What's on in Lausanne, Switzerland through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in February.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Busy — Easter holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Belle Époque steamer season

  10 Apr – 20 Oct · usuallySummer season opens

  The paddle steamers out of Ouchy — the largest fleet of their kind anywhere — run a full timetable for the season and drop to a skeleton one after. Crossing to Évian in France takes about half an hour. Source ↗

Busy — Spring holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Belle Époque steamer season (10 Apr – 20 Oct (usually))

Busy — Festival de la Cité, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Festival de la Cité

  26 Jun – 10 Jul · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Six days of free music, theatre and dance staged in the lanes and courtyards of the cathedral quarter, where the streets are the venue. The whole city walks up the hill for it. Source ↗

Still on: Belle Époque steamer season (10 Apr – 20 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Festival de la Cité, Athletissima

• Festival

  Athletissima

  1 Jul – 5 Sep · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The Diamond League meeting at the Pontaise, one evening in summer (the date has moved between mid-July and early September in recent years), with a pole vault or shot put staged downtown the night before. Lausanne is the Olympic headquarters city and behaves like it that week. Source ↗

Still on: Belle Époque steamer season (10 Apr – 20 Oct (usually)), Festival de la Cité (26 Jun – 10 Jul (usually))

Peak crowds — Athletissima, Summer holidays in Switzerland

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Belle Époque steamer season (10 Apr – 20 Oct (usually)), Athletissima (1 Jul – 5 Sep (usually))

Busy — Athletissima, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Lavaux vendanges

  10 Sep – 20 Oct · usuallyHarvest

  The terraced vineyards start east of the city and are picked through late September and October, with cellars along the Lutry–Chexbres path opening for it. The little train through the terraces runs while the pickers do. Source ↗

Still on: Belle Époque steamer season (10 Apr – 20 Oct (usually)), Athletissima (1 Jul – 5 Sep (usually))

Busy — Autumn holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Belle Époque steamer season (10 Apr – 20 Oct (usually)), Lavaux vendanges (10 Sep – 20 Oct (usually))

Busy — Bô Noël, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Bô Noël

  20 Nov – 31 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Not one market but a dozen small ones threaded through the squares between the station and the cathedral, plus a rink and a light trail up the hill. Designed to be walked in the dark, which is when it works. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Bô Noël, Christmas holidays in Switzerland

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Bô Noël (20 Nov – 31 Dec (usually))