Mandarin Oriental Palace is the best hotel in Lucerne itself, right on the lakefront promenade. For a resort stay, Bürgenstock is the best on Lake Lucerne and the strongest pick for families, with Villa Honegg as the smaller, more romantic alternative next door. Stay in town for a short city break, or on the lake for three nights or more. Summer is peak season, while May, June and September bring good weather at better rates.
Our Picks at a Glance
Best overall: Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern
Best for families: Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa
Best for couples: Villa Honegg
Best value: Art Deco Hotel Montana
Best lakeside resort: Park Hotel Vitznau
Where to Stay in Lucerne
Lucerne is one of the prettiest small cities in Europe. It has a covered wooden bridge, a medieval old town and a lake ringed by mountains, and it's an easy base for day trips up Mount Pilatus and Rigi. The big decision is whether to stay in town or out on the lake.
In Lucerne: Best for a short trip. You can walk everywhere, the lakefront promenade is lined with grand hotels, and the boats leave from right in front of the train station. Book here if you have two or three nights.
On Lake Lucerne: Best for a longer, slower stay. The resorts at Bürgenstock sit high above the water, and the villages of Vitznau and Weggis are right on the shore at the foot of Rigi. Book here if you have three nights or more and want a resort with a spa and views.
The Switzerland coverage on the site has more ideas for pairing Lucerne with other stops. Our Switzerland travel guide covers Lake Geneva and the Alps, and the best hotels on Lake Geneva make an easy second lake to add.
Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern
The Palace is Lucerne's grandest hotel, a Belle Époque landmark on the lakefront promenade with views straight across the water to the Alps. Mandarin Oriental restored it and reopened it in recent years, and it now has a full spa and four restaurants.
Lake-view rooms are the ones to book. You're a short, pretty walk along the water from the old town and the Chapel Bridge.
Best for: couples and first-timers who want the classic grand-hotel experience.
Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern
The Schweizerhof is the other great lakefront hotel, family-owned and steeped in history, closer to the old town on the Schweizerhofquai. It's more traditional than the Palace, with a strong sense of old Lucerne and a central location.
Best for: travelers who want to be in the middle of everything.
Art Deco Hotel Montana
Art Deco Hotel Montana sits on a hillside above the city, with 66 rooms done in a playful Art Deco style. The views over the rooftops and lake are some of the best in town, and the bar is a local favorite.
It's a short ride up from the lakefront, and usually better value than the grand hotels below.
Best for: couples who want views and character without palace prices.
Check rates at Art Deco Hotel Montana
The Hotel Luzern
The Hotel is a small, modern design hotel in central Lucerne, now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. It's the opposite of the grand hotels on the lake: dark, sleek and urban.
Best for: design lovers on a short city break.
Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa
Bürgenstock is the big one. It's a full resort set about 500 meters above Lake Lucerne on the Bürgenstock ridge, with several hotels, a nine-hole golf course, tennis and a dozen restaurants. The Alpine Spa is one of the most impressive in Europe, with an infinity pool that seems to hang over the lake.
Families have endless space and things to do. Couples get the spa and the views. Either way, it's worth three nights at least.
Best for: families and anyone who wants a full resort with a spa.
Waldhotel by Bürgenstock
The Waldhotel is the quieter wellness-focused hotel within the Bürgenstock resort, designed by Italian architect Matteo Thun. It has its own spa and indoor tennis courts, plus access to the rest of the resort.
Best for: wellness trips and couples who want Bürgenstock with less bustle.
Check rates at Waldhotel by Bürgenstock
Villa Honegg
Villa Honegg is a small, early-1900s villa higher up on the Bürgenstock mountain. Its heated outdoor infinity pool, overlooking the lake, is one of the most photographed pools in Switzerland.
It's intimate and romantic, with just a few dozen rooms, and you can use it as a quiet base while still walking over to Bürgenstock.
Best for: couples and honeymooners.
Park Hotel Vitznau
Park Hotel Vitznau sits right on the shore at the foot of Mount Rigi, on the opposite side of the lake. It was fully renovated in 2012 and 2013 and has its own private beach, a large spa and two restaurants.
It's the best pick if you want to swim straight off the hotel in summer. The boat to Lucerne and the cog railway up Rigi both leave from the village.
Best for: summer stays and lake swimming.
Check rates at Park Hotel Vitznau
How to Choose a Hotel in Lucerne
For two nights or fewer, stay in town. Book the Mandarin Oriental Palace for the full grand-hotel experience, the Schweizerhof to be closest to the old town, or Art Deco Hotel Montana for views at a better price.
For three nights or more, head out on the lake. Families should book Bürgenstock. Couples should look at Villa Honegg or the Waldhotel. In summer, Park Hotel Vitznau is the best for swimming.
A great combination is a night or two in Lucerne, then a few nights at Bürgenstock. The boat ride between them is part of the trip.
On budget, Bürgenstock and the Palace sit at the top. Villa Honegg, the Schweizerhof and Park Hotel Vitznau come next. Art Deco Hotel Montana and The Hotel are the best value.
Getting to Lucerne
Lucerne is about an hour by train from Zurich Airport, with frequent direct connections. From the station, the lake boats leave right outside. Boats run across the lake to Vitznau, Weggis and the Bürgenstock landing, though some routes run less often in winter.
Best Time to Visit and Book Lucerne
June through September is peak season, with warm days, full boat schedules and lake swimming. It's also the busiest and most expensive time.
May and late September into October are the sweet spot, with good weather, fewer crowds and lower rates. Winter is quiet and cold, but Lucerne's Christmas markets are lovely and the mountain views are clear.
For July and August, book three to four months ahead, especially at Villa Honegg and the lake resorts. The rest of the year, a month or two is usually enough. Watch for the Lucerne Festival in late summer, when town hotels fill up fast.
FAQ
What is the best hotel in Lucerne? Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern, for its lakefront setting and grand-hotel style. On the lake, Bürgenstock is the best resort.
Should I stay in Lucerne or on the lake? In town for a short city break, on the lake for three nights or more. Many people do both.
What is the best hotel on Lake Lucerne for families? Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa, with its golf, tennis, restaurants and huge spa.
Is Villa Honegg worth it? Yes, for couples. The infinity pool and views are spectacular, and it's far more intimate than the big resort next door.
How do you get from Zurich to Lucerne? By direct train, in about an hour.
When is the best time to visit Lucerne? May, June and September offer the best mix of weather and value. July and August are warmest but busiest.
How many days do you need in Lucerne? Two days covers the town. Add two or three more for a lake resort and a mountain day trip.