A weekend in Lausanne

On your first day in Lausanne, head for the emblematic cathedral and climb to the top of the belfry tower. From here, you'll have a great view of the whole city and the surrounding area, giving you a good idea of the topology of the place.

Then head back down to the pretty Place de la Palud, a stone's throw from the cathedral, to soak up the atmosphere of this lively district. You can take a leisurely stroll, have a drink or go window-shopping.

The afternoon is devoted to culture. Head to the Fondation de l'Hermitage to enjoy its current exhibition. Take the opportunity to walk back down to the Château de Saint-Maire. Then head off to the Palais de Rumine, which is well worth a visit for its architecture alone. If you feel like it, you can take advantage of its museums, which offer both permanent and temporary exhibitions. But save some energy for a long evening in the lively Flon nightlife district. You can dance the night away in one of its discotheques, have a drink on the terrace or dine in the great atmosphere.

🍴 Where to eat?

https://www.brasseriedemontbenon.ch?utm_source=easyvoyage

Its beautiful dining room attracts locals of all ages. People come for the beautiful view, the warm, family atmosphere and the gourmet cuisine (salads and tartars).

⭐ Where to sleep?

The second day opens on Lake Geneva. The Ouchy district, a beautiful southern extension of Lausanne, takes up residence by the lake and offers magnificent panoramic views. Enjoy a stroll along the string of luxury hotels, the quayside and the marina. The marina's charm lies in its modest size, its sculptures and its picturesque floral clock. A quayside market is held every Sunday from April to September.

Continuing along the quayside, you then come to the Olympic Museum at the top of the hill. Sports fans can explore the three floors, which shed light on the Games of today and yesteryear, and on the motivations of the athletes. It also has collectors' items belonging to top sportsmen and women and interesting archives.

After a well-deserved lunch break, we're lulled to sleep by the shores of Lake Geneva.

The paddlewheelers gliding along the water take us back to the Belle Epoque. A number of CGN boats dating from between 1904 and 1927 have been completely restored. Today, they welcome tourists aboard for a bucolic ride. From the encased decks, you can discover the vineyards of Lavaux, the superb landscapes between mountains and towns, Chillon Castle in the distance, and the towns of Montreux and Vevey. The whole tour takes around 40 minutes. The boat company offers a wide range of cruises and experiences (meal on board, heritage tour, evening out at sea).

🍴 Where to eat?

https://olympics.com/musee/visiter/tom-cafe?utm_source=easyvoyage

The TOM Café is the ideal place for an energising break, with its magnificent terrace and picture windows. Perched on the top floor of the Olympic Museum, it offers salads, sandwiches and a dish of the day.

⭐ Where to stay?

On our last day in Lausanne, we're moving away from the city centre to explore the surrounding area.

The Lavaux vineyards are waiting to be explored, with a 2-hour walk along the slopes. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, the Lavaux terraced vineyards stretch over 830 hectares to the east of Lausanne. The magnificent work carried out by Benedictine and Cistercian monks in the 11th century is still as well-maintained as ever. The terraces, which benefit from plenty of sunshine, are divided into several slopes that sculpt the landscape. Here you can enjoy a good light white wine, perfect for aperitifs, as well as two red wine varieties.

Two short footpaths, lasting around 2 hours, lead through the vineyards from either Cully or Lutry. You can also take the little Express train.

For more information and bookings: https://www.lavauxexpress.ch?utm_source=easyvoyage

Close to the vineyards, two small villages, Lutry and Pully, are well worth a visit. You can linger at the Roman villa in Pully, which has preserved burials and other incredible remains. Its luxury Roman villa was discovered in 1971 Archaeologists uncovered the remains of a luxury Roman villa built on the Prieuré hill. This beautiful residence was abandoned between the 4th and 5th centuries AD and later became a necropolis used by the Burgundians, a people originally from the Baltic region.

Also on this site, the Roman museum features frescoes of chariots and pink paving stones that recall the splendour of an ancient palace. Lutry, also by the lake, sparkles with its colourful houses, restaurants and cafés. On sunny days, you can also take advantage of the small beach to laze around or swim in the clear waters of the lake.

🍴 Where to eat?

https://terrasselutry.ch?utm_source=easyvoyage

A charming lakeside guinguette where you can nibble on good tapas!

⭐ Where to sleep?