Tourist Places To Visit In Lausanne

Lausanne is a beautiful city located on the shore of Lake Geneva. It has picturesque views of the Alps, Lake and has a centre buzzing with a lot of activity - especially during the summers. There are many interesting tourist places to visit in Lausanne, including its many museums, gorgeous architecture, art installations and gardens. It is a family-friendly destination with lots of exciting things to do for people of all ages.

A trip to Lausanne is incomplete without a visit to this museum as Lausanne is home to the International Olympic Committee and is essentially the Olympic Capital of the world. The museum is close to Ouchy promenade and overlooks Lake Geneva. It has exhibits spread across 3 floors and gives you an interesting insight into its history as well as the current stories and interesting facts and trivia. There is also an interactive exhibit where you can test your mental and physical prowess and know if you have what it takes to be an Olympian!

This beautiful Cathedral can be seen in almost every photo of Lausanne with its towers standing tall and proudly decorating Lausanne's skyline. Construction began all the way back in 1170. Since then, it has taken several architects over hundreds of years to construct, decorate and restore it to what we see it today. In 1275, it was consecrated and dedicated to Our Lady. A giant pipe organ, consisting of 7000 pipes, is one of the things you must check out when you visit the church. It took 10 years to design and was inaugurated in 2003. Other things to see are are the 13th-century sculptures and rose window.

This tower is constructed only from wood and is located in the Sauvabelin Forest. Its unusual double helix staircase makes it quite unique and interesting. It was constructed in 2003 and has 151 steps that will reach you to the observatory room. From the top, you can enjoy some superb views of the city, Swiss Alps, French Alps and Lake Geneva and is totally worth the climb!

The Palais de Rumine was built in 1871 by a Russian aristocrat as a palace for the people. Today, it is serving its purpose by being a museum, conference centre, library and government building. It has 5 museums within it including the Cantonal Money Museum and Cantonal Museums of Fine Art. The interiors are quite beautiful and traditional. It is open 6 days a week (closed on Mondays) from 11 am to 5 pm on weekends and 6 pm on weekdays.

You will find a very unique and authentic collection of art right here. The artworks were curated by Jean Dubuffet and range from artists of all ages and background. There are drawings by children to psychiatric patients - and is an eclectic collection because the purpose of the creation was truly artistic and not for any commercial gain. There is an interesting story (artist biography) behind the artworks as well. One of the most popular exhibits is of the artist by the name of Aloïse Corbaz who was a local woman with schizophrenia.

Apart from the Art Brut collection, the Hermitage Foundation (Fondation de l’Hermitage) also has a lovely display of artworks. The collection is housed in a manor built in the mid 19th century and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and gorgeous views of the mountains and lake. There are hundreds of artworks which keep changing constantly, so it stays fresh even for people who have visited it before.

The Aquatis aquarium is a unique project which allows you to really deep dive into this freshwater environment, using interactive scenography and truly innovative technology. It is recreational, educational and a lot of fun for people of all ages. It spans across an area of 3500 m2 and houses a total of 46 aquariums, vivariums and terrariums. There are over 10,000 fishes and 100 reptiles to see and learn! There is nothing like this anywhere else in Switzerland or even in all of Europe! 

Ouchy is a favourite spot for local and tourists alike. It has a similar vibe as that of Nice or the other French Riviera cities. The Ouchy port puts on a pretty display of neatly lined-up boats which makes for great clicks. The promenade stretches a long way passing by 3 gardens, making the walk very picturesque and colourful. Many festivals and celebrations take place here in the summers. You can also rent a paddleboat and explore the waters of Lake Geneva from here.

This botanical garden was founded in 1824. It houses over 6000 different species of plants, ferns, flowers and fungi. You can walk around and explore at your own pace and take interesting photos. There are information cards everywhere, so you can also amp up your plant knowledge! You will also find a good collection of Alpine plants which are used for medicinal purposes.

If you want to spend a quiet evening amidst nature and peace, you can stroll around this public park found in the city centre. The gardens make for a pleasant walk with pretty flowers, a small rotunda from the neoclassical era and a fountain. There is also a mansion in the middle of the garden, which was originally where the International Olympic Committee was headquartered from 1922 to 1967.