Choosing a good area to stay in Lucerne is relatively easy if we take into account that the attractions of the city are quite close to each other. Despite that, there are different areas you can choose, all of them with their pros and cons, which we believe, it is important to assess before booking accommodation.
To make it much easier to choose one or the other, in this post we talk about the most suitable options and we also leave you a selection of hotels where to stay in Lucerne, all of them with a great value for money.
Something important to keep in mind is that Switzerland is not a particularly economical country and that is also reflected in the accommodation, so although you can find deals, you should consider that a double room in a good location, rarely will be less than 100 euros/night. Despite that, in this list we include a variety of options for you to find the best hotel in Lucerne at the best price.
Based on the several times we have visited the city, the last of them during this route by scenic trains in Switzerland, included in the guide to Switzerland, we leave you a selection of places to stay in Lucerne and the best neighborhoods and hotels. Let’s get started!
Neighborhoods where to stay in Lucerne
Although the city is relatively small, it is important to be clear about the different areas in which you can stay to assess their pros and cons and choose one or the other, depending mainly on your needs and budget.
The city of Lucerne is located in the northwest area of Lake Lucerne, right at the mouth of the Reuss River, which serves as a dividing line between the old and the new town of Lucerne, which are connected in turn through the famous Chapel Bridge and Spreuer Bridge.
The city currently consists of 6 urban districts and 26 neighborhoods:
- Rechte Seeseite district: consists of the districts Oberseeburg/Rebstock, Würzenbach/Schädrüti, Bellerive/Schlössli and Halde/Lützelmatt.
- Rechtes Reussufer district: consisting of Wesemlin/Dreilinden, Maihof/Rotsee, Hochwacht/Zürichstrasse, Bramberg/St. Karli and Kantonsspital/Ibach.
- Innenstadt district: consists of the districts Altstadt/Wey, Bruch/Gibraltar, Hirschmatt/Kleinstadt, Neustadt/Voltastrasse and Unterlachen/Tribschen.
- Linke Seeseite district: consisting of Ober-/Untergütsch, Obergrund/Allmend, Sternmatt/Hochrüti and Langensand/Matthof.
- Linkes Reussufer district: consists of the districts Basel-/Bernstrasse, Udelboden, Reussbühl and Ruopigen.
- Littau district: consisting of the districts Matt, Littau Dorf, An der Emme and Littauerberg.
We will focus on the Innenstadt district, which is the historic center of the city and its best known neighborhoods, as travelers are usually in the city for 1 or 2 days and we believe it is important to stay in Lucerne in a good location to make the most of the time.
1. Altstadt: the historic center and the best place to sleep in Lucerne
Located in the Innenstadt District, Altstadt Wey is one of the best places to sleep in Lucerne as it is the center of the city and allows you to be close to most tourist attractions.
It also has a wide range of hotels and restaurants and is the most beautiful and traditional area in which you will feel back in time walking through its beautiful pedestrian streets.
Keep in mind that this area is only 10 minutes walk from the station where you can get directly across Kapellbrücke.
The price of accommodation in the historic center is usually 150 euros although you can find some offers for 120 euros.
2. The Lucerne-SBB train station in Hirschmatt/Kleinstadt, another of the best places to sleep in Lucerne
Also located in the Innenstadt District, the area is perfect for sleeping in Lucerne, since in addition to being close to the historic area of the city, just 5-10 minutes walk, you will be within walking distance of the station, something very practical if you are doing a train route through the country.
In addition, you will also be within walking distance of Lake Lucerne, which is another of the great attractions of the city.
The price of accommodation in Hirschmatt/Kleinstadt is usually 100 euros and even a little less depending on the location.
3. Bruch/Gibraltar, one of the cheapest areas to stay in Lucerne
Located west of the Reuss River and also in the Innenstadt district, this is another option where to stay in Lucerne highly recommended as you will still be close to all the interesting places and surrounded by dining options, but in this case, at prices somewhat tighter than in the previous options we discussed.
The only problem is that the hotel offer is considerably reduced if we are looking for a hotel with an optimal quality-price ratio.
The price of accommodation in Hirschmatt/Kleinstadt is usually below 100 euros and is cheaper as you move away from the central area.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Lucerne
Although we hope that with the information we have left you with a better understanding of the best areas to stay in Lucerne, we want to leave you with some tips to help you select some of the cheapest hotels to stay in Lucerne.
- As we mentioned at the beginning of the post, most travelers are in the city for only 1 or 2 days, so if you want to be close to everything, we recommend staying in the Innenstadt District, opting for a more economical area if your budget is tight.
- Another important thing is to book as far in advance as possible, especially if you are traveling in high season to have more options and better prices.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
