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Grand Hotel National, Lucerne

Grand Hotel National

Lucerne, Switzerland

The imposing Grand Hotel National, with its filigreed wrought-iron balconies and sumptuous red-and-gold lobby, sits among the hills and spires of Lucerne on the banks of the lake bearing the same name. First raised to greatness by César Ritz and once the site of negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles, the grande dame hotel evokes the heyday of Belle Epoque luxury with its sweeping staircase and impeccable service.

A jewel of the skyline for over 150 years, the hotel offers 41 luxe guest rooms, adorned in red, cream and gold with marble or parquet floors and crystal chandeliers completing the regal impression. Most rooms and suites look out onto Lake Lucerne and the Alps from balconies equipped with binoculars to help you enjoy the view more thoroughly.

The Grand Hotel National offers four restaurants, each with its own opulent style and terraces that front the lakeside promenade. It also is equipped with spa services like massage and sauna, plus the only indoor pool in Lucerne.

Your stay includes complimentary entry to the neo-Baroque Grand Casino Luzern next door.

OUR OPINION:

The elegant Grand Hotel National is where we prefer to stay in Lucerne. We love the palatial rooms and first-class service, and especially the tranquillity of the hotel’s location alongside the pedestrian-only lakeside promenade.

OUR RATING: Deluxe

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who's been there
Audley Travel Specialist Ruth

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Rooms

All 41 rooms and suites are spacious and elegant, and decorated in the opulent Empire style with either parquet or marble floors. Some of the Classic rooms have a city view, but all other rooms look out on the lake, and many have small private balconies. The next-largest room type is the Deluxe room, with marble floors and Alpine lake views, followed by the Empire Junior Suites, fitted with crystal chandeliers, silken seating areas and soaking tubs.

The Ritz suite is the most luxurious of all, with soaring coffered ceilings, two balconies, separate living and sleeping areas and antique chandeliers.

Air conditioning, Wi-Fi, Nespresso machines, a welcome fruit basket and luxury toiletries are standard in all room types. Lake-view rooms include a pair of binoculars, so you can get a closer look at the mountainscape.

Location

Situated right on the banks of Lake Lucerne, the hotel boasts terraces that spill onto the car-free promenade. The stately hotel is quiet, in spite of its location in the heart of the action. You’ll stay just a few minutes’ walk from Lucerne’s attractions, including Chapel Bridge and the old town. The view to the south is dominated by the Alps, to which Lucerne is considered the gateway.

Food and drink

  • Café César, a coffee shop with a bistro atmosphere, offers breakfast options.
  • Restaurant National is the hotel’s flagship and most elegant option, serving creative regional cuisine.
  • National Bar offers cocktails and an extensive whisky menu in a clubby, casual space.
  • Positioned next to the promenade, the Lake Terrace offers views and a menu of French-inspired fare.
  • Klingler's Ristorante serves a Mediterranean menu in a fine-dining atmosphere.

Families

  • Children up to the age of 14 are welcome to share a room with their parents, with up to two extra beds provided.
  • Interconnecting rooms are available for family groups.

Facilities and activities

  • Large heated pool with loungers and lake views.
  • Sauna.
  • Sun terrace.
  • Massage treatments.
  • Access to discounted exercise and wellness across the road, including rooftop pool.
  • Free entry to Grand Casino Luzern.

Accessibility

The hotel isn't officially wheelchair accessible as there are steps, but most areas can be accessed by those with mobility difficulties.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favourite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can’t be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you’re staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident’s eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area’s inhabitants.

    • Day trip to Pilatus Kulm
      Mt Pilatus excursion, Lucerne

      Day trip to Pilatus Kulm

      Day trip to Pilatus Kulm

      Take a boat ride, a steep tramway, a mountaintop walk and a gondola in this day-long trip to Mount Pilatus, which soars to several peaks above Lake Lucerne. You can revel in 360-degree views from the top of the tallest peak, Tomlishorn.

      View details
    • Private chocolate tasting at a boutique chocolatier
      Chocolate tasting in Lucerne

      Private chocolate tasting at a boutique chocolatier

      Private chocolate tasting at a boutique chocolatier

      Get a glimpse into the workings of a boutique chocolatier, taste unusual single-origin chocolates and have a chance to make your own in this small-group visit to Max Chocolatier, one of the few small-batch chocolate makers in Switzerland.

      View details

    Lucerne and nearby places