Although it may not not look like much, but Place Saint François is the hub of Lausanne. The hippest of cafés here is the Café Romand. You can also the grand Saint François Church. Many street entertainers perform here and students hang out. Every city has one place where everyone inevitably winds up passing through, and this is the one in Lausanne. You will walk through the square on your way to trendy rue de Bourg, Place de la Palud, Place Riponne and all its museums. Good place to be seen.

This lovely small street runs through part of central Lausanne, with Rue de La Paix on the east and Place Saint-François on the west. One of the city’s premier high-end shopping locations, the street is bustling with cafes, shops, alleyways, charming buildings, and cobblestones. It’s a pleasure to walk through and a nice place to rub elbows with locals. Many stores on this street, which is one of the oldest in the city, sell goods from international luxury brands.

Le Flon is a district in central Lausanne that was transformed from a post-war warehouse district into a shopping and entertainment hotspot. The district, which is named after a river that once flowed through the valley that Lausanne sits on, was rehabilitated beginning in the late 1990s after decades of economic downturns. During the rehabilitation, many old buildings were renovated, and a few iconic structures were built. These include some administrative buildings, a seven-screen multiplex movie theater, and new pubs and restaurants. Le Flon has the unusual distinction of having an award-winning parking lot, which won a design prize given by the European Parking Association. The Voie du Chariot, along which many of the districts shop lie, is also home to a fountain that recalls the Flon.

Place de la Riponne is where locals of Lausanne flock to for the weekly Saturday open-air markets. Here is your chance to taste a special cheese that is particular only to this city. Fresh veggies, juicy fruits, bric-a-brac, delicious tidbits and much more are on offer. This place also draws crowds in plenty during summer when music and art festivals are organized here.