In Lausanne, beauty can be experienced for free – all you have to do is look up and enjoy the surrounding scenery !
Wander in Mon-Repos Park
Mon-Repos Park is Lausanne’s own urban oasis. Dating back to the 17th century, it gently mirrors the city’s natural slope. A favorite among locals, it’s the perfect place to stretch out on the lawns, enjoy the playgrounds with children, or relax with a drink at the charming Folie Voltaire café. Along winding paths, curious visitors will find aviaries nestled among the greenery, and at the summit, a neo-Gothic tower rewards the adventurous with its striking presence.
Like Mon-Repos, all of Lausanne’s parks are open around the clock and entirely free to enjoy.
Be dazzled by the view at Sauvabelin Tower
If you’re prone to vertigo, give this one a miss! Sauvabelin Tower is located above Lausanne. It was built entirely from wood in 2003 and is no less than 35 metres (115 feet) high.
Once you have climbed the 302 steps, there’s eye candy galore! You can admire a 360-degree panorama over Lake Geneva, the Alps and Jura ranges of mountains as well as the town of Lausanne.
Bus no 16 will take you straight to Sauvabelin. Then, you can climb the tower for free, all year round. Only challenging weather conditions can limit its access.
Visit a historical building such as the Cathedral
Lausanne Cathedral, completed in 1215, sits majestically atop the Cité and can be seen from almost every part of the city. The largest Gothic building in Switzerland, it is as impressive for its architectural details as for its striking façade.
Entrance is free, and every visitor can enjoy gems such as:
- The Rose and its stained-glass windows
- The painted doorway and its period painting
- The grand organs and their 7,000 pipes
By night, from outside the building, you can also witness an age-old tradition: the calling of the hours by the Cathedral’s watchman. From 10 pm to 2 am, he calls out the time for the city inhabitants. Initially designed to provide early warning in case of fires, the watchman has been present ever since 1405.
The building is accessible for free all year round (except on December 25, January 1-2 and on Sundays from 10 to 11.30 am for church service), from 9 am to 7 pm (5.30 pm in winter).
Fuel your curiosity for free – one Saturday a month in one of Lausanne’s museum
Every first Saturday of the month, more than a dozen cantonal and municipal museums in Lausanne open their doors to you free of charge. It’s a great opportunity to explore unique places like the Musée de l’Art Brut and the Musée Historique de Lausanne. On a nice day, we highly recommend a visit to the botanical garden, where the glasshouses await you for a lovely summer walk in the open air.
For all the information you need on Lausanne museums, head this way.
The MCBA opens the doors of its permanent collection to you free of charge, every day except on Mondays; an ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in art at no cost, in the heart of a major cultural space.
Exercise while sightseeing
How about exploring Lausanne while on your daily run or walk, using your smartphone as a guide ? With the free Urbirun app, you can explore the city in a different way thanks tot wo audio-guided routes, one in the city centre and the other by the lake, featuring landmarks and fun facts. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or just want to go for a stroll, there are suitable routes ranging from less than 10km to 18 km.
