Musée Olympique

About the museum

The Olympic Museum opened in 1993 on the shore of Lake Geneva in Ouchy, a district of Lausanne, which is regarded as the Olympic Capital. It is run by the International Olympic Committee. The building stands in a park with sculptures and offers a wide view across the lake to the Alps.

According to the museum, the collection comprises over 90,000 objects, including torches and medals from all the Games, uniforms, sports equipment, costumes and memorabilia from opening and closing ceremonies, posters, works of art, archive documents and historical photographs. More than 1,000 of these pieces are on display in the permanent exhibition, complemented by around 200 interactive screens over roughly 3,000 square metres. In 2013 the building was comprehensively renovated.

The tour begins in antiquity and leads via Pierre de Coubertin and the revival of the Games to a large timeline of all the editions. Further areas are devoted to Olympic peace and the flame, with all the torches since 1936, the host cities, their sustainability and their design, as well as the opening ceremonies. On the lower floor the athletes take centre stage, with sports equipment and the medal collection from 1896 to the present.

Highlights

• Torches from all Olympic Games since 1936
• Medal collection from 1896 to the present
• The first Olympic flag, from 1913
• Permanent exhibition with over 1,000 objects and around 200 interactive screens
• Olympic Park and restaurant with views of Lake Geneva and the Alps

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung Olympische Spiele – Across three levels, the exhibition leads from antiquity via Coubertin and the history of the Games to torches, host cities and opening ceremonies; on the lower floor, athletes, sports equipment and medals take centre stage.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Internationales Olympisches Komitee (IOC)

Admission & discounts

Admission includes the permanent exhibition, the temporary exhibitions and the audio guide.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All areas are accessible to wheelchair users; the north entrance on Avenue de l'Élysée with two disabled parking spaces is recommended. Accessible toilets on levels 0 and +2, wheelchairs available to borrow at reception, restaurant tables suitable for wheelchairs. Tactile trail with 23 stations in the permanent exhibition; an orientation map is available at reception.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

A printable family booklet with interactive tasks for 4- to 10-year-olds is available; the permanent exhibition has interactive features for children and adults as well as the movement area "Let's Move: Get Active Space!".

Getting there & parking

Lausanne can be reached by motorway A1/E25 and A9/E27, by train, and by Compagnie Générale de Navigation boat on Lake Geneva.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Olympic Museum Restaurant (formerly TOM Café) on level 2 with terrace and view of the lake, Tuesday–Sunday 9 am–6 pm, brunch at weekends; in summer an additional snack stand in the park. Museum shop in the reception area. Cloakroom with left-luggage service in the entrance area (CHF 1 or EUR 1). Free Wi-Fi via a Swisscom access with SMS registration. Cash machine on the ground floor.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 1,000 guests.

Seminar rooms, an auditorium with 200 seats and the restaurant for up to 1,000 people; evening packages from CHF 1,800.

Plan your visit