Hotels - Lucerne - Switzerland

With nearly two centuries of experience, Lucerne's tourism industry is well-established. Most of the options are lavish and upmarket, with well-appointed rooms that enjoy idyllic views of the lake, river and countryside. Well-known franchises operate side-by-side with private inns and cosy bed-and-breakfast establishments.

The entire Old city is brimming with options, with more hotels available than expected for this relatively small town. The most popular place to stay is along the lakefront where upscale hotels are housed in Art Deco buildings. Visitors will find more moderate offerings away from the waterfront or in districts with a limited view, but prices remain relatively high and there's little to be found for budget seekers.

The Grand Hotel National is an exceptional Lucerne hotel. It was on the front lines of accommodation in Lucerne's earliest days of tourism (1870s) and continues to offer opulent rooms, impeccable service and the best views of the lake. Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann was another district that got an early start in tourism in an area characterised by 16th-century homes. On the opposite end of the spectrum is The Hotel, a hip and exclusive boutique hotel at the city centre.

Hirschenplatz is an important square in the old city, and visitors staying in this part of the Old town will enjoy accommodation in beautifully-restored buildings highlighted by the Goldener Adler.

Nationalquai is found below Hof Church. The hotels along this strip are capitalising on their proximity to the casino that operates here. Guests enjoy fine amenities and the opportunity to spend their newfound wealth in the upscale restaurants and shops here.

The area around the casino is known as Kurplatz and enjoys views of the Alps and Lake Lucerne. The pedestrian, tree-lined avenue extends to Lido Beach and hosts a variety of upscale hotels that take advantage of their five-star views of the scenery. This entire area is full of shops and restaurants that can all be reached on foot from the hotels.

Schwanenplatz is a secondary area of accommodation located on the northern edge of Reuss River. There are a few hotels here close to the train station, though more tourist activity is found on the adjacent Kapellplatz where the 12th-century St Peter's Church sits. Hotel guests in this area have easy access to the Kapellgasse shopping district.

Outside of these more consolidated hotel districts, ample accommodation is available along the shores of Lake Lucerne. Guests enjoy a bit more seclusion away from the bustling town centre. The finest rooms have private balconies with lake or mountain views.

For a rustic retreat or a ski holiday, Lucerne's visitors can travel to Engelberg or Meiringen resorts in the Alpine countryside. Complete accommodation is available in lodges and inns with access to the slopes. A wide array of boutiques and sporting shops can be found here.