Lausanne in 2 Days - Itinerary & Things to Do
🤩 My reflection
Lausanne is a city we Turkish people have probably heard countless times in history books, as it's where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed defining the borders of modern Turkey. But putting the history aside, as we got further east into Switzerland, I found myself liking the places more and more. Lausanne was beautiful, especially the lakeside, even if there isn't a huge amount to see in the city centre. Surprisingly, the one thing I wasn't even sure about going to ended up impressing me the most: Lavaux Vineyards. I would 100% recommend adding this to your trip. It's only a short train ride from Lausanne, and you get to walk through beautiful vineyards overlooking the lake, with cute little villages popping up along the way. You can stop for a glass of local wine, have a great lunch or dinner, or, if you're lucky like us, randomly join a party happening in one of the villages.
✍🏻 Itinerary
Day 1: Old Town & City Centre
You don't need to religiously follow this order, but it makes much more sense geographically than bouncing between the attractions.
Place de la Riponne - A large public square surrounded by historic buildings and markets.
Place de la Palud - The medieval heart of Lausanne, known for its animated clock and historic fountain.
Escaliers du Marché - A covered medieval wooden staircase connecting Place de la Palud to Cathedral.
Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Lausanne - A Gothic cathedral dating back to the 12th century and one of Switzerland's most important religious landmarks.
Pont Bessières - A bridge connecting different parts of the city center and offering views of Lausanne Cathedral.
Rue de Bourg - A historic pedestrian street lined with boutiques, cafés, and elegant buildings. (you can buy some chocolate from Blondel on this street)
St. François Church - A historic church in the city centre.
Pont de Flon - A bridge crossing the Flon Valley and linking Lausanne's upper and lower districts. Lausanne Tourism actually uses this as part of its panoramic walking route.
Esplanade de Montbenon - A large open terrace overlooking Lake Geneva and the mountains, with one of the nicest city views in Lausanne.
Flon District (Esplanade du Flon) - A former industrial area turned into a modern neighbourhood filled with restaurants, shops and bars.
Day 2: Ouchy, Olympic Museum & Lavaux Vineyards
Morning: Ouchy Lakefront
There is M2 metro line between the old town and the lakeside
Vieux Port d’Ouchy - Lausanne's lakeside area with a small harbour, boats and a promenade.
Olympic Museum - A museum dedicated to the history of the Olympic Games.
Olympic Park - A lakeside park featuring Olympic-themed sculptures and installations.
Afternoon: Lavaux Vineyards - A UNESCO World Heritage wine-growing region featuring terraced vineyards overlooking Lake Geneva. It's only a 20-minute train ride from Lausanne.
We took the train from Lausanne to Saint-Saphorin and then walked along Chem. de la Vigne-à-Gilles.
For a short walk of around 25 minutes, continue until Rivaz. If you want to make it longer, continue for around 1 hour until Epesses.
The route is fully exposed to the sun during the day and has no lighting at night, so we recommend going either early in the morning or, even better, in the late afternoon.
You can stop for wine tasting in the villages along the way. We had dinner in Epesses.
The villages you stop at are indeed small, but each one had a completely different vibe when we were there. In one, there was a group of people drinking wine together, another had a DJ and BBQ, and another was basically a full-on party with people everywhere.
Bonus locations if you have the time (we didn't visit):
Plateforme 10 Art District - A cultural complex right next to the train station bringing together major museums for fine arts, photography and design.
Collection de l'Art Brut - A rather unusual museum focused on art created by self-taught artists outside the traditional art world.
Sauvabelin Tower - A wooden observation tower offering panoramic views of Lausanne.
Lac de Sauvabelin - A small artificial lake surrounded by forested walking paths.
Fondation de l'Hermitage - An art museum hosting temporary exhibitions in a historic villa.
📢 Essential tips
What's the best time to visit Lausanne?
Switzerland is beautiful in every season, but since Lausanne is mainly a city destination, I think May to September is the best time to visit for comfortable weather to walk around and explore the city. We visited at the end of May and the weather was perfect.
How to get around in Lausanne?
The city centre is very walkable, although Lausanne is quite hilly! You can take the M2 metro down to Ouchy and the lakefront, and the train is the easiest option for getting to the Lavaux vineyards. If you're staying at a hotel, you can also get a Lausanne Transport Card, which gives you free public transport during your stay.
How many days do I need in Lausanne?
I'd say 1 full day is enough for the Old Town and Ouchy, potentially without going inside the Olympic Museum. I'd recommend 2 days if you also want to include Lavaux.
What is the currency in Switzerland?
The currency is Swiss Franc (CHF). Switzerland is not part of the EU, so they don't use the euro. You can pay by card almost everywhere.
Is Switzerland expensive?
Yes! We were thinking we were going to visit Europe from Europe in the end, so it should have been relatively cheaper compared to many other routes. But Switzerland is extremely expensive. One day we paid €10 for one coffee. Okay, it was a barista coffee from whichever country, but still...
Do I need a visa to visit Switzerland?
Switzerland is not part of the European Union, but it is part of the Schengen Area. This means that if you already have a valid Schengen visa, you should be able to use it to enter Switzerland (always double check your individual case though).
Where to go next?
The easiest next stop is Montreux, which is only around 20 minutes by direct train from Lausanne.
🔗 All travel links
Accommodation:
ibis Lausanne Centre - a basic and affordable hotel option - You can book here
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