natural wonder
Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)
Western Europe's largest lake, shared with France, framed by the Alps and lined with vineyards, castles, and the famous Jet d'Eau fountain.
9 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeSwitzerlandVaud
Ecublens
Vaud, Switzerland · Europe
About Ecublens
Ecublens works well as a base: 10 minutes from Blécherette, 9km from Lake Geneva (Lac Léman).
Ecublens is in Vaud, Switzerland, with about 10,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Blécherette, about 5 km away.
Écublens (French pronunciation: [ekyblɑ̃]) is a municipality in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, located in the district of Ouest Lausannois. It is a suburb of Lausanne and is served by the Lausanne metro line 1 and several bus lines. The nearest train station is Renens.
Where to Stay in Ecublens
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Ecublens.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Ecublens.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ecublens?
Within an hour or so of Ecublens: Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) (9 km), Lavaux Vineyard Terraces (13 km), Route des Grandes Alpes (19 km), Montreux (29 km).
Are there any good drives near Ecublens?
The nearest famous roads are Route des Grandes Alpes, Col du Pillon and Jaun Pass.
Where is Ecublens?
Ecublens is in Vaud, Switzerland, about 5 km from Blécherette.
Road trip
Drive to Ecublens
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Ecublens. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 10,262
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Switzerland
- Region
- Vaud
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
- Coordinates
- 46.5290, 6.5626
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Switzerland
Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.
Full driving guide for SwitzerlandTags
Worth the detour from Ecublens
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
13 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Route des Grandes Alpes
France's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
19 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Montreux
The 'Pearl of the Swiss Riviera' on Lake Geneva, home to the famous jazz festival, Freddie Mercury's statue, and nearby Château de Chillon.
29 km · about 35 min drive
castle
Château de Chillon
A medieval island castle on the shores of Lake Geneva, the most visited historic monument in Switzerland.
31 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Gruyères
Car-free hilltop town of a single cobbled street rising to a 13th-century castle amid cheese country, with the surreal twist of the H.R. Giger Museum and its Alien-themed bar inside Château St. Germain.
40 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Creux du Van
A vast natural rock amphitheatre with vertical 160m cliffs, a wild ridge-walk in the Jura.
47 km · about 55 min drive
mountain pass
Col du Pillon
A 1,546 m pass in the Vaud Alps between Les Diablerets and Gstaad, the gateway to the Glacier 3000 cable car and a smooth, scenic link on any western Swiss Alps road trip.
53 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Ecublens
- Right hereLavaux Vineyard TerracesUNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
- 19 kmRoute des Grandes AlpesFrance's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
- 53 kmCol du PillonA 1,546 m pass in the Vaud Alps between Les Diablerets and Gstaad, the gateway to the Glacier 3000 cable car and a smooth, scenic link on any western Swiss Alps road trip.
- 60 kmSanetsch PassA spectacular dead-end climb from the Rhône vineyards above Sion past the Tsanfleuron glacier to 2,242 m; because no through road exists it stays near-empty, and only a cable car continues to Gsteig.
- 60 kmJaun PassA friendly pass linking the Gruyère region to the Simmental, open all year and lined with chalet villages.
- 62 kmCol de la Forclaz (Valais)The pass above Martigny on the road to Chamonix, kept open all year and a natural gateway to the Mont Blanc valleys.
Driving in Switzerland
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €42 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Ecublens.
Plan a trip around Ecublens
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Ecublens.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.