Moving from Lausanne to Fribourg

Lausanne is a vibrant city on Lake Geneva with ~140,000 residents (4th largest in Switzerland). Moving about 1 hour north to Fribourg means a change of scenery and pace. Lausanne’s urban, French-speaking environment will give way to Fribourg’s smaller, bilingual charm. The drive is only ~73 km (via A1/A12 highways), but you’ll be crossing into a new canton (Vaud to Fribourg) with its own administrative rules and lifestyle nuances.

Fribourg’s picturesque Old Town along the Sarine River – a bilingual city where ~68% speak French and ~28% German. With a population of ~38,000, Fribourg offers a more intimate community feel than bustling Lausanne. You’ll encounter French and German in daily life, making it the heart of Swiss bilingualism. Culturally, Lausanne’s cosmopolitan flair (home to universities and the Olympic Committee) contrasts with Fribourg’s medieval architecture and close-knit community. This guide will walk you through preparing for the move, smoothing the relocation process, choosing reputable movers, and understanding costs – so you can transition from Lausanne to Fribourg with confidence and ease.

Preparing for the Move

Key Considerations

When moving from Lausanne to Fribourg, a bit of planning goes a long way. Keep these key considerations in mind as you prepare:

Housing & Lease: Secure your new home in Fribourg early and coordinate lease dates. Rents in Fribourg are generally lower than in Lausanne (often 20–30% cheaper), so you might enjoy more space for your budget. Remember to give notice on your Lausanne rental per your contract (typically 3 months, often on quarter-end dates) and arrange a handover inspection/cleaning.
Official Paperwork: Plan to deregister at Lausanne’s residents registry and register in Fribourg promptly (usually within 14 days of your move). You’ll get an attestation of departure in Lausanne to submit in Fribourg. If you own a car, you’ll also need to update your vehicle registration and get new FR license plates. Don’t forget to inform your tax office of the change – moving cantons means your taxes will be filed in Fribourg going forward.
Utilities & Address Changes: Schedule the transfer or cancellation of utilities in Lausanne and set up new accounts for your Fribourg home. This includes electricity, heating fuel or gas if applicable, water, and garbage tax. Arrange for your internet/TV provider to switch service to your new address. Also, set up a mail forwarding order with Swiss Post and update your address with banks, insurance, employer, doctor, etc.
School & Family: If you have children, research schools or daycare in Fribourg well in advance. Fribourg’s education system is bilingual – you may have options for French or German schooling. Contact the Fribourg cantonal education department to register your kids in a local school.
Transport Logistics: Decide how you’ll execute the physical move. Hiring a professional moving company is convenient for the ~70 km journey. Alternatively, for a DIY move, rent a van or truck. Enlist friends to help load/unload, and plan for multiple trips if needed.
Parking & Permits: Check parking regulations for moving trucks. You may need to request a temporary street parking permit or reservation at both your current and new address. Many moving companies will handle this for you if asked.
Timing & Keys: Schedule your move-out and move-in times wisely. Aim to move during the week and in the middle of the month if you can. Also, be mindful of Swiss “quiet hours” and avoid late-night noise when moving furniture.

Tips for a Smooth Moving Experience

Key Considerations

Even a short-distance move can be stressful – but some smart strategies can make it much easier. Keep these tips in mind for a smoother move from Lausanne to Fribourg:

Plan Early & Book in Advance

Create a moving checklist and timeline at least 1–2 months before. Book movers or a rental van well ahead of time, especially if moving during the busy summer months or around end-of-month. Early booking secures your ideal date and often better rates.

Declutter Before Packing

Moving is the perfect time to lighten your load. Go through your belongings and sell, donate, or recycle items you no longer need. Fewer boxes means a cheaper and faster move. (Tip: Lausanne has second-hand shops and donation centers – your old furniture or clothes could get a new life rather than making the trip.)

Quality Packing & Labeling

Start packing non-essentials a few weeks out. Use sturdy moving boxes and plenty of cushioning for fragile items. Label each box clearly with its contents and the destination room (“Kitchen – dishes”, “Bedroom – linens”, etc.). This makes unloading in Fribourg much more efficient – you (or the movers) can put each box in the right room straight away.

Essentials Box

Pack a “Day-1 Essentials” box or two to keep with you. Include important documents, chargers, basic tools, a first-aid kit, toiletries, a change of clothes, bedding, snacks, and perhaps a coffee maker. This way you won’t be digging through piles of boxes your first night in Fribourg.

Protect Valuables & Furniture

Disassemble large furniture (beds, tables) in advance if possible, and put hardware in labeled baggies taped to the furniture. Wrap furniture in moving blankets or plastic wrap to prevent damage. For electronics or delicate items, consider transporting those in your car. Moving companies in Switzerland usually provide protective covers and will handle disassembly if you opt for that service, but doing some of it yourself can save time and money.

