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Hotel Walter au Lac

piazza Riziero Rezzonico 7, Lugano 6900 Switzerland
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Traveller (416)
Room & Suite (149)
Dining (34)

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About

#12 of 40 hotels in Lugano
Location
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Value
WELCOME! The much envied position in the town centre and right on the lakeside gives the centenary HOTEL WALTER AU LAC (since 1888, 4th generation Cereda Family) a host of advantages. It is located on the lake promenade and near the traffic-free town centre. All facilities are nearby: the funicular station, car parks, the pier, the post office, banks and shops, cinemas, museums, the LAC (Lugano Arte e Cultura), the city park (Parco Ciani), the council, the Lugano Convention Centre, the Casino and the elegant via Nassa. All the 38 bedrooms are with lake view and are equipped with every comfort: bath or shower, WC, hairdryer, telephone, radio, TV, safety box, kettle, minibar, air conditioning and WiFi. Reception 24h/24. On the 5th floor panoramic terrace with jacuzzi. The breakfast-room with lake view where we serve an inviting buffet, is located on the 1st floor.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Breakfast buffet
Rooftop terrace
Baggage storage
Dry cleaning
Ironing service
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
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Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Safe
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Lake View
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English, French, German, Italian

Location

piazza Riziero Rezzonico 7, Lugano 6900 Switzerland
Name/address in local language
Hotel Walter au Lac
518Reviews4Q+A77Room tips
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Marialcor wrote a review Dec 2023
London, United Kingdom113 contributions99 helpful votes
This hotel is right in the city center, close to all the shops and facing the lake. The room I had came with a balcony and had an amazing view. The room's a bit on the old-school side and not super fancy, but it's clean, has a nice feel, and comes with everything you need – comfy bed, desk, kettle, and a mini-fridge. Breakfast was very good, with that incredible lake view again. They've got a solid spread of fresh stuff, and the people running the breakfast are super friendly. Actually, all the staff were great, really helpful with tips about the area. The only small gripe? Checkout's at 10:30 am, which feels a tad early compared to other places. But all in all, if I'm back in Lugano, I'd definitely stay at Walter au Lac again.
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Date of stay: December 2023
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Trip type: Travelled on business
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Kanis C wrote a review Oct 2023
Hong Kong, China16 contributions21 helpful votes
+1
Very pleasant stay with my family here. The service of all staff here are really friendly and helpful. We arrived early around noon and the rooms are not ready yet, the reception staff there tried their best efforts to settle us at comfortable lounge area and helped to manage our luggage. 10 mins later and we were informed one room was ready to put all our luggage and took rest, another 5 mins later another room was ready for us. We didn’t expect we can get our rooms at that time. The rooms are really beautiful overlooking beautiful Lugano lake view which out of our expectations. The price was absolute worth the cost and beyond our expectations, it made our trip wonderful with their extra care and warm smiles. The bed was comfortable and bathroom was spacious. We love the time here.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Beautiful lake view
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Jigi wrote a review Sept 2023
United States243 contributions96 helpful votes
+1
In the Heart of Lugano, this hotel is facing the lake. We booked a room with a view, I believe the room is called Premium Room. We booked direct to save 10 percent and also got free breakfast due to booking direct. The breakfast was decent, I just wish they restaurant staff is given the right equipment to serve guests better. Like the yogurt was not as cold due to the limited space to keep it with ice . We had to leave our luggage as the check in was at 3 pm, but we were advised to come by 2 pm and our room was ready. When you reach early, drop your luggage and they have a bathroom to freshen up. I would recommend pick the room on 2nd or 3rd floor for a nice view of the lake and also for people watching. The balcony had table and two comfy chairs. AC worked and it was perfect. Since the building is too old, my only wish is that whenever they remodel, they should get rid of the tub and have walk in showers. This is a constant problem in all Swiss hotels that the tubs are too steep and one can fall. Overall, I would stay here again when in Lugano! It is 10 mins from the Train station. The best part is that there is bus stop right outside the hotel so getting to the Lugano station is very very convenient even with luggage. There is main shopping district / alley in the back of the hotel Via Nassa i believe. Go there to get your shopping and food. Also, Burger king and McDonald’s are a minute walk from here
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Closer to shopping and it’s lakefront
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Bevika S wrote a review Jul 2023
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa14 contributions6 helpful votes
We had a triple room and it was great as the suite had 2 separate bedrooms. Spacious, clean, neat, friendly staff. Amazing breakfast. The location is fantastic, right on the lakeside, beautiful lake and mountain views, nice atmosphere. My family really enjoyed their stay here in Lugano
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Date of stay: July 2023
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Location
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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CColumbus wrote a review May 2023
Jacksonville, Florida664 contributions205 helpful votes
+1
Not a bad stay at this hotel. Close to all that Lagano has to offer. Lots of shopping and restaurants right behind the hotel and a very nice lake walk to the front of the hotel.The lake is Beautiful anytime but after dark all the houses around the lake light up which is nice. Room 354 offers great views of the lake and has a large bath and separate shower which is great. Breakfast is good and has a selection of meat’s eggs cheeses and pastries along with the usual fair for a buffet breakfast. Parking is a pain although they validate your parking which is good. There is a small area out front of the hotel to unload your bags which makes things easier. Not a bad stay but my only complaint was the beds! boy are they low and uncomfortable.
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Parking is Available about 15 minutes walk from the hotel. There is a small parking area by the...
