Cities / Europe / Switzerland / Lausanne

Best walking routes in Lausanne

15 routes ranked on sights, efficiency, hills & length — real foot distance and elevation.

3.9 scoreHills 3/106.7 kmBest May–Sep
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Ranked routes

Same score for every walk. Click a card to expand details on the map.

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#1
Viewpoint

Lausanne in One Day: Walking Itinerary

One day

18 stops13.2 km4 h 45 min~175 m stairs

Inside visits push a full day to ~6 h 5 min.

Inside: Olympic Museum (~1 h) + Lausanne Cathedral (~20 min). Estimates only.

13.2 kmdistance4 h 45 minwith stops18stops~6 h 5 minfull day+340 mgain~175 mstairs
3.5 sights6.9 efficiency5.7 hills6.8 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 55 min+ up to 6 h 25 min insides+340 m climb along route
  1. Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery
  2. Montreux
  3. Italie
  4. Olympic Museum (inside ~1 h)
  5. Synagogue of Lausanne
  6. Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts
  7. mudac - Cantonal Museum of Design and Contemporary Applied Arts
  8. Photo Elysée
  9. Montbenon
  10. Mercier House
  11. Place de la Palud
  12. Église Saint-François (Lausanne)
  13. Escaliers du Marché et de la Cathédrale
  14. Lausanne Cathedral (inside ~20 min)
  15. Palais de Rumine
  16. Hermitage Foundation
  17. Tour de Sauvabelin
  18. Collection de l'art brut
368–675 m

Photo: ViewpointLukas BannierPublic domain

5.1/10
#2
Viewpoint

One Hour in Lausanne: A Short Walk

1 hour

5 stops2.9 km1 h 10 min

2.9 kmdistance1 h 10 minwith stops5stops+110 mgain
4.6 sights6.8 efficiency1.8 hills5.5 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 40 min+ up to 3 h 5 min insides+110 m climb along route
  1. Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts
  2. Place de la Palud
  3. Lausanne Cathedral
  4. Palais de Rumine
  5. Collection de l'art brut
448–533 m

Photo: ViewpointArnaud Gaillard (arnaud () amarys.com)CC BY-SA 2.0

5.0/10
#3
Viewpoint

Old Town of Lausanne in 2 Hours

Old town

8 stops2.4 km1 h 15 min

2.4 kmdistance1 h 15 minwith stops8stops+54 mgain
2.7 sights7.5 efficiency0.9 hills6.7 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 30 min+ up to 1 h 50 min insides+54 m climb along route
  1. Montbenon
  2. Place de la Palud
  3. Église Saint-François (Lausanne)
  4. Place des Pionnières
  5. Place de la Riponne
  6. Lausanne Cathedral
  7. Château Saint-Maire
  8. Palais de Rumine
485–537 m

Photo: ViewpointUrs ZeierCC BY-SA 3.0

4.3/10
#4
Viewpoint

Lausanne in 2 Hours on Foot

2 hours

10 stops5.6 km2 h 10 min~109 m stairs

5.6 kmdistance2 h 10 minwith stops10stops+95 mgain~109 mstairs
3.6 sights6.6 efficiency1.6 hills4.0 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 15 min+ up to 4 h 25 min insides+95 m climb along route
  1. Tour de Sauvabelin
  2. Hermitage Foundation
  3. Palais de Rumine
  4. Lausanne Cathedral
  5. Place de la Palud
  6. Mercier House
  7. Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts
  8. Photo Elysée
  9. Escaliers de Bel-Air
  10. Collection de l'art brut
448–671 m

Photo: ViewpointVon.schweizCC BY-SA 4.0

4.2/10
#5
Viewpoint

Lausanne Old Town Walking Tour

Old town

11 stops4.6 km2 h~178 m stairs

4.6 kmdistance2 hwith stops11stops+154 mgain~178 mstairs
2.1 sights7.4 efficiency2.6 hills6.8 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h+ up to 1 h 50 min insides+154 m climb along route
  1. Montbenon
  2. place Chauderon
  3. Place des Pionnières
  4. Grand Pont
  5. Place de la Palud
  6. Église Saint-François (Lausanne)
  7. Place de la Riponne
  8. Lausanne Cathedral
  9. Palais de Rumine
  10. Château Saint-Maire
  11. Place de la Sallaz
478–614 m

Photo: ViewpointOdrade123CC BY-SA 3.0

4.2/10
#6
Viewpoint

Squares of Lausanne Walk

Squares

8 stops4.1 km1 h 35 min~119 m stairs

4.1 kmdistance1 h 35 minwith stops8stops+148 mgain~119 mstairs
1.4 sights8.0 efficiency2.5 hills8.3 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 55 min+148 m climb along route
  1. Montbenon
  2. place Chauderon
  3. Place des Pionnières
  4. Place de la Palud
  5. Saint-François
  6. Place de la Riponne
  7. place de la Cathédrale
  8. Place de la Sallaz
478–614 m

