🇨🇭 Lausanne, Switzerland
Elite
📍 1, Avenue Sainte-Luce, Lausanne, 1003
Photo: official website
Your stay — Elite
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Lausanne.
The Property — Elite
The Elite is a solid 3-star in a 19th-century townhouse on Lausanne's central Avenue de la Gare. You walk into a compact lobby with marble floors, a creaky lift, and staff who speak three languages before breakfast. It suits travellers who want a clean, quiet room with good soundproofing, direct train station views, and a continental breakfast that includes proper pain au chocolat — not coffee-shop glamour but honest Swiss value.
Chronicles of Lausanne
Lausanne grew from a Roman settlement called Lousonna into a strategic market town under the Bishops of Lausanne. The medieval old town clusters around the Gothic cathedral, consecrated in 1275, while the 19th-century expansion threw terraced townhouses and hotels up the steep hillsides south of the lake. Today it lives as an Olympic capital, a university city, and a bilingual edge where French Switzerland meets Vaud wine country. The modern identity balances sleek museums (Plateforme 10, the Olympic Museum) with quiet waterfront parks at Ouchy.
Best Time to Visit
Full Lausanne guide →Best months
June and September: long, warm daylight (8:30 pm sunsets), lake swimming possible, crowds thinner than peak July. October also works for mild weather and wine harvest festivals.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak tourist months—school holidays pack the lakefront and the Lavaux terraces. Hotel prices at the Elite typically rise 20–30% above June rates. The main draw is the Montreux Jazz Festival (July 4–19, 2026), 20 minutes by train, but Lausanne itself stays busy with open-air markets and the Fête de la Musique.
Budget shoulder season
May and late September are the budget sweet spots: prices drop 15–25%, the city is less crowded, and you get crisp mornings with afternoon sun. The Elite often offers walk-in deals mid-week.
Weather & packing
Lausanne sits on a thermal inversion zone — July can be 30°C by the lake yet foggy up the hill. Pack one warm layer (a merino sweater or smart jacket) plus a compact umbrella; the north wind may drop temperatures 10°C in 20 minutes.
Live City Briefing — Lausanne
- Metro m2 is running normally, but stop at Riponne is under escalator repairs until September — use the stairs or the parallel Ouchy–Flon footbridge for stroller/suitcase access.
- The new Plateforme 10 arts district is fully open, with the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts and mudac design museum hosting summer blockbusters; book online to skip queues on weekends.
- Lavaux vineyard terraces are in full green foliage mid-July — the 12 km hiking path from Lutry to St-Saphorin is clear but shaded in the morning; bring water as fountains are scarce.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Elite, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 4 to 6 facing away from Avenue Sainte-Luce, overlooking the quieter inner courtyard. These upper floors minimise street noise and offer more privacy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1 to 3 facing the street — traffic noise from Avenue Sainte-Luce is noticeable, especially during morning and evening rush hours. Also avoid any room directly above the main entrance or near the lift shaft, as footfall and lift machinery are audible.
Best views
Rooms facing away from Avenue Sainte-Luce look over the inner courtyard or neighbouring rooftops with partial city views. Front-facing rooms on upper floors glimpse the lake or mountains in the distance, but at the cost of traffic noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 to 6 are the quietest, furthest from street-level activity and communal areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Avenue Sainte-Luce is a busier central road — expect traffic hum from early morning until late evening. No side streets buffer the noise at the front. The lift is central and can be heard in adjacent rooms, especially on lower floors.
Insider tips
1. If you're driving, ask about local parking options at check-in — the hotel may not have on-site parking but can recommend nearby garages. 2. Request a courtyard-facing room at booking, not just at check-in, as these are limited and go fast.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Elite
Free WiFi for all guests, speed approx. 30 Mbps; login via room number and surname, no time limit
A small lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital PressReader access is available through the hotel's WiFi portal; no physical newspapers
Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop available from 08:00 at reception; late check-out until 12:00 is free, after 12:00 subject to a CHF 50 fee payable by 14:00
Free baggage storage at reception on check-in and check-out days; no lockers
Step-free access via a ramp at the main entrance; the lift fits a standard wheelchair; no accessible rooms with roll-in showers, but ground-floor rooms are available
No on-site parking; the nearest public car park is Parking de l'Ancienne-Ville at Rue de la Madeleine 8, CH 15 per night; no EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CHF 3.50 per person per night, mandatory for all guests aged 12 and over
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a CHF 100 incidental hold is placed on a credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église Saint-Laurent (296 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Espace Martin Luther King (306 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-François (336 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Église des Terreaux (441 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Portes Saint-François — 192 m · ~2 min walk
Promenade Mary-Widmer-Curtat — 161 m · ~2 min walk
Espace Arlaud — 411 m · ~5 min walk
Atelier 215 — 239 m · ~3 min walk
Square d'Echallens — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 28 m · ~1 min walk
Metro Flon Pharmacie — 19 m · ~1 min walk
avec — 49 m · ~1 min walk
Lausanne-Flon — 59 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Swiss Franc, CHF
Use bank ATMs for the best rates; avoid currency exchange offices at the airport and train station, which take a high commission.
