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Good to know
Emergency call numbers, currency, healthcare,…
Emergency call numbers
- Police: 117
- Fire department: 118
- Ambulance: 144
Currency
Please note that Switzerland remains with the Swiss franc, usually indicated as CHF. While Switzerland is not part of the European Union and thus is not obliged to convert to the Euro, many prices are nonetheless indicated in euros so that visitors may compare prices. Merchants may accept euros but are not obliged to do so. Change given back to the client will most likely be in Swiss francs.
Opening hours – banks
Most banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 12.15 and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Credit cards
The safest and easiest form of money are traveler’s checks and credit cards. The cards most used are Visa, MasterCard and American Express, but all usual cards are accepted. Many banks in Switzerland have equipped their ATM machines with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system. Many other Swiss banks offer ATM machines for cash advances with your credit card. It is recommended to have a small amount of cash on hand upon arrival in Switzerland for immediate expenses, i.e. taxies, city transportation etc.
VAT
7.7 % included in all prices displayed
Tips
Included in all prices
Exchange
By the banks, at the window and by means of ATMs, at railway station and airport exchange offices and in some hotels.
Post offices
Lausanne has numerous post offices. Precise and comprehensive information, particularly about the opening hours of each post office, can be obtained using the dedicated search facility on the official website of La Poste.
Healthcare
For three centuries, Lausanne is renowned world-wide as a town that values its top-class health care services, the excellence of its specialist doctors and state-of-the-art technological equipment. This reputation continues to this day as this welcoming city has made itself a solid reputation as a centre for health care and well-being, as well as being a pole of medical engineering.
CHUV – Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois
Hôpital ophtalmique Jules Gonin
Centrales des médecins de garde
Shop opening hours
Monday-Friday
08:00-08:45 to 18:30-19:00
Saturday
08:00-08:45 to 18:00
Sunday and public holidays
Closed, apart from exceptions listed below.
List of public holidays :
New Year’s Day: 01.01.2024
January 2: 02.01.2024
Good Friday: 29.03.2024
Easter Monday: 01.04.2024
Ascencion Day: 09.05.2024
Whit Monday: 20.05.2024
Swiss National Holiday: 01.08.2024
Bettagsmontag: 16.09.2024
Christmas: 25.12.2024
Sunday and evening opening times
During the high season from April to October, some general food stores in the lakeside district of Ouchy are open until 21:45 during the week and on Sundays.
Culture
In several museums, the entry is free every first saturday of the month.