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The cheerful traveler: Travel to and from Lausanne and the Lake Geneva region

Getting to Lausanne and the Lake Geneva region from Geneva

The Swiss mass transport system has been described as intricate and integrated, punctual, efficient and one of the best in the world, comprising trains, postal buses, boats, mountain cable cars (tramways & funiculars) which cover almost the entire country. You can purchase your tickets at train stations and some post offices, railway station vending machines or online.

If your travel plans include Lausanne, trains leave Geneva every 10-20 minutes. Lausanne is the second largest city in French-speaking Switzerland and the Lake Geneva area. It is home to the International Olympic Committee and Museum and a number of major arts, sports and other non-profit organizations as well as several multinational corporations that have major regional or head offices here.

Lausanne, like most Swiss towns, has a comprehensive mass transportation system that includes buses, boats, trams and even a completely automated metro as of October 2008.

Canton Vaud offers an option similar to Geneva’s Unireso called Mobilis, which gives you access to all public transport optoins in the canton

Ticket options depend on the length of your stay

If you are in Switzerland for less than four days and you are not using private transportation, the best option is to purchase comprehensive day passes for whichever city you visit. These passes give you unlimited access to all regional transportation.

If you are staying in Lausanne or anywhere in Switzerland for at least 4 days, you should buy a Swiss pass or flexi-pass. These offer unlimited travel on any Swiss public transport network for a specific number of days and a 50% reduction on the remaining days of your visit. The Swiss rail system also offers various alternatives for day trips in Switzerland and internationally. They can be bought at train stations and a limited number of trips are available online.

Private excursions by car, limousines, air – and even skates

Although effective and friendly, public transportation is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you are renting a car to explore Switzerland, you should consider getting a Swiss Topo map published by the Federal Office of Topography. Maps that can be bought online include some that will interest adventurers, hikers and people who want to go castle-hopping. You may also get maps for biking and skating in Switzerland.

If you prefer no-stress travel without worrying about signs and maps or skating across the country, several chauffeured limousine services and private air transport companies offer tourist packages geared to fine travel.

For further information on the Lake Geneva region check the GenevaLunch resources page.

Tips for getting to Geneva airport from outside Geneva

• If you’re driving from home, consider the park & rail options, far cheaper for longterm parking than the airport itself. Note that there is a waiting list in Lausanne, Morges and Nyon, but smaller towns such as Aubonne have space and they sstart as low as CHF5 a day.
• If you’re taking the train for a very early departure and there are no night trains, don’t go the night before hoping to sleep at the airport or in your car in the airport parking lot: terminal 1 and the main parking lot under the airport are closed between 23:30 and 04:30!

Return to The cheerful traveler, Geneva guide main page.