The Olympic Museum Ticket in Lausanne

Lausanne’s Olympic Museum gives the Games room to breathe beyond the medal table. Across 3,000 square metres, more than 1,500 exhibits and 150 screens connect sport with history, design, technology, culture, and the Olympic Movement’s wider place in society.

I like two things in particular: the ticket covers both exhibitions and the outdoor Olympic Park, and the free audio guide is offered in nine languages. One thing to weigh is that this is a self-guided visit, not a tour with a guide, so you set the pace and choose how much context you want.

What to know before you go

1 / 5

• More than a medal cabinet: The museum’s 1,500-plus exhibits and 150 screens explore sport and the Olympic Movement from several angles.
• A full ticket, indoors and out: Admission includes the permanent and temporary exhibitions, plus access to Olympic Park.
• Audio in nine languages: French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese are listed, subject to availability.
• Lake Geneva is part of the outing: The museum sits by the lake, and the park makes it easy to turn a museum visit into a lakeside stop.
• A café break is built in: TOM Café offers a place to pause, with the top-floor restaurant noted as a highlight.
• Plan around the calendar: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 09:00 to 18:00, and is usually closed Mondays, 25 December, and 1 January.

👉 See our pick of the 13 Best Tours In Lausanne

Olympic history with more than medals

The museum’s subject is not simply who won, when, and by how much. Its focus is the Olympic Movement and the ideas, institutions, and social effects that reach beyond the competitions themselves. That broader approach makes the visit useful even if you are not the sort of person who can recite every host city.

You can expect the exhibitions to look at Olympism through history, culture, design, technology, and sociology. In practical terms, that means there is more to follow than a timeline of Games and sporting results. The collection and screens provide several ways into the subject, so you can linger on a display that catches your interest or move on when it does not.

The museum’s size matters here. A 3,000-square-metre exhibition space gives the subject room to stretch, while the 150-plus screens suggest a visual, interactive element alongside physical objects. The exact amount of time you need depends on how closely you engage with the displays. There is no fixed tour schedule in the ticket details, so you can shape the visit around your own pace.

If you arrive with a strong interest in sport, you will have plenty to connect with. If you are less focused on competition, the museum’s broader themes give you a reason to look beyond records and famous moments. I would treat the visit as a chance to ask what the Olympics represent, not just what happens during the Games.

Start with the permanent exhibition

Admission covers the permanent exhibition, the core of the museum visit. It is the place to build a general understanding of the Olympic Movement and its changing place in society. The exhibit count gives you a sense of scale, but it is not a promise that you need to inspect every item. Use the audio guide to add context, then follow your own interests.

The complimentary audio guide is available in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese, subject to availability. That range is a real practical advantage for a museum whose themes may involve unfamiliar names, dates, and ideas. It lets you take in explanations at your own speed rather than relying on a scheduled group tour.

There is no tour guide included, so the audio guide is your main structured companion. You can pause, skip, or spend longer with a section that matters to you. That freedom suits visitors who like to read and listen at their own pace, but anyone hoping for a live guide’s personal stories or answers to questions should know that this ticket does not include one.

The museum’s 150 screens give the exhibition a visual scale that a collection of objects alone could not provide. Screens can help put artifacts and events in context, though you may want to pace yourself if you prefer quieter, slower visits. With so much on offer, you do not need to treat every screen as an assignment.

Look beyond the competition

The most useful idea to carry through the exhibition is that the Olympics are presented as a movement, not only as a series of sporting events. The museum connects the Games with questions of culture, technology, design, history, and sociology. Those themes help explain why the Olympic story keeps changing as society changes.

That wider lens is a good fit for visitors who want a museum visit to offer context, not just spectacle. You can think about how sport is presented, how technology affects it, and how Olympic values are discussed beyond competition. The museum describes its purpose as telling the story of the Olympic Movement’s impact on society, so expect the visit to move between sporting achievement and broader ideas.

There is a trade-off. A museum built around a large, varied subject can feel less focused than a small exhibition devoted to one sport or one event. If you want only a quick look at Olympic memorabilia, you may not need the full visit. If you are curious about the Games as a cultural institution, the breadth is part of the appeal.

The permanent and temporary exhibitions are both included. Temporary displays can give repeat visitors a reason to return, but their specific subjects are not stated here, so check what is showing if that is a deciding factor for you.

Take a breather in Olympic Park

The ticket also includes Olympic Park, an outdoor change of pace after the indoor galleries. The museum’s lakeside setting is a major part of the outing: you can pair the exhibitions with a walk and views across Lake Geneva. The park and shore are not just a route to the entrance; they add a quieter, open-air part to the day.

A visitor who rated the outing highly described the surrounding park and lake as beautiful, and another noted that the museum is not far from the city centre and makes a worthwhile trip for the lakeside views. That is good advice for planning: allow time to look around outside rather than treating the museum as a door-in, door-out stop.

The park is especially useful if you are visiting with children or with someone who might welcome a break from galleries. Children aged 0 to 15 enter free when accompanied by a paying adult, and the outdoor space gives families another way to use the visit. Children aged 16 and older pay the adult rate.

