Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern

The Palace’s Belle Époque façade faces Lake Lucerne, a 10-minute walk from the pedestrianised old town.

A week here, month by month

I come to the Palace for the lake: 20 of its 23 room and suite categories look out over the water. The Superior Room, Mandarin Room and Family Room face the city, though, so I would start from the Superior Lake View Room, at 30 m².

The hotel website

Is it for you?

For 2, I take the Panoramic Rooftop Terrace Suite, for its private terrace with 360-degree views of the lake and the Alps.

I’d ask for
The personal butler, on hand 24 hours, to book restaurants.
Worth knowing
It is a duplex, with the living room and bedroom on 2 levels linked by an internal staircase.
The Panoramic Rooftop Terrace Suite terrace laid at dusk, facing the lake

Like a regular

The staircase and chequered floor of the historic hall

10 min readHow we write the guide

  1. Adding half board

    With the Plan Ahead and Families by M.O. offers, half board can be added even at check-in: breakfast and a 3-course meal cost CHF 100 per adult and CHF 50 for children under 12.

  2. When to cancel free of charge

    With the flexible rate, cancel free of charge by 3pm 7 days before arrival from May to September, or 3 days before from October to April; the Palace and Presidential Suites need 21 days.

  3. An hour before a treatment

    Arrive an hour before an Ambassade Biologique Recherche treatment to enjoy the sauna and steam bath. The spa and fitness centre admit guests from 18; ask the hotel about its children’s fitness and spa services.

What Mandarin Oriental Palace is

Franz Josef Bucher built the Palace in 1906 as a Mediterranean-inspired retreat on the shore of the lake. After a restoration it reopened in September 2022 as Mandarin Oriental Palace. The 135 m² Presidential Suite has an oval living room beneath the copper tower.12

Two Lumi

Lumina Guide 2027

Exceptional: two of our three readings say so.

In the guide because the Palace is my choice for seeing Lucerne from the lake: the boats for lake cruises and mountain trips leave a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

How Lumi are awarded

The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them

What do Mandarin Oriental Palace’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.

  1. Location

    Nearly every guest who mentions it is happy with it. Guests like the lakeside walk that starts at the front door, and the bus that stops opposite the hotel. In summer, one guest swims at the Seebad beside the Palace.

  2. Room

    Guests like the beds and how quiet the rooms are. One guest, though, finds little drawer space and small bathrooms for a hotel of this standard.

  3. Staff and service

    9 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. The concierge books dinners and even a paragliding flight, and finds one guest a medicine at the station pharmacy. Another says 2 requests made before arrival were never followed up.

  4. Breakfast

    8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. À la carte eggs and hot dishes join the buffet, and one guest recommends the rösti. Another finds too many flies at breakfast in summer, inside and out.

  5. Price

    Bar and restaurant prices weigh most on the bill: one guest finds a Coca-Cola dear, another Minamo’s wines. A third of those who mention it, by contrast, find the outlay worth it.

Where Mandarin Oriental Palace leads

  • Location

    On location it shares first place with Hotel Villa Honegg among the 5 hotels compared around Lake Lucerne and in Central Switzerland.

  • Room

    On the room it comes ahead of the 4 other hotels it is compared with around Lake Lucerne and in Central Switzerland.

  • Staff and service

    On staff and service it comes ahead of the 4 other hotels it is compared with around Lake Lucerne and in Central Switzerland.

How we count
Mandarin Oriental Palace in numbers
WhatGuests’ scoreGuests who mention itHappy
Location9.118099%
Room8.914796%
Staff and service8.728789%
Breakfast7.75884%
Price–1833%

350 guests said so on Google, from 23 October 2024 to 28 September 2026. The reviews include visits to restaurants and bars without an overnight stay. The other hotels are assessed on the same 5 themes. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.

The hotels we weigh it against around Lake Lucerne and in Central Switzerland:

Price: for 2, the night of 19 January 2027, from 510 CHF on Google Hotels on 23 October 2026.

What a night costs, period by period

January to March 2027 is the cheapest stretch; prices rise from April.

PeriodCHF a night
25 October to 20 December 2026425–783
21 December to 3 January688–1,081
4 January to 4 April 2027470–655
5 April to 25 May 2027647–1,090
26 May to 18 September915–2,122

One night for 2 adults at the lowest seller on Google Hotels; room category, meals and taxes unspecified. The calendar ends on 18 September 2027. Booked together as 7 nights from 16 to 23 November 2026, the lowest seller asked CHF 493 a night; the hotel’s own listing asked CHF 653 a night.

A stay at the Palace

The room, bathroom and lake filmed by Simply Slow Traveler.