Photo: ViewpointGzzzCC BY-SA 4.0

4.2/10
#7
Viewpoint

Lausanne Photo Walk: Most Instagrammable Spots

Photo spots

13 stops9.2 km3 h 15 min~169 m stairs

9.2 kmdistance3 h 15 minwith stops13stops+280 mgain~169 mstairs
3.6 sights7.1 efficiency4.7 hills0.0 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 5 min+ up to 4 h 45 min insides+280 m climb along route
  1. Olympic Museum
  2. Italie
  3. Montreux
  4. Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts
  5. Photo Elysée
  6. Esplanade de Montbenon
  7. Mercier House
  8. Place de la Palud
  9. Collection de l'art brut
  10. Lausanne Cathedral
  11. Palais de Rumine
  12. Esplanade du Château
  13. Signal de Sauvabelin
368–631 m

Photo: ViewpointSailkoCC BY-SA 4.0

4.0/10
#8
Viewpoint

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Lausanne

Walking tour

11 stops11.3 km3 h 30 min~200 m stairs

11.3 kmdistance3 h 30 minwith stops11stops+75 mgain~200 mstairs
4.0 sights7.3 efficiency1.2 hills0.0 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 30 min+ up to 4 h 45 min insides+75 m climb along route
  1. Collection de l'art brut
  2. Palais de Rumine
  3. Lausanne Cathedral
  4. Mercier House
  5. Photo Elysée
  6. Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts
  7. Olympic Museum
  8. Italie
  9. Montreux
  10. Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery
  11. Escalier de la Paix
368–533 m

Photo: ViewpointEarth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space CenterPublic domain

3.9/10
#9
Viewpoint

Hidden Gems of Lausanne in 2 Hours

Hidden gems

7 stops4.3 km1 h 35 min

4.3 kmdistance1 h 35 minwith stops7stops+168 mgain
0.7 sights8.3 efficiency2.8 hills7.7 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h+ up to 20 min insides+168 m climb along route
  1. Synagogue of Lausanne
  2. Bessières bridge
  3. Église Saint-François (Lausanne)
  4. Grand Pont
  5. place Chauderon
  6. Place de la Riponne
  7. Place de la Sallaz
478–614 m

Photo: ViewpointPymouss44CC BY-SA 3.0

3.9/10
#10
Viewpoint

Museums of Lausanne in 2 Hours

Museums

8 stops4.8 km1 h 45 min

4.8 kmdistance1 h 45 minwith stops8stops+88 mgain
2.6 sights6.3 efficiency1.5 hills6.2 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 5 min+ up to 6 h insides+88 m climb along route
  1. Claude Verdan Foundation - Museum of the Hand
  2. Hermitage Foundation
  3. Naturéum
  4. Musée d'archéologie et d'histoire
  5. Collection de l'art brut
  6. mudac - Cantonal Museum of Design and Contemporary Applied Arts
  7. Photo Elysée
  8. Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts
450–588 m

Photo: ViewpointSailkoCC BY 3.0

3.9/10
#11
Viewpoint

Stairways of Lausanne Walk

Stairways

11 stops2.6 km1 h 20 min~258 m stairs

2.6 kmdistance1 h 20 minwith stops11stops+22 mgain~258 mstairs
0.7 sights8.1 efficiency0.4 hills7.5 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 35 min+22 m climb along route
  1. Escaliers de la Barre
  2. Escaliers Marc-Louis-Arlaud
  3. Escalier de l'Université
  4. Escaliers du Marché
  5. Escaliers du Marché et de la Cathédrale
  6. Escaliers des Grandes-Roches
  7. Escaliers Rodolphe-de-Billens
  8. Escaliers des Savetiers
  9. Escaliers du Grand-Pont
  10. Escalier de Bel-Air
  11. Escaliers de Bel-Air
480–518 m

Photo: ViewpointGzzzCC BY-SA 4.0

3.5/10
#12
Viewpoint

Best Viewpoints in Lausanne: Walking Route

Viewpoints

7 stops5.5 km1 h 50 min

5.5 kmdistance1 h 50 minwith stops7stops+257 mgain
0.5 sights7.4 efficiency4.3 hills4.4 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 15 min+257 m climb along route
  1. Crêt de Montriond
  2. Colline du Languedoc
  3. Esplanade de Montbenon
  4. Place de la Cathédrale
  5. Esplanade du Château
  6. Signal de Sauvabelin
  7. Sauvabelin tower
426–671 m

Photo: ViewpointGzzzCC BY-SA 3.0

3.2/10
#13
Viewpoint

Hidden Gems of Lausanne: Off-the-Beaten-Path Walk

Hidden gems

11 stops11.3 km3 h 30 min

11.3 kmdistance3 h 30 minwith stops11stops+421 mgain
0.8 sights8.2 efficiency7.0 hills0.0 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 30 min+ up to 1 h 20 min insides+421 m climb along route
  1. Lousonna
  2. place Chauderon
  3. Saint-Laurent Reformed Church
  4. Grand Pont
  5. Église Saint-François (Lausanne)
  6. Tour Haldimand
  7. Synagogue of Lausanne
  8. Bessières bridge
  9. Place de la Riponne
  10. Place de la Sallaz
  11. Vivarium de Lausanne
376–650 m

