Name: Hotel des Balances
Address: Weinmarkt, Old Town Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland, Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne, CH
Price range: US$332–US$1,433 per night
Rating: 9.2

What guests think

At Hotel des Balances, travelers consistently praise the central Old Town riverfront setting, striking historic character, and warm, professional staff, alongside an acclaimed bar and restaurant that create a refined atmosphere and memorable stay.

Rooms are comfortable but frequently on the small side, with some reports of tight bathrooms, awkward shower or tub setups, and occasional issues like inconsistent water pressure or spotty Wi‑Fi. Food and drinks receive strong praise, though breakfast can feel pricey and a few guests noted uneven service in the restaurant. Best for travelers who value atmosphere and convenience over room size and strict budgets.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Guests highlight the stylish bar and riverfront terrace as relaxing spots, and several note that on-site parking is not available, though valet assistance or clear driving instructions help with arrival.

Related guest reviews

10

Susan

7 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great property! Staff was awesome from the front desk to the bar staff.

10

David

18 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

no parking

10

Ricardo

19 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

We had a wonderful stay at Hotel des Balances. Right by the river and Old Town and close to many great sights and restaurants. We loved hanging out in the terrace for drinks with a beautiful view. Great staff, cool rooms during warm weather, and very clean. The tub was a little high for my wife but otherwise everything was excellent. Would definitely stay there again.

10

Dinah

14 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lovely stay in a beautiful city. The staff is wonderful - professional, friendly, and helpful. This hotel has a central location in old town Lucerne with a view of the river and the Chapel Bridge. It is a very nice property and is very walkable. The bar and restaurant are very good. This was our second stay here.

10

fritz

13 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Tremendous hotel in the heart of Luzern. Close to many shops, restaurants, bridges and so much more. Incredibly friendly service. The bar was an awesome option after a full day of walking or sightseeing. A beautifully designed and highly functional room. We can't wait to visit the area and stay here again.

10

Rachel

29 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A lovely place to stay! It was extremely comfortable, and the location was great. They even gifted us chocolates in our room upon arrival. I would recommend to stay there on a Saturday, so you can shop in the market for breakfast. Hotel breakfast is available, but I would pass on it, the strawberries I had from the market were the best I've ever eaten. If you drive, there are very clear instructions for how to arrive, as the road turns into pedestrian only. The rooms were very comfortable, and we loved the view from our balcony of the river and old city. Such a charming place with a very friendly staff!

10

Christopher

28 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff was helpful. Valet parking was relatively simple. Rooms were spacious. Any issues were dealt with swiftly.

10

guy

5 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

If i would have to describe a perfect hotel stay it will be Hotel Des Balances. We came with a car, and we were so pleasantly surprised that we literally drove through the old city, it feels like you are living in the center of the best place in the city. the staff was super friendly, and the hotel was the most perfect place we ever been to. it's like somebody combed every inch and every experience a visitor will have and asked him/her self - how can this be perfect. I mean perfect room, amazing bar with a view of the river, beautiful vistas from the rooms, walkable to literally anywhere in 3 min or less. We saw tourist tour stop in front of the hotel and talk about the building. We've been to Lucerne 4 times already (from California) and this is from now on our number 1 place.

10

Trudy

4 Jan 2023

·

Stayed 19,360 nights

This is a lovely property in the heart of old town. Our room was clean and spacious with all amenities provided. Would stay here again. If you are driving to this location it is a confusing. We were given the exact address to use and instructed to park at their entrance then someone would park the car. The problem is that the GPS does not take you directly to the hotel. It is in located in an area that appears to be only foot traffic. We kept going and found the hotel by using the signs on the sides of buildings. We were driving thru the people strolling on the street and we were the only car. Thought for sure we were doing something wrong. When we arrived the staff said that we were indeed allowed to do that. When we left we were given better instruction on how to get out.

10

Christine

17 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful place exceptional staff knowledgeable in the English language. No parking. View of the river. Beautiful architecture. Nice welcome gift.

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Cleanliness

Reviews commonly describe rooms and public areas as very clean and well maintained, with occasional comments about minor scuffs or dated carpeting.

Related guest reviews

10

Roman

13 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice size rooms. Clean and great service.

10

Bilal

23 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Excellent hotel, service of the room was outstanding. Great view and location. Highly recommend it.

10

Leticia

15 May 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful hotel, clean rooms, superior location, nice dining.

10

Anna

26 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful and clean hotel, located right in the center of all the shopping and restaurants. This hotel has central A/C, which is the main reason why we stayed. The bathroom had lovely Loccitane toiletries, which was sweet. The downstairs restaurant is right by the river, which was amazing! Highly recommend this hotel to everyone and especially to those, who prefer to have A/C in their room.

