Visit the Olympic Museum in Lausanne: A Celebration of Olympic History and Values

History and Significance

The Olympic Museum was founded in 1993 on the idea of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. The museum is home to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has been headquartered in Lausanne since 1915. Lausanne is the Olympic capital of the world.

The museum underwent complete renovation between 2012 and 2013, which transformed it into an interactive and modern museum with multimedia exhibitions, 3D projections and virtual reality. Today the museum is one of the most visited museums in Switzerland with over 250,000 visitors annually.

What to See

1. Permanent Exhibition (3 floors)

The permanent exhibition tells the story of the Olympic Games from antiquity to the present day on 3 floors:

Floor 1: The Olympic World - History of the ancient Olympic Games, revival of the Games by Pierre de Coubertin, Olympic symbols (torch, rings, anthem).

Floor 2: The Olympic Games - Summer and Winter Olympic Games, medals, torches, equipment of legendary athletes (Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles), interactive installations.

Floor 3: The Olympic Spirit - Olympic values (excellence, friendship, respect), social impact of sport, sustainability, equality.

Atmosphere: Interactive, inspiring, educational

Suitable for: All ages

2. Temporary Exhibitions

The museum offers temporary exhibitions that change throughout the year and explore different aspects of the Olympic movement:

•"Ahead of the Curve - The Olympic™️Games: A Century of Innovation" - Innovations in the Olympic Games

•"Let's Move: Get Active Space!" - Interactive zone for physical activity

Atmosphere: Contemporary, interactive

Suitable for: All ages

3. Olympic Park (8,000 m²)

The Olympic Park is an 8,000 m² garden with sculptures, interactive installations and views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. The park is free and open 24/7.

Attractions in the park:

•Olympic Torch - Symbolic torch

•Sculptures - Over 40 sculptures of athletes

•Interactive installations - Tests for speed, strength, balance

•View - Panorama of the lake and Alps

Atmosphere: Peaceful, inspiring

Suitable for: All ages

4. TOM Café Restaurant

TOM Café is the museum's restaurant with views of Lake Geneva. It offers breakfast, lunch and coffee with local and seasonal products.

Menu:

•Breakfast (croissants, yogurt, fruits)

•Lunch (salads, sandwiches, hot dishes)

•Desserts (cakes, pastries)

•Drinks (coffee, tea, juices)

Atmosphere: Relaxing, with a view

Suitable for: All ages

5. Olympic Shop

The Olympic Shop offers souvenirs, books, toys, clothing with Olympic themes.

Products:

•Olympic souvenirs (keychains, magnets, badges)

•Books about the Olympic Games

•Toys for children

•Clothing (t-shirts, sweatshirts)

•Accessories (bags, bottles)

Atmosphere: Diverse, interesting

Suitable for: All ages

📋 Practical Information

How to Get to the Olympic Museum

Address: Quai d'Ouchy 1, 1006 Lausanne, Switzerland

From Geneva Airport:

•Train: To Lausanne (40 minutes), then bus or walk

•Car: 50 minutes

From Montreux:

•Train: To Lausanne (20 minutes), then bus or walk

•Car: 30 minutes

From Zurich:

•Train: To Lausanne (2 hours), then bus or walk

•Car: 2 hours 30 minutes

With TripTransfer:

•Direct transfer from airport/hotel

•Drop-off directly at the museum

•No worries about parking and public transport

Visitor Tips

1.Book tickets online – Avoid queues

2.Start from the top floor – Work your way down

3.Use the audio guide – Free from your smartphone

4.Visit the park – Free and beautiful

5.Have lunch at TOM Café – Lake view

6.Visit the shop – Unique souvenirs

7.Combine with Lausanne – Old Town, Cathedral

8.Visit in the morning – Fewer people

9.Plan 3-4 hours – For full experience