Lausanne
Lausanne is 61 km from Geneva Airport, about 45 minutes by motorway along the north shore of Lake Geneva, with no border to cross. The city climbs steeply from the lakeside at Ouchy to its Gothic cathedral, and it is home to the International Olympic Committee, two major universities and the vineyards of Lavaux just to the east. A private transfer with AirportsTransfers.ch takes you from arrivals to your hotel without changes.
- Distance from GVA: 61 km
- Drive time: about 45 minutes
- Border crossing: none
- Known for: Olympic Museum, cathedral, Ouchy waterfront, Lavaux vineyards
- Good to know: the city is built on steep hills, so plan for slopes and the metro
From the airport to Lausanne
The A1 motorway links the airport to Lausanne directly, running above the lake through the vineyards of La Côte and past Nyon and Morges. Outside rush hour the journey is quick and predictable; on weekday mornings and evenings the stretch near Morges can slow down, so it helps to allow a margin for meetings. Arriving by car is particularly practical in Lausanne because the gradients make walking with suitcases hard work.
Hotels are spread across very different levels of the city, from the lakeside to the upper town, and a chauffeur dropping you at the door saves you from discovering how steep the streets are with luggage in tow. If you arrive late in the evening, a booked transfer also avoids waiting for connections at the end of the day.
What Lausanne is known for
Lausanne calls itself the Olympic Capital, and the Olympic Museum in its lakeside park at Ouchy is one of the city's main attractions, telling the story of the Games through objects, film and interactive displays. Up the hill, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame is one of the finest Gothic buildings in Switzerland, and the old town around it, with the Escaliers du Marché covered staircase and the Place de la Palud, is pleasant to explore on foot.
Culture extends well beyond sport. The Collection de l'Art Brut, housed near the Beaulieu area, is devoted to art made outside the mainstream, and the Plateforme 10 arts district next to the main station brings together the cantonal fine arts museum, Photo Elysée and a design museum. The Flon, a former warehouse district in a hollow below the centre, is now a hub of bars, restaurants and shops. The lakeside promenade from Ouchy towards Vidy is a favourite place for an evening walk.
Where to stay
The lakefront at Ouchy suits visitors who want calm, water views and easy access to the Olympic Museum and boat landings. The city centre, between the station, the Flon and the old town, is the most practical base for short stays, with restaurants and shops within walking distance and the metro to link levels. Quieter residential districts higher up offer views over the lake to the French Alps.
Business travellers often head west of the centre: the campuses of EPFL and the University of Lausanne sit side by side near the lake at Ecublens, and many international sports federations have offices in and around the city. Lausanne's conference activity is steady year-round, and a door-to-door transfer is a straightforward way to arrive on time for an event without worrying about connections.
Day trips and nearby sights
The terraced vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, begin just east of the city and run towards Vevey; walking between the wine villages is one of the classic outings in the region. Further along the shore, Montreux and the Château de Chillon are easy to combine in a day. Lake steamers connect Ouchy with towns along the Swiss shore and with Évian on the French side.
Inland, the Gruyère region with its medieval town and cheese tradition is within reach for a day, and in winter the Vaud Alps offer skiing without the longer journey into the Valais. Local cuisine is worth trying too: papet vaudois, filets de perche from the lake and white wines made from the Chasselas grape are typical of the region.
Practical tips for visitors
Comfortable shoes are essential: Lausanne is a remarkably steep city, and the M2 metro line, which climbs from Ouchy to the upper town, is the easiest way to move between levels. Many hotels provide guests with a transport card for local buses and the metro, so ask on check-in.
English is widely spoken in hotels and at the universities, but French is the local language and a few words are appreciated in shops and restaurants. The lake and mountain weather can change quickly, so a light jacket is useful even in summer.
Booking your transfer to Lausanne
With AirportsTransfers.ch, the fare is fixed per vehicle and shown in full before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. A Mercedes E-Class Business Sedan suits up to three passengers with three bags, a First Class Sedan (S-Class) is ideal for executives, and the Mercedes V-Class van takes up to seven people. Companies can receive invoices, and a chauffeur can also be hired by the hour, from two hours, for meetings across the city.
Your driver tracks the flight, waits in arrivals with a name sign and adjusts if you land late. Return journeys can be added at booking. For changes or special requests, reach the Geneva team on +41 78 346 56 77 by phone or WhatsApp, at any time of day or night.