Choose Your Moving Day Wisely

If you have flexibility, try to move on a weekday rather than a weekend. Weekends and especially end-of-month dates are peak times. A mid-week, mid-month move might not only be cheaper but also logistically easier (like securing elevator use or parking). Also, avoid public holiday dates when services may be unavailable and traffic heavier.

These tips, combined with a bit of Swiss pragmatism, will help ensure your move is as smooth as possible. Next up, let’s look at some reputable moving companies that can assist with the Lausanne–Fribourg route, should you decide to hire professionals.

Trusted Moving Companies

(Lausanne–Fribourg Route)

Hiring a reliable moving company can take a lot of stress off your shoulders. Below are some well-regarded movers that service the Lausanne–to–Fribourg route. All of these companies are known for professional service and offer bilingual (French/English) support:

La Romande Déménagement

A long-running moving company based in Romandie (western Switzerland) with services covering Geneva, Vaud, and Fribourg. They handle local and international moves, provide packing services, furniture assembly, and even offer storage (“garde-meubles”). La Romande is known for efficient service and transparent pricing.

Offers full-service moving: packing, transport, assembly, storage

Experienced in local and international moves

Transparent, fixed-rate quotes and flexible scheduling

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Monachon Déménagements

A Lausanne-based moving company with an English-friendly team and excellent reputation. They offer door-to-door moving solutions across Switzerland, so Lausanne to Fribourg is routine for them. Monachon can provide packing materials, professional packing/unpacking, furniture disassembly, as well as end-of-lease cleaning and storage if needed. Customers praise their flexibility and reasonable pricing.

Known for personalized service and punctuality

Offers cleaning services, storage, and packing material delivery

Good for mid-size apartment and family house moves

Carbonie Removals

A Fribourg-based moving company that explicitly caters to English-speaking clients. Carbonie has offices in Fribourg and Lausanne, making them well-positioned for this route. They emphasize personalized service to reduce moving “fatigue and stress”. Services include packing, dismantling furniture, and even arranging address-change notifications. With a bilingual staff, Carbonie is a great choice for expats or anyone who prefers communication in English. They also tend to offer competitive rates for regional moves.

Caters specifically to English-speaking clients

Includes document help (e.g., change-of-address services)

Professional team with great reviews on punctuality and care

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Déménagement Express (Recyclage Express)

A moving service operating out of Lausanne that covers all of Suisse Romande. They advertise moves “from Lausanne to Geneva via Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Yverdon” – essentially everywhere in French-speaking Switzerland. They offer quick online quotes, and services range from basic transport to full-service moves (including furniture assembly, disposal of old furniture, and cleaning). Their teams are known to be efficient and the company can communicate in English.

Ideal for quick moves and flexible scheduling

Handles furniture removal, disposal, and recycling

Fast online quotes and short-notice availability

Kehrli + Oeler

A renowned Swiss moving company established in 1904, with a branch in Fribourg. Kehrli+Oeler handles national and international moves and has English-speaking staff. They bring over a century of experience – useful if you have a large household or special items (pianos, artwork, etc.) to move. They often do an in-home survey to give a detailed quote. While they might be a premium option, their professionalism is top-notch.

Over 100 years of experience in Swiss and international moves

Great for large homes or valuable items (pianos, antiques)

Can arrange on-site evaluation and full packing services

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Each of these movers can handle a Lausanne–Fribourg relocation with ease. It’s wise to request quotes from 2–3 companies to compare prices and services. Most will offer a free, no-obligation survey or online quote. Ensure you specify if you need extras (packing service, storage, cleaning) so the quote is comprehensive. Also verify that the movers have insurance to cover any potential damage in transit (all reputable companies do).

Moving Cost Estimates

One big question when moving is cost. How much should you budget for a move between Lausanne and Fribourg? The answer depends on the size of your household, the services you require, and the season/weekend of your move. Below is a general cost estimate for different move sizes, with a comparison of low-season (winter) vs high-season (summer) pricing:

Move Size	Low Season (Winter)	High Season (Summer)
2-bedroom apartment (~3.5 rooms, ~20–30 m³)	CHF 1,200 – 1,600	CHF 1,600 – 2,200
3+ bedroom apartment (~4.5–5.5 rooms, ~30–40 m³)	CHF 1,800 – 2,400	CHF 2,500 – 3,500
Full house (6+ rooms, 50+ m³)	CHF 2,800 – 3,500	CHF 3,500 – 4,500+

Estimates are for a ~70 km move (Lausanne→Fribourg) with standard services. Actual quotes will vary by inventory and specifics.

