See also:

Zürich
Montreux

Parks

If you wish to go for a quiet stroll in the sunshine, but don’t want to go too far away from the city itself, you can choose among the many parks that Lausanne has to offer.

Parc de Montbenon
Only a stone’s throw away from the Cinémathèque (Swiss Film Archive), the Montbenon esplanade offers you a collection of extraordinarily varied atmospheres over more than half a kilometre of entirely flat ground, something which is quite rare for Lausanne! You can pass from a shaded promenade to richly flowered flower-beds to an enchanting environment around a romantic fountain. In addition, the esplanade offers you a fantastic view of the lake and the Alps. In summer, at the start of the evening, you will find jugglers and picknickers alike out enjoying the sunshine.

Parc de Mont-Repos
Situated very close to the city centre and the old town, the Parc de Mont-Repos is extraordinary. It is exceptional with its diverse architectural elements (neogothic tower, waterfall, neoclassic temple, orangery, aviary etc.), but also due to the richness and harmony of everything contained within it and the cultural events which take place there. It is a real haven of peace and vitality at the heart of the city. This place invites you to take a walk, to meditate and to observe your surroundings, but also to enjoy a party atmosphere when it is taken over by the young people of Lausanne. Don’t miss: the tarts of La Folie Voltaire, a tiny terrace café at the heart of the park. On the café's website, you can also find out about scheduled activities for the park.

Beaches

On the shores of Lake Geneva, private gardens come down as far as the water and hardly leave enough room for a path. However, there are some very nice exceptions, including the shores of Lausanne. In fact, between Lutry and Morges (to the east and west of Lausanne respectively), a path winds its way between the lakeshores and well-kept public gardens, along by the stone beaches or the flowery quays, for almost 15 km.

Plage de Préverenges
For swimming in the lake, the Plage de Préverenges (Metro m1 directions Renens, stop Epfl then Bus 57 direction Morges, stop Préverenges) is ideal for families with children. The water remains shallow for the first fifty metres and a refreshment area with toilets is available for use.

Plage de Lutry
The nicest beach is that of Lutry (bus 9, stop Rive). The water is always clean, the disagreeable contact of your feet with the slimy moss of the stones or with the sludge is avoided thanks to small built-in steps and thanks to the significant changes in height of its shores. The modest but efficient infrastructure makes this beach the most practical, with its public toilets, changing rooms, outdoor showers ( ! when the weather is very hot, always rinse yourself after swimming to avoid getting swimmer’s itch and the bad skin rashes caused by it !) and refreshment areas which are available for use. The town of Lutry is also only two minutes away from the beach. With its small shops and terraces along the lakeshore, during hot summer days, the atmosphere of this place is almost similar to the south of France.

An unforgettable night visit

One outing not to be missed out on : the visit to the nightwatch of the cathedral of Lausanne. For the past 600 years, the traditional nightwatch calls out each hour from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day of the year, from the top of the cathedral, Once you have climbed the 224 steps of the tower where the seven bells of the cathedral are found, you will be able to take in a superb panorama of the city and benefit from the knowledge of the nightwatch on the history of the cathedral and the old town. In order to do this, all you need to do is make an appointment with him. He will come to collect you at one of the side doors of the cathedra land will bring you up to the top.