Photo: ViewpointArnaud Gaillard (arnaud () amarys.com)CC BY-SA 2.0

3.2/10
#14
Viewpoint

Lausanne Loop Walk from Église Saint-François (Lausanne)

Loop

21 stops6.5 km3 h 15 min~157 m stairs

6.5 kmdistance3 h 15 minwith stops21stops+150 mgain~157 mstairs
1.2 sights5.6 efficiency2.5 hills5.5 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 25 min+ up to 4 h 25 min insides+150 m climb along route
  1. Église Saint-François (Lausanne)
  2. Mercier House
  3. Grand Pont
  4. Place des Pionnières
  5. Escalier de Bel-Air
  6. Saint-Laurent Reformed Church
  7. Escaliers du Marché et de la Cathédrale
  8. Musée d'archéologie et d'histoire
  9. Musée des Beaux-Arts
  10. Place de la Riponne
  11. Espace Arlaud
  12. Naturéum
  13. Escaliers de la Barre
  14. Hermitage Foundation
  15. Claude Verdan Foundation - Museum of the Hand
  16. Château Saint-Maire
  17. place de la Cathédrale
  18. Mudac
  19. Bessières bridge
  20. Escaliers Rodolphe-de-Billens
  21. Escaliers des Savetiers
483–588 m

Photo: ViewpointGrezCC BY-SA 3.0

3.1/10
#15
Viewpoint

Lausanne Museum Walk

Museums

11 stops11.6 km3 h 30 min~126 m stairs

11.6 kmdistance3 h 30 minwith stops11stops+128 mgain~126 mstairs
2.1 sights7.4 efficiency2.1 hills0.0 length
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 35 min+ up to 8 h insides+128 m climb along route
  1. Vivarium de Lausanne
  2. Hermitage Foundation
  3. Claude Verdan Foundation - Museum of the Hand
  4. Collection de l'art brut
  5. Naturéum
  6. Musée d'archéologie et d'histoire
  7. Musée de l'Elysée
  8. Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts
  9. Photo Elysée
  10. mudac - Cantonal Museum of Design and Contemporary Applied Arts
  11. Musée Romain Lausanne-Vidy
382–661 m

Photo: ViewpointMHM55CC BY-SA 4.0

3.1/10

Hills: higher = steeper along the walk. Stairs (when shown): metres of mapped stairways near the route — approximate, not a step countvisit times are estimates.

Lausanne walking stats

From the 15 rated routes160 stops total57 unique places.

Most climbHidden Gems of Lausanne: Off-the-Beaten-Path Walk+421 m along route
Most stops / kmStairways of Lausanne Walk4.2 stops per km
Least climbStairways of Lausanne Walk+22 m along route
Most stairsStairways of Lausanne Walk~258 m mapped stairways (approx., not step count)
Longest / shortest13.2 km2.4 kmLausanne in One Day: Walking Itinerary / Old Town of Lausanne in 2 Hours
Places on routes57unique stop ids
How we score. Same formula for every route: Sights 50% (how notable the stops are)Efficiency 25% (less backtracking between stops)Hills 10% (how steep the walk is)Length fit 15% (distance vs the kind of walk). Stairs stay a fact in metres, not a quality bar. Avg score in the hero is the mean across all ranked walks.

Lausanne FAQ

Short answers from this city’s data.

Best first-visit walk?
Lausanne in One Day: Walking Itinerary (13.2 km, 4 h 45 min with stops) ranks #1 here.
Best months to walk Lausanne?
May–Sep are usually the nicest months for walking.
Shortest walk?
Old Town of Lausanne in 2 Hours2.4 km, walking 30 min.
One hour in Lausanne?
One Hour in Lausanne: A Short Walk: walking 40 min, with stops 1 h 10 min, 5 stops.
One-day plan?
Lausanne in One Day: Walking Itinerary: 18 stops, ~4 h 45 min on-route; suggested insides on marked stops; full day ≈ 6 h 5 min. Visit times are estimates.
Stairs and hills?
Hills is 10% of the score (higher = steeper along the walk). Stairs are not scored — when shown, they are metres of mapped stairways near the route (approximate; not a step count). Example: stairways ≈ 258 m, climb ≈ +22 m.
Can I change stops?
Yes — open in Maps, edit, then paste into Lineo for a cleaner order.
Why are some Google Maps links split?
Google Maps caps how many stops fit in one directions link (we use 11). Longer walks are split into numbered buttons (1/2, 2/2, …). Open them in order — each part starts where the previous one ended.