10

Maureen

7 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Amazing hotel on the Reuss river. Room was beautifully decorated, gorgeous lighting and details. The downside was that the room was small and the bed could have been better. But my little balcony was superb for having tea and watching the tourists cross the bridges. I found the dining room too crowded so I found quieter places to eat nearby. Room service breakfast was superb. My only criticism is that there was no comfortable sitting room in which longer stay guests could curl up with a book. The club chairs did not invite chilling out with a coffee or tea. I would absolutely stay again at this little jewel box of a hotel.

8

Chloe Jia En

13 Apr 2023

·

I recently stayed at this hotel and I must say that I was quite impressed with my experience. The hotel is absolutely beautiful and the staff are extremely friendly and polite. From the moment I arrived, I felt very welcome and at home. One thing that I did notice was that the room was a little on the small side. However, this was not a major issue for me as I spent most of my time out exploring the city. The location of the hotel is simply fantastic. It is situated in the heart of everything, from shopping to supermarkets and restaurants. Additionally, the hotel is located right beside a lovely river, providing a stunning view and a peaceful atmosphere. What really stood out to me during my stay was the thoughtful gesture of the hotel providing us with delicious candies and tartufi. It was such a nice surprise and really added to the overall experience of our stay. Overall, I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone who is looking for a great place to stay in the city. Despite the slightly small room size, the hotel's beautiful decor, fantastic staff, prime location, and the delightful treats provided more than make up for it.

10

Dane

2 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed in a room overlooking the river. Room was small (as expected), however they made great use of the space. Beautifully decorated with heaps of storage. Room was super clean, as was the hotel in general. Top notch professional service. Only downside is expensive food, but this is a top quality restaurant and the entire area is expensive as well.

10

John

10 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was spotless, amenities amazing. Staff helpful. Beautiful view. Excellent food.

10

SEONGKEUN

30 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

방 사이즈가 좁은 감은 있었지만 전반적으로 좋았습니다 리셉션 등 직원분들은 매우 친절했고요 바닥에 신발자국이 보여서 바닥 청소가 조금 미흡했나 싶기도 하지만 침구류등은 깨끗했어요

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8

Vaishali

31 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very clean and great location !

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Rooms

Many guests enjoy river-view balconies, comfortable beds, and tasteful decor; however, rooms are often small, some bathrooms feel tight or have awkward shower/tub combos, and there are isolated reports of weak water pressure and slow Wi‑Fi.

Related guest reviews

8

Jo Anne

23 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is a lovely hotel. Excellent service, comfortable beds, and lovely restaurant with a view. However, even by European standards the room was very small. It was uncomfortably small, and I thought it was worthwhile mentioning it here.

10

Marta

8 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was spacious and it had wonderful views of the tower bridge and the Jesuit baroque church. My husband also enjoyed sitting out in the balcony.

8

Bobby

22 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fantastic place with the worst WiFi at a nice hotel I’ve ever experienced.

10

valeria

22 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The view from our balcony room was magnificent! View of the river, the lake & the surrounding mountains. We were lucky to have sunny clear sky during our stay. However, we had terrible luck with the shower. Water ran too cold or too hot, and sometimes it slowed to a drip!! We should've notified the front desk to call a plumber, but we were too busy enjoying our outings in Luzern!!!

8

Alejandro

7 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The bathroom is too small. It was very uncomfortable, the rooms too small. The hotel is nice and very centric.

8

Emily

26 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Loved our stay at hotel des balances, the location is fabulous yet quiet. The hotel is excellent but for the price point I had expected a slightly larger room, newer bathroom (not a shower/tub combo) and a fitness facility.

10

Ricardo

19 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

We had a wonderful stay at Hotel des Balances. Right by the river and Old Town and close to many great sights and restaurants. We loved hanging out in the terrace for drinks with a beautiful view. Great staff, cool rooms during warm weather, and very clean. The tub was a little high for my wife but otherwise everything was excellent. Would definitely stay there again.

10

Ashley

13 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful historic building with the most amazing location and view in Lucerne- right in the heart of old town! We couldn't get enough of the view of Jesuitkirche across the river and the chapel bridge from our private balcony. This was absolutely worth the money and we had a wonderful stay!

10

Barbara

7 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great stay at Hotel des Balances. Had a lovely balcony room facing the water. Friendly staff. Comfortable bed. Located in the middle of everything. Highly recommend, pic on the hotel’s balcony.

