The Luxurious Burgenstock Resort and Alpine Spa, Switzerland

Since first opening in 1873, the Burgenstock Resort in Switzerland has been famous for its incredible location and world-class facilities. Many stars of the silver screen have stayed here. Now the legend has been reborn after extensive remodelling and it’s even more impressive. With panoramic views over Lake Lucerne, a 10,000 square metre spa and stunning infinity pool, the Burgenstock Resort and Alpine Spa has really got the wow factor.

History of the Burgenstock Resort

Franz Josef Bucher and Josef Durrer were two pioneering Swiss construction firm owners. In 1871, they bought a meadow named the Trittalp in the Nidwalden region of Switzerland on the Burgenberg mountain ridge. The Grand Hotel Burgenstock opened in 1873 and was an instant hit. Guests flocked to the hotel and it became popular with luminaries such as Henry Kissinger and Jimmy Carter. Audrey Hepburn married her first husband, Mel Ferrer, in the picturesque chapel here in 1954. Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti lived at a chalet in the Burgenstock Resort for seven years. There’s a nice feature at the hotel – a history wall detailing key dates and displaying items from the hotel’s collection. One of the swimming pools is known as the Hollywood Pool and the original changing rooms next to it have also been conserved. At one point there was a bar named Bull’s Eye underneath the pool where you could see people swimming.

The iconic Burgenstock funicular was built in 1888 to transport visitors up to the resort. It was the first electric railway in Switzerland and The Park Hotel opened in the same year. These days, the funicular has been replaced with a two track train in the style of the old train. The resort’s chapel was built in 1897 and the iconic Hammetschwand Lift opened in 1905. Now in 2018, the Burgenstock Resort features 4 hotels within the extensive grounds. The Burgenstock Hotel itself is a 5 star superior property, while the Waldhotel is 5 star and the historic Palace Hotel & Conferences is a 4 star superior. Taverne 1879 is a rustic but charming place to stay, and those interested in a long term stay will find the luxurious Burgenstock Residences very convenient.

First Impressions of the Burgenstock Resort

Whether you arrive by the lake and funicular or by car, you can’t help but gasp at the incredible views. The Burgenstock Resort is perched 874 feet above sea level, overlooking Lake Lucerne. It encompasses 12 restaurants and bars and 4 hotels.

Accommodation at The Burgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa

The Burgenstock hotel is newly built and a design triumph. Arriving in the lobby, you’ll be impressed by the floor to ceiling windows, cosy seating areas and a nice buzz. After a friendly and efficient check in, you’ll be escorted to your room. There are 102  rooms and suites, decorated in a cosy yet stylish manner, with clever use of texture and natural materials. Wooden floors, stone walls and wool fabrics combine to great effect.

Again, there are spectacular floor to ceiling windows, giving you fantastic views over the lake. Our Deluxe Lake View Room was a sizeable 425 square metres. It had two comfy seating benches next to the window which were great for reading. There’s a clever ventilation system in the windows so that you can let in fresh air. Balconies or fully opening windows wouldn’t be feasible as it can get windy. The king size bed is supremely comfortable and there’s a pillow menu. The bathroom also has a floor to ceiling window with the same panoramic views as the bedroom. The walls are decorated with a beautiful natural quartzite, and there are 2 vanity basins and some lovely Bulgari toiletries.

Amenities

You’ll find all the amenities that you’d expect in a five star hotel such as a safe, mini bar and flat screen TV. There are also some other nice touches including a Nespresso coffee machine, soft drinks and beers from the minibar and turn down service with chocolates.

Facilities

Shopping

Speaking of chocolate, there’s a great chocolate shop in the resort. In fact, there’s a whole Shopping Arcade spread over 1,100 square metres – undoubtedly one of the finest shopping mall views in the world.

• Articolo – great fashion store
• Swiss Chocolate Chalet – for delicious truffles and chocolate bars
• Swatch Pavillon – funky Swiss watches
• Longines Boutique – luxury Swiss watches
• Omega Boutique – high end Swiss watches
• Golf & Tennis Pro Shops – stocking all the equipment you need
• SkyBoutique – for stylish presents made in Switzerland. Don’t miss the Sky Terrace, accessible from the SkyBoutique, a small platform made entirely from glass with great views of the valley.

