Things to Do in Lausanne in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
May Weather in Lausanne
Long-run averages for May
66°F (19°C)
High Temp
46°F (8°C)
Low Temp
3.1 inches (79 mm)
Rainfall
75%
Humidity
11
Rainy Days
7
Sunny-Day UV
Making the most of May in Lausanne? Browse tours and activities in Lausanne on GetYourGuide.
Is May Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Lilac explosions along the lakefront parks hit peak bloom in mid-May - the scent carries across Ouchy harbor when the wind shifts south
- + Hotel rates are still shoulder-season through May 20, then jump 30-40% for summer - book the first half and you're essentially getting June weather at April prices
- + The terraced Lavaux vineyards (UNESCO site) turn an impossible shade of green before the summer crowds arrive - you can walk the 11 km (6.8 mile) trail from Lutry to St-Saphorin with only locals for company
- + Outdoor cafés reopen on Place de la Palud and Rue de Bourg - locals claim the first rosé tastes better at 18°C (64°F) than at summer's 28°C (82°F)
Considerations
- − Lake water hits 14°C (57°F) in May - technically swimmable if you're Scandinavian. But locals wait until July
- − Rain arrives in theatrical bursts around 3-4 pm on half the days, usually with zero warning - that sunny morning photo session can turn into a wet tram ride back to your hotel
- − The Fête de la Jeunesse (last weekend) books every decent room within 30 km - prices triple, and the normally quiet old town turns into a beer-can obstacle course
Settled on May? Compare hotel prices in Lausanne for your dates on Trip.com.
Best Activities in May
Top things to do during your visit
Lavaux Vineyard Walking Tours
May is the sweet spot - vines are fully leafed but the narrow stone paths aren't yet clogged with summer tour groups. Morning light hits the south-facing terraces around 8:30 am, good for photos before the afternoon clouds build. The 70% humidity keeps the air soft, so even the 300 m (984 ft) climb from Rivaz to Chexbres feels manageable.
Booking Tip: Book 7-10 days ahead through certified Lavaux guides - look for operators who include the tiny stone chapels most visitors miss. Morning tours start 9 am sharp. Afternoon sessions often get rained out.
Lake Geneva Boat Excursions
The CGN ferries switch to full summer schedule May 1, but passenger counts stay low until school holidays. Sit port-side on the upper deck for views of the Alps reflected in 14°C (57°F) water - the contrast creates that famous mirror effect you won't see in summer haze. Montreux-bound boats stop at Chillon Castle at 11:15 am and 2:45 pm, good for beating the afternoon rain.
Booking Tip: Buy the 9 am day-pass - cheaper than round-trip tickets and lets you hop off at vineyards between rain showers. Boats run hourly but skip the noon departure; that's when day-trippers crowd the pier.
Old Town Underground Cellar Tours
When the 3 pm rain hits, locals duck into the 13th-century cellars beneath Rue Cité-Devant. Temperature stays constant 13°C (55°F) year-round, so May's humidity makes the stone walls feel warmer. You'll taste chasselas wines that never leave Switzerland - the same grapes growing 50 m (164 ft) above your head in the terraced vineyards.
Booking Tip: Reserve same-day spots at the tourist office on Place de la Palud - groups max 12 people, and English tours often sell out by 11 am on rainy days.
Olympic Museum Park Cycling
The 4 km (2.5 mile) lakeside path from Ouchy to the Olympic Museum stays dry most mornings - good for rental bikes before the afternoon weather turns. May's 19°C (66°F) high means you won't arrive sweaty, and the park's 1,000 rose bushes hit first bloom around May 10. Museum opens 9 am. Cycle early and you'll share the path with only joggers and lake fishermen.
Booking Tip: Pick up bikes at the Ouchy kiosk - return by 2 pm before thunderclouds build. The lakeside route has zero shade. Bring sunglasses (UV index 8).
Covered Market Hall Food Tours
When rain drives everyone indoors, the 19th-century market hall on Place de la Riponne becomes a sensory overload - cheese stalls reeking of vacherin, fishmongers shouting in French-German hybrid, and the metallic clang of wine glasses from the oyster bar. May produce includes the first local asparagus (thick as markers) and strawberries that taste like strawberries.
Booking Tip: Arrive 10 am when vendors are chatty but not slammed. The self-guided route works fine - start at the west entrance for cheese, circle counterclockwise, finish with a glass of chasselas at the central bar.
Where to Stay in Lausanne in May
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for May travellers.
Public Holidays in May
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Tag der Arbeit
Known in English as Labour Day. A public holiday in these regions only: CH-ZH, CH-SO, CH-BS, CH-BL, CH-SH, CH-NE, CH-JU.
Auffahrt
Known in English as Ascension Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Pfingstmontag
Known in English as Whit Monday. A public holiday in these regions only: CH-ZH, CH-BE, CH-GL, CH-FR, CH-BS, CH-BL, CH-SH, CH-AR, CH-AI, CH-SG, CH-GR, CH-AG, CH-TG, CH-VD, CH-GE, CH-JU.
Fronleichnam
Known in English as Corpus Christi. A public holiday in these regions only: CH-LU, CH-UR, CH-SZ, CH-OW, CH-NW, CH-ZG, CH-FR, CH-SO, CH-AI, CH-AG, CH-VS, CH-JU.
Tag der Arbeit
Known in English as Labour Day. A public holiday in these regions only: CH-ZH, CH-SO, CH-BS, CH-BL, CH-SH, CH-NE, CH-JU.
Auffahrt
Known in English as Ascension Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Lausanne Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The free metro between Lausanne-Flon and Ouchy runs every 10 minutes - saves a 25-minute downhill walk, then you can climb back through the vineyards
May 1 is Labor Day: everything closes except the train station and a few bakeries. Stock up on April 30 or you'll eat train-station sandwiches
Locals judge restaurants by their chasselas wine list - if it's all Valais labels, the chef probably isn't from Vaud. Look for 'Dézaley' or 'Calamin' for authentic Lavaux pours
The cathedral's midnight prayer bell (couvre-feu) still rings at 10 pm in May - medieval law no one bothered changing. Romantic unless you're trying to sleep nearby
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking lake-view hotels for the 'beach' - the shore is concrete slabs until mid-June when temporary sand beaches arrive
Trying to visit Geneva and Montreux in the same day - trains run every 30 minutes but the connections eat 4 hours round-trip
Assuming French will work everywhere - the vineyard villages speak a Swiss-German dialect and may pretend not to understand
Wearing white shoes on the Lavaux trails - the limestone dust stains permanently and you'll carry the evidence home
Short on time? See day trips around Lausanne on GetYourGuide.
Ready to plan your trip to Lausanne?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.
Book Experiences in Lausanne
Top-rated things to do in Lausanne this May
Explore More Activities in Lausanne
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Lausanne.
See All Lausanne Tours on Viator