Attractions Nearby Lausanne, Day Trips and Excursions

(Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland)

Many of the most-visited attractions outside of Lausanne are based within the area known as the Swiss Riviera, which is famed for being a magnet for celebrities and is also near to a number of Alpine ski resorts. The majority of the best day trips and attractions need not be far from Lausanne and many towns edge the banks of Lake Geneva, such as the towns of both Vevey and Montreux.

The main attractions in Montreux tend to be situated next to the lake and within the Old Town (Vieille Ville), which comprises a group of winding streets and is based around the Rue du Pont. If you have time during your holiday in Lausanne, why not enjoy a boat cruise, cable car ride, or even a train ride into the Alps, where a number of popular restaurants offer the best vantage points.

Montreux

Located around 28 km / 17 miles to the south-east of Lausanne and enjoying a scenic setting on the easterly shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), the municipality of Montreux is an appealing lakeside resort. Sightseers should look out for historic attractions such as the unusual oval-shaped Château de Chillon (Chillon Castle) on the Avenue de Chillon, and also the Musée du Vieux Montreux (Old Montreux Museum), which can be found along the Rue de la Gare and contains a number of Roman treasures found in this part of Switzerland. The town of Montreux is especially famous for its annual jazz festival, which has taken place here each summer since 1967 and regularly enjoys performances from leading European pop and rock groups, attracting crowds of more than 200,000 visitors each year.

La Côte (The Coast)

Known locally in Switzerland as simply La Côte, the coast stretching between Geneva and Lausanne is lined with a series of cartoon-like castles and fortresses, magnificent palaces, medieval towns and countless other attractions. Many vineyards are located along La Côte and produce a large proportion of the wine of the Canton de Vaud, much of which originate from the wine-growing municipality of Morges, where you will discover an imposing 13th-century château towering high above its port and waterfront.

Veyey

Famed for its affluent lifestyle and for being a regular haunt of the rich and famous, Veyey was always a favourite town of Charlie Chaplin, who actually lived here for the last 25 years of his life. Close to Lausanne, Veyey is centred around its Grand Place square, which lies to the left of the train station. There are many interesting streets to the east of the Grand Place, while the numerous lakeside promenades are also lined with attractions. The main museums include the Musée Suisse de Jeu (Games Museum) on the Rue du Château, the Musée Jenisch on the Avenue de la Gare, and the Musée Suisse de l'Appareil Photographique on the Ruelle des Anciens. Veyey is also widely considered to be the capital of the Lavaux wine-growing area.

Lutry

At just 4 km / 2.5 miles to the east of Lausanne, the village of Lutry is one of the city's closest attractions and often considered to be a suburb by many locals. Lutry was first established during the 11th century by a group of French monks and is the perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon stroll. Many interesting antiques shops and art galleries are situated along either side of Lutry's main street, close to the village's prominent 13th-century Eglise de St. Martin et St. Clément church. At the end of September each year, Lutry always attracts crowds of visitors, who come to join in the wine harvest celebrations and related festivities.

Yverdon Les Bains

First discovered by the Romans, the resort of Yverdon Les Bains enjoys a particularly scenic setting amidst the Jura Mountains and next to Lake Neuchâtel. The main attractions in Yverdon Les Bains are generally based around the town's thermal springs and have resulted in many health spas, which are regularly visited by thousands of tourists each year, such as the Centre Thermal on the Avenue des Bains. Home to an extensive collection of prehistoric finds, the Musée de Château is worth searching out in Yverdon Les Bains, as is the Maison d'Ailleurs (House of Elsewhere), which is a rather unexpected science-fiction museum, complete with its very own mock-up of a spaceship.