Olympic Museum Entry Ticket, Lausanne

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, the Olympic Capital

Lausanne has been the home of the International Olympic Committee since 1915, and in 1993 the city opened a museum devoted to the Olympic movement on the lakefront at Ouchy. After a major renovation, the museum reopened in 2013 with a fresh, modern design, and today it is one of the most visited museums in Switzerland, with a strong focus on stories, values and design rather than trophies alone.

The white marble building sits in a terraced park between the Ouchy promenade and the hillside. Many travellers ask whether the Olympic Museum is worth visiting if they are not sports fans; the answer is usually yes, because the exhibition covers history, architecture, technology and culture, and the setting on Lake Geneva is beautiful in its own right.

Inside: Torches, Medals and the Story of the Games

The permanent exhibition is arranged over three levels. The first part explores the Olympic world: the ancient Games at Olympia and their revival at the end of the nineteenth century. The second, the largest, is devoted to the Games themselves, with a striking display of Olympic torches, medals from many editions, posters, opening-ceremony costumes and sports equipment.

The third part looks at the athletes' experience: training, competition, the Olympic Village and the values behind the Games. Films, touch screens and hands-on stations keep children engaged, and the audio guide adds detail at your own pace. Allow two to three hours for the whole museum, and keep time for the temporary exhibition, which changes regularly and is usually included in the visit.

The Olympic Park and the Lake Terraces

Around the building, the Olympic Park descends in terraces towards Lake Geneva. Paths wind between lawns, fountains and sculptures inspired by sport, and an Olympic flame burns near the entrance. A short running track lets visitors test their speed, and benches look straight out over the water to the mountains on the French shore.

At the top of the museum, the café terrace offers one of the best views in Lausanne, across the lake to the Alps. On sunny days the park is a lovely place to rest after the exhibition. Halal food is not guaranteed at the museum café, but Lausanne has a good choice of halal restaurants, especially around the city centre and the railway station.

Planning Your Visit: Opening Hours and How to Get There

Olympic Museum opening hours are generous: it opens every day in the warmer months and usually closes on Mondays from autumn to spring, so check the day of your visit. Mornings and late afternoons are quieter; weekend middays and rainy days are the busiest.

Knowing how to get to the Olympic Museum is easy: from Lausanne railway station take the M2 metro down to the Ouchy-Olympique stop, a ride of a few minutes, then walk along the promenade. The Ouchy pier is next door, so you can combine the museum with a Lake Geneva cruise to the Lavaux terraces, Vevey and Montreux. Lausanne is about forty minutes from Geneva by train, making this an easy day out from Geneva.