Vaud, Switzerland

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

SwitzerlandEurope
Introduction
Vaud (pronounced 'voh') is the third-largest canton by population and one of the most diverse in Switzerland — a predominantly French-speaking territory on the northern shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), encompassing Lausanne (the Olympic capital and Swiss federal Supreme Court seat), Montreux (jazz festival, Château de Chillon), the Lavaux UNESCO wine terraces, and the Swiss Riviera. The canton borders France to the north (Jura mountains) and shares Lake Geneva with Geneva canton and France. For travellers, Vaud offers the most concentrated combination of lakeside urban culture and UNESCO-listed landscapes in Switzerland: Lausanne's Gothic cathedral and the Olympic Museum; the Lavaux vineyards cascading from terraced hillsides to the lake shore (830 hectares, inscribed since 2007); Montreux's lakefront promenade with Freddie Mercury's statue; the medieval island fortress of Château de Chillon (Lord Byron's 'Prisoner of Chillon'); and Vevey's surprising museums (Charlie Chaplin and the Alimentarium, both on the lakefront). The TGV Lyria connects Paris Gare de Lyon to Lausanne in 3h40 — making Vaud one of the most accessible Swiss destinations from France.

Discover Vaud

Lausanne is the only Olympic capital in the world — the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been headquartered here since 1915, and the Olympic Museum (Musée Olympique, Quai d'Ouchy) is the world's largest sports museum, covering the history of the modern Olympics from Athens 1896 with an outstanding collection of torches, medals, archival film, and interactive exhibits. The museum's terrace garden sits directly on the lake shore, 5 minutes' walk from Lausanne-Ouchy metro station. The Cathédrale de Notre Dame, a 12th–13th century Gothic structure on the highest hill of the old town, was built by the same school of Burgundian masons who worked on Chartres; its rose window (1215–1230) is one of the finest in Europe. The medieval Guet tradition — the Night Warden who calls the hours from the cathedral tower between 22:00 and 02:00 — has been maintained without interruption since the Middle Ages. EPFL campus, on the lake shore between Lausanne-Ouchy and St-Sulpice, is the largest science and technology campus in Switzerland and includes the Rolex Learning Centre (SANAA architects, 2010) — a flowing, undulating public library building with lake views that is open to all visitors.

Travel Types

Lausanne — Olympic Museum and Gothic Cathedral

The world's largest sports museum on the lake shore at Ouchy (IOC headquarters since 1915); Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame (12th–13th century) with the medieval Night Warden tradition; EPFL campus and the SANAA Rolex Learning Centre on the lake.

Montreux Jazz Festival

Ten days of world-class jazz, blues, and rock in July — free lakefront stages and ticketed indoor concerts at the Stravinski Auditorium and Miles Davis Hall. Home of the Freddie Mercury statue; setting of Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' (1971 Casino fire).

Château de Chillon

Switzerland's most visited monument (400,000 visitors/year) — a 13th-century Savoy island fortress at the lake's edge between Montreux and Villeneuve. Byron's 'Prisoner of Chillon' (1816) was written after visiting François Bonivard's dungeon. Access by foot, bus, or CGN lake boat.

Lavaux UNESCO Vineyards

830 hectares of terraced Chasselas vineyards on south-facing slopes between Lausanne and Vevey, UNESCO World Heritage since 2007. Lavaux Vinorail electric train (weekends/summer), Lavaux Expresse hiking trail, and cellar-door tastings in Cully, Lutry, and St-Saphorin.

Vevey — Chaplin's World and the Alimentarium

Chaplin's World museum at Charlie Chaplin's home (Corsier-sur-Vevey, 1953–1977) — film sets and preserved mansion. The Alimentarium (Nestlé food museum on the lakefront). Vevey market on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

Swiss Riviera Lake Cruise

CGN historic paddle steamers (Belle Époque, 1904–1927) connecting Lausanne-Ouchy, Vevey, Montreux, Villeneuve, Nyon, Geneva (Swiss shore) and Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains (French shore). Covered by Swiss Travel Pass on most routes.

Vaud — Practical Travel Notes
  • •The TGV Lyria Paris–Lausanne (3h40) departs from Paris Gare de Lyon and arrives at Lausanne HB. Booking at least 2 weeks in advance gives access to the lowest Lyria fares. For intra-Switzerland connections: IC trains from Lausanne HB reach Geneva (42 min), Bern (70 min), and Zurich (2h20). All regional trains (Nyon, Vevey, Montreux, Villeneuve) depart from Track 1 or Track 2 at Lausanne HB.
  • •Lausanne is built on steep hills — the Metro (M2) is essential for getting between the lake (Ouchy), the main station (Lausanne HB), and the old town (Flon/Lausanne-Gare district). The M2 runs every 4–6 minutes from 05:30 to midnight; single tickets and Swiss Travel Pass are valid. The M1 runs east–west through the university district (UNIL/EPFL). Walking between Ouchy and the cathedral involves 80 m of vertical climb.
  • •The Château de Chillon is open daily year-round (10:00–18:00 summer, 10:00–17:00 winter); closed Christmas Day. Adult entry CHF 13.50. The Swiss Travel Pass covers entry free of charge. Access from Montreux: 3 km walk along the lakeside cycle/pedestrian path, or CGN boat from Montreux to Chillon pier (15 min), or Bus 201 from Montreux train station.
  • •The Montreux Jazz Festival (July) sells out its indoor venues months in advance — book tickets at montreuxjazzfestival.com as soon as they go on sale (typically February). The free outdoor stages (Piano Bar under the tent, Montreux Jazz Café, lakefront stages) are the most atmospheric and require no tickets; arrive before 19:00 for a good position at the main free stage.
  • •The Lavaux Vinorail runs weekends only from April to October and daily in July–August (check seasonal schedule). If walking the Lavaux Expresse from St-Saphorin to Lutry (11 km), the best direction is east-to-west (with the lake on your right and sun behind you in the afternoon); the path is shaded in the morning walking west-to-east. Carry water — the vineyard terraces have no shade.
  • •Chaplin's World at Corsier-sur-Vevey is not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Adult ticket CHF 27 (2024 pricing); book in advance in summer to avoid queues. Travel from Vevey: Bus 211 (Corsier direction) from Vevey train station, stop 'Village' in Corsier-sur-Vevey (12 min).
  • •Nyon is reachable from Lausanne by S-Bahn train (Line S3, 26 min from Lausanne HB). The Roman museum is 10 minutes' walk from Nyon train station through the old town. The UEFA Champions League Draw (September) and Europa League Draw (August) are conducted in Nyon but are not public events — access to the draw ceremonies is by invitation only.
  • •Lake Geneva swimming: the best public lake beaches in Vaud are Lausanne-Vidy (parking, large lawn, café, supervised June–September), Préverenges (sandy beach, 12 km west of Lausanne by S-Bahn), and the Vevey lakefront (piers and small pebble beaches, free). All are equipped with changing facilities and accessible without charge.
  • •The Lausanne cathedral's Night Warden (Guet de Lausanne) calls 'C'est le guet; il a sonné l'heure' from the tower every hour between 22:00 and 02:00 — a tradition maintained without interruption since the Middle Ages. The tower is accessible for climbing during the day (guided visits available through the city tourism office).
  • •The Olympic Museum closes for one week in late January each year for maintenance. Check olympicmuseum.ch for current hours before visiting. Entry is free for children under 10, reduced for students with ISIC card. The museum terraces and gardens are free to access regardless of museum ticket.