City in Vaud, Switzerland
Lausanne for solo travelers
Is Lausanne good for solo travel?
Hilly lakeside student city and Olympic capital with French-speaking cafés, a lively old town and vineyards nearby. Good for a longer solo stay; steep hills and high prices are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Widely spoken |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone; normal care around Flon late at night. |
How to meet people in Lausanne
Large student population and international institutions make Meetup language exchanges, hostel events and lakeside run clubs easy to find.
Good things to do alone
- Walk the Lavaux terraced vineyards
- Visit the Olympic Museum in Ouchy
- Climb the cathedral tower for the lake view
- Swim at Vidy Beach
- Take a CGN steamer to Vevey
Where to stay in Lausanne
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Flon and Centre | Bars, cafés, nightlife and transport hubs |
| Ouchy | Lakeside promenade, hotels, metro to the center |
| Cité and Old Town | Cathedral, quiet streets, short sightseeing stays |
| Sallaz and Chauderon | Local cafés, easier prices, student life |
Solo travel across Switzerland
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Geneva | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lucerne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Interlaken | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Basel | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lausanne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lugano | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Grindelwald | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Zermatt | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bern | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| St. Moritz | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Montreux | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
Quick answers
Is Lausanne good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Hilly lakeside student city and Olympic capital with French-speaking cafés, a lively old town and vineyards nearby.
How do you meet people in Lausanne?
Large student population and international institutions make Meetup language exchanges, hostel events and lakeside run clubs easy to find. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Lausanne?
Widely spoken.
Is Lausanne safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone; normal care around Flon late at night.
More about Lausanne
Going to Lausanne solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Lausanne meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.