This French-speaking Swiss town on Lake Neuchâtel has thermal springs, a 13th-century castle, and well-preserved medieval streets. Art museums and lakeside walks add to its appeal.
Yverdon-les-Bains sits on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel in western Switzerland. You can swim in thermal pools filled with 34-degree sulfur-rich water, walk through a 13th-century castle housing the world's first science fiction museum, or spot rare birds in the Grande Cariçaie wetlands. The medieval town center leads to a 2-kilometer lakefront where locals swim and relax throughout summer.
Thermal Springs and Wellness
Swim in indoor and outdoor pools at the thermal center, where sulfur and magnesium-rich water maintains temperatures between 28 and 34 degrees Celsius. Book therapeutic treatments in the modern wellness area, which includes steam rooms and massage facilities. Look for the remains of Roman baths near the current center - archaeologists have uncovered original stone structures dating back to the 1st century AD.
Unique Museums in Medieval Settings
Step into the Maison d'Ailleurs (House of Elsewhere), where 70,000 science fiction artifacts fill a former prison building. Browse through rare sci-fi books from the 16th century and explore rotating exhibitions about contemporary themes. The medieval castle contains three distinct museums: the Swiss Fashion Museum with 3,000 historical clothing items, the Regional Museum's archaeological collection, and Switzerland's oldest French-language public library, dating to 1763.
Lake Neuchâtel and Nature Areas
Walk the marsh trails at Champ-Pittet nature center between May and October to see some of the 1,000 plant and 10,000 animal species living in the Grande Cariçaie wetlands. Stop at bird-watching stations along the shore or swim at several beach areas along the 2-kilometer lakefront. Follow walking paths under willow trees connecting multiple swimming spots and rest areas.
Medieval Center
Wander through narrow streets and small squares in the pedestrian-only old town, dominated by the 13th-century castle's four towers. Shop at the Tuesday and Saturday morning markets on Place Pestalozzi, where local farmers sell regional produce and cheese. The castle's stone walls house multiple museums and the historic library, with regular guided tours available of both the building and its collections.
Getting Around
Take direct trains to Yverdon-les-Bains from Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne. Local buses run every 20 minutes through town between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM. The flat terrain makes it easy to walk or cycle between the center, thermal baths, and lake areas.