YouTube
2:11
The room and bedfrom 2:11 · Sonia Mota: Simply Slow Traveler · 26 October 2024Watch on YouTube
YouTube
3:31
The bathroom and basin amenitiesfrom 3:31 · Sonia Mota: Simply Slow Traveler · 26 October 2024Watch on YouTube
YouTube
3:59
The lake from the balconyfrom 3:59 · Sonia Mota: Simply Slow Traveler · 26 October 2024Watch on YouTube
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12:36
The bar with windows towards the lakefrontfrom 12:36 · Sonia Mota: Simply Slow Traveler · 26 October 2024Watch on YouTube
YouTube
23:21
Breakfast beside the windowfrom 23:21 · Sonia Mota: Simply Slow Traveler · 26 October 2024Watch on YouTube

Where to linger

Colonnade’s dining room among its marble columns

Colonnade

Colonnade serves modern French cuisine, with a 6-course menu at CHF 295. Dinner runs Wednesday to Saturday; the restaurant closes from 17 January to 31 March.12

Veranda armchairs beside the tall windows

Tea in the veranda

Afternoon tea is served from 2pm to 5pm in the Belle Époque veranda over the lake: CHF 85 per person, with a glass of Champagne.12

Good to know before you book

  • The Plan Ahead rate, up to 20% off when booked at least 7 days ahead, cannot be cancelled, refunded or changed: the full deposit is due within 24 hours. Source: mandarinoriental.com

  • Colonnade asks for smart casual dress, with no shorts, sleeveless shirts, sportswear or open-toed shoes, and dogs are not permitted. Source: mandarinoriental.com

Choose your room

Superior RoomSuperior Room25 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room Superior Lake View RoomSuperior Lake View Room30 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room Superior Lake View Room with BalconySuperior Lake View Room with Balcony32 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room The Superior Lake View Room with Terrace terraceSuperior Lake View Room with Terrace30 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room Deluxe Lake View RoomDeluxe Lake View Room36–46 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room Deluxe Lake View Room with BalconyDeluxe Lake View Room with Balcony37–46 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room Deluxe Lake View Room with TerraceDeluxe Lake View Room with Terrace37–46 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room Mandarin RoomMandarin Room50 m²Up to 3 guests.View the room The Family Room bathroomFamily Room50 m²Up to 4 guests.View the room Lake View Junior SuiteLake View Junior Suite50 m²Up to 3 guests.View the room Lake View Junior Suite with BalconyLake View Junior Suite with Balcony45 m²Up to 3 guests.View the room Lake View Junior Suite with TerraceLake View Junior Suite with Terrace47 m²Up to 2 guests.View the room Panoramic Junior SuitePanoramic Junior Suite52 m²Up to 3 guests.View the room Lake View SuiteLake View Suite47 m²Up to 4 guests.View the room The Lake View Suite with Balcony balcony over the lakeLake View Suite with Balcony56–57 m²Up to 4 guests.View the room The Lake View Suite with Terrace terrace over the lakeLake View Suite with Terrace57–69 m²Up to 3 guests.View the room Lake View Tower SuiteLake View Tower Suite70 m²Up to 5 guests.View the room Family Lake View Suite with BalconyFamily Lake View Suite with Balcony90–92 m²Up to 6 guests.View the room Panoramic Rooftop Terrace SuitePanoramic Rooftop Terrace Suite100 m²Up to 4 guests.View the room One Bedroom Palace SuiteOne Bedroom Palace Suite94 m²Up to 3 guests.View the room Two Bedroom Palace SuiteTwo Bedroom Palace Suite141 m²Up to 6 guests.View the room Presidential SuitePresidential Suite135 m²Up to 3 guests.View the room Three Bedroom Presidential SuiteThree Bedroom Presidential Suite204 m²Up to 6 guests.View the room

Getting here

AddressHaldenstrasse 10, 6002 Luzern

Your day

In the morning

Breakfast at MOzern

Breakfast at MOzern is served from 7am to 10.30am.

At lunch

On the Quai 10 terrace

In fine weather, have lunch at Quai 10 on the terrace facing the lake: it runs from 12pm to 2pm, though opening depends on the weather.

In the afternoon

Into town by e-bike

For getting around town, the hotel offers e-bikes and an electric house car.

For an aperitif

The 120th anniversary cocktails

Until 31 December 2026, MOzern serves the anniversary cocktails, inspired by historic flavours.

Late at night

A late bite in the room

In-room dining runs 24 hours, with a night menu.

Reviews of Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern

Google

Guest voices

Google

Two dogs and the valet

A guest arriving with 2 dogs pays CHF 50 per dog per night, with baskets, bowls and a few treats included. The valet costs them CHF 55 a night: for anyone planning to take the car out during the stay, they point to the cheaper Casino car park.

