What to do in Lausanne in 48 hours?

Written by Vicplusgreen

Published on April 22, 2024, modified on May 14, 2024

With breathtaking scenery, a city full of charm, nature as far as the eye can see and, for the lucky ones, a view of Mont Blanc, Lausanne has plenty of surprises in store for a Swiss holiday to remember!

1) Getting here

To get to Lausanne, allow around 4 hours by train from Gare de Lyon with TGV Lyria. In other words, not much longer than a trip to Brittany. A destination perfectly compatible with a 2-3 day getaway. And if you finish the night on the Paris-Dijon leg, the journey is even quicker!

2) Arrival in Lausanne

As soon as you arrive, you're already in the swing of things. Lausanne is not Belgium! Uphill, uphill and more uphill. Just to get from the train station to the hotel in the city center, you'll need 15 minutes of quadriceps- and hamstring-busting walking. It's been said that the people of Lausanne have "the longest legs in Switzerland", and it's easy to see why!

On this subject, we remind you that in Switzerland, crossing the road when the little man is red will earn you dismayed looks from passers-by. Here, we respect city signs, even if there's not a car in sight. But don't worry. You soon get used to waiting for the light to turn green. And given the gradient, breaks are welcome.

3) The must-do tour: Sauvabelin Tower

A breathtaking view of Lake Geneva, Evian, the mountains and Lausanne from a single vantage point? Start your morning with a climb to the Tour de Sauvabelin, and you'll have a great day! A 360° panoramic view of Lake Geneva and the mountains in the background. It's the ideal way to get your muscles into shape and get a glimpse of the city. And if you're not up for a sporty ride, don't worry. The bus network is excellent, and some hotels offer weekend passes to their guests.

4) Head for the city

After the Sauvabelin tower, you can walk back down through the Parc de l'Hermitage, with several exceptional views of Lausanne cathedral. The path leads down through the woods, still offering sublime views of the mountains. Once you've reached the foot of the cathedral, take a break at the Lausanne Historical Museum before heading into the city center. If you're looking for the best fondue in town, stop off at the "Café du Grütli", the must-visit restaurant for this typical dish.

5) Rest up for the evening

At the end of the day, we went to the Café de Grancy, which I recommend as much for a summer drink on the terrace as for an excellent meal in a subdued atmosphere. Special mention for the local white wines! What's next? Lausanne is a sporty place.

6) Moxy Lausanne City

Less than 15 minutes from the station and right in the center of town, the Moxy Lausanne City is a modern hotel where you'll feel right at home! The decor is designer and very colorful, and the lobby looks like a large lounge where you can either relax with friends or work quietly in a relaxed atmosphere.

The rooms are comfortable, with a mix of pop and industrial styles, and it's a pleasure to stay in a place that doesn't look like any other!

It's located right in the Flon district, so as soon as you leave the hotel, you're spoilt for choice of restaurants, bars and boutiques (and just to make sure you tick all the boxes, it's also super quiet at night, so you can recharge your batteries before the next day's sightseeing).

And on that subject, a little bonus: the hotel provides a card that gives you free access to the city's transport system!

7) Museums and boutiques to finish off

The next morning, the bright sunshine of the previous day gave way to heavy clouds, so we headed for the museums, and for that, the must-see place in town is the new arts district: Plateforme 10. The museums are adjacent to the train station, which is why it's called Plateforme 10, because it's a bit like the "10th lane of the station". Good old Swiss. On the same site, you can discover the Musée cantonal des beaux-arts (MCBA), the Musée cantonal de la photographie (Musée de l'Élysée) and the Musée de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains (MUDAC).

For boutiques, 2 favorites:

• Fripsquare, a second-hand store where you can also stop for a coffee and a pastry to kill two birds with one stone.
• Laboratoi/re, a concept store for fashion, accessories, tableware and much more, featuring exclusively committed Swiss brands and designers. The ideal place to take home a local souvenir (as opposed to a made-in-China key-ring!).

One last stroll and it's already time to set off again. Knowing that the weather on the last day didn't allow us to take a stroll along the shores of Lake Geneva, which is apparently a must-see. We're heading back with TGV Lyria.

In short, a city to discover for nature lovers, for those aiming for a rather sporty experience in a rather unique environment that combines city and nature!