10

Dane

2 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed in a room overlooking the river. Room was small (as expected), however they made great use of the space. Beautifully decorated with heaps of storage. Room was super clean, as was the hotel in general. Top notch professional service. Only downside is expensive food, but this is a top quality restaurant and the entire area is expensive as well.

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Service

Staff are repeatedly praised as friendly, attentive, and helpful, with proactive assistance and swift problem resolution; a few guests reported brusque or pushy service in the restaurant or at breakfast.

Related guest reviews

10

Leeza

14 Jan 2023

·

Stayed 19,366 nights

Amazing hotel and a great location to explore Lucerne and surroundings. Right in the heart of the Old Town, the hotel itself is a gistoric building. 7 min walk to the train station and the ferry terminal. The hotel staff went out of their way to make us comfortable. We arrived early and our 2- twin ben room was not ready. So they gave us access to a King room so we can drop our bags, shower and change after our long trip. Then while we were out for a walk they reconfigured the room with 2 twin beds as we requested. So grateful for this flexibility and empathy!

10

Robert

23 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This is a classic hotel with excellent service. The rooms are comfortable and nicely decorated. Staff are friendly and attentive. Location in old city on the water is delightful. The restaurant serves excellent gourmet meals in an upscale white linen tablecloth restaurant. The artwork on the facade is beautiful and historic. I highly recommend this hotel and restaurant.

10

Virginia

15 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

This hotel exceeded our expectations. It was such a nice, charming hotel in an ideal location! We could walk quickly everywhere. The staff was superb, attentive, kind, and willing to help in any way possible. We loved every aspect of our stay there!

10

Thomas

22 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location! Took care of a problem I had to my satisfaction.

10

fritz

13 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Tremendous hotel in the heart of Luzern. Close to many shops, restaurants, bridges and so much more. Incredibly friendly service. The bar was an awesome option after a full day of walking or sightseeing. A beautifully designed and highly functional room. We can't wait to visit the area and stay here again.

10

Roger

31 May 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great stay in Lucerne. Beautiful hotel and wonderful service. We booked a day trip from the front desk to Mt Pilatus which was very memorable. The room and the view from the balcony was incredible. Breakfast was flawless each morning with dedicated service to make the stay special.

2

Lilly

6 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Avoid at all cost! No a/c, no screens on windows, but if you open a window to avoid a cramped, hot room, you have no privacy from the street. Close blinds and shades for privacy, the room gets overheated. Glass bathroom wall offers limited privacy and lights up the room if one goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Old and grungy carpeting and concrete bathrooms with no tiles Service is awful in the breakfast room and front desk, nasty staff - no manager on duty on weekends if you have a problem, so you deal with clueless kids on duty. Avoid, avoid, avoid!

10

Robin

9 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Centrally located, close to everything and with lots of dining options. The hotel restaurant was excellent also. I injured my knee skiing at the Jungfrau region and the staff was able to provide a wheelchair and found a lake view room so I can better enjoy my stay.

10

Christopher

28 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff was helpful. Valet parking was relatively simple. Rooms were spacious. Any issues were dealt with swiftly.

6

Marty

11 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Room was great. Large, had a TV, mini mini fridge, bath or shower tub. Food was great. Breakfast is $35 for hotel guests. That includes the buffet and the warm meals. To be honest the $20 in warm food is bettee spent than the $35. Water go buy at the local co op down the street. Hotel was great at booking activities for us. Only complaint I have is the staff in the restaurant. And clearly it was a big enough one for me to give it 3 out of 5 stars. Really the only part of our 13 day trip that was upset about.

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Location

Super-central in the Old Town by the river, within easy walking distance of the train station, Chapel Bridge, shops, and restaurants; many rooms offer scenic outlooks.

Related guest reviews

10

Sawsan

12 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice place.. great location

10

Bilal

23 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Excellent hotel, service of the room was outstanding. Great view and location. Highly recommend it.

10

ASAMI

13 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

川のほとりにあり　景色抜群です　観光名所には殆ど歩いて行けて　便利です

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10

Sonnya

10 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very centric and lovely hotel. Just a few minutes walk from the Luzern train station.

10

Virginia

15 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

This hotel exceeded our expectations. It was such a nice, charming hotel in an ideal location! We could walk quickly everywhere. The staff was superb, attentive, kind, and willing to help in any way possible. We loved every aspect of our stay there!

