Park Hotel Vitznau
A Lake Lucerne grand hotel with 48 residences and suites, serious dining, wine cellars and a heated infinity pool.
Park Hotel Vitznau is the sort of Swiss lake hotel that makes understatement difficult. Set on the shores of Lake Lucerne, it has over a century of history, mountain views that do not need assistance, and an interior world organised around three themes: Wine & Dine, Art & Culture, and Health & Wealth.
The draw is the infinity pool, lake-and-mountain outlook, jazz and event life, high-end interiors and haute cuisine. The numbers: 48 residences, suites and junior suites; restaurants including focus ATELIER, PRISMA and Grill Restaurant Lake Terrace; six wine cellars; and a spa area with saunas and a heated outdoor infinity pool.
This is not a casual lake stop. It is an occasion hotel, one where the pool, dining rooms and wine programme are part of the reason to travel. The design blends nostalgic grandeur with contemporary technical comfort, which is a very Swiss way of saying the walls may be historic but the plug sockets know what year it is.
Spend the day slowly. Swim towards the mountain panorama, book a massage, read by the water, then dress properly for dinner. The surrounding region gives you boats, peaks and Lucerne, but Park Hotel Vitznau makes a strong case for staying put.
For travellers who want Alpine serenity with a serious gastronomic backbone, this is Lake Lucerne at its most polished.
