Practical information : Sightseeing Lausanne
Timetable
Lausanne's museums are generally open from 10/11 a.m. and close around 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, or 6 p.m. at weekends. They are generally closed on Mondays. Some museums make exceptions to this rule. The Olympic Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm. The new arts district, Plateforme 10, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as is Aquatis, the aquarium, at the same times.
To be booked
Reservations are not required for Lausanne's museums. Whether at the Olympic Museum or Aquatis, the flow of visitors is regulated naturally.
Budget & Tips
The Montreux Riviera Card is free if you stay at a B&B hotel, campsite or most vacation accommodations. It entitles you to free public transport and a 50% discount on many points of interest, including Chillon Castle, the Chaplin Museum, the Alimentarium and the vast majority of museums and attractions. It also offers a 20% discount on tickets for CGN boats and mountain trains. It will be given to you free of charge on arrival at the hotel. There are always reduced rates for students and children. The free monthly pass is valid on the first Saturday of the month, unlike Sundays in France. You can also take out the Lausanne City pass, valid for one day or two to three days, offering very attractive discounts on museum admission. You can choose the option that suits you best. The two- to three-day pass also offers discounts at other points of interest in the region.
Children are almost always taken into consideration in museums and other cultural venues, as well as on board public transport, with discounts and other little extras such as visit programs, workshops and play corners.
Guided tours
If you'd like to see all the nooks and crannies of Lausanne, and answer any questions you may have, we recommend that you let yourself be guided by the knowledge of a local guide on a guided tour. The themes to be covered in this city can be both historical and artistic. During the summer, for example, you can take one of five guided walks around the city to discover the art hidden away.
Another excellent way to explore Lausanne is to contact the "Lausanne International Greeters" association.
In the company of a local, you can take a guided tour of Lausanne (free of charge). Greeters, who speak several languages, can take you behind the scenes of Lausanne, off beaten tracks, showing you their favorite corners, restaurants and bars. For all ages and backgrounds. World citizens welcome! An excellent initiative. Visit https://www.benevol-jobs.ch/fr/organisation/lausanne-greet ers
Smokers
Smoking is prohibited in all public places, except in designated areas.