10

Gaurish

14 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Incredible hotel with great location in Lucerne. 8 min easy walk from Train station. Staff is super friendly and very helpful. Rooms are SO big and we booked a superior on the river. Best hotel room we have had in our two week trip in Italy and Switzerland

10

Michael

16 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Perfect location

10

Dinah

14 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lovely stay in a beautiful city. The staff is wonderful - professional, friendly, and helpful. This hotel has a central location in old town Lucerne with a view of the river and the Chapel Bridge. It is a very nice property and is very walkable. The bar and restaurant are very good. This was our second stay here.

10

Susan

15 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Close to shopping, dining and train station

10

Shellie

3 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location and views.

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Dining

The on-site restaurant and bar are widely praised for high-quality food and a lovely riverside setting; breakfast is generally good but can feel expensive, and a few guests noted pushy or uneven service.

Related guest reviews

10

Roberto

13 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent hotel with a perfect location. Very good bar and restaurant. Highly recommended.

10

Janet

13 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lovely hotel in the old city with beautiful view across Lake at Jesuit Church. Terrace restaurant food was good and view exceptional. Could easily walk to Chapel Bridge and tourist spots and good restaurants

10

Robert

23 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This is a classic hotel with excellent service. The rooms are comfortable and nicely decorated. Staff are friendly and attentive. Location in old city on the water is delightful. The restaurant serves excellent gourmet meals in an upscale white linen tablecloth restaurant. The artwork on the facade is beautiful and historic. I highly recommend this hotel and restaurant.

10

Karen

24 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very nice hotel, well located in central Lucern with an excellent restaurant.

10

Dinah

14 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lovely stay in a beautiful city. The staff is wonderful - professional, friendly, and helpful. This hotel has a central location in old town Lucerne with a view of the river and the Chapel Bridge. It is a very nice property and is very walkable. The bar and restaurant are very good. This was our second stay here.

10

Roger

31 May 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great stay in Lucerne. Beautiful hotel and wonderful service. We booked a day trip from the front desk to Mt Pilatus which was very memorable. The room and the view from the balcony was incredible. Breakfast was flawless each morning with dedicated service to make the stay special.

10

Dane

2 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed in a room overlooking the river. Room was small (as expected), however they made great use of the space. Beautifully decorated with heaps of storage. Room was super clean, as was the hotel in general. Top notch professional service. Only downside is expensive food, but this is a top quality restaurant and the entire area is expensive as well.

6

Marty

11 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Room was great. Large, had a TV, mini mini fridge, bath or shower tub. Food was great. Breakfast is $35 for hotel guests. That includes the buffet and the warm meals. To be honest the $20 in warm food is bettee spent than the $35. Water go buy at the local co op down the street. Hotel was great at booking activities for us. Only complaint I have is the staff in the restaurant. And clearly it was a big enough one for me to give it 3 out of 5 stars. Really the only part of our 13 day trip that was upset about.

10

ANDRÉ FELIPPE

21 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

O hotel é ótimo, com uma equipe prestativa e comprometida! Ficamos em um quarto de frente para o rio, com uma das vistas mais lindas da vida! A limpeza era ótima, o quarto também excelente! O café também era muito bom, com várias opções e croissants novos deliciosos.

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10

PETER L

29 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is an upscale hotel in an excellent location in the beautiful city Lucerne. The staff and service are excellent and the food at the restaurant at the hotel was superb!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	US$300
February	US$317
March	US$302
April	US$354
May	US$516
June	US$659
July	US$630
August	US$521
September	US$593
October	US$443
November	US$322
December	US$407

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $585	2 $1,433	3 $1,433
4 $508	5 $800	6 $570	7 $1,287	8 $422	9 $1,433	10 $681
11 $403	12 $1,287	13 $650	14 $448	15 $350	16 $1,433	17 $1,433
18 $353	19 $1,287	20 $432	21 $463	22 $343	23 $478	24 $478
25 $332	26 $478	27 $396	28 $415	29 $478	30 $428	31 $352

Hotel des Balances

Prices for Hotel des Balances

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Suite, Hot Tub, River View (With Balcony)

Junior Suite with Sofa Bed

Junior Suite, River View

Romantic Suite, 1 King Bed, Balcony, River View

Double Room, City View (Queenroom)

Double Or Twin Room, City View

Queen Room For Single Use, City View

Triple Room, City View

Triple Room, River View

Double Or Twin Room, River View

Superior Double Room, River View

Guest reviews of Hotel des Balances

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Hotel des Balances

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21 $501	22 $596	23	24 $525	25 $525	26 $1,287
27 $532	28 $532	29 $548	30 $478