The Olympic Museum
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, showcases the history of the Olympic Games through interactive exhibits, artifacts, and art installations, offering a comprehensive experience for visitors of all ages.
Planning your visit
The Olympic Museum sits in Lausanne because the International Olympic Committee has been headquartered there since 1915, when Pierre de Coubertin moved it to neutral Switzerland during the First World War.
The building steps down a hillside above Lake Geneva through terraced gardens holding sculpture and Olympic torches, with the lake and the French Alps opposite.
Three floors cover the ancient Games, the modern revival and the Olympic spirit as an idea, with over 1,500 objects — torches from every Games since 1936, medals, athletes' equipment and competition kit, alongside extensive film archive. The interactive areas let visitors test reaction times and technique against Olympic benchmarks.
The museum does address the difficult parts: Berlin 1936, the Munich massacre, boycotts, doping and the costs to host cities.
Lausanne is a short train ride from Geneva. Allow two hours. The main booking is an entry ticket with audio guide. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is The Olympic Museum?
The Olympic Museum is in Lausanne, Switzerland. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for The Olympic Museum?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book The Olympic Museum in advance?
The audio-guide option can normally be added on arrival, though booking ahead secures the date.