Spas

One of the highlights of the Burgenstock Resort is the Alpine Spa, spread over 10,000 metres. The infinity pool stays warm throughout the year, being heated to 35 degrees. Luxuriate next to the massage jets while admiring the extraordinary views of Mount Rigi, Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne. Inside there’s a large swimming pool, several relaxation areas, steam rooms and saunas.

A surprise for some visitors is that parts of the spa are textile free, although you can take a small towel into the sauna and steam room. There’s also a ladies only section with a sauna and steam room. To improve circulation, try the Kneipp bath along pebbles in icy water. The ingenious infrared back massager is also a must-try. Help yourself to fruit, flavoured water and tea at the snacking stations.

Finally, there are napping shells that will soothe you with light and sound changing sequences. Alternatively you could opt for a massage with one of the spa’s expert practitioners in a treatment room or private spa suite. Relax in the spa garden or a bite to eat in the farm to table grill. An added bonus is that Burgenstock Alpine Spa is open 365 days a year. Children are welcome to use the wet zones if they’re accompanied by their parents. The treatments and the nude area are accessible to those aged over 16. Here’s a breakdown of the Alpine Spa facilities:

• Serenity Room – fireplace, waterbeds and day beds
• Wet Areas – infinity edge pool (35° C) , indoor pool (30° C) , spa lounge, mixed spa, Alpine Rasul steam bath, saline floating bath, infrared cabin, nap shells, Kneipp baths
• Ladies – herbal steam room, aroma sauna and panorama sauna, cold water pool (18° C), Jacuzzi (36° C), relaxation areas
• Unisex – rain shower, ice room, cold  (18° C) and warm water pools (38° C), Jacuzzi (36° C), aroma sauna, herbal steam, Alpine eco pool, panoramic sauna, relaxation area
• Treatment Rooms – Private Spa Suites, treatment rooms, hair and nail. spray tanning
• Oak Grill & Pool Patio with Chef’s Table and solid oak beams
• Hollywood Garden Pool – heated to (20-24° C), with Roman style pavilion and spa garden with the former changing rooms
• Kid’s Club Mutzliburg – for children from 3 to 12 years old
• Fitness & Gym – an airy 200 m2 space with great views of the valley, open 24/7. Personal trainers are on hand if you wish to book a training session.
• Program of Activities – aqua fitness, core, dance mix, dancing for kids, healthy back, jogging, piloxing (pilates, boxing and dance), stretching…

Over at Waldhotel, guests can enjoy a different but equally relaxing spa experience. The Waldhotel Health and Medical Excellence Spa is specialized in convalescence and medical check-ups. There’s a separate pool for rehabilitation, and an indoor pool open to all Waldhotel guests in which you can turn on a switch to swim against the current. It’s really great exercise. From here you can swim to an outdoor pool and relaxation deck overlooking the valley. Returning inside, there are comfy day beds with curtains and flavoured waters and teas. This spa also has a no clothing section where the saunas and steam rooms are situated. There’s an extensive spa treatment menu and also the large Waldtique Shop with some great skincare brands.

Dining

With 12 restaurants, bars and lounges, you’ll be spoilt for dining options. Here are a few of our favourites:

Lakeview Bar & Lounge  – with a casual ambiance, it does a delicious wagyu burger. The views of Lake Lucerne are lovely. As it’s popular with non residents there’s a section reserved for hotel guests so that they always have a table.

Taverne 1879 – the perfect place to enjoy traditional Swiss cuisine and views of the valley. It actually opened in 1879 and has been wowing diners ever since with raclette, tartiflette and other tasty Swiss specialties. Renovated in 2011, it also has a cosy indoor restaurant for cooler days.

Spices Kitchen & Terrace – a stylish restaurant with fantastic views of Lake Lucerne and a focus on Asian dishes. You can enjoy Chinese  dim sum, Japanese sushi, Thai green curry, Indian naan bread and many other delights. We recommend the sharing menu with its mix of different Asian flavours – there’s a spectacular Thai creme brulee for dessert. Although the food is refined, the atmosphere is pleasantly unstuffy. It’s fun to watch the chefs at their cooking stations in the open plan show kitchen with its dim sum steamers, duck oven, tandoors and woks. Guests of the Buergenstock hotel also take breakfast in Spices Kitchen & Terrace. There’s a huge buffet selection and you can also choose from the hot dishes menu. The chefs rustle up great omelettes, eggs benedict and other treats.

