The heart of the Swiss city of Lausanne lies on a terrace high above Lake Geneva, with suburbs tumbling down the slopes to the lakeshore below. But a sleek metro system tackles the steep slopes with ease, so it’s easy to get around town without strenuous hikes. On clear days, there are brilliant views from many parts of the city across Lake Geneva to the Alps beyond. There are few cities on this planet which can claim so beautiful a setting. Throw in a notably tolerant and very international population and it’s easy to see why Lausanne is so popular. The city has a relaxed feel, but it’s pricey.

There's the usual range of urban distractions and the famous Musée Olympique. New for 2019 is the city's fine arts museum which reopens at a new site close to the main railway station.

Lausanne is the obvious jumping-off point for excursions to the nearby Lavaux Vineyards (just east of Lausanne). Make time too for boat trips on the lake, using the comfortable steamer services which shuttle over to Evian and hop along the north shore to serve a medley of Swiss towns. Our favourite Lausanne excursion is an evening boat trip to Vevey, returning back into town by train.

The main railway station in Lausanne lies midway between the city centre and the lakeshore at Ouchy. There are direct TGVs to Paris, the fastest taking 4 hrs 40 mins for the 480-km sprint to the French capital. EuroCity trains run direct from Lausanne to Milan, Verona and Venice. There is an excellent range of inner-Swiss trains, with non-stop trains to Geneva leaving every 30 minutes. Berne, Basel and Zurich are all served by regular fast trains.

Explore all the unparalleled beauty and cultural diversity Switzerland has to offer with a Swiss Travel Pass.