Trains from Lausanne

Gare de Lausanne is the city's main station, centrally located and served by SBB (Swiss Federal Railways). It sits on the major east-west corridor along Lake Geneva, connecting Geneva, Montreux, Bern, and Zurich. The station has shops, lockers, and ticket counters. From there, Lausanne's m2 metro line links directly to the lakefront at Ouchy and the upper city.

Geneva Airport has a train station built into the terminal. Direct SBB trains run frequently to Lausanne, taking roughly 40 to 50 minutes. Purchase tickets from SBB machines in the airport arrivals hall or through the SBB Mobile app before boarding. No reservation is needed for standard regional services, just buy a ticket and board the next departure.

If you plan several day trips, to Montreux, Gruyères, Bern, or the Lavaux vineyards, a Swiss Travel Pass can pay for itself quickly, since Swiss point-to-point fares add up. It also covers local transit in Lausanne and many lake boats. For fewer trips, the Half Fare Card halves most ticket prices. Compare your planned routes against current pass pricing on the Swiss Travel System website.

Yes. TGV Lyria operates direct high-speed trains between Lausanne and Paris Gare de Lyon, typically taking around three and a half to four hours. Seat reservations are mandatory on TGV Lyria services. Book through the SBB app, the TGV Lyria website, or at the Lausanne station ticket office, fares are generally lower the further in advance you book.

SBB trains have no strict luggage limits for hand-carried bags. You can bring suitcases, backpacks, and ski equipment on board and store them in overhead racks or designated luggage areas near doors. There is no extra fee. For bulky items or if you prefer to travel light, SBB has a door-to-door luggage shipping service, check the SBB website for current options.

Lausanne has a compact public transit network run by TL (Transports publics de la région lausannoise), including the m2 metro, one of the steepest automated metros in the world, plus buses and the m1 light rail to EPFL and the university campus. A day pass covers unlimited rides. If you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, local TL transit is included at no additional cost.

Lausanne is a starting point for several well-known routes. The train along Lake Geneva to Montreux passes through the Lavaux vineyard terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Montreux, the GoldenPass line heads toward Interlaken through alpine scenery. You can also reach Gruyères by regional train for a shorter day trip. Standard SBB tickets work on most of these routes.