The Olympic Museum is the official home of the International Olympic Committee’s collection, situated on the Ouchy lakeside in Lausanne — the self-styled Olympic capital of the world.
This guide was updated in May 2026. One important correction to most current third-party guides: the adult admission price is now CHF 20, not the CHF 18 still cited by multiple listings elsewhere. A second point worth flagging: individual visitors do not need to book in advance — you can purchase a ticket at the door — but many guides imply that pre-booking is necessary. It is not, except for groups and guided tours. You can book through GetYourGuide if you prefer to confirm your visit ahead of time.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Quai d’Ouchy 1, 1006 Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Hours | Tue–Sun 09:00–18:00 (last admission 17:00); closed Mondays |
| Closed | 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January |
| Adult (aged 16+) | CHF 20 |
| Reduced (seniors, students, disabled) | CHF 14 |
| Children under 16 | Free |
| Parking | Paid spaces nearby; no museum car park |
| Nearest metro | M2 line, Ouchy-Olympique or Jordils stops |
| Typical visit | 2 hours (museum); allow extra for park and restaurant |
Opening hours
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–18:00. Last admission is at 17:00. The museum is closed every Monday, except on public holidays or during special events.
It is also closed on 24 December (Christmas Eve), 25 December (Christmas Day), 31 December (New Year’s Eve), and 1 January (New Year’s Day). On busy days, the official site notes that there may be a short wait before entry. No time-slot booking is required for individual visitors.
The Olympic Park surrounding the museum has free admission and is open every day.
Ticket prices
All prices include Swiss VAT. Tickets can be purchased at the museum’s automatic ticket machines or at the welcome desk. Only standard rates are available online; discounts for seniors, students, and visitors with disabilities must be claimed at the desk with a valid ID.
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (aged 16+) | CHF 20 |
| Reduced (senior, student, disabled) | CHF 14 |
| Child (under 16) | Free |
| Disabled visitor’s carer | Free |
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a person aged 16 or over.
Partner discounts: The Lausanne Transport Card gives a discount on admission. The SBB RailAway offer provides a 20% reduction in July and October 2026 when combined with a train ticket. IOC MemberPlus members receive free entry with up to three children under 16.
Book through GetYourGuide to confirm your visit in advance.
Why visit the Olympic Museum?
- 🏅 The world’s largest Olympic collection: Over 10,000 objects on display, drawn from a total archive of 87,000 items — the most comprehensive Olympic heritage collection anywhere.
- 🌊 Lakeside setting in Lausanne: The museum sits on the shores of Lake Geneva in the city that has been the home of the IOC since 1915, with the Olympic Park free to visit year-round.
- 🎧 Free audio guide in nine languages: Accessible directly from your smartphone with no app download — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
- 🏛️ Children under 16 enter free: One of the most family-accessible major museums in Switzerland, with no charge for any visitor under 16.
- 🍽️ TOM Café with panoramic Lake Geneva views: The museum’s restaurant occupies a terrace overlooking the lake — worth a stop regardless of whether you visit the exhibitions.
How to get there
By metro: Take line M2 (the automated metro that links Lausanne Gare to the lakeshore) to either the Ouchy-Olympique or Jordils stop. From Ouchy-Olympique, the museum is an 8-minute walk along the lakeside promenade.
By bus: Lines 21 and 25 stop at the Olympic Museum stop directly outside the building. Lines 2 and 24 stop at Ouchy-Olympique.
From Lausanne train station: Take the M2 metro from Lausanne-Gare (Flon) towards Ouchy. The journey takes around 6 minutes. From Ouchy, follow the signed lakeside walk to the museum.
By car: Lausanne is accessible via the A1/E25 and A9/E27 motorways. There is no museum car park. Paid spaces are available at the Indigo Lausanne Port d’Ouchy car park, the Beau-Rivage Palace car park, and in metered bays along Quai d’Ouchy.
From Geneva: Lausanne is 40 minutes by train. Geneva Airport to Lausanne is approximately 45 minutes by direct train.
Parking
The museum has no dedicated car park. The nearest options are the Indigo Lausanne Port d’Ouchy car park (a short walk along the quay), the Beau-Rivage Palace car park, and metered on-street bays on Quai d’Ouchy. Spaces fill during peak summer and holiday periods. Public transport via the M2 metro is the most reliable option.
How long to spend
The museum recommends allowing two hours for the exhibitions. Budget additional time for the Olympic Park (free, no ticket needed), the TOM Café restaurant, and the Olympic Museum Shop. Visitors with a particular interest in a specific Games era or athlete typically need closer to three hours inside. The park is worth 30–45 minutes on its own in good weather.
Accessibility
The museum is fully wheelchair-accessible throughout. The M2 metro is step-free, making the journey from Lausanne Gare straightforward for wheelchair users. The Olympic Park paths are accessible. A portable hearing induction loop is available for audio guides, and multimedia elements in the permanent exhibitions are fitted with induction loops. Guide dogs are welcome. A luggage cloakroom on the first floor takes a refundable CHF 1 or EUR 1 coin. Free Wi-Fi (Swisscom) is available via SMS verification. On-site accessible toilets are available.
What to see inside the museum
The Olympic World section is the permanent heart of the museum, tracing the history of the Games from their ancient Greek origins through to the present. It is arranged chronologically and thematically, with interactive displays, film archives, and artefacts from each Summer and Winter Games. The collection includes Pierre de Coubertin’s personal boxing gloves — a striking reminder that the founder of the modern Games was himself an athlete.
