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The summer is on us in Lausanne and with it come blue skies, sun and heat. So what can we do when it’s just getting too hot and we need to cool down? We selected for you the best places to stay chilled in Lausanne when temperatures are on the rise.
Spots for swimming
The Jetée de la Compagnie
The absolute must to cool down is the Jetée de la Compagnie, with its deck, its bars made from containers and its easier access to the lake. The place has its own pontoon leading from the deck to the lake: you just walk along the pontoon and climb down the ladder for a refreshing dip in Lake Geneva. Isn’t that wonderful?
Vidy
Vidy beach is the ideal place to enjoy a swim and then go for a cocktail in one of the restaurants or bars there.
Bellerive swimming pool
Bellerive swimming pool – a classic – is a part pool, part beach option. If you find it hard to make up your mind, it’s the right compromise. 400 metres of access to the lake, with a sandy beach on one side and three pools for a cooling dip on the other. There are even four diving boards for those in search of adrenaline.
Not forgetting the wilder beaches of the charming little villages along the lake, on the way to Saint-Sulpice and Cully.
Parks
With 16 large public parks, Lausanne has plenty of green spaces to offer. And when you’re looking for cooler spots in town, your best bet is in the shade of mighty trees.
Sauvabelin Park
One of the symbols of nature in town in Lausanne, Sauvabelin Park is loved by all: families for their Sunday outing, lovers wandering hand in hand and friends who wish to enjoy the view. The higher altitude and many large trees keep the atmosphere cooler.
Mon-Repos Park
Mon-Repos Park and its monumental trees are an invitation to relax (the clue is in the name, which means “My rest”). Take a blanket, a good book and settle down in the shade of a hundred-year-old tree. Feeling like a drink? The Folie Voltaire and its home-made brews will be just the thing.
Louis Bourget Park
Between lake and forest, Louis Bourget Park is the place to be in Lausanne when you want to organize a summertime picnic. Of course, you can come to get a tan and savour food, but the forest and nearby lake offer protection from the sun, while the gentle lake breeze will cool you down.
The Jorat nature park
Just north of Lausanne, this vast peri-urban park offers nature lovers almost 40 km of footpaths. Like a green lung, the Parc du Jorat is the largest continuous forest on the Swiss plateau. A haven of peace and freshness, it is also an important water reserve for the Lausanne region.
Museums
Why only visit museums when the weather is appalling? We don’t think of that often enough, but museums are brilliant places to escape from the heat and enjoy a refreshing visit, all the while educating ourselves!
Plateforme 10
What more could we want? We like to go to Plateforme 10, the brand new arts district: a real place to feed your mind… and your stomach too, with its delicious cafés and restaurants.
The Olympic Museum
Would you like to relive the high points of Olympism and live alongside the greatest champions? In the heart of Lausanne, the fabulous world of the Games opens up to you for an unforgettable sporting experience.
The Fondation de l’Hermitage
Nestling in the heart of an exceptional park offering one of the finest views of the city, this sublime nineteenth-century mansion is a showcase for the fine arts, much to the delight of art lovers.
For even more art, history and culture, find a summary of all Lausanne’s museums in just one click.
Discover the Lausanners