A weekend in Lausanne – 10 things to do

Château d'Ouchy

Lausanne, Switzerland on the north side of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman if you’re French) is a perfect sized city to explore in one weekend. At the summit overlooking the lake is the Lausanne Cathedral. It is surrounded by several streets and plazas with fashionable and expensive Swiss shopping. Ouchy, a commune of Lausanne, sits below Lausanne directly on the lake and is home to such attractions as the Chateau d’Ouchy, the Olympic Museum and the Beau Rivage Palace an out-of-our-price-range hotel, spa and restaurant.  To either side of Lausanne along the banks of the lake are hillside vineyards and wine producing towns.

What do we recommend for a weekend in Lausanne?

1. Stay at the Mövenpick Hotel Lausanne – clean, comfortable rooms and friendly service. They validate parking at the garage underneath the hotel.  It’s at the bottom of the hill in Ouchy – great for walking/running along the lake and visiting sites in Ouchy but a bit of a hike to downtown (uphill) Lausanne.  The hotel has a number of restaurants from bistro fare to fresh fish and provides a satisfying morning breakfast buffet. Or
2. Stay at the Lausanne Palace and Spa – luxury hotel at the top of the hill near the cathedral and shopping. Even if you are not staying at the hotel they have two great bars to stop off at: the LP Bar for a drink or the Habana Bar for a cigar (and probably a drink).
3. Visit the Cathedral. Completed in the 13th century, it’s big, gothic, and the view from the top of the tower affords an even better view of city than the already spectacular view from the terraces at the cathedral base.
4. Go window shopping along Rue de Bourg.
5. Run along the lake. Lausanne is one of the few places we’ve visited where we’ve seen people running in public.  There is a flat paved trail next to the lake that is perfect for an early morning run or bike ride.
6. Visit the Olympic museum.  From every Olympic torch to clothing and equipment used by your favorite summer and winter Olympic athletes, it’s a great pick me up for those of us who miss Beijing 2008 and can’t wait for London 2012.
7. Enjoy a lakeside aubergine, basil, and mozzarella crêpe at the Creperie d’Ouchy.
8. Try a bottle of Swiss wine. This was our first taste, and by no means are we qualified to offer you a recommendation. If you have one for us please let us know.
9. Drive to Vevey along the Route de Lausanne. The local (blue) highway 9 runs from Lausanne to Vevey, sandwiched between hillside vineyards and the lake.  Lots of places to picnic.
10. Eat Gruyère in Gruyères. The home of this favorite cheese is 40 minutes north of Vevey into the hills.