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Andy wrote a review Nov 2022
3 contributions1 helpful vote
I'm a regular guest at this charming hotel, not least because oif its amazing location right on the promenade front and 2 minutes' walk from the Paizza della Riforma and all the other central attractions of the old town. An added bonus is that all rooms have a lake view, with a huge panoramic vista of the lake and the surrounding hills from those which have balconies. These are in the majority anyway. The only downside - which has to be mentioned in the interests of balance - is the rush-hour traffic along the promenade road in the early morning and late afternoon, but a major benefit is that, during the summer months, the entire road is closed to motorised traffic on Friday and Saturday evenings, when it turns into a hive of pedestrain activity, market stalls, street performers, and so forth. The Walter is arguably not bang up-to-date in its furnishings and decor, but renovation / modernisation would undoubtedly push up the currently very reasonable room rates and is not necessary. Personally, I only want a hotel to offer comfortable, clean rooms with clean facitlities and a good breakfast - and the Walter ticks both boxes. I don't go away in order to spend all day in my hotel room !!! The same goes for the provision of a bar (except possibly for a self-service version, like the mini-bars) on the rooftop, where there is a huge panoiramic terrace and open-air jacuzzi. The reception staff - including the owner / manageress - are charming, and always greet me like an old friend, even remembering funny (and sometimes embarrassing ! ) anecdotes from my previous stays (I stay there on average 4 times a year, for 4 - 5 nights each. They are also generous with free room upgrades for returning guests - last time, I was given the breathtaking top-floor Penthouse Suite for the price of the standard double room I'd booked !!! A special mention, though, must also go to Ernesto, the charming "Night Auditor" (night porter), who is unfailingly friendly, helpful and always has time for a late-night chat about "Life, the Universe, and Everything" :-) He is also happy to go down to the cellar to bring a late-night bottle of Prosecco - or whatever else takes one's fancyy - up to your room in the absence of a Late-Night Bar (although the mini-bars in each room are also pretty well stocked. So overall, I can recommend theWalter without hesitation. The only thing is - it's popular, so it's always a good idea to book early if you want specific dates and the best prices. But they accept late cancellations - up to a couple of days before your booked arrival - without penalty, so it's always worth booking ahead (ideally, direct with the hotel by e-mail) if you're thinking of giving it a try.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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JanRSF wrote a review Sept 2022
Rancho Santa Fe, California298 contributions95 helpful votes
It’s an old hotel but lovely and the location is perfect. It was easy to get back and forth to the train station by the funicular which is pretty close. It was hot when we were there so used the ac and didn’t notice any street noise. Book a room with a balcony if you’re staying any time. It was lovely to sit outside and watch the action and there was plenty going on. The view across the lake is beautiful. We used the upstairs terrace for a takeout dinner one evening and it was perfect. There are lots of restaurants and several good groceries nearby for excellent selection. It’s a short back to the ferry dock for a spin around the lake. Our room was very comfortable and we would love to stay here again.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Daniel D wrote a review Aug 2022
Malta58 contributions51 helpful votes
Pro: In this hot summer, I really appreciated (a) the view and jacuzzi on the roof terrace, (b) air conditioning in the room, and (c) the location, right in front of the lake/promenade and with lots of restaurants around. The lake view from the room was great, the staff were friendly, and any noise outside was easily drowned out by closing the window. Lots of things to do nearby. Con: Room was small, mattress was a bit too soft, and TV was a bit too high to watch comfortably.
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Date of stay: August 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Janet Chase wrote a review Aug 2022
Bullard, Texas8 contributions1 helpful vote
This hotel was wonderful! We had a view of the lake with a balcony to sit on and enjoy. They have a top lounge area that you can take a beverage up to sit and enjoy the sunset! Breakfast was amazing with many choices. Room was large with a very comfy bed.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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Mark T wrote a review Jul 2022
texas218 contributions126 helpful votes
I recently stayed during the first week in July, with a lake view room. A festival was going on outside and heard no street noise. As a bonus, there was an incredible fireworks show on barges in the lake. Simply amazing. The front desk was extremely helpful and kind. Looking forward to a return visit! Excellent location with easy access to parking and a grocery store.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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PRICE RANGE
HK$1,778 - HK$2,263 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
walter au lac lugano, walter au lac hotel
LOCATION
SwitzerlandSwiss AlpsCanton of TicinoLugano
NUMBER OF ROOMS
38
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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HOTEL WALTER AU LAC - Prices & Reviews (Lugano, Switzerland)

Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Walter au Lac
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Walter au Lac?
Nearby attractions include Church of S. Maria degli Angioli (0.4 km), Lake Lugano (0.2 km), and Parco Ciani (0.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Walter au Lac?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and breakfast buffet.
Which room amenities are available at Hotel Walter au Lac?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Walter au Lac?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Walter au Lac?
Conveniently located restaurants include Agapé, Flamel, and Ristorante Grand Café Al Porto.
Is Hotel Walter au Lac located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of Lugano.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hotel Walter au Lac?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Italian.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Walter au Lac?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Villa Fogazzaro Roi (6.7 km), Santuario della Madonna d'Ongero (4.2 km), and Chiesa di Santa Marta (5.3 km).
Does Hotel Walter au Lac have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.
Is Hotel Walter au Lac accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.