The Palace is Lucerne's grand lakefront address, a historic hotel on Haldenstrasse restored and reopened under the Mandarin Oriental name. It has 136 individually decorated rooms and suites, some with lake-facing balconies or terraces and some looking over the Old Town rooftops. The setting is its main asset: the lake promenade is about a minute's walk, and the Chapel Bridge and the station are each around a quarter of an hour away on foot. Four restaurants and bars, including Colonnade and Minamo, a spa with sauna and steam room, a 24-hour gym and a panoramic rooftop terrace make it self-contained, and the hotel offers e-bikes, kayaks and paddleboards with direct access to the lake. It is a five-star superior property, the choice for a special occasion.
Location and getting around
You are on the lake, on the quieter eastern side of the centre. The promenade runs along the water in both directions, and a stroll west leads to the KKL, the piers and the Old Town in about fifteen minutes. The Swiss Museum of Transport lies further east along the same shoreline. Taxis and buses are easy to find, and the hotel can arrange transfers from the station. Parking is available for a daily fee, which is useful if you are driving to the mountains.
Rooms and facilities
Room categories run from standard rooms to signature suites, with connecting rooms for families and accessible rooms with roll-in showers. Lake-view rooms cost more and are the ones to request if the view matters; several suites combine lake and mountain views. Breakfast is available as a buffet from early morning and is charged separately on most rates, so compare the rate with and without it.
The spa takes treatment bookings in advance, so reserve your time when you book the room, and ask about its current opening status before you plan around it.
Who it suits
Couples, anniversary and honeymoon travellers and anyone who wants a polished hotel with a lake view and strong dining. Families are welcome and pets are accepted for a fee. In November the lake light is soft, the terrace is cold but the indoor spaces are warm, and rates are generally lower than in summer. Ask about quiet rooms away from the street, and about pairing your stay with a lake cruise or a table at the hotel's restaurants.
Why stay here
- ✓136 rooms and suites
- ✓Lake-view rooms with balconies
- ✓Four restaurants and bars
- ✓Spa with sauna and steam room
- ✓Panoramic rooftop terrace
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Kayaks, paddleboards and e-bikes
- ✓Pets welcome
Good questions
Is the Mandarin Oriental Palace on the lake?+
Yes. It sits on Haldenstrasse on Lake Lucerne, with the promenade about a minute away and direct lake access for paddleboards and kayaks.
How far is it from the station and the Chapel Bridge?+
Each is around a quarter of an hour on foot along the lake front, and taxis are quick.
Is breakfast included?+
A buffet breakfast is served daily but is charged separately on many rates, so compare the options when you book.
