of wood and covered with a copper roof. A spiral staircase leads to the top.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Lausanne Botanical Garden

 4.4/5

722 reviews

The garden was created in the 19th century as a medicinal plant garden for students at the University of Lausanne. Today, it is one of the best places to stroll and admire the panorama of Lake Geneva. Fountains with drinking water and small ponds are scattered around the garden. Local experts work to preserve and breed rare plant species.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Parc de Mon Repos

 4.6/5

1457 reviews

A landscape park in the best traditions of English landscape design. Here you can admire exotic birds, wander among the trees and relax from your worries. Previously, the park was located on the site of vineyards. The works on the arrangement of the territory began in the XIX century. At that time, the ruins of an ancient amphitheatre were discovered here, which later became an additional decoration of Mont Repo.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Esplanade de Montbenon

 4.5/5

3589 reviews

A park in the heart of Lausanne, located in front of the city’s Palais de Justice. It consists of green, well-maintained lawns. The park is a beautiful vantage point from which you can admire the mirror-like water of Lake Geneva and the mountain ranges of the Alps. In summer, concerts and festivals are organised here. At the western end of the esplanade is the Montbénon Casino, built in the early 20th century.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Terres de Lavaux

 4.8/5

42 reviews

The gardens cover an area of 805 hectares on the north-eastern shore of Lake Geneva. Grapes for the production of quality wine were grown in this area as far back as Roman times. This was then continued by the monks of the Order of St Benedict. Lavaux has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007 as an example of the harmonious synthesis of nature and intelligent human activity.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 1:30 – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 1:30 – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 1:30 – 6:30 PM
Friday: 1:30 – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Sunday: Closed