In Switzerland, an average 3.5-room apartment move (within a region) costs around CHF 1,500–1,800, which aligns with our table for low-season. The short distance (1 hour) between Lausanne and Fribourg helps keep costs moderate – you’re not paying for an all-day long-distance haul. However, moves in summer or on weekends tend to be pricier (as reflected in the high-season range). One Swiss source notes that a 2–3 room apartment move might cost CHF 800–1,300 within the same city, but up to CHF 1,800–3,000 for a longer distance of ~200 km. Our route is about 73 km, so expected costs fall in between those, as shown above.

What factors influence your moving cost?

Volume of Items

More stuff = more space, time, and cost. Declutter to save.

Access & Logistics

Stairs, no elevators, or tricky entrances can increase the price. Movers may need a furniture lift.

Services Chosen

Packing, disassembly, storage, and cleaning add to the base cost.

Team Size & Hours

Bigger crews cost more per hour but speed things up. Some DIY prep (like dismantling furniture) can lower total hours.

Timing

Moving in summer or on weekends is pricier. Winter or midweek moves are usually cheaper.

Insurance

Basic coverage is included, but high-value items may require extra protection.

Seasonal Moving Price Variations

Moving prices in Switzerland fluctuate with the seasons. It’s important to know this when scheduling your Lausanne-to-Fribourg move, as timing could save (or cost) you several hundred francs:

High Season (Summer): The period from June through September is the busiest moving season. Many leases end in early summer, families prefer to move during school holidays, and generally the warm weather is ideal for moving – all driving up demand. During these months, moving companies’ schedules fill up quickly and they charge premium rates. It’s not uncommon for quotes in July/August to be almost double what you might get in February. If you have to move in summer, try to avoid late June and late September in particular – those end-of-quarter dates are when many annual leases conclude. Booking well in advance (2+ months if possible) is crucial for summer moves, and be prepared for higher prices.
Low Season (Winter): Late fall and winter (November through February, excluding holiday weeks) are typically low season. Fewer people move during the cold months and the holidays, so you’ll find greater availability of movers and often lower rates. Some companies even offer off-season discounts to drum up business. For example, a move that might cost CHF 2,500 in July could be, say, CHF 2,000 in January. One consideration: winter weather. Snow or ice can complicate a move – but Swiss movers are used to it and will have tools like snow chains or covered trucks. Just keep an eye on the forecast and have a backup plan in case a huge snowstorm hits on your moving day (rare, but possible).
Shoulder Seasons: Spring and early autumn (April, May, October) are moderate – not as slow as winter, but not as crazy as high summer. You might call these the “shoulder seasons.” You may not get deep off-season discounts, but pricing is generally reasonable and scheduling is easier than peak summer. If you can target one of these months, you often get a nice balance of decent weather and manageable costs.
Weekends and Holidays: Regardless of month, weekends tend to be peak weekly demand. If a company charges a flat rate, it might not change, but those that charge hourly may have a minimum hour requirement for Saturdays (e.g. you pay minimum 6 hours even if your move only takes 4). Almost all movers avoid Sundays and national holidays due to labor laws and regulations (and out of respect for noise rules), so you likely won’t even have Sunday as an option. Around national holidays (like August 1st, Swiss National Day), demand can spike on the days before/after as people use the day off to move – so those days book fast. If you can move on a Monday–Friday, you’ll generally find it easier and sometimes cheaper.
End-of-Month Crunch: It’s worth noting again – in Switzerland a lot of rental contracts end on the 31st of March, June, September, or December (varies by canton and lease). This means the last few and first few days of those months are traffic jams on the moving calendar. If your schedule is flexible, try to move in the middle of the month. Mid-month moves in a high season month might even cost less than end-of-month moves in a shoulder month simply because of demand. Discuss possible dates with your moving company – sometimes shifting by just a week can reduce the quote.

Why do prices vary so much?

It’s simple economics – demand for movers is much higher in summer and on key dates, so companies charge more and deploy all their staff. In quieter times, they lower prices to win business and keep their crews working. For you as a customer, planning your move date strategically is one of the best ways to control costs. If you’re renting, perhaps you can negotiate with your new landlord in Fribourg to start the lease on, say, October 15 instead of October 1, to avoid the rush. Or if you’re a homeowner, schedule the sale or purchase completion with a buffer to move in the offseason.

In summary, if you can choose your moving date, aim for off-peak. But if you can’t (sometimes job or family schedules dictate timing), don’t worry – just be sure to lock in a mover early and budget a bit extra for that high-season premium. The good news is that Lausanne to Fribourg is a short move, so even in high season it will be on the lower end of long-distance moving costs.

Smooth Move from Lausanne to Fribourg