Lausanne

Cradled between Lake Geneva and vine-draped hills, Lausanne blends lakeside ease with a cosmopolitan pulse. As the official Olympic Capital, it hosts the IOC’s headquarters and the acclaimed Olympic Museum - a showcase of sport, design, and history set in Ouchy’s waterfront gardens. Beyond sport, culture takes center stage at Plateforme 10, a striking arts district by the station that unites MCBA, Photo Elysée, and mudac in airy, contemporary spaces. Stroll the quays of Ouchy for boat rides, park life, and café terraces, or ride Switzerland’s only full metro to the medieval old town crowned by its Gothic cathedral. Minutes away, the terraced Lavaux vineyards - UNESCO-listed - pour golden Chasselas and sunset views across the lake, making wine walks and tastings a signature Lausanne ritual. What makes Lausanne special is this effortless mix: Olympic energy and lakeside leisure, bold contemporary art and time-polished streets, city convenience and vineyard serenity - all threaded together by promenades, funicular-steep metro climbs, and that ever-present shimmer of the lake.