The Paris 2024 Gallery covers the most recent Summer Games with newly acquired objects, including a ceremonial torch designed by French artist Mathieu Lehanneur and items reflecting the Games’ themes of equality, water, and peace. This section is among the most recently updated parts of the permanent collection.
Let’s Move: Get Active Space! is a hands-on installation running from April 2025 to April 2027. It invites visitors of all ages to engage with sport physically, with movement-based interactive stations. It is the museum’s most prominently installed current addition.
Ahead of the Curve is a temporary exhibition running until 1 November 2026. It focuses on innovation and forward-thinking in the Olympic movement, drawing on the collection’s archival depth. Check the official calendar for any other concurrent temporary exhibitions.
The Olympic Park sculpture trail surrounds the building with a permanent collection of outdoor sculptures and includes the Olympic Flame installation. It overlooks Lake Geneva with views towards the French Alps. Entry is free and no museum ticket is required.
TOM Café is the museum’s lakeside restaurant, with panoramic terrace views over Lake Geneva and a menu covering breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. It is open during museum hours and does not require a museum ticket.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No pre-booking required for individuals | Standard visitors can simply arrive and buy a ticket at the desk or automatic machines. Only groups and guided tours must book in advance. Book through GetYourGuide if you want advance confirmation. |
| Claim discounts at the desk | Online purchase gives only the standard adult rate. Senior, student, and disability discounts must be claimed at the welcome desk with a valid ID card. |
| Last admission is at 17:00, not 18:00 | The museum closes at 18:00, but stops admitting visitors an hour earlier at 17:00. Many guides state only the closing time. |
| Take the M2 metro to Ouchy | It is the fastest and most reliable way down from the city. Driving to Ouchy during summer is slow, and parking is limited along the quay. |
| The park is free and always open | The Olympic Park and its sculpture trail require no ticket. It is a useful option if the museum is at capacity on a busy day, or for a free complement to a paid visit. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need to book in advance? | No, not for individual visitors. You can buy a ticket on arrival. Groups and guided tours must pre-book. Book in advance only if you want to guarantee entry confirmation before travelling. |
| Are children free? | Yes, all visitors under 16 enter free of charge. They must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over. |
| Is the museum open on Mondays? | Generally no — Mondays are the standard closing day. Exceptions apply on public holidays and during special events. Check the official calendar if your visit falls on a Monday. |
| How accessible is the museum? | Fully wheelchair-accessible, including step-free access throughout and an induction loop system for hearing-impaired visitors. The M2 metro is also step-free. |
| Is the Olympic Park included in the ticket? | The Olympic Park is always free and requires no ticket. It is accessible independently of the museum, every day of the year. |
Things to do nearby
Ouchy Lakeshore Promenade extends along the waterfront from the museum in both directions. The flat lakeside path is free, pleasant in all seasons, and the best vantage point for views across Lake Geneva to the French Alps.
Lausanne Cathedral (Cathédrale de Lausanne) stands at the top of the old city, about 20 minutes on foot uphill from Ouchy or two stops on the M2 to Bessières. The gothic structure dates from the 12th century and contains one of the finest medieval rose windows in Switzerland.
Collection de l’Art Brut is Lausanne’s most distinctive museum, dedicated to art made outside the mainstream by self-taught artists, prisoners, and psychiatric patients. It is about 20 minutes from Ouchy by bus and free with the Lausanne Transport Card.
Château de Chillon is a medieval island fortress on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva near Montreux, about 25 minutes from Lausanne by train or boat. It is one of Switzerland’s most visited historic monuments.
Lavaux Vineyard Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage site stretching east from Lausanne along the lake. The nearest terraces at Lutry are 10 minutes by train; walking between villages through the vineyards takes most of a half-day.
What to visit tomorrow
Dedicated sports museums within two hours of Lausanne are limited. The FIFA Museum in Zürich is the most direct companion piece, and the only other major institution of the same type within easy reach.
FIFA Museum, Zürich (~45 min by train): The natural companion to the Olympic Museum. Where the Olympic Museum covers the Games themselves, the FIFA Museum covers the global governance and history of football. Both are institutional heritage museums with international collections. Together they make a logical two-day itinerary in the two largest Swiss cities.
Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, Geneva (~40 min by train): Not a sports museum, but the most closely comparable institution in the region in terms of format — a major international organisation’s permanent heritage museum, interactive, multilingual, and well-funded. It is a short walk from Geneva’s Palais des Nations.
Chaplin’s World, Corsier-sur-Vevey (~25 min by train to Vevey): The museum dedicated to Charlie Chaplin’s life and work, set in the manor house where he lived from 1952 until his death. A different type of cultural heritage institution, but one of the most atmospheric in the region.
Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum), Zürich (~45 min by train): Switzerland’s principal national history museum, covering Swiss culture, art, and society across several millennia. It pairs naturally with the FIFA Museum for a full day in Zürich.
Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA), Lausanne (10-min walk from Lausanne Gare): Lausanne’s main fine art museum, opened in 2019 in a striking new building in the Plateforme 10 arts district. It is the most significant art institution within walking distance of the Olympic Museum and worth combining with a visit if you are spending more than a day in Lausanne.
