Planning a trip to Yverdon les Bains [ivɛʁdɔ̃ le bɛ̃] and you’re not sure what to do in town? Then you’ve come to the right place because this visitor’s guide will tell you about all the top attractions in the Swiss town!
First thing first, click here to hear how you’re supposed to pronounce the name of the town and see how many letters you’re supposed to swallow. Now that’s out of the way, we can move on to the town’s best museums, excellent thermal baths, the most popular restaurants, and various other historic landmarks!
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How to Get to Yverdon les Bains
The easiest way of reaching Yverdon les Bains from other cities in Switzerland is by train. The country’s rail network is fast and reliable, and it will get you to this municipality from any other place in Switzerland.
If you’re traveling specifically to this town, aim to fly to the Geneva Airport. That way, you’re only about an hour outside of Yverdon les Bains, plus there’s a train station right there at the airport. It’s also possible to travel by car, but I have to point out that this isn’t any faster than the train.
From Zurich, it takes a little less than two hours (by train) to reach this town. It’s also around 2 hours from Interlaken, but that includes one train change in Olten. In general, it’s pretty easy to reach this town by train, with the exception of Interlaken and Lugano.
It will take you around 4 hours and one train change to reach Yverdon les Bains from Lugano, but that’s the same amount of time you’d need if you traveled by car. If you’re traveling from Interlaken, know that driving is about an hour faster than the train. It takes about 90 minutes of driving on the highway to get to Yverdon les Bain, versus two and a half hours and at least two train changes.
Things to Do in Yverdon les Bains
Swiss Fashion Museum
The Swiss Fashion Museum has a collection of more than 5,000 items from the 18th century onwards. This includes the archive of designer Robert Piguet, who was born in Yverdon les Bains. The popular museum is inside Yverdon Castle, so you don’t have to go out of your way at all to explore its remarkable collection.
However, you need to be at least a little interested in fashion to appreciate the thousands of haute couture items on display here. Otherwise, you’ll likely find the museum boring. Also, it’s worth noting that the museum has a permanent collection inside the Museum of Yverdon and its Region, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
It is possible to see the collection between Wednesday and Sunday, from 11 AM to 6 PM. The entrance fee for the MuMode exhibit is just 5 CHF for adults and 3 CHF for kids.
Maison d’Ailleurs
Maison d’Ailleurs is a public museum dedicated to science fiction and various utopian ideas. Its collection includes more than 70,000 documents that are related to science fiction and utopian ideas in a certain way, and this includes books, toys, art pieces, and all sorts of other items.
The museum is situated in the heart of Yverdon les Bains old town, just across the street from the famous castle. It is open every day from 11 AM to 6 PM except on Mondays, and the entrance fee is 12 CHF for adults. Students, children, seniors, and other groups can get discounts, plus it’s also possible to book guided tours for larger groups of visitors.
Museum of Yverdon and its Region
The Museum of Yverdon and its Region is situated in the historic Yverdon les Bains castle and it is one of the oldest museums in the entire Vaud canton. The museum collection explores the history of this region, with exhibits that tell the story of Yverdon les Bains and its surroundings over the past 8,000 years.
The castle is an integral part of the museum exhibits, which include numerous artifacts recovered from various archeological sites throughout the region. If you are genuinely interested in the history of this charming town and its surroundings, the Museum of Yverdon and its Region is without a doubt a great place to visit to learn more.
The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, and tickets are 10 CHF for the permanent exhibition. You’ll have to pay 3 CHF to also get access to the temporary exhibit, plus it’s possible to get a combo ticket (18 CHF) that grants you access to this museum as well Maison d’Ailleurs.
Yverdon-les-Bains Castle
Yverdon-Les-Bains Castle is the city’s most recognizable landmark. It was initially built as a defensive structure back in the 13th century, but nowadays it houses some of the town’s most popular museums. This includes the Museum of Yverdon and its Region, the Swiss Fashion Museum, and the Pestalozzi Center.
The iconic castle lies in the heart of Yverdon’s old town, and it’s one of those attractions you can’t miss if you just go for a walk through the historic center of the city. It’s worth noting that the castle observes the same opening hours as the Museum of Yverdon and its Region, so you can visit Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM.
Temple of Yverdon-les-Bains
Temple of Yverdon-Les-Bains is another historic building situated at Place Pestalozzi. The reformed Protestant temple has been around for many centuries; it was first mentioned in the 14th century when the City referred to necessary roof repairs. The temple dominates the square and the surrounding buildings with its imposing architecture, but it is much more simple on the inside.
There aren’t too many ornate decorations and you won’t stop in your tracks as soon as you pass through the temple gates. In fact, you might even find it a bit underwhelming if you don’t know what to look for. So, pay special attention to the 18th-century organ, which was created by Joseph Adrien Potier.
Also, be sure to approach Louis Rivier’s painting The Mystery of Redemption, which is more than 7 meters long. The 14 stalls designed by Claude de Peney and created by Bon Bottelie, a carpenter from Lausanne, are just as impressive, and might just be the highlight of the visit to the temple.
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Grande Cariçaie
Grande Cariçaie is a vast nature reserve that runs along the southern shore of Lake Neuchatel in the Vaud canton. It is home to more than 10,000 different animal species and 800 plant species, and it’s possible to explore the reserve through a variety of hiking and biking trails.
There’s also Champ-Pittet Pro Natura Centre at the nature preserve; the center is situated inside a historic mansion and it offers various exhibitions, guided tours, and a variety of activities for the youngest visitors. It’s worth noting that the center is closed in the winter season, but there are plenty of other activities that will keep visitors busy in the winter.
It’s worth noting that this nature reserve is easily accessible by public transport and personal vehicle from Yverdon les Bains. It’s only 30 minutes away on foot, and you can just follow the marshlands that start in Yverdon.
EXPLORiT
EXPLORiT is a vast technology park in Yverdon les Bains. The park is a bit further away from the town center, and it takes about 25 minutes to reach it on foot or just 10 minutes by bus.
It’s worth noting that the technology park is absolutely huge, with countless things to do for both adults and kids. But you have to be at least a little into tech to enjoy your time here, otherwise, you won’t have much to do, other than maybe watch a movie or grab a bite to eat at the restaurant.
The place often hosts gaming competitions, it’s got a massive theater and countless interactive exhibits for children. It’s one of the best places to visit in Yverdon les Bains if you’re traveling with children, especially if your kids enjoy learning and discovering new things. They can have fun on the outdoor playground, discover the interactive science exhibition, ride on a boat, and so much more.
The children’s exhibits are usually open until 6 PM, but the coffee shops and restaurants often stay open until later.
Thermal Centre at Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon les Bains is extremely popular for its vast thermal bath complex, which is precisely what draws most tourists to this town. If you enjoy visiting thermal spas and you like swimming in hot water pools, definitely make time to visit the Thermal Center at Yverdon les Bains.
The pools are part of a hotel complex, but anyone can reap their benefits for a fee of 22 CHF. That’s the fee for adults, which gets you three hours in the thermal pools of the hotel. It’s worth noting that it’s not necessary to make reservations and you can just show up and pay the fee on the spot.
The entrance fee is cheaper for teenagers and students, while children under the age of 3 get free access. Additionally, it’s important to note that the outdoor pools can be thoroughly enjoyed even in the winter, when the water temperature is warm and toasty at 32 degrees Celsius, compared to 28 degrees in the summer.
Where to Stay in Yverdon-les-Bains
Booking.comPerhaps the best place to stay in Yverdon les Bains is Grand Hôtel & Centre Thermal Yverdon-Les-Bains. It’s the town’s luxury hotel with the absolute best thermal center in the area, and it’s definitely the top place to stay if you’re interested in the thermal baths of Yverdon. The hotel is only a 15-minute walk from the heart of the town, so you’re still pretty close to other popular attractions.
On the other hand, if you’re more into historic attractions and museums, it’s better to look for accommodation closer to the town center. Hôtel du Théâtre is practically in the heart of the town; it overlooks the Benno Besson Theater, and it is just some 3 minutes away from the famous castle and all the surrounding attractions.
Where to Eat in Yverdon-les-Bains
You’ll find the largest selection of high-rated restaurants in Yverdon les Bains at Rue du Collège, in the western part of the old town. It’s just a few minutes away from the castle area, and you can expect to find quite a few locales that offer international cuisine.
Burgers, tacos, and even tapas are all extremely popular here, and most restaurants cater to international tourists. Double R, Olé Tapas, Tacos Planet Yverdon, and Don Camillo are all situated on this street, and they’re all popular with both locals and tourists.
For a taste of true local cuisine, head to La Pinte. It’s a high-rated restaurant with a menu that consists of (mostly) French and Swiss specialties. La Brasserie Bar & Food on Rue de la Plaine is also a great local restaurant, known for excellent fondue and a diverse menu with local and international dishes.
Is Yverdon-les-Bains Worth Visiting?
Yevrdon les Bains is worth visiting if you’re not expecting too much from it. It’s a pretty small town without too many internationally famous attractions, so it’s not my top recommendation for travelers who are going to Switzerland for the first time in their life. But if you’re planning a niche vacation and you want to discover the historical attractions of this charming town, you won’t be disappointed.
The town is known for its historical castle, excellent museums, and stunning views of Neuchatel Lake. It boasts a historic old town with cobbled streets and many historic landmarks, so it’s a great place to visit if you want to stay in a historic Swiss town, as opposed to a big city like Zurich or Geneva.
Also, if you’re into thermal baths and you want to go on a spa vacation, this town is right up your alley. It boasts an amazing hotel with indoor and outdoor thermal pools, a luxe spa center with saunas, hammams, a Japanese bath, and more.
Another thing to note is Yverdon les Bains is connected by trains to all the major hubs in the area, and you can be in Lausanne or Neuchatel in less than half an hour. It’s also less than an hour away from Geneva; you can stay in this town and get cheaper accommodation, but still, explore all the more popular tourist destinations on easy day trips.
Courtesy of Wikimedia for the image header.
