Part of Switzerland
Vaud is the canton around Lake Geneva: from the worn-down peaks of the Jura in the north, through Lausanne and the wine terraces of Lavaux, to the Alpes Vaudoises in the southeast. Few regions have so many different types of bikes on such a small area. In the morning you ride along the lake, in the afternoon over a mountain pass of almost 1,800 meters. Since 2022, the canton has been labeled an UCI Bike Region, and in Aigle the headquarters of the international cycling federation is located. Cycling is in the DNA of the region.
Why cycle in Vaud?
- Variety. More, vineyards, high plateau, Jura and Alps: in Vaud you can combine everything in one week, and often even in one day.
- The Alps of Vaud. According to Alpes Vaudoises Tourisme, there are more than 500 kilometers of cycling routes, from steep mountain passes to quiet roads through the Rhone Valley. Check out their bike range.
- Cycling culture. The World Cycling Centre in Aigle, the UCI Granfondo Suisse, the Tour de France which raced two stages there in 2022: you can feel that the sport is alive here.
- Easily accessible. Geneva Airport is half an hour from Nyon and Lausanne, and the train takes you everywhere.
The Alps of Vaud: Col de la Croix, Pillon and Mosses
The heart of cycling in Vaud lies in the Alpes Vaudoises, above Aigle and Bex. Our regular guide here is Alain Rumpf, a former cyclist, photographer and resident of Gryon for many years.
The king of the region is the Col de la Croix (1,778 meters), the road between Villars and Les Diablerets. From Bex it is 20.3 kilometers with 1,255 meters of elevation gain. On paper it is even, but in practice it consists of five sections: the first section regularly exceeds 10 percent; between Gryon and Villars it flattens out; after Villars a wall follows and the final four kilometers are uphill through alpine meadows, with the peaks of Les Diablerets beside you. We rode it in 2022, a few weeks before the Tour came by.
Combine it with the Col du Pillon (1,546 meters), the short climb from Les Diablerets along a large waterfall, and the Col des Mosses (1,445 meters): 13.5 kilometers at an average of 4.3 percent, a wonderful ‘runner’ on which you can maintain your pace. Our round from Villars over the Croix, the Pillon, the Mosses and once again the Croix was almost 100 kilometers with over 2,000 meters of elevation gain, largely the course of the ninth Touretappe of 2022. Read our story about the Tour in the Valais Alps.
A tip from Alain for those who are looking for adventure: Les Agites, a steep climb from the Rhone Valley with tunnels and views over Lake Geneva. Read the interview with Alain.
Gravel in the Alps Vaudoises
The Alpes Vaudoises are a gravel paradise. Our writer Ruth rode the gravel version of the Col de la Croix with Lillie Rumpf (@cyclingheidi): by train to Bretaye, then over alpine pastures and through herds of cows via the hamlet of Taveyanne to Solalex, under the rock wall of the Miroir d’Argentine. The Refuge de Solalex serves one of the best lunches in the area. Alpes Vaudoises Tourisme recommends two more routes: through the Vallée des Ormonts of Aigle via Leysin and the Col des Mosses to Les Diablerets (1,390 meters of elevation gain, partly by train), and a tour through the vineyards of the Chablais between Aigle and Bex. Read our gravel story.
Mountain bikers can go to the Leysin bike park, the flowtrail in Gryon and the legendary Maxi Avalanche: almost 14 kilometers of descent with a 1,700-meter difference in altitude.
Lausanne and Lavaux
Lausanne is a hilly student city on the lake, and home to the International Olympic Committee. In 2022, the eighth Tour stage finished here at the old Olympic stadium, after a final climb through the city with a stretch of over 10 percent at just over one kilometer from the finish line. Merlijn rode the last 50 kilometers of that stage for us, starting from Lac de Joux in the Jura over the Col de Pétra Félix and through the rolling high plateau to the lake. He stopped along the way to refuel with a Carac, the bright green Swiss pastry, and plan a visit to the Olympic Museum, featuring Cancellara’s time trial helmet and Chris Boardman’s Lotus bike.
Ten kilometers east of Lausanne are the wine terraces of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Montreux Riviera. The Côte de Bellevue climbs through narrow streets between the vineyards, with the lake always on your right hand. Read our story about Lausanne and the Jura.
Nyon, La Barillette and the Jura
On the west side of the lake, between Geneva and Lausanne, lies Nyon. Here you’ll find Tête de Course, a bike café with a workshop that received our Cycling Destination Approved label: good coffee, pancakes, a group ride every weekend, and a workshop where your bike is in good hands. The home base is La Barillette in the Jura, a climb relatively unknown to Dutch people with views over the entire lake. Read about Tête de Course.
Vaud Promotion lists the Nyon area, the Vallée de Joux, the Nord vaudois and the Alpes Vaudoises as the four best gravel areas in the canton. Check out their gravel routes.
If you’re coming via Geneva, take a drive up the Salève, the city’s home mountain just across the border in France. Read our story about cycling from Geneva.
The World Cycling Centre in Aigle
In Aigle is the headquarters of the UCI, with the World Cycling Centre: a velodrome, a BMX track and a training centre for talents from countries without their own facilities. The centre is open to visitors. You can take a tour, have lunch in the restaurant and, with guidance, cycle around the track or the BMX track. You enter via the terrace, where there is also a pole with tools. Read about the World Cycling Centre.
Overnight stay
In Villars we stayed at the Villars Lodge, a simple and good hotel in the middle of the village, with restaurant and bars. After a long drive, Les Bains de Villars, with sauna and outdoor pool with views, is the perfect finish. Vaud Promotion keeps a list of bike-friendly hotels with enclosed parking, a cleaning area and tools. If you book a night in the Alpes Vaudoises, you will receive a free guided e-bike tour around Leysin from May to October.
When are you leaving?
Along the lake you can cycle from March to October; the passes in the Alpes Vaudoises are open from mid-May to mid-October.
You can cycle along the lake from March to October. The mountain passes in the Alpes Vaudoises are open from about mid-May to mid-October, depending on the snow conditions. In July and August, the lake can get very hot; then the mountains are your friend.
How do you get there?
- Aircraft: to Geneva. The train goes directly on to Nyon, Lausanne, Montreux and Aigle.
- Train: via Basel and Bern or via Paris and the TGV to Lausanne. From Aigle, mountain trains run to Leysin and Villars, and your bike is allowed to travel with them.
- Car: From the middle of the Netherlands it is about 850 kilometers to Lausanne, via Basel or via the French Jura. Don’t forget the Swiss vignette.
This is how we calculate: We calculate distances and travel times starting from Utrecht. Our flights always depart from Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport or Eindhoven Airport. Want to know how to travel from your place of residence the best way? Let us know, We are happy to help you. After all, we built this site together.
Are you flying? Read our guide Flying with your bike: Which airline, what the cost is and how to pack your bike.
