4 Best Hotels in Vitznau, Luzern and Central Switzerland

Set in a fairy-tale lakefront palace that dates back to 1903, this isolated but luxurious all-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. If you enjoy fine dining, you might not want to leave the hotel at all during your stay as it's home to two award-winning restaurants: Focus, headed by Patrick Mahler, with 18 Gault-Millau points and two Michelin stars, and Prisma Expérience, crafting Asian-themed dishes such as rock lobster with Japanese barbecue sauce followed by forest strawberry with soy milk and herbs. It extends onto a glorious lakeside terrace with grill. Pair your dinner with a wine from the hotel’s cellar, which contains 35,000 bottles covering 4,500 different varieties.

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 with views over the glittering lake, 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.

Das Morgen (The Tomorrow) is the world’s first hotel dedicated to neuroscience---probably not the concept you’d expect to find in a rural lakeside setting, but perhaps less surprising given the number of science-focused start-ups in the region, some of whom are based in Das Morgen’s co-working space. Rooms are bright and white as if starched, softened by Scandi aesthetics, some with hanging rattan egg chairs, and each displays insights into various scientific themes: in room 318, you can drift off musing to insights into human consciousness, while room 311 focuses on instruments and voices. There are the digital aspects you’d expect---your smartphone acts as a room key and a remote control for the lights, electronic blinds, and TV---and rooms can be booked to suit single travelers, couples, or groups of up to six. Three restaurants---‘Yesterday’, ‘Today’, and ‘Tomorrow’---explore Swiss, global, and futuristic flavors. You might try hand-cut beef tartare with chive cream or roasted salmon with crayfish velouté followed by lukewarm chocolate cake with pickled kumquats. Two robots are part of the team, but the location is charmingly, and traditionally, Swiss as it sits at the foot of a mountainside jangling with cowbells and steps from the station for the Rigi cogwheel railway.