#1 Palafitte, Neuchâtel on Lake Neuchâtel NE

You can certainly stay overnight at Lake Neuchâtel at a lower price. But nowhere else can you stay in more style: Those who can afford it or prefer to indulge, opt for one of the 38 guest pavilions, which stand on stilts in the lