Living in Lausanne
Lausanne is the capital of the canton of Vaud in French-speaking Switzerland. It has around 150,000 inhabitants. Nearly 40% of residents come from abroad, and people of over 100 nationalities live alongside each other in the heart of this vibrant multicultural city.
The city has many faces: it is the Olympic capital, a place of excellence in research and education, a green city full of parks and gardens, places where it is good to stroll. Lausanne is still a city on a human scale, set alongside the shores of Lake Geneva and surrounded by the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The information on this page covers transport in the city, resources to support integration for new arrivals, sporting and cultural activities in the region, together with some information on points specific to Switzerland.
Contact
Welcome Centre
Château de Dorigny
1015 Lausanne
Ms Salomé Evard
Ms Marcelina Klaus Gaillard
+41 21 692 60 27
welcomecentre@unil.ch
Transport
Transports publics de la région lausannoise (TL) [the local public transport network] is well-served, with two metro lines and many bus routes.
TL is part of the MOBILIS payment network, which operates pricing by zones. Depending on how frequently you travel, it may be better for you to purchase a single ticket, a one-day travel card or a monthly or annual season ticket.
Chemins de Fer Fédéraux (CFF) are the main railway company in Switzerland (they operate trains, buses and ferries). You should consult their offers or go directly to their ticket offices for more information.
The “CFF mobile ” application enables you to check timetables and buy tickets.
To get the best prices, go to the reduced price tickets website. The half-fare travelcard also offers good value.
Compagnie Générale de Navigation (CGN) is the region’s main shipping company. In addition to day-to-day transport, it offers cruises on Lake Geneva, in Switzerland and France.
Lausanne’s topography offers a real challenge to cycling enthusiasts: the edge of the lake is 555 metres lower than the highest parts of the city!
Nevertheless, the 60 km of cycle routes and the particularly agreeable areas near the lake make cycling an ideal form of transport for short and medium-length journeys in the city and its surrounding area.
Cycles are available free on campus for those registered (PubliBike).
A number of companies have cycles available to rent, including in particular Rent a bike (CFF) or, for long-term rentals ReCycloBike.
Consult these websites for information on the use of motor vehicles:
- Parking rules, speed restrictions, the motorway toll sticker and car hire: Lausanne Tourisme website .
- Administrative and legal information (including on bringing a car into Switzerland and driving licences)
- Car-sharing service Mobility
- Parking on campus (in French)
Switzerland has three international airports: Zurich, Basel-Mulhouse and Geneva. All three are less than three hours from Lausanne by car or train. The closest to Lausanne is Geneva Airport.
Activities
Take advantage of Lausanne’s many cultural opportunities!
Museums , art galleries , cinemas , castles , vineyards , parks , theatre and festivals provide a packed cultural agenda throughout the year.
Look at the Lausanne Tourisme website, including for great restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy a drink on the terrace .
Lausanne offers an ideal environment for many sports, particularly outdoor activities such as walking , skiing , cycling and climbing . Not only is Lausanne close to the mountains; the fact that it is next to the lake means that water sports are easily accessible.
As the Olympic capital , Lausanne inevitable has close links with the world of sport, both through the Olympic Museum and its sporting facilities .
The University also has an excellent sports centre with facilities for over 100 different sports, and classes available.
Hours
Most shops in Lausanne are open from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 to 19:00.
Shops close earlier on Saturdays, around 18:00.
Most retail outlets are closed on Sundays, except for some near stations and the lake at Ouchy. Service stations also sell basic foods and are open on Sundays.
Supermarkets
Migros and Coop dominate the retail food market in Switzerland. They both offer online shopping with home delivery. Migros does not sell alcohol or cigarettes.
Bassenges Farm Market - Ecublens
Buy your vegetables, sheep's cheese, eggs and sourdough bread at the Ferme de Bassenges in Ecublens on a self-service basis. Payment in cash only. Click here for opening times.
Market in Lausanne
Markets for local and regional products are held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the centre of Lausanne.
For more information on shopping, click here !
Useful to know
Currency
Switzerland still uses the Swiss franc (CHF). You can pay with euros in many shops, but change will be given in Swiss francs. You can exchange money at the airport, in banks and at bureaux de change in stations.
Hours
Banks, post offices and other administrative services are generally open from Monday to Friday, from 08:30 to 12:15 and from 13:30 to 16:30.
Credit cards
Most service providers accept the usual credit cards. Cash machines in Swiss banks operate on the CYRRUS system or with MAESTRO. Other banks will have at least one automated cash machine for credit card transactions. It is still important to have a small amount of cash available, for example to pay for taxis or public transport.
VAT
VAT at 7.7 % is included in all prices displayed. This tax will rise to 8.1% from January 1, 2024.
Service charges
The service charge is included in all prices displayed. It is common to leave an additional tip when you are very pleased with the service you have received, but this is optional.
At home
Internet connections are usually through cable or ADSL. The main suppliers of high speed broadband are Swisscom , Sunrise and Salt .
Contracts are usually for a minimum period of 12 months. The necessary modem is provided free of charge. Operators often provide an internet connection as part of a package with their telephone services.
In many towns and cities, an internet connection can be provided via cable TV. For more information on use, options and speeds, contact Cablecom or the municipal offices (Citycable in Lausanne).
At UNIL
The eduroam network is also available at UNIL. All the information is available on the UNIL IT centre website.
If you are not a member of UNIL then, when on UNIL campus:
Please follow the process under external person: public-unil.
Fixed line telephone
You will need to contact a telephone operator to get a line. The providers in French-speaking Switzerland are listed here . Note that https://citycable.ch/telephone/apercu/ also offers a service in the Lausanne region. There may be advantages in opting for the ADSL (internet) connection offered by the same supplier, but this is not obligatory (see the "internet” section).
Mobiles
For short stays, it may be simplest to buy a pay-as-you-go mobile phone. Specialist mobile phone shops and large electrical equipment stores sell these (on presentation of your passport). Pay-as-you-go phones may be topped up in kiosks, of which there are many, or at ticket machines in stations.
If you wish to take out a contract, contact a shop or a supplier for more information.
Among current providers, we would point in particular to Swisscom , Salt , Sunrise and Migros .
There is comprehensive information on telecommunications services providers in Switzerland on the Swiss Confederation website .
Non-recyclable waste
Official issue bin bags must be used for all non-recyclable waste. These are white bags marked “Trier c’est valoriser” [recycling means sorting]. Use of any other bag (grey, black, transparent etc.) is prohibited and may be subject to a fine. The bags are on sale at supermarket cashpoints and in post offices. They may be disposed of in the "Ordures ménagères” [household waste] containers provided in your building.
Recyclable waste
Recyclable waste collected door to door (waste containers provided in your building specifically for your use)
Recyclable waste collected from collection points
- PET bottles
- Cans and coffee capsules
- Batteries
- Light bulbs
- Electronic devices
- Used oil
- Textiles and shoes
Find your nearest recycling point !
Leaflet and more detailed guide to recycling (in french only)
More information on waste management in Switzerland.
There are two English-language websites which will help you familiarise yourself with Switzerland and find out about local news: SwissInfo (in ten languages) and Le News .
Local newspapers (in French)
24 Heures
Le Temps
20 Minutes (French, German and Italian)
- Ambulance : 144
- Police : 117
- Fire : 118
- Rega (helicopter rescue) : 1414
- Empoisonnement : 145
- Roadside assistance : 140
- Psychological support (La Main Tendue) : 143
- UNIL emergency numbers : UniSep