EPFL Lausanne
EPFL, the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, is about 61 km from Geneva Airport, around 50 minutes by road, on a lakeside campus in Ecublens just west of Lausanne. You can reach it by train and the M1 metro, but a private transfer with AirportsTransfers.ch drives straight to the building or conference venue you need, which is especially convenient for speakers, visiting researchers and new students with luggage.
- Distance from GVA: about 61 km
- Drive time: around 50 minutes
- Border crossing: none
- Public transport: train to Renens or Lausanne, then the M1 metro
- Landmarks: Rolex Learning Center, SwissTech Convention Center, EPFL Pavilions
About EPFL
EPFL is one of Switzerland's two federal institutes of technology, alongside ETH Zurich, and an internationally known university for engineering, computer science, life sciences and architecture. Its campus sits between the motorway and Lake Geneva, next to the University of Lausanne, with which it shares a large site of lawns and modern buildings. Thousands of students and researchers from all over the world work there, and many start-ups have grown out of its labs, with an innovation park on the campus. Conferences, scientific workshops and public events bring a steady stream of visitors, many of whom fly into Geneva. The campus is busy during term and quieter in the summer break, although conferences and summer schools continue throughout the year.
What to see on campus
The best-known building is the Rolex Learning Center, a library and learning space designed by the Japanese architects SANAA, famous for its single undulating floor with gentle slopes and patios cut through the building. It is open to the public and well worth a look for anyone interested in architecture. The SwissTech Convention Center, with its distinctive façade, hosts large conferences and events. EPFL Pavilions, a set of exhibition spaces near the campus entrance, presents exhibitions at the crossroads of science, art and technology. Walking across to the lakeshore takes only a few minutes, and the path along the water towards Saint-Sulpice and Lausanne is pleasant on a fine day.
Getting there by train and metro
From the station under Geneva Airport, trains run frequently along the lake towards Lausanne. For EPFL, travellers usually get off at Renens or continue to Lausanne and connect to the M1 metro line, a light rail that runs between Lausanne Flon and Renens with stops at EPFL and the University of Lausanne. If you travel via Lausanne, you also need the M2 to reach Flon. With a backpack and a little time, this is a straightforward journey. With luggage, a poster tube, conference material or a family in tow, the changes become more tiring, and the campus is large, so the metro stop may not be next to the building you need. Checking the campus map in advance and noting the building code on your invitation saves time on arrival.
Speakers, researchers and new students
A private car is particularly appreciated by keynote speakers on a tight schedule, visiting professors, recruiters and delegations who want to arrive directly at the right entrance. A Mercedes E-Class Business Sedan suits up to three passengers; a Mercedes S-Class First Class Sedan is available for senior guests; a Mercedes V-Class van seats up to seven with ten bags; and a Mercedes Sprinter minibus can bring a whole delegation or research group. New students arriving for a semester with several suitcases also benefit from a door-to-door ride to their residence in Lausanne or nearby. Institutions and companies can receive invoices, and a chauffeur by the hour (minimum two hours) can link EPFL with meetings in Lausanne or Geneva.
Timing your trip
The motorway between Geneva and Lausanne is busy at rush hour, so for a morning session, plan your transfer with a margin. Your chauffeur tracks your flight and adjusts to a delay, with waiting included, so a late landing does not create extra stress before an event. During large conferences many participants arrive on the same morning flights, so booking your transfer early is wise. For departures, a pick-up from the campus or your Lausanne hotel can be timed to your check-in, even early in the morning.
Booking your EPFL transfer
Book on AirportsTransfers.ch by entering your flight and your destination on campus or in Lausanne. Choose your vehicle and you will see the fixed price before paying by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Child seats can be added, return trips booked together. For conference logistics or special requests, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77, 24/7.
