14 Best Hotels in Luzern and Central Switzerland, Switzerland

The luxurious original woodwork, parquet floors, and shining terrazzo are all in superb condition at this 1910 palace, where public rooms flank the ground floor's south side, and on a clear day offer a magnificent view of the lake and the mountains. The guest rooms are in an updated art deco style, with bold patterns and funky furnishings; those in back overlook a hillside, and the front doubles (slightly costlier) have balconies overlooking the city and lake. The building is perched on a slope above town, accessible by funicular from the lakeshore via Haldenstrasse or by car.

In the bustling heart of the Old Town, this adults-only hotel has a tongue-in-cheek combination of sleek modern lines and gilded frames and fat cherubs, and though the rooms are small, they are well designed, with dark hardwood floors, white linens, and pastel accents. The cherubs are the only little ones you'll see, as children are not admitted as hotel guests. The in-house pizzeria with its wood-burning oven is popular with tourists and locals. There's a webcam showing Luzern on the roof—you can check the weather before you arrive and enjoy the rooftop terrace after check-in.

Glorious views of Lake Luzern, the mountains, and hilly farmland crown the luxurious Bürgenstock Resort. The resort actually has three luxurious hotels, including a five-star medical wellness hotel. There are 12 restaurants and bars scattered around the resort, offering everything from traditional Swiss to Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Its sprawling spa—the bubbling heart of the resort—includes a heated infinity pool overlooking the lake and mountains. The well-preserved chalet-style Taverne 1879 has an additional 12 rooms at half the price of those in the Palace Hotel, whose elegant facade dates back to 1904. Activities like mountain biking, tennis, curling, and golf ensure that sporty guests can stay active, and the numerous lounge chairs provide ample opportunities to relax.

This monumental landmark, founded in 1870, was once home base to Cesar Ritz, the man who invented the world's first modern luxury hotel. It is no surprise, then, that the inner sanctums of this lodging trumpet an ornate splendor, down to the last cupola, crown molding, and Corinthian column. The hotel's mansarded facade stretches the length of two city blocks, dominating the lakeside promenade. Brass, marble, and inlaid wood accent the high-ceilinged Empire-style guest rooms, and the domed bar is decked with mahogany and aglitter with crystal.

Built in 1908, this attractive business-class resort concentrates its comforts on a small but luxurious waterfront site, with a large restaurant above the manicured lawn, a small swimming pool with mountain views, and comfortable lounge chairs at the lake's edge. Its modern guest rooms glow with warm wood tones offset by neutral fabrics. It's at the center of town, near the boat landing.

Built in the 19th century on the site of two ancient guildhalls, this waterfront lodging is full of style, and one of the best addresses in the heart of the Old Town makes this the slickest in its price class. Rooms come with state-of-the-art tile baths, parquet floors, and black-and-white furnishings, and its chic restaurant has a combination as desirable as it is rare: an elegant interior, shimmering river views, and a sophisticated menu. There's a more casual, less expensive bistro area as well.

This gracious 12th-century house close to the Hofkirche and the Löwendenkmal has been artfully modernized with an eclectic mix of colors and themes. One room contains a 5-foot-tall decorative antique stove, and another resembles the interior of a clipper ship. Some white-tiled bathrooms have cool steel sinks. The restaurant, specializing in light, seasonal fare, expands into a beautiful outdoor terrace in warm weather.

Spotless and modern, this hotel softens its edges with white linens and walls; look in the recessed niche of one of the interior walls for a stone shrine retained from the original structure. The rooms facing the Weinmarkt have high ceilings and tall windows that let in lots of light. Guest rooms to the back have no direct sun but are still bright and a little larger.

This solid lodging has a delightfully old-fashioned facade, modern interiors, and a welcoming atmosphere that comes from being family owned and run. A dozen rooms have balconies with lake views, and four have small kitchenettes. The hotel is a block from the boat landing and close to the Rigibahn. Both the restaurant and the Stübli serve good, simple fish dishes, and there's a pleasant garden terrace.

With its own lakefront garden, a full-service spa, and a restaurant in the former boathouse serving delicacies like spicy lobster with oranges or veal with artichokes and truffles, you're likely to be tempted to stay a little longer, no matter how many days you booked. Paul Klee, Richard Strauss, and many a head of state have visited this Jugendstil hotel since it opened in 1901. During renovations, the designers kept original architectural flourishes like frescoed ceilings and curved stucco moldings to balance out the modern, modular furnishings.

One of the city's best-known hotels, the gracious and atmospheric Wilden Mann has stone walls, coffered ceilings, brass fittings, and burnished wood everywhere. Even the street feels authentic—across the way is a 16th-century pharmacy. The hotel's reputation extends to its restaurants: the Burgerstube is cozy with its dark beams and family crests, whereas Restaurant Sauvage is more formal. Both menus strike a fine balance between local cooking and French cuisine, with main dishes such as bratwurst with onion sauce, matchstick-thin french fries and green beans, and desserts like raspberries with chili and basil.

Set in a fairy-tale lakefront palace, this isolated but lavish retreat dates back to 1902. Now the luxury-suite hotel has all the modern conveniences wrapped in an Edwardian facade. Each of its suites is individually furnished and falls under themes like wine, dine, finance, or endowment. Lakeside suites command dreamy Alpine views and are worth the extra cost. The spa features an outdoor pool, two whirlpools, saunas, a steam bath, an ice grotto, and a 4,227-gallon aquarium with tropical fish. Two gourmet restaurants plus a summer grill station ensure a varied menu.

Some parquet floors remain, but this 19th-century lodging now has a modern look and feel and more modern conveniences than some city hotels. Southern-facing rooms have great views, although these disappear if it rains. A short walk from the summit of Mt. Rigi, the hotel is accessible by cable car from Weggis or by cogwheel from Vitznau or Arth-Goldau. Another option is to climb up from Weggis, allowing either three hours or, as Mark Twain required, three days, depending on your penchant for resting.

Award-winning French architect Jean Nouvel, who also designed Luzern's Kultur- und Kongresszentrum, focuses on ultrahip design here; parquet floors are this lodging's only remaining old-world touch. Metal blocks act as cupboards, and mirrors, puffy chairs, and dark walls add to the look, but the highlight of each room is the enlarged movie still that covers the ceiling. Films by Federico Fellini, Wim Wenders, and Lars von Trier are represented, among others, and yes, the photograph is positioned so that you see it best while lying down. An Asian-French fusion restaurant attracts locals as well as hotel guests.