Lausanne — Olympic Capital of the World
Lausanne is one of Switzerland's most dynamic cities — a steep, hilly town of 140,000 built in terraces above Lake Geneva, with the Gothic Cathedral at its crest and the Ouchy marina at its foot. As the seat of the IOC and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, it bears the title "Olympic Capital" and takes it seriously: the Olympic Museum on the Ouchy waterfront is one of the most visited attractions in Switzerland.
The Flon district — once an industrial valley, now a cultural hub of galleries, restaurants, and independent shops — has given Lausanne a vibrancy that sets it apart from Geneva's more formal atmosphere. The old town between the Cathedral and the Palud square is one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in French-speaking Switzerland.
Lavaux — UNESCO Vineyard Terraces
The Lavaux vineyard terraces stretch 30 km east of Lausanne along the lake shore — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of dramatic stepped vineyards dropping from hilltop villages to the water's edge. The Chasselas grapes grown here produce one of Switzerland's finest whites: mineral, dry, and almost exclusively consumed within Switzerland.
The villages of Rivaz, Saint-Saphorin, and Chexbres are the most visited cellar stops. We can arrange a half-day wine tour along the Lavaux combined with your Lyon Airport transfer — arriving in Lyon, pausing in Lavaux, and delivering you to Lausanne by early evening.
Beau-Rivage Palace & Lausanne-Ouchy
The Beau-Rivage Palace on the Ouchy waterfront is Lausanne's grand hotel — a Belle Époque palace directly on the lake shore with a private pier, Michelin-starred dining, and views across to the French Alps. We serve the main hotel entrance and private underground parking for guests arriving with significant luggage or security requirements. For VIP arrivals, the S-Class is recommended.
Ouchy itself — the lakeside district below the old town — is a pleasant promenade of restaurants, the Olympic Museum, and CGN ferry connections to Évian-les-Bains and Geneva on the French shore.
Montreux & Château de Chillon
Montreux is 30 km east of Lausanne — home of the Montreux Jazz Festival (July, one of Europe's most celebrated music events) and the impossibly romantic Château de Chillon, an island fortress on the lake immortalised by Lord Byron. We serve Montreux as an extension of the Lyon–Lausanne transfer or as a separate shorter leg from Lausanne.
For clients combining a Lausanne visit with the Jazz Festival, we handle airport transfers throughout July — book well in advance for peak festival weekends.
Évian via the Ferry — a Different Route to Lyon
An alternative return from Lausanne to Lyon uses the CGN ferry to Évian-les-Bains (35 minutes across the lake) and then a private transfer from Évian to Lyon. This is slightly longer in total but offers an extraordinary Lake Geneva crossing — and lets you see both shores. We coordinate with the ferry timetable and handle both legs. Contact us to plan the combination.
