Ouchy is Lausanne's lakefront district, reached from the centre by the M2 metro in five minutes. The mood shifts completely from the hilltop old town: down here it is flat, open, and almost Mediterranean, with palm trees along the promenade, ferries crossing to the French shore, and the Alps filling the southern horizon.
The Olympic Museum is the main attraction, but the lakeside walk between the castle and the marina is pleasant on its own terms. On summer evenings the outdoor restaurants fill up and the whole area takes on a holiday character that Lausanne's upper town rarely achieves. Paddleboats and small sailing boats can be hired from the marina.