HomeAccomodationStaying at the Royal Savoy hotel in Lausanne

Staying at the Royal Savoy hotel in Lausanne

Lausanne has quickly become one of my favourite cities in Switzerland. Its proximity to the lake, the architecture and how the city always seems very lively are things I really appreciate. However, we never spent a lot of time exploring Lausanne, as all previous times were quick pitstops on our way to somewhere else, or visiting friends in town.
This is why we decided to make a weekend trip to Lausanne in early February, and we set our eyes on not your average hotel: the Royal Savoy hotel in central Lausanne.

When I first stumbled across the Royal Savoy hotel, I couldn’t help but think of the famous Wes Anderson movie ‘The grand Budapest hotel’. The Royal Savoy is a pompous building that reminds of those ‘good old days’. The name of the hotel written in gothic letters on the entrance gate only make that feeling stronger.

First things first – we are definitely not the type of travellers that exclusively stay in 5 star hotels. While we don’t mind splurging on trips every now and then, the rates for 5 star hotels in Switzerland usually make my wallet heart and my palms sweat. However, when we saw that a night at the Royal Savoy ~ only ~ cost about CHF 300, we were sold!

A superbe location – right by the metro

While Lausanne is not an incredibly big city, its location on the hillsides of lake Geneva, make that one has to cover quite some height differences when getting around in town. Luckily, the Royal Savoy hotel is located right by a stop of the Lausanne metro. Just a few steps outside the hotel gates, you can jump on the M2 metro line at the Délices stop. In a few minutes, this metro line takes either takes you to the lakeside one way, or the central station and inner city in the other direction.

While I didn’t expect to be using the subway frequently in a town the size of Lausanne, it really was a great way of covering bigger distances (mostly vertically!). It also helped that you get a free public transport card when staying at a hotel in Lausanne.

Even without immediate access to the Lausanne metro network, the Royal Savoy hotel is located in a great space. There is a park right nextdoor, and the higher floors of the hotels have a lake view. Places like the Olympic museum and the botanical gardens of Lausanne are only a short walk away.

The room and hotel interior

Arriving at the hotel, the modest reception area is staffed with super friendly receptionists. They can take you to your room and talk you through all of its amenities, but we thanked for that. Once you pass the reception area, you arrive in the heart of the hotel – the lobby. Here, high ceilings have chandeliers hanging from them and there is a tea room and a cigar lounge. We didn’t spend any time here, but I can just imagine how cosy this must be either during the early mornings with a coffee, or late at night with a drink!

Our room was situated in the newer part of the hotel complex, in the same building as the pool and spa (more on that later). Our room had a large balcony overlooking the park that stretches all the way to the lakeside. It was calm, the room was bright and we could see the lake and mountains in the morning. It was a magical view!

The room at Royal Savoy Lausanne

The room interior was classy, without being over the top. The bathroom had a big bathtub and a separate shower. The room also had coffee and tea facilities and some cookies and bottled water free of charge. In the evening, housekeeping does an night service, making your room ready for the night and leaving some chocolate in your room. I never say no to chocolate!

The spa and pool at Royal Savoy

As a guest at the Royal Savoy Hotel, you also have access to the spa and pool area in the newer wing of the hotel. We made our way down in our robes for some relaxation prior to our dinner reservation. You are handed slippers and a towel upon entering the spa area. The inside pool and the outside pool are connected with sliding doors that feel very high-tech. The outside pool has a lot of privacy from the nearby park thanks to wooden scaffolding and bamboo. In this outside pool, you find different jacuzzi areas that are perfect to relax after a long day exploring Lausanne.

The spa area of Royal Savoy is for adults only and features a jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath and a cold bath. It was not busy at all during our visit, which was a nice surprise. Note that the sauna is the only facility where you have to be naked, you can wear swimwear in the rest of the spa area. This whole area, including the sauna, is mixed.
While we only used the spa and pool once during our stay, it was definitely a highlight of our stay.

Don’t miss out on sunset drinks at the roof top bar!

Just before your night out in town, I do recommend you to make it to the top of the hotel around sunset. When the weather is clear, the roof top restaurant / bar of Royal Savoy hotel called Sky Lounge offers breathtaking panorama views over the lake and the mountains behind. There is a balcony to enjoy the view, but also a heated indoor area from which you can admire the sunset.

Savoy view Lausanne
The view from the top of the hotel


During our visit in February, we got treated to amazing colors of red and purple when the sun was disappearing behind the horizon. It wasn’t too busy in the bar and the cocktails (although pricy at CHF 22 per drink) were super tasty. I recommend the Botanist infusion, served in quite a special glass!

Even if you don’t have a dinner reservation at the Sky Lounge, I definitely think you should try and stop by for a drink on a clear day.

Nice drinks at the Royal Savoy
Nice drinks at the Royal Savoy

About staying at the Royal Savoy

All in all, the Royal Savoy hotel in Lausanne is a great way to spend the weekend in this city. The hotel is stylish and the location is super convenient. The views from the top of the hotel are amazing to enjoy with a drink. Above all, the spa is a lovely space to have a relaxing time.

Would I stay at the Royal Savoy hotel when room prices hover around CHF 500? Probably not! However, if you manage to find significantly cheaper rates, this hotel is well worth the money!

Book a stay at the Royal Savoy Hotel now

Royal Savoy Lausanne
Av. d’Ouchy 40
1006 Lausanne
Switzerland
Website

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Anthony
Anthonyhttps://theswisspath.com
Originally from the Netherlands, I landed in Luzern, Switzerland in March 2022 after 10 years in Sweden. Now, I aim to explore as much of Switzerland as I can, and share it here!

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About TheSwisspath

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