Lausanne sits at the centre of a stretch of Lake Geneva shore that offers some of Switzerland's best day trips. The rail connections are excellent, and most destinations are under an hour away.
Montreux is 25 minutes by train, known for its jazz festival in July and for the Château de Chillon just beyond the town — a well-preserved medieval castle on a rocky islet in the lake. Vevey is 15 minutes by train, a quieter and more local town with a large Saturday market and a Charlie Chaplin museum. The Lavaux vineyard walk between the two towns can be done in an afternoon.