Verbena Bar & Restaurant – a healthy restaurant in Waldhotel specializing in low-sodium Mediterranean cuisine. Most of the dishes incorporate some of the 30 herbs grown in the Waldhotel’s herb garden and there’s a great wine list. The decor is light and airy, having been designed by Matteo Thun, the award-winning architect. The restaurant and large terrace have comfy seating. Tucked away to the side is their charming private dining room which seats up to 8, in the Burgenstock’s original Simmentalerstube chalet restaurant that has been rebuilt here.

Other Dining Options – we didn’t try all the other restaurants but have heard great things about Ritzcoffier at the Palace Hotel and the Middle Eastern inspired Sharq Oriental. There’s also the chic Oak Grill near the spa and the Pool Patio next to the Hollywood Pool, Alpine Golf Restaurant, a cigar lounge and several more bars and restaurants.

Cinema

The Burgenstock Hotel has a state of the art cinema that shows films to guests of the hotel on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Entrance for guests of the Burgenstock Hotel is included in the room rate.

Curling & Ice Skating Rink

Open in Wintertime, the curling and ice skating rink has a great view of the mountains.

Golf

The Burgenstock Resort has a 9 hole golf course and a driving range, with a Golf Academy and an Alpine Golf restaurant.

Tennis

There are 2 indoor and 1 outdoor tennis courts, all of Davis Cup standard. The Tennis Academy offers help and advice and if you forget your tennis shoes or racket, they can be hired on site.

Rates at the Burgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa

Rates at the 5* superior Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa start at CHF 650 per room per night and include access to the Alpine Spa.  For further information and booking, visit buergenstock.ch/en or email alpine.spa@buergenstock.ch. There are packages available that include arrival by boat and funicular.

Getting to Burgenstock Resort

By Air

• The closest airport to Burgenstock Resort is Zurich, 1 hour away.
• There’s a helipad in the resort and also a private airfield at Buochs, 15 minutes away.

By Car

• From Switzerland, take the A2 motorway, then Stansstad or Stans-Sud exit, and follow the signs to Burgenstock.
• From Italy, take motorway exit Stans-Sud, drive towards Stansstad and follow the signs to Burgenstock.
• Parking is available at the Burgenstock Resort.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Stansstad. From here it’s a 27 minute taxi drive to Burgenstock Resort.

By Shuttle Boat and Funicular

• Take the MS Burgenstock boat from Lucerne to Kehrsiten
• Change to the Burgenstock Railway which takes you directly to the resort
• The shuttle service departs every 1.5 hours and operates from 6 am to midnight

Things to do near Burgenstock Resort

The hiking around Burgenberg mountain is second to none, with over 70 hiking and biking trails. The B-Outdoors Tours & Activities Centre is located on the mezzanine level of the Burgenstock Hotel and can help you to plan and arrange guided hikes, bike rides, canoeing or paragliding. You can also reserve e-bikes here.

Pick up the Burgenberg Experience map from the concierge at the Burgenstock Resort or from B-Outdoors. It shows many hikes and excursions in the area.

One of our favourite Swiss hikes starts at the Burgenstock and takes you along the scenic Felsenweg Cliff Walk to Europe’s highest outdoor elevator. Opened in 1905, The Hammetschwand Lift takes you 152 metres high in less than 1 minute.

After enjoying a drink at the self service Bergrestaurant, you can hike down the Burgenberg mountain past the Alpine cows with their bells jingling in the breeze. Allow several hours for the whole hike or take the lift back if pressed for time.

In the Burgenstock Resort itself, you’ll find the Suspension stairs, a 30 metre suspended wooden stairway with great views.

Another fun excursion is to head down via the Burgenstock Funicular. At the bottom of the hill, at Kehrsiten there’s the Burgenstock’s private lake lido. From Kehrsiten, you can take the Burgenstock’s brand new catamaran to Lucerne. There are many great things to do in Lucerne so allow at least half a day here. The Burgenstock Resort has two other Swiss sister properties, the Schweizerhof Hotel & Spa Bern and the Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa Lausanne which are equally luxurious.

However, if you decide simply to stay within the resort then we certainly wouldn’t blame you.

Read about other great places to visit in Switzerland here

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Thanks to the Buergenstock Resort for hosting us

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