The museum is wheelchair-accessible. That is helpful for planning the indoor visit, though you may want to check directly for any specific access needs not covered in the available information.

Pause at TOM Café

TOM Café is included among the places you can access during your visit, while meals and drinks are not included in the ticket price. One visitor praised the restaurant on the top floor, so it is worth keeping in mind as a possible place to stop and eat. The available details do not specify a menu or prices, so check on site if you have particular needs.

The café can make the museum easier to enjoy at a steady pace. Rather than rushing through the exhibitions because you are hungry, you can plan a pause and return to your visit if opening arrangements allow. Since the ticket includes museum entry for the selected date, it is sensible to confirm any re-entry rules with staff before leaving the exhibition areas.

Food is an extra cost, so build it into your day’s budget. The ticket covers access, not meals, drinks, or other personal expenses. If you are watching costs, you can still make the museum and park the main outing and decide separately whether to eat there.

Getting there and choosing a time

The museum’s address is Quai d’Ouchy 1, 1006 Lausanne. By bus, take route 24 to the Olympic Museum Park stop, then walk about four minutes. By metro, take the M2 to Ouchy-Olympique station and walk about ten minutes.

Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 18:00. The museum is closed on Mondays except public holidays in the Canton of Vaud, and it is also closed on 25 December and 1 January. Hours may vary, so check the latest schedule before you set out.

Your voucher is valid only on the date selected, and at the selected time if a time applies. You can present the mobile voucher and enter directly. The ticket details identify the package as a Fast Track Ticket, but do not specify how much time, if any, it saves at the entrance, so do not build a tight schedule around an assumed queue advantage.

The location works well as a museum outing with a lakeside add-on. One visitor found the trip worthwhile from the city centre, while the bus and metro details make it possible to plan the approach without relying on a car. If you have limited time in Lausanne, check your route and the museum’s hours before you commit to a visit.

Is the ticket good value?

The ticket starts at $26.75. For that price, you get admission to the Olympic Museum, its permanent and temporary exhibitions, and access to Olympic Park. The audio guide is complimentary, which adds structure without requiring you to pay for a tour guide.

Value depends on how much of the museum’s subject interests you. If you want to see the exhibitions, use the audio guide, and spend time outside by the lake, the ticket offers several parts to one visit. If you only want a quick photo stop or a short walk in the park, the museum admission may be more than you need.

The ticket is also free for children aged 0 to 15 when they are accompanied by a paying adult. Reduced tickets are available for people aged 65 and older, students with valid identification, and people with disabilities. Children aged 16 and over are charged the adult rate. Check the available ticket options for the applicable price before booking.

You can book for the following day, and confirmation is instant. Free cancellation is available before the activity date for a full refund. Those terms offer some flexibility, but the voucher itself remains date-specific, so choose a day you can make.

Who should make this visit?

I would put the Olympic Museum on the list for anyone interested in sport, the history of the Games, or the role major events play in society. It also suits visitors who want a museum visit with an outdoor component, since Olympic Park and the lakeside give you room to stretch your legs between or after the exhibitions.

Families may appreciate the free admission for children under 16 and the option to balance indoor displays with time outside. The audio guide’s language range is another practical plus, though availability can vary. Students, seniors, and people with disabilities should check the reduced-rate options.

It may be less appealing if you are looking for a live guided tour, a meal included in the price, or a short visit focused only on a particular sport. The ticket includes no tour guide, meals, beverages, or personal expenses. And with a large collection, you will get more from the visit if you are comfortable choosing what to explore rather than expecting a fixed, guided route.

Should you book the Olympic Museum?

Book it if you want a substantial look at the Olympic Movement, a flexible self-guided visit, and time beside Lake Geneva. The combination of exhibitions, audio guide, Olympic Park, and TOM Café makes the outing broader than a quick museum stop.

Skip it if your schedule is tight and you have little interest in sport or the social ideas around it. If you do go, leave room for the park and lake, check the opening hours, and treat the Fast Track label as a ticket type rather than a guaranteed time-saving promise.

FAQ

What does the Olympic Museum ticket include?

It includes admission to the museum, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and access to Olympic Park and TOM Café. A complimentary audio guide is available in nine languages, subject to availability.

How much does the ticket cost?

Prices start at $26.75. Reduced tickets are available for seniors aged 65 and older, students with valid identification, and people with disabilities.

Do children pay for admission?

Children aged 0 to 15 enter free when accompanied by a paying adult. Children aged 16 and older are charged the adult rate.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

The audio guide is available in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese, subject to availability.

When is the museum open?

It is open Tuesday through Sunday, 09:00 to 18:00. It is closed Mondays, except public holidays in the Canton of Vaud, and on 25 December and 1 January. Hours may vary.

How do I get to the museum by public transport?

Take bus 24 to the Olympic Museum Park stop and walk about four minutes. Or take metro M2 to Ouchy-Olympique station and walk about ten minutes.

Is the museum wheelchair-accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair-accessible.

Are meals included with the ticket?

No. Meals and beverages are not included, and other personal expenses are extra. TOM Café is available at the museum.

Can I cancel the ticket?

You can cancel before the activity date for a full refund. The voucher is valid only on the date selected, and at the selected time if one applies.