10/28/25
Lausanne, a city built on movement
Explore a hillside city where culture, energy and lake views shape every day’s rhythm.
Lausanne doesn’t just sit by the lake — it climbs above it. Built on a series of steep hills, the city rises from the calm waters of Lake Geneva to the spires of its gothic cathedral, offering some of the most breathtaking views in Switzerland.
Start your day at Place de la Palud, where locals meet for coffee as the animated clock rings every hour. From there, wander through the cobbled streets of the old town to reach Lausanne Cathedral. Its tower offers one of the most rewarding panoramas over the rooftops and the Alps beyond. On summer mornings, the air carries the scent of bakeries and flowers from nearby markets — a detail you only notice when you slow down enough to enjoy it.
Take the metro — the only one in Switzerland — down to Ouchy, where the city meets the lake. Here, the pace changes completely. Locals jog, cycle, and swim; families share picnics on the grass, and the mountains reflect perfectly in the water. The Olympic Museum nearby tells stories of passion and perseverance, and its surrounding park is one of the best spots to rest with a view.
Back uphill, the Flon district reveals another face of Lausanne: young, urban, and creative. Former warehouses now host rooftop bars, concept stores, and open-air art installations. If you’re hungry, stop by Café de Grancy or Brasserie de Montbenon — both local favorites for their charm and simplicity.
Lausanne is a city that never sits still — but it never rushes either. Its soul lies in contrasts: steep streets and open horizons, student energy and lakeside calm, centuries-old buildings and contemporary art.
Whether you’re here for a day or a lifetime, Lausanne keeps you moving, thinking, and breathing a little deeper. It’s a city that teaches balance — between effort and ease, movement and pause, noise and silence. And when the sun sets behind the vineyards of Lavaux, you understand: this is what Swiss energy truly looks like.