Lausanne Switzerland Christmas Markets

This lovely city was the last one to explore on the itinerary of my recent Thanksgiving week trip to Switzerland. So many lovely surprises awaited me at the Lausanne, Switzerland Christmas Markets.

I took the train from Geneva, where we were based for the week. When you arrive in Lausanne, the city is a big uphill hike from the train station. The streets are beautiful to walk. So if you are up for it, I recommend walking instead of taking a bus or the metro.

Lausanne is most famous for being the Olympic Capital. However, at Christmas time, the Festival of Lights (Festival Lausanne Lumières) is the star of the city.

The many light installations are located all through the city. Dedicated tours are available to view them. I had to get back to Geneva for a dinner engagement. Since I was there during the daytime, I did not get to view them.

A mere 37-minute train ride from Geneva’s Cornavin train station, there are charming small- to medium-sized markets to explore in this lovely Swiss city.

A visit to the Olympic Museum was high on my list after the markets. Unfortunately, I ran out of time. However, I did manage to visit a very interesting, offbeat museum and some other lovely landmarks in Lausanne that I will describe in a future post. It’s Christmas market season, so I will stick to the theme.

The Christmas markets in Lausanne were recently redesigned to be more contemporary, innovative, and attractive, while taking care to retain a traditional, artisanal flavor.

Three Markets – Different Experiences

All within walking distance of one another. However, each had different looks and offerings.

#1 Place Pépinet (Marché des Créateurs des Artisans de Pépinet), focused on artisanal goods.

Even though there were tons of handmade items to buy, there were also good choices to eat and drink.

Freshly made Churros seem to be popular at Swiss Christmas markets.

#2 was located under the arches of the Grand-Pont (Le Marché du Terroir et de la Vigne des Arches) and was the most dramatic in looks.

The booths were beautifully placed within the architecture.

This cafe won for the coolest location.

There was also a section of booths across the street where I scored some hot ginger wine. Even though it needed a bit of sugar, it was my foodie find of the day.

The perfect hot drink to warm up with.

Lots of great nibbles, including these homemade meringues in a huge variety of flavors.

No shortage of homemade nougat either.

#3 was tucked cosily around the Church of St. François. This is also a covered market. (Le Grand Marché Couvert de Saint-François).

A good portion of this market is covered. Complete with a festive disco ball.

This market had some fancy features. Like a raw bar.

A hut featuring truffle products.

No shortage of sausages.

Or sweets.

There is a good deal to see, eat, and buy in this market.

The plus is the covered section. Christmas markets can be a bummer in rainy weather.

Unfortunately, in order to not be late for our dinner plans, I had to head back to the station at this point. Outside of the Christmas markets, there is a lot more to see and do. I look forward to coming back with my list.