Swimming in Lausanne: public pools, lake beaches and water safety

Last checked: 10 October 2026. Unofficial student guide, not EPFL or government advice: confirm on the linked official pages before you act. Unfamiliar abbreviation? See the Glossary.

Where to swim in Lausanne and the nearby communes, what students pay, when the outdoor pools open, and the official Swiss rules for swimming safely in Lake Geneva (Léman).

Key facts

• Indoor, open to everyone: Mon-Repos is the only one of Lausanne's four city indoor pools open to the public (25 m pool, diving pit, non-swimmers pool). The other three (Bergières, Grand-Vennes, Vallée de la Jeunesse) are reserved for schools and local clubs (lausanne.ch).
• Outdoor (summer): Bellerive-Plage (lakeside, three large pools, 10 m diving board) and Montchoisi (50 m pool). Both were open 14 May to 13 September 2026 (lausanne.ch). Neighbourhood pools Bellevaux, Boisy, Montétan and Vieux-Moulin are free.
• Student single entry: CHF 4.50 with a valid student card (carte de légitimation) at Lausanne pools.
• Regional pass: AquaPass Regio works in Lausanne, Prilly, Pully and Renens pools; AquaPass Regio+ adds the Vaudoise aréna aquatic centre.
• Lake: follow the six SSS swimming rules; the BFU says never swim alone in open water and use a swim buoy.
• Emergency: call 144 (ambulance) or 112. See Health emergencies.

1. Lausanne pool prices (students)

City of Lausanne prices, valid in the Lausanne pools (Bellerive, Montchoisi, Mon-Repos). Student rates need a valid student card.

Passes and 10-entry cards need a magnetic card, CHF 5 the first time. Single tickets can also be bought online or at the machine at the entrance (lausanne.ch). The summer pass is valid from the first to the last day of the outdoor season, also at Mon-Repos and in the Prilly, Pully and Renens pools.

2. Pools by commune (EPFL area)

Prilly sells the same AquaPass prices as Lausanne (summer CHF 80, Regio CHF 180, Regio+ CHF 275 for students; prilly.ch, abonnements). Single entry at the Fleur-de-Lys outdoor pool in Prilly, 2026 season: adult CHF 6, student CHF 4 (CHF 3 after 17:00) (Prilly, 2026 entry prices (PDF)). AquaSplash Renens is run by the Renens pool cooperative. The 2026 season opened on 9 May (Renens) and ran until 13 September; the pool is now closed until the 2027 season. Its day ticket is CHF 8 adult, CHF 6 student or age 17 to 25 with valid ID, CHF 4 for everyone from 17:00 (AquaSplash, prices, hours). To verify: public access to pools in Ecublens and Saint-Sulpice.

3. Swimming through university sport (UNIL/EPFL)

The Sports service lists its swimming at off-campus pools; To verify: whether EPFL has a pool of its own (none is listed). The Service des Sports UNIL/EPFL runs swimming courses at the Vallée de la Jeunesse pool (Lausanne) and the Chavannes, Collège de la Plaine pool, for CHF 35 per semester, which includes the courses and pool entry; the entry is valid only for the course (sport.unil.ch). At Chavannes, courses do not run during Vaud school holidays or public holidays. More on campus sport: Sports and fitness at EPFL.

4. Lake swimming in Lausanne

The City of Lausanne lists these lake swimming zones:

• Plage du Bourget (Vidy): swimming zone marked by buoys, showers and toilets nearby, Seatrac access for people with reduced mobility.
• Plage publique de Bellerive: lake swimming in summer and winter.
• Jetée de la Compagnie (since 2019).
• Vieux-Port d'Ouchy: about 2,000 m² with two platforms.
• Quai d'Ouchy: about 400 m of quay, a permanent zone created in 2025.

Lifeguards: at the Vieux-Port d'Ouchy zone there is no supervision and swimming is at your own responsibility (Ville de Lausanne, press release, 19 Feb 2021). For the other free zones the city does not mention supervision (To verify). Inside the Bellerive-Plage pool (paid entry, open in summer), the city lists a supervised lake beach of 350 m (lausanne.ch, Bellerive).

Lake water quality and summer heat: see Heat and summer health in Vaud.

On a SUP or kayak? See Paddleboards, kayaks and small boats on Lake Geneva.

5. The official safety rules

SSS (Swiss Lifesaving Society, Société suisse de sauvetage, SLRG/SSS), six swimming rules:

1. Children near water must always be accompanied; small children within arm's reach.
2. Never swim after alcohol or drugs. Never swim on a full or completely empty stomach.
3. Never jump into the water after a long sunbathe: the body needs time to adapt.
4. Do not dive or jump into murky or unknown water.
5. Air mattresses and swimming aids are not safe in deep water.
6. Never swim long distances alone.

BFU / BPA (Swiss Council for Accident Prevention):

• In open water, use a flotation aid (for example a swim buoy) and never swim alone.
• Swim only if you feel healthy and fit.
• Nearly 90% of fatal drownings happen in lakes and rivers (BFU).
• The BFU lends swim buoys free of charge at many lake and river bathing sites (map on its page).

6. Accidents and insurance

A swimming or diving accident is an accident, not an illness, for insurance. Check who covers you (LAA through an employer, or your LAMal with accident cover): see Student accident insurance. In an emergency, call 144: see Health emergencies.

Heading into the mountains instead? Trail markings, weather and rescue numbers: see Hiking and mountain safety.