Explore The Old Town
Take metro 2 to the flon, and either take the elevator up, or just cross the street. alternatively, if you don't mind climbing, the car-free section of old town really starts right across from the train station, with a steep walk up the hill. shops keep strict hours of 10am-7pm monday to friday, and 10am-5pm on saturdays. on saturdays year-round almost all of the huge car-free area becomes a vast farmers market. thanks to the hills making it hard to pave over, lausanne's old town is larger than most found in swiss cities, with the notable exception of zurich. you can spend days wandering the old cobbled streets and still not know all of its nooks and crannies. after the shops close there are dozens of quaint, cozy, hip, or just warm restaurants, cafes and nightclubs, especially considering that at place central the old town joins with the flon nightclub/gallery district. wander as long as you like, there's no charge of course.
Explore the Sauvabelin Forest
North of the center see map. don't miss the freely accessible sauvabelin tower (http://www.tour-de-sauvab...), from which you have a 360â° view on the lake, the alps and the jura. then go down to the city center through the park of the fondation de l'hermitage see above.
Enjoy the lakefront of Ouchy
Take metro 2 to ouchy, et voila, as you leave the metro station you'll find the lake and on a clear day the alps stretched out in front of you. the lakefront also offers restaurants, bars, and the chateau d'ouchy castle/hotel.
Climb up the Cathedral Tower
The view from the top of the cathedral tower (http://fr.wikipedia.org/w...) is well worth the climb. ask the nun at the souvenir shop in the cathedral. from 10pm until 2 in the morning, a watch man shouts the hours, perpetuating a tradition that dates back to 1405.
Concerts and theater
Arsenic
Rue de genã¨ve 57, +41 21 625 11 36, [email protected], (http://www.theatre-arsenic.ch). specializing in more offbeat acts the arsenic books a full schedule of avant-guarde theatre, jazz and pop music, and installation/performance art throughout the fall, winter and spring.
Theatre Boulimie
Pl. arlaud 1, +41 312 97 00, (http://www.theatreboulimi...), the sanctuary of swiss humor.
Le Romandie
Pl. de la riponne 10, +41 21 311 17 19, (http://www.leromandie.ch/), rock club and live music. see their web site for the programm.
Métropole
Rue des terreaux 9, (http://www.sallemetropole.ch). a major concert hall for western switzerland, the mã©tropole books dance, world music, pop, jazz, etc. if you are passing through town at the right time you might catch anything from the lausanne chamber orchestra to the cure here.
Espace de Terreaux
Rue des terreaux 14, +41 21 21 320 00 46, (http://www.terreaux.org). the local council of protestant churches has de-consecrated the chapel located across the street from the metropole 2000 shopping center and now uses it to present weekly concerts with a mix of sacred and profane acts ranging from american gospel singers through eastern european klezmer bands to puppet theatre for children.