BüRgenstock Hotels & Resort - Waldhotel & Spa

BüRgenstock Hotels & Resort - Waldhotel & Spa

The infinity pool at dawn is the entire point of Bürgenstock as it extends over Lake Lucerne 500 meters down with the Alps beyond. The pool is known for its beautiful view into the morning fog. After an extended renovation, the hotel reopened in 2017. The original Grand Hotel dates to 1873, and they've kept that building as the Heritage wing, traditional parquet floors, all the detailing that feels properly Swiss. The Contemporary wing is all glass and steel. Either works, but request higher floors because the view differential is everything here. Access is by catamaran from Lucerne, then the Bürgenstock Funicular up the mountain. The resort is car-free and built on a cliff, and looks very impressive when you arrive. The funicular runs until late if you want evenings in the city. The Alpine Spa carved into the mountainside is 10,000 square meters of pools, treatment rooms, hammam, everything you'd expect. The private spa suites are worth booking ahead for. For dinner, Parisa serves Persian in a room with carved wood and proper atmosphere. Book it when you reserve your room because covers are limited. Oak Grill has both meat and fish on the menu. Lakeview Bar before dinner for drinks with the view. The resort has ten restaurants but these are the ones that matter. This is a large property with conference facilities and day visitors from Lucerne, so manage expectations accordingly. The scale delivers what smaller hotels can't, the pool, the spa infrastructure, multiple good dining options, but it doesn’t give the boutique intimacy you’ll find in some other Swiss hotels.