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including contactless and mobile pay; small cash is still handy at market stalls and some cafes.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated; round up the bill in restaurants (5-10% for good service), give a franc or two for taxis and hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso or filter coffee at a café: about 4-5 CHF.
Sandwich or salad from a bakery (boulangerie) or supermarket: 8-12 CHF.
A main course at a modest local restaurant (e.g. pizza or pasta): 20-25 CHF.
No specific street-food district; look for kebab or falafel takeaways around Rue de Bourg and the Flon area for 10-15 CHF.
Migros and Coop are the main budget supermarket chains in this area.
Affordable high-street shopping at Rue de Bourg and in the Flon centre with chains like Zara, H&M, and Manor.
A single bus/metro ticket in Lausanne costs 3.50 CHF; a day pass for the city (mobicarte) is about 10 CHF. From Geneva Airport, take the train to Lausanne (about 30 CHF, 45 mins) instead of a taxi.
Buy a daily or weekly transport pass from a machine, not onboard; fill a reusable water bottle at public taps (water is safe); pick up picnic supplies from Migros/Coop for lakeside lunches.
Good to know — Lausanne
Type C/J · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ CHF0.81 · CHF
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Lausanne, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Elite
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 28 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Metro Flon Pharmacie — 19 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Geneva Airport Bus Station → Lausanne Bus Station (near CFF)
💡 Slightly slower than the train but often half the price. Book on their app and board early for a window seat on the right for lake views.
Geneva Airport (GVA) → Lausanne CFF station
💡 Buy the supersaver ticket online in advance for half the price. The station's locker room (near Platform 1) is cheap for stashing bags until check-in.
Lausanne CFF station → Riponne-M. Béjart (closest to MadHouse hotel, 4-min walk)
💡 Get a day pass (CHF 8.60) if you'll take more than two trips. The MadHouse is uphill from the station, so use the metro even for short hops rather than walking.
Lausanne CFF station → Bourg (stop near MadHouse, 2-min walk)
💡 The bus avoids the metro's steep escalators and is slightly closer to the hotel entrance. Tap your contactless card directly on the reader—no need for paper tickets.
About Lausanne
Wikipedia ↗
Lausanne ( loh-ZAN, US also loh-ZAHN; French: [lozan] ) is the capital and largest city of the Swiss French-speaking canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. The Olympic capital, it is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway between the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and facing the F...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Elite?
Request a room on floors 4 to 6 facing away from Avenue Sainte-Luce, overlooking the quieter inner courtyard. These upper floors minimise street noise and offer more privacy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Elite?
Avoid rooms on floors 1 to 3 facing the street — traffic noise from Avenue Sainte-Luce is noticeable, especially during morning and evening rush hours. Also avoid any room directly above the main entrance or near the lift shaft, as footfall and lift machinery are audible.
Is Elite noisy?
Avenue Sainte-Luce is a busier central road — expect traffic hum from early morning until late evening. No side streets buffer the noise at the front. The lift is central and can be heard in adjacent rooms, especially on lower floors.
Which rooms have the best views at Elite?
Rooms facing away from Avenue Sainte-Luce look over the inner courtyard or neighbouring rooftops with partial city views. Front-facing rooms on upper floors glimpse the lake or mountains in the distance, but at the cost of traffic noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Elite?
1. If you're driving, ask about local parking options at check-in — the hotel may not have on-site parking but can recommend nearby garages. 2. Request a courtyard-facing room at booking, not just at check-in, as these are limited and go fast.
What time is check-in at Elite?
Check-in at Elite is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Elite have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests, speed approx. 30 Mbps; login via room number and surname, no time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Elite?
CHF 3.50 per person per night, mandatory for all guests aged 12 and over
Where can I eat cheaply near Elite?
Sandwich or salad from a bakery (boulangerie) or supermarket: 8-12 CHF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Elite?
A single bus/metro ticket in Lausanne costs 3.50 CHF; a day pass for the city (mobicarte) is about 10 CHF. From Geneva Airport, take the train to Lausanne (about 30 CHF, 45 mins) instead of a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Lausanne?
June and September: long, warm daylight (8:30 pm sunsets), lake swimming possible, crowds thinner than peak July. October also works for mild weather and wine harvest festivals.
Top Attractions in Lausanne
💡 Climb the tower for 5 CHF (2025 price) — the view over the lake and vineyards is worth every franc, and it's rarely crowded on weekday mornings.
💡 Take the 'Escalator du Flon' at Rue de Genève — it runs up the cliffside and gives a sudden reveal of the cathedral above. Free and fun.
💡 The footpath along the south edge leads to a little bridge over the river Flon — great for photos of the old town without crowds.
💡 Walk down to the lakeside jetty at sunset for a clear view of the Alps across the water.
💡 Bring a picnic. The benches near the war memorial have the best shade and a distant lake view.