A 7-minute read
And the Pleasure of Letting a Journey Unfold
Some journeys are memorable for everything you manage to see. Others stay with you because of how comfortably the days unfold.
My long weekend in Lausanne, Switzerland, in August 2023 was very much the latter.
Situated along Lake Geneva, Lausanne offers a beautiful combination of waterfront scenery, historic streets, hillside vineyards, and mountain views. There is plenty to explore, but what I appreciated most was the opportunity to enjoy the region without feeling compelled to fill every available hour.
I was visiting a friend, and together we spent three days together wandering through cities, enjoying wonderful food, discovering scenic overlooks, and making time for the simple pleasure of sitting on a patio with a glass of local wine.
It was beauty without excess.
The Setup: Being a Houseguest
I was fortunate to stay with a friend in Lausanne, which gave the weekend a wonderfully personal dimension.
I arrived with a few gifts collected during my travels: piri-piri seasoning from Loulé, Portugal; Jamón 100% Ibérico de Bellota and goat cheese from Madrid; and a scarf from Seville. Little reminders of places I'd recently explored, now finding their way into another journey.
Being welcomed into someone's home made the visit especially memorable. It also meant experiencing the region through the perspective of someone who knew it well, rather than trying to discover everything on my own.
Lausanne provided a comfortable home base, with convenient opportunities to explore nearby cities, lakeside towns, and the surrounding countryside by car or train.
And having a patio where we could begin and end our days wasn't a bad arrangement, either.
Day 1: Arrival in Geneva, Unexpected Discoveries, and a Lakeside Evening
My friend met me at Geneva Airport, where one of my first impressions of Switzerland came from an unexpected place: the parking garage. It was so remarkably clean and orderly that I stopped to take a photograph.
Yes, of a parking garage.
Apparently, my sightseeing had begun before we'd even left the airport.
We spent the late morning and afternoon exploring Geneva, beginning with lunch at a waterfront restaurant before wandering through the city on foot. Geneva proved to be a wonderful place to explore without a rigid itinerary. We moved between the waterfront and historic streets, climbed through covered stairway passages, and encountered beautiful architecture along the way.
The Russian Orthodox Church, with its gleaming golden domes, was particularly striking. We also visited a more tucked-away church that my friend liked, one I might easily have overlooked had I been exploring alone. And then there were the little discoveries: a bicycle overflowing with flowers outside a café, inviting streets, and unexpected views across the rooftops toward the lake.
Eventually, we returned to the waterfront, where the Jet d'Eau rose dramatically above Lake Geneva.
I wasn't interested in documenting every landmark or following a prescribed walking route. The pleasure was in discovering Geneva at our own pace, stopping when something caught our attention, and enjoying the company along the way.
That evening, we headed to Pully for a casual lakeside dinner at an outdoor gathering spot, La Générale. Families were picnicking, children were swimming, and people were making the most of a beautiful summer evening. We ordered food at a counter and settled at picnic-style tables beneath the open sky. The atmosphere was so relaxed and welcoming that it felt as though a family reunion was happening all around us.
Later, back in Lausanne, we settled onto the patio with a glass of local wine and spent the evening catching up and sharing stories.
A lovely beginning.
Day 2: Lausanne's Markets, Montreux, and Mountain Views
Saturday began slowly, with breakfast on the patio and a distant view of Lake Geneva. We then headed into Lausanne to explore the farmers market, where the city center was full of activity. We stopped to watch the animated clock at Place de la Palud, the Horloge de la Palud, and visited Lausanne Cathedral, where we happened upon a local concert.
It was one of those welcome discoveries that couldn't have been improved by scheduling every minute of the morning.
Lunch was enjoyed outdoors at Restaurant Le Raisin, allowing us to linger a little longer in the atmosphere of the city center.
Later that afternoon, we set out on a scenic drive along Lake Geneva. The route took us past the Olympic headquarters, Nestlé, and vineyards climbing the surrounding hillsides. With the lake appearing between towns and stretches of countryside, the drive itself became part of the experience.
We stopped in Montreux and wandered along its lakeside promenade, enjoying the gardens, waterfront activity, and mountain scenery. I took more photographs than I probably needed, including one of my favorite discoveries of the afternoon: the statue of Freddie Mercury.
