Lausanne food tour: Taste Swiss cheese, chocolate and Rösti

Eat your way through Lausanne's old town, one local stop at a time

Taste Lausanne is a 3.5-hour walking food tour through the old town led by a local guide, stopping at a fromagerie, a traditional restaurant, a pastry shop and a chocolatier's café to taste Vaudois cheese, Rösti, carac and hot chocolate. All food and drinks are included. The tour covers the equivalent of a full meal across at least four stops, and one alcoholic drink is included for guests over 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lausanne's traditional food

• Meet Local Expert in old town
• See Horloge de la Palud clock
• Taste savory ham and béchamel croissant
• Taste Vaud region cheeses near Notre-Dame basilica
• Eat traditional Vaudois Rösti with sausage and raclette
• Taste typical carac pastry in old town
• Enjoy hot chocolate in chocolatier's café

The experience

The tour starts in Place de la Palud, where you'll see the Horloge de la Palud (a mechanical clock that plays out the region's history in animated scenes every hour) before heading into a local boucherie for a savoury croissant filled with ham and béchamel. From there, the guide takes you to a fromagerie near the Notre-Dame de Lausanne basilica to taste some of the Vaud region's most celebrated cheeses, then to a restaurant that has been open since 1780, where you'll eat Rösti (a fried potato pancake topped with sausage and raclette cheese) in its traditional Vaudois form.

The walk continues through the old town to a pastry shop for carac, a shortcrust pie filled with rich chocolate and cream and topped with green sugar icing. The tour ends at a café founded by a Maitre Chocolatier, where you'll drink hot chocolate and learn why chocolate is so central to Swiss food culture. Your guide explains the history and preparation behind each stop, pointing out details about the restaurants and the dishes themselves. Water is provided throughout, and you can request vegetarian options or discuss any food restrictions before booking.

What’s included

• All food and drinks at each stop.
• water throughout the tour.
• one alcoholic drink for guests over 18.
• English-speaking local guide who explains the history and preparation of each dish and restaurant.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Do Eat Better Experience

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to eat a full meal while learning about Lausanne's food culture from someone who knows the old town well. The 3.5-hour walk covers moderate ground, so you'll need a reasonable level of fitness, and the stops are timed so you're eating constantly rather than standing and listening.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Rösti and where do I eat it on this tour?

Rösti is a fried potato pancake that's a symbol of Swiss cuisine. On this tour, you'll eat it in its Vaudois version (topped with sausage and raclette cheese) inside one of the oldest restaurants in Lausanne, which opened in 1780.

How much food do I actually eat on this walking tour?

You'll eat the equivalent of a full lunch across at least four stops: a savoury croissant at a boucherie, cheese at a fromagerie, Rösti at a traditional restaurant, carac at a pastry shop, and hot chocolate at a chocolatier's café. All food and drinks are included.

What is the Horloge de la Palud and why does the tour start there?

The Horloge de la Palud is a mechanical clock in Place de la Palud that displays the history of Lausanne and the Vaud region through animated scenes that play every hour. It's one of the most famous squares in town and serves as the starting point for your food journey.

Is an alcoholic drink included, and what if I don't drink alcohol?

Yes, at least one alcoholic drink is included for guests over 18. If you prefer not to drink alcohol or are under 18, you can enjoy other beverages instead. Let the operator know about any preferences when you book.

Can I do this tour if I have food restrictions or dietary preferences?

Vegetarian options are available on the tour. If you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions, contact the operator before booking to discuss what can be arranged. Guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies are unfortunately unable to participate.