Lausanne Transport

Geneva Cointrin International Airport is the most common gateway into Switzerland and is conveniently situated only a 45-minute drive from Lausanne. Other nearby air hubs includes the airports at Bern (1 hour) and Zurich (2 hours, 30 minutes). The airport is well known for being spread across two countries, France and Switzerland, with passport control separating the two sectors. New arrivals can exit on the Swiss side for access to Lausanne.

Low-cost airlines such as EasyJet offer regular services to Geneva from UK destinations, while a number of international airlines service long-haul flights from destinations including Moscow, Cairo, Beijing and Abu Dhabi. The majority of flights to and from the airport service European destinations.

Facilities at the airport are comprehensive and include banks and currency exchange services, post office and dry cleaning outlets and first class and business lounges. For business travellers, photocopiers and internet services are available at the Business Centre. In addition, mobile phones can be hired. There is an excellent selection of restaurants and bars as well as abundant shops ranging from duty-free, fashion and drug stores to souvenir, electronic and book shops.

Parking options at the airport range from long-term, short-term, French sector, Swiss sector and arrivals and departures parking. There is also a parking option situated close to the train station that offers the first hour of parking for free. Tariffs vary depending on which facility you use.

From the airport, Lausanne can be accessed by expressway using bus or taxi services. Alternatively, you can hire a car at the airport and drive yourself; the route is well signposted. Passengers can also take a direct train to Lausanne from Geneva Airport, which takes around 45 minutes. Services run twice hourly in the day and less frequently between midnight and 06:00.

Lausanne’s excellent road links means the city is easy to access by bus, with frequent services operating between Lausanne and Geneva, from where dozens of international connections are available including French and Spanish cities.

Alternatively, you can arrive in Lausanne by ferry, with services plying routes across Lake Geneva from Evian, Montreux and Geneva. Although some routes are quicker travelled by road, travelling by ferry offers a pleasant and more scenic experience. Regular trains link Geneva city centre and Geneva International Airport with Lausanne. Services are reliable and frequent, taking only 45 minutes.

Once in Lausanne, many parts of the city can be accessed on foot. However, the city’s steep hills may mean that you prefer to use the local buses or metro services for convenience. The city’s two metro lines converge on Flon Metro Station, from where you can access Lausanne’s main railway station. With several stops in the Old Town, metro services offer an easy way to discover the old part of Lausanne. Bus stops are also widespread, meaning you never have to walk far to find one.

Metro tickets can be bought from stations at all stops and prices vary according to what zones you wish to traverse. Return tickets and day and week-long passes are also available. Passengers can pay for buses upon boarding.