From Montreux, we continued uphill toward Caux, where the landscape opened into expansive views of Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains. Our destination was Le CouCou Montreux, a chalet-style restaurant with a wonderful outdoor terrace.
We enjoyed dinner overlooking the lake, with the added pleasure of watching the Rochers-de-Naye cog railway make its way through the mountainside scenery. It was a memorable setting for a meal and a beautiful conclusion to a day that had begun among Lausanne's market stalls and historic streets.
Back at the house, we returned to our familiar patio sanctuary, this time with a different local wine.
Some traditions are worth establishing quickly.
Day 3: The Pleasure of an Unhurried Day
Sunday was deliberately quieter. We spent time walking through parks, enjoying a café, stopping for a snack at an outdoor bar, and picking up a few things at a local grocery store. There was no pressure to fit in another major attraction.
After two full days of exploring, it was a welcome opportunity to relax, enjoy our surroundings, and spend time together without a particular destination demanding our attention.
My friend had work the following morning, and I had a train to catch. Sometimes, a slower day is exactly what a journey needs.
Day 4: One Last Walk Through Lausanne
Monday morning brought an early departure for my friend, who needed to leave for work around 8 a.m. My train wasn't scheduled until 10:30. Rather than spend the extra time waiting at the station, I decided to walk.
I love exploring cities on foot, and Lausanne offered another opportunity to enjoy the scenery before leaving. The walk took approximately 40 minutes, with plenty of hills to climb and descend. But those changes in elevation also brought rewarding views and a chance to appreciate a little more of the city. I passed through familiar streets, took in the waterfront scenery, and enjoyed a final glimpse of the beautiful lakeside and Alpine setting.
It was a fitting way to conclude the weekend: moving at my own pace, noticing what was around me, and appreciating the journey right up to the moment of departure.
What I Loved
The time I spent with my friend.
I wouldn't change the pace or timing of our days together. The balance of sightseeing, leisurely meals, scenic drives, lakeside walks, and spontaneous discoveries was just right. I especially appreciated experiencing the region through someone else's familiarity with it.
We visited places I might not have discovered independently, but we also made room for ordinary moments: shopping at a market, enjoying breakfast on the patio, stopping for a snack, and sharing stories over a glass of wine. The food was wonderful throughout the weekend, whether we were enjoying a casual lakeside meal or dining with mountain views.
And the scenery never seemed far away.
What made the journey memorable wasn't how much we accomplished. It was how naturally the experiences came together.
What I'd Do Differently
I would stay longer in Switzerland. Not by extending my visit as a houseguest, however. There's a limit to hospitality, and I believe it's important to respect the generosity of someone who opens their home.
Instead, I would arrange a few additional nights independently.
That would give me more time to explore Geneva, linger in Montreux, or discover another town along the railway.
And the trains!
Switzerland's rail system was a pleasure to use. I'd happily plan a few additional days around train travel, allowing the routes themselves to become part of the experience.
The weekend with my friend was just right. I simply would have enjoyed continuing the journey afterward.
Final Thoughts for the DIY Sojourner
A Lakeside & Alpine Sojourn doesn't require a packed itinerary or a long list of must-see attractions.
It might include historic streets, farmers markets, waterfront promenades, scenic train journeys, and memorable meals. But it can also be as simple as finding a pleasant place to sit, watching people enjoy the lake, or taking an extra walk because the scenery invites you to linger.
Lausanne was a wonderful home base for my weekend, but the possibilities extend throughout the region. You might choose to spend more time in Geneva, explore Montreux, visit smaller lakeside towns, or venture farther into the mountains. The important thing is to shape the journey around what interests you, leaving enough room for discoveries you haven't planned.
Sometimes, the best adjustment to a journey isn't doing more each day. It's giving yourself a little more time to enjoy the places that invite you to stay.
For more inspiration and planning considerations, explore our free Lakeside & Alpine Sojourn Guide. Begin with the experiences that interest you, then shape a journey around your own pace and priorities.
EXPLORE THE LAKESIDE & ALPINE SOJOURN GUIDE →
For a practical place to begin, download the free 5D Travel Blueprint guide and workbook, or explore our curated Travel Resources to find tools that fit your journey.
Continue Your Sojourn
Explore what sparks your curiosity next.
