Bürgenstock Resort

Perched on a mountain rising 1,600 feet above Lake Lucerne, the Bürgenstock Resort is a sprawling complex with show-stopping views and one of the world’s largest spas.

Founded in 1873, the Bürgenstock Resort gained fame as a glamorous playground for Old Hollywood elite: Sophia Loren owned a home here for eight years, and Audrey Hepburn was married in 1954 inside the charming on-site chapel that guests can still see today. In December 2017, the mountaintop resort reopened for the modern era after a multi-million dollar refurbishment, now spanning more than 1.5 miles and comprising four hotels, nine restaurants and bars, four pools, a cinema, a nine-hole golf course, three tennis courts and an ice skating rink in the winter.

On-site hotels include the four-star Palace Hotel and the five-star Waldhotel, but the*pièce de résistance* is the flagship property: the Bürgenstock Hotel and Alpine Spa, with 82 rooms and 20 suites featuring breathtaking views of Lake Lucerne. Guest rooms are decorated in a contemporary Alpine style, with exposed stone, dark wood and a palette of browns, grays and creams that reflect the forested—and sometimes snow-capped—mountains outside. Rooms are spacious, with standard accommodations starting at approximately 400 square feet and including a sitting area, fireplace, walk-in closet, rain shower and a deep soaking tub with a picture window overlooking the lake. Suite types vary, including one- and two-bedroom options, a family suite and a spa suite with its own sauna and massage room. The spectacular Katara Suite is the largest option, including a full kitchen, living room, dining room, outdoor terrace and a private sauna and treatment room. For groups, the entire seventh floor can be connected, accommodating up to 14 adults.

Guests at the Bürgenstock Hotel receive complimentary access to the Alpine Spa, a serene wellness retreat spanning more than 100,000 square feet and featuring eight treatment rooms, a well-equipped fitness center, a hammam, a serenity room, co-ed and women’s saunas, multiple pools (including saline floating pools that mirror a Dead Sea experience), heated sleep pods and an Instragam-worthy infinity pool cantilevered over the lake.

The Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence has a particular focus on health and wellness, offering body/mind packages, detoxes, rehabilitation, weight loss programs and excellent individual treatments. The property is also home to a healthy Mediterranean restaurant and an in-house medical center.

Guests at the resort can enjoy a wealth of dining options, including RitzCoffier, offering *Michelin*-starred French cuisine; Oak Grill, serving excellent steaks and other grilled dishes; Spices, cooking up pan-Asian dishes; and Sharq, featuring delicious Middle Eastern fare.

In addition to tennis, golf and swimming, outdoor activities include biking, hiking and *via ferrata*, as well as scenic boat rides and seasonal watersports on Lake Lucerne. Winter skiing is available in nearby Engelberg, located about 25 minutes from the resort. In the evenings, sink into the cushioned, reclining chairs at the cinema for a complimentary film screening. From mid-April to early November, guests can also ride the nearby Hammetschwand Lift, the highest outdoor elevator in Europe, which rises 3,713 feet to a panoramic lookout point and mountaintop tavern (the unique structure was even featured in the James Bond film *Goldfinger*). On-property boutiques include outlets of several Swiss brands, such as the watchmakers Omega, Longines and Swatch, as well as a chocolate shop.

Accommodations at the resort also include ten lake-view villas and private residences that can be rented for extended stays.

By car, the drive from Zurich Airport takes approximately one hour. If arriving from Lucerne, guests can take a boat ride across the lake and then arrive via the resort’s famous red funicular, which opens directly into the lobby of the Bürgenstock Hotel. There are also multiple helipads for arrival by helicopter.