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Most visitors to Montreux look east towards the mountains. The best low-effort day trip in the other direction is Lausanne: a lakeside train ride, a world-class museum on the water, and an old town on the hill above it. It also works when the weather does not, because the headline attraction is indoors.

The Olympic Museum at a glance

Where
Quai d’Ouchy, Lausanne, on the lakefront[1]
From Montreux
Direct train to Lausanne (roughly 20–30 min, check SBB), then the M2 metro to Ouchy-Olympique[3]
Opening
Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–18:00; closed Mondays and 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan[1]
Adults
CHF 20 (from age 16); reduced CHF 14; children up to 15 free with an adult[2]
Opened
23 June 1993[5]
Best for
Rainy days, families, sport fans; easy in any season

Why Lausanne: it is the seat of the International Olympic Committee, which moved its headquarters here in 1915 — so the museum is not a themed attraction but the sport movement’s own archive, set on the waterfront of Lake Geneva.[4][5]

Short answer: yes, Lausanne’s Olympic Museum is an easy day trip from Montreux. Take a direct train along the lake (roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on the service), ride the M2 metro down to Ouchy, and spend two to three hours in the museum. Entry is CHF 20 for adults and free for children up to 15 with an adult; it is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00 and closed on Mondays.[1][2][3] Add the Ouchy promenade for lunch and, if you have energy left, the Gothic cathedral in the old town.

Olympic rings against a blue sky

Photo: Pexels

In this guide

  1. Why Lausanne is the Olympic capital
  2. Inside the Olympic Museum
  3. Getting there from Montreux
  4. A day that works
  5. When to go
  6. Where to stay
  7. Frequently asked questions

Why Lausanne is the Olympic capital

The International Olympic Committee has been based in Lausanne since 1915, and the city markets itself as the Olympic Capital.[4] That history explains why the museum is here rather than in a host city: it opened on 23 June 1993 on the lakefront at Ouchy, next to the IOC’s own world.[5] For a visitor it means the collection is curated by the institution that runs the Games, not assembled by a tourist board.

Inside the Olympic Museum

The permanent exhibition is organised in three parts, which the museum presents as the Olympic World, the Games and the Olympic Spirit: the ancient origins and the modern movement, the story of each Games, and the athletes and values behind them.[1] Count on two to three hours at an unhurried pace. It is indoors and works well for families because children up to 15 enter free with an adult.[2]

Outside, the gardens and the lakeside terrace are the real bonus: you can combine the visit with the Ouchy promenade, the paddle-steamer landing stage and an easy walk along the water. Our guide to CGN cruises explains how to arrive in Lausanne by boat instead of train, at a slower pace.

Getting there from Montreux

Take a direct train from Montreux to Lausanne station. The ride runs along Lavaux’s vineyard terraces and takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on whether you catch the faster service; we could not pull a live timetable for this article, so check the departure on the SBB app.[3] From Lausanne station the M2 metro runs down to Ouchy-Olympique, a few minutes’ ride, and the museum is a short walk from there. Going the other way, the old town and cathedral are uphill from the station and easy on foot.

You do not need a car, and we would advise against one: parking near the quay is the part of the day most likely to go wrong.

A day that works

  1. 09:30 — arrive Ouchy. Museum when it opens at 9:00 or soon after, before the school groups peak.
  2. 12:30 — lunch on the waterfront. Ouchy is the easy choice; you can eat at the museum’s own restaurant or along the promenade.
  3. 14:30 — up to the old town. Take the metro back to the station area and walk up to the Gothic cathedral and the narrow streets of the Cité.
  4. 17:00 — train home. Direct trains run back to Montreux regularly, so you can be at the lake by early evening.

If you would rather read about the city as a place to own or rent property, see our Lausanne short-term rental income guide and how the three Lake Geneva towns compare in Montreux vs Vevey vs Lausanne.

When to go

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday year-round except the winter days listed above, so it is a reliable plan for a grey November day when the Alps are in cloud.[1] Weekends are busier; a Tuesday or Wednesday morning is calmest. In summer, shift the museum to the morning and keep the lakefront for the afternoon.

Where to stay

Lausanne is an easy day out from Montreux, which is why we suggest staying on the Riviera: quieter, cheaper and with the same train line to the city. If you are comparing bases, our Montreux and Vevey guide covers what is on your doorstep.

Base yourself in Montreux

Lausanne, Chillon and the Alps are all within an easy train ride. Kitchens for early starts and the lakefront ten minutes away when you get back.

See our apartments

Related reading: Château de Chillon visitor guide · Lavaux vineyards · CGN cruises from Montreux

Bahram Khanlarov
Bahram Khanlarov

10+ years in hospitality. BBA Hospitality (Glion), MSc Tourism (FHGR), MSc Data Science (HSLU).

Frequently asked questions

Is the Olympic Museum in Lausanne a good day trip from Montreux?

Yes. Lausanne is a short direct train ride along the lake from Montreux (roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on the train, so check the SBB timetable), and the museum sits on the Ouchy waterfront a few minutes by metro from the station. That leaves room for the museum, a lakefront lunch and the old town in one easy day.[3]

How much does the Olympic Museum cost, and when is it open?

Lausanne Tourisme lists adults (from age 16) at CHF 20 and a reduced rate of CHF 14 for 2026, with children up to 15 free when accompanied by an adult; the Vaud tourism site gives the same hours, Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 to 18:00, and says the museum is closed on Mondays and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. One listing shows a different adult price (CHF 18 from age 17), so confirm on the museum's own site before you go.[1][2]

Is the Olympic Museum open on Mondays?

Normally no. The museum is closed on Mondays unless it falls on a public holiday or a special event, which makes Monday the wrong day for this trip. Plan it for Tuesday to Sunday.[1]

Why is the Olympic Museum in Lausanne?

Because the International Olympic Committee is based there. The IOC moved its headquarters to Lausanne in 1915 and the city calls itself the Olympic Capital; the museum opened on 23 June 1993.[4][5]

Can you do Lausanne as a day trip without a car?

Yes, and it is easier without one. Train from Montreux to Lausanne, then the M2 metro down to Ouchy-Olympique for the museum; the old town and cathedral are reached on foot or by metro from the station. A car adds parking cost and stress for no gain.[3]

Sources

  1. Vaud tourism (vaud.ch), “The Olympic Museum” — opening hours Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–18:00, closed Mondays and on 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January, the three-part permanent exhibition — vaud.ch/en/tourism/activites/the-olympic-museum
  2. Lausanne Tourisme, Olympic Museum entry — 2026 prices: adults from age 16 CHF 20, reduced CHF 14, children up to 15 free with an adult (the Vaud tourism page also lists an alternative adult rate of CHF 18 from age 17; verify on the museum’s own site) — lausanne-tourisme.ch
  3. SBB (sbb.ch) timetable, Montreux → Lausanne and Lausanne metro M2 (Lausanne gare → Ouchy-Olympique) — journey time varies by service, verify on the SBB app before travelling — sbb.ch
  4. International Olympic Committee, “Lausanne, Olympic Capital” — IOC headquarters in Lausanne since 1915 — olympics.com/ioc
  5. Switzerland Tourism (myswitzerland.com), “The Olympic Museum” — the museum on the Ouchy waterfront, opened 23 June 1993 — myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/the-olympic-museum