Five walks and sights around the meeting
A little time away from the auditorium can be enough to see another side of Lausanne. Start with the nearby old town for a short break; save the lake and woodland for a longer gap or an extra day.
The suggested time budgets below are our planning estimates for an outing, including a return to CHUV, rather than measured journey times. Check your route and the programme before leaving. Lausanne is hilly; wet cobbles and fallen leaves can slow a November walk. Choose daylight for parks and lake views.
1. A short walk towards La Cité
For a lunchtime breather, walk from the CHUV area towards the old-town streets around La Cité, turning back when your available time is half used. This is an easy outing to shorten: you need not reach every landmark. Budget about 30–45 minutes for a short walk; leave eating time and a margin before the next talk. The district’s cobbled lanes, old academy and castle make a longer exploration worthwhile on another day.
Explore La Cité · Lausanne Tourisme
2. The cathedral and its surroundings
If you have more time, make the cathedral your destination and pause in the surrounding historic streets. Allow roughly 60–90 minutes for a return outing from CHUV with a short visit. This is better for a longer break than a rushed lunch. The south-transept rose window is inaccessible during renovation until spring 2027. Check the official winter opening times before planning an interior visit; do not assume evening access.
Cathedral access and winter information
3. Montbenon for an open view
The Montbenon esplanade offers space to stretch your legs above the lake. Start from central Lausanne or combine it with time in town. From CHUV, set aside around 90 minutes for travel, a short stroll and the return; make it a longer outing if stopping for food. In November, choose a clear daylight gap for the view.
Montbenon Esplanade · official visitor information
4. Ouchy and the lakeside
Take the m2 towards Ouchy-Olympique for a change of scene by Lake Geneva, then keep the promenade walk as short or long as you wish. Budget around two hours from CHUV for the return trip and an unhurried stroll. This is a pre-meeting or extra-day idea, rather than a short lunch excursion. Bring a warm layer and choose daylight for lake views; no boat trip or seasonal attraction is needed.
Ouchy · official visitor information
5. Sauvabelin for a longer green break
The park and woodland above the city suit a longer daylight outing. Allow at least two hours from CHUV and plan the route according to weather and walking ability. A park walk does not depend on climbing the tower; check tower access separately if that is your aim. Save this for time before or after the meeting, and choose a city walk instead in poor conditions.
Sauvabelin Park · official visitor information
Looking for indoor or evening ideas? Culture and evenings in Lausanne