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.
8 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeSwitzerlandVaud
Lausanne
Vaud, Switzerland · Europe
About Lausanne
Lausanne works well as a base: 10 minutes from Renens, 8km from Lake Geneva (Lac Léman).
Lausanne is in Vaud, Switzerland, with about 140,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Renens, about 4 km away.
Lausanne (UK: loh-ZAN, US: loh-ZAHN; French: [lozan] ) is the capital and largest city of the Swiss French-speaking canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. The Olympic capital, it is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway between the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and facing the French town ofRead more
Évian-les-Bains across the lake. Lausanne is 51.7 kilometres (32 miles) northeast of Geneva, the nearest major city. The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland convenes in Lausanne, although it is not the de jure capital of the nation.
The municipality of Lausanne has a population of about 150,000, making it the fourth largest city in Switzerland after Basel, Geneva, and Zurich, with the entire agglomeration area having about 420,000 inhabitants (as of January 2019). The metropolitan area of Lausanne-Geneva (including Vevey-Montreux, Yverdon-les-Bains, Valais and foreign parts), commonly designated as Arc lémanique was over 1.3 million inhabitants in 2017 and is the fastest growing in Switzerland.
Initially a Celtic and Roman settlement on the shores of the lake, Lausanne became a town at the foot of Notre Dame, a cathedral built in the 12th century.
However, in the 20th century, Lausanne became a focus of international sport, hosting the International Olympic Committee (which has recognized the city as the "Olympic Capital" since 1994), the Court of Arbitration for Sport and some 55 international sport associations. It lies in a noted wine-growing region. With its 28-station metro system, Lausanne is the smallest city in the world to have a rapid transit system. Lausanne hosted the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Lausanne?
Within an hour or so of Lausanne: Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) (8 km), Lavaux Vineyard Terraces (8 km), Route des Grandes Alpes (20 km), Montreux (23 km).
Are there any good drives near Lausanne?
The nearest famous roads are Route des Grandes Alpes, Col du Pillon and Sanetsch Pass.
Where is Lausanne?
Lausanne is in Vaud, Switzerland, about 4 km from Renens.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 139,111
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Switzerland
- Region
- Vaud
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
- Coordinates
- 46.5160, 6.6328
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 Lausanne
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.
8 km · about 15 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.
20 km · about 25 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.
23 km · about 25 min drive
castle
Château de Chillon
A medieval island castle on the shores of Lake Geneva, the most visited historic monument in Switzerland.
25 km · about 30 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.
35 km · about 40 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.
47 km · about 55 min drive
Driving roads near Lausanne
- Right hereLavaux Vineyard TerracesUNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
- 20 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.
- 47 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.
- 54 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.
- 55 kmJaun PassA friendly pass linking the Gruyère region to the Simmental, open all year and lined with chalet villages.
- 58 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
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