Summers in Dubai are brutally hot, making Switzerland the top getaway spot. Beyond the famous lakes, mountains, watches, and jewelry, Switzerland boasts some iconic fashion spots. Anton Krasilnikov, the founder of the bespoke travel bureau Dada Travel, which focuses on culture, gastronomy, and art, has curated a route through Coco Chanel's haunts in Switzerland. Why? Because August 19 is Coco Chanel's birthday.

While Paris was Gabrielle's professional playground, Switzerland served as Coco's sanctuary. Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel went to Switzerland after World War II and stayed there for about ten years. Here is a 1-day itinerary around Lausanne, following in the footsteps of this legendary designer.

Overlooking Lake Geneva, the Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel became Madame Coco’s temporary home. The place offered Chanel the tranquillity she sought during turbulent times (and excellent champagne). According to legend, one of the graves at the hotel’s pet cemetery belongs to Chanel's dog.

Lausanne Palace was another favourite hotel of Madame Coco. A huge suite on the fifth floor in shades of sky blue and cream, overlooking Lake Geneva and the thermal town of Evian-les-Bains, is now named after her.

Within a 20-minute drive, in the suburb of Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, there is a restaurant where Chanel used to come for a flan and a glass of milk. The surroundings are beautiful — go for a forest walk before or after the meal.

In 1966, Coco Chanel purchased Villa Le Signal on Route de Signal in the Sauvabelin area, among the wooded hills above Lausanne. In this renovated former girls' boarding house in a “rustic style,” she constantly invited her friends, such as the star of French ballet Serge Lifar, for whom she designed stage costumes. David Bowie also lived in this area in his Château de Signal — but at a different time. Chanel’s villa is now a private property — but you can see the facade and surroundings.

Walking through the narrow streets of La Cité (Lausanne's Old Town), grab a coffee on the terrace of an ancient “La Pomme de Pin” restaurant. Imagine Coco sipping her champagne and chatting with Sir Charles Chaplin there.

The legendary Mademoiselle used to live in Lausanne's luxury palaces and later in her villa for nearly 30 years and left a wish to stay there forever: her flamboyant grave, covered with snow-white flowers, can be visited on the Bois-de-Vaux cemetery.