Google · 2026-03-08Read the review
Google

Kayak and paddleboard from the door

In a single night, a guest has the concierge explain the boat trips and rents a bike, a kayak and a paddleboard at the front entrance.

Google · 2026-07-08Read the review
Google

The beach club until 2am

From a lake-view room, a guest hears the beach club until 2am on a Tuesday. They report the noise twice, but nobody offers them a room on the other side.

Google · 2025-10-01Read the review

Before you travel

How much is a night?

One night for 2 adults: 16 November 2026, CHF 524; 16 January 2027, CHF 533; 16 March 2027, CHF 552. Room category, meals and taxes unspecified. Prices from Google Hotels, checked on 23 October 2026.

Do you need a car to get here?

No: from Zurich a direct train reaches Lucerne station in one hour, then it is a 5-minute taxi ride, and guests travel free on public transport within Lucerne. A taxi from the airport takes about 50 minutes.

Still choosing?

The illuminated Schweizerhof on Lucerne’s lakeside promenade

Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern

The Schweizerhof lights up on Lucerne’s lakefront.

Grand Hotel National on the lakeside promenade

Grand Hotel National

The National follows Lucerne’s lakeside promenade, with trees between its façade and the water.

Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois among the Old Town façades on the bank of the Rhine

Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois

Les Trois Rois stands on the bank of the Rhine, in Basel’s Old Town.

The Waldhotel among the meadows and woods of the Bürgenberg

Waldhotel by Bürgenstock

The Waldhotel steps down in terraces over the Bürgenberg meadows, below the woods, within Bürgenstock Resort, 500 metres above Lake Lucerne.

The Helenabad pool beneath its arches

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

Beneath the 19th-century arches of the Helenabad you swim in the resort’s thermal water: the pool is for guests aged 16 and over.

The rooftop infinity pool at HUUS QUELL, above the houses and meadows of Gonten

HUUS QUELL

HUUS QUELL has a rooftop infinity pool, with views from Gonten to the Alpstein.

A Palafitte pavilion on its stilts above Lake Neuchâtel

Hôtel Palafitte

Palafitte’s pavilions stand on stilts on Lake Neuchâtel.

The Beau-Rivage lit at dusk, with Lake Neuchâtel behind it

Beau-Rivage Neuchâtel

The Beau-Rivage stands on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel, in the centre of town.

Chenot Palace and its turreted villa seen from the lake

Chenot Palace Weggis

Chenot Palace stands on the shore of Lake Lucerne at Weggis, facing the Rigi and Pilatus: from its private beach you can swim in every season.

The Dolder Grand from the air at sunset: the turreted 1899 building between its two curved modern wings, on the wooded hillside above Zurich

The Dolder Grand

Curhaus towers above Zurich, art in the corridors and warm water facing the city.

The Belle Époque façade on Rue du Grand-Chêne: red awnings, wrought-iron balconies and the carved gable above the columned entrance porch lettered “Lausanne-Palace”, with flags; the brasserie’s green awning on the left

Lausanne Palace

Lausanne climbs behind the palace; from the right rooms, the lake appears beyond the rooftops.

Steam rising in the morning from the outdoor sports pool, with frost on the shrubs and the garden, the chalet wings with their wooden balconies on the right and rocky peaks against a clear sky on the left

ERMITAGE Wellness- & Spa-Hotel

At Ermitage, the afternoon means cake at Bärgblick.

Is this your hotel? See what people ask ChatGPT about your hotel.

31 photographs

The Palace on Lucerne’s lakeside promenade, with its copper tower
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The staircase and chequered floor of the historic hall
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Colonnade’s dining room among its marble columns
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Veranda armchairs beside the tall windows
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Superior Room
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Superior Lake View Room
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Superior Lake View Room with Balcony
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The Superior Lake View Room with Terrace terrace
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Deluxe Lake View Room
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Deluxe Lake View Room with Balcony
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Deluxe Lake View Room with Terrace
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Mandarin Room
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The Family Room bathroom
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Lake View Junior Suite
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Lake View Junior Suite with Balcony
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Lake View Junior Suite with Terrace
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Panoramic Junior Suite
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Lake View Suite
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The Lake View Suite with Balcony balcony over the lake
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The Lake View Suite with Terrace terrace over the lake
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Lake View Tower Suite
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Family Lake View Suite with Balcony
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Panoramic Rooftop Terrace Suite
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One Bedroom Palace Suite
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Two Bedroom Palace Suite
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Presidential Suite
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Three Bedroom Presidential Suite
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The Panoramic Rooftop Terrace Suite terrace laid at dusk, facing the lake
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The tipi tent in the Family Lake View Suite living room, with the balcony over the lake
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Minamo’s wooden counter and its seats
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The circular Palace Bar counter at the centre of MOzern
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