Few other cities in Switzerland manage to remain as cosmopolitan but relentlessly conservative as Lausanne. Consequently, you'll find lots to do, often with a Gallic insouciance, after dark. You might begin your evening hanging out in any of the cafes and bars ringing the Espace Flon, a cluster of restaurants and shops at place Flon. Lots of hideaways, frequented by strollers of all ages, will be here to tempt you, but one of the most appealing is Le Grand Café, esplanade de Mont-Benon (tel. 021/320-40-30). Here, in an American-inspired space that contains some of the glitter and razzmatazz of a Planet Hollywood (with which it's not connected) you can meet a cross section of virtually every night owl in town.

Attractive and popular discos include Le Mad, route de Genève (tel. 021/340-69-69), where the fads and preoccupations of nocturnal Paris filter quickly in from the west via an under-30 crowd.

Ouchy White Horse Pub, 66, av. d'Ouchy (tel. 021/616-75-75), draws the crowds at night who in summer enjoy the terrace with views of the water. There's beer on tap, and a range of tapas and burgers are sold. It's the most authentic pub atmosphere in town.

Lausanne is also a city of culture. With Geneva it shares the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and also occasionally hosts the legendary ballet company of Maurice Béjart. The local tourist office will advise on what's available at the time of your visit. Most performances of major cultural impact take place at the Théâtre-Municipal Lausanne, avenue du Theatre (tel. 021/310-16-00). Beaulieu, at 10, av. des Bergières (tel. 021/643-21-11), is also a venue for dance concerts, operas, and orchestral music presentations. Tickets can be purchased at Billetel, which has various locations over Lausanne. For more information contact the Théâtre-Municipal Lausanne.