Lausanne between culture, lake and urban green spaces

Lausanne lies on Lake Geneva in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, known as the Romandy. When choosing a hotel, you can start by considering which aspects of the city you would like to shape your stay: art and collections, architecture, the lakeside or nature in an urban setting. The sights offer a variety of experiences—from a large arts district near the main train station to walking paths with panoramic views.

Collections and city history

Just a few steps from Lausanne’s main train station, Plateforme 10 brings together three cantonal museums and two foundations on an esplanade of almost 25,000 square metres. This public space in the heart of the city is dedicated to the diversity and interdisciplinary nature of visual art, photography and design.

The Collection de l’Art Brut offers a different focus. It has been housed in the Château de Beaulieu since 1976 and is home to the world’s first collection devoted entirely to Art Brut. When deciding which institutions and themes to include in your stay, you’ll find a clear contrast between the collection’s concentrated focus on Art Brut and Plateforme 10’s broad range of art, photography and design.

Upcoming events at the Collection de l’Art Brut include exhibitions, guided tours, public workshops, conferences and exhibition openings. If you have a particular event in mind, check the specific dates in advance. The exhibition “Lausanne, l’Exposition” invites visitors to explore the city’s economic, social and cultural history through an emblematic model of the Cité dating from 1638.

Cathedral, Olympic themes and Lake Geneva

Lausanne Cathedral is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and has towered over the city for more than eight centuries. From the tower, you can enjoy panoramic views of the rooftops of the Cité, Lake Geneva and the Alps. One important point to note for visitors concerns the rose window and its stained glass: due to renovation work on the vaults in the south transept, they will be inaccessible until spring 2027.

The Olympic Museum also combines culture with views of the lake. Located in a park above Lake Geneva, it presents sport, art and culture through modern, interactive installations. Visitors can learn about the Olympic Games in all their different dimensions. Lausanne has held the official title of “Olympic Capital” since 1994; the museum gives this theme its own place among the city’s attractions.

In Ouchy, three gardens line the lakeside promenades: Denantou, Elysée and Parc Olympique. Pedestrians, cyclists and roller-sports enthusiasts use the promenades. At the end of the Dapples Gardens are the CGN landing stages, where visitors can set off on a cruise on Lake Geneva. If a boat trip is part of your plans, it’s a good idea to check the timetable in advance.

Walks and nature in the city

For an art-themed walk, pick up the free Art-en-Ville map. It lets you discover sculptures, paintings and photographs scattered along the Lausanne walking route. The route combines getting around the city with experiencing art in public spaces—another way to explore Lausanne’s cultural offerings beyond a visit to a museum.

Parc de Sauvabelin offers walking paths with panoramic views over Lausanne and Lake Geneva. Lac de Sauvabelin is considered one of Lausanne’s symbols of nature in the city and can be reached from the centre in no more than ten minutes. These details make it easy to distinguish the two experiences: the park offers walking paths and views, while the lake provides a nature experience in an urban setting.

AQUATIS adds freshwater habitats to the range of attractions. Visitors travel through five continents and discover different habitats; AQUATIS is Switzerland’s largest freshwater aquarium and vivarium. Take Metro M2 towards Croisettes and get off at Vennes. AQUATIS also has a park-and-ride car park with 1,200 spaces.

This gives you a way to assess Lausanne as a destination based on the places that matter most to your stay.

Discover more destinations: Renens, Epalinges, Romanel-Sur-Lausanne, Crissier, Bussigny, Belmont-Sur-Lausanne.

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