Lausanne is not the most famous place in Switzerland but it is a beautiful one. On the shore of Lake Geneva surrounded by vineyards, it can be the perfect place for a weekend escape.
How to get there? Getting here is actually quite easy. You need to fly into Geneva airport and then take a train directly from the airport into Lausanne. The train takes between 45 to 55 minutes depending on the number of stops. The cost one way is around 30CHF.
When to go? Definitely the answer is summer! From mid-June to mid-September when the temperatures are nice so you can swim in the lake.
Where to stay? First of all, it is important to note that Lausanne is super hilly, so you are going to need to use the public transport at least when going uphill. The city center (which is not very big) is the best place to stay and the recommended hotel is “Lausanne Palace”. If you are looking for something cheaper, “Swiss Wine by Fassbind” is a good option. If on the other hand you prefer something not that close to the centre but near the lake you can stay at “Château d'Ouchy” or “Hotel Angleterre & Résidence”.
Day 1: Wine Tasting
On your first day, you should definitely go wine tasting! The vineyards are just 30 mins away from Lausanne. It is important to note that many of the wine tastings close relatively early around 12 to 1 pm on Saturdays and are not open on Sundays. During weekdays the opening times are extended.
The place we chose for wine tasting was “Domain Bovy” and it was fantastic. In order to get here, you just need to take a train from Lausanne to Cully train station and here take a bus to Chexbres-Village, Gare. It might sound like a hassle but it was actually very smooth and everything was very well signposted, using google maps you will not have any issues.
At the tasting, we tried a few white wines and one red wine and the white wines in particular were just amazing! The place is located in a beautiful setting overlooking the vines and the lake where you can relax trying the wines while soaking up the amazing views.
After the tasting, you can walk for lunch to “Le Deck”, which is just a 13 min walk away. Try to book in advance and ask for a table by the window if possible as the views are incredible.
Once you finish lunch, walk down the hill through the vineyards to Rivaz train station. This walk is just fantastic, it only takes around 20 mins to walk downhill amongst the vineyards but I would recommend taking it slow and taking the opportunity to take some beautiful pictures. Half way through the walk, there is a lady in a little hut selling wines to take away which I thought it was absolutely great!
From Rivaz it will take you 30 mins to get back to Lausanne, changing trains at Vevey station.
Before dinner, I would recommend to go for a drink by the lake to Coté Lac. For dinner, you can go to “Le Vieux”, serving a fantastic seasonal menu with typical dishes but remember it is important to book in advance as it is a very popular place.
Day 2: Swimming in the Lake
On your second day, a great plan is to go to the lake to swim and chill. I would recommend going to “Jetee de la Compagnie”. Here there is a wooden platform with stairs that give access to the lake where you can relax and sunbathe while doing a little picnic as they serve drinks, cheese boards etc at the bars just behind.
An alternative plan if it is not very sunny or you don’t fancy swimming in the lake is to visit the Olympique Museum which is a lot of fun.If your prefer to do another day trip you can go to Montreux. Montreux is especially worth visiting in July during the Jazz Festival and during the winter months to see the Christmas Market.
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