Is Lausanne safe?
Safe overall. Petty theft and some late-night drug dealing around Flon and Riponne; fights after bar closing are occasional.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-19.
- Homicide rate in Switzerland: 0.6 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Switzerland: 2.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Lausanne at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing on metros and in crowds; phone and bag theft on summer terraces; occasional drunken scuffles near Flon. |
| At night | Safe in the center and Ouchy; Flon is lively until 3 am. Night buses run on weekends. |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone; normal care around Flon late at night. |
| Other risks | Steep hills and stairs; icy in winter; Cold lake water and fast wind on the lake |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Petition signers asking for donations then demanding money near the station
Take care
- Flon and Riponne late at night: dealers and drunk crowds
- Steep, icy stairs in winter
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Most municipalities require official fee-paid rubbish bags; dumping household waste is fined.
- Motorways need the CHF 40 vignette, and speeding fines are severe.
- Night-time and Sunday quiet hours are taken seriously in apartments.
How Lausanne compares in Switzerland
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Zurich | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lucerne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Interlaken | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Zermatt | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bern | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Basel | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lugano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Grindelwald | 5/5 · Very safe |
| St. Moritz | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Montreux | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Geneva | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lausanne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Lausanne safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone; normal care around Flon late at night.
Is Lausanne safe at night?
Safe in the center and Ouchy; Flon is lively until 3 am. Night buses run on weekends.
What is the crime rate in Lausanne?
Pickpocketing on metros and in crowds; phone and bag theft on summer terraces; occasional drunken scuffles near Flon. Nationally, Switzerland records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Lausanne?
Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
More about Lausanne
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- tl Lausanne transport
- Lausanne Tourism
- CGN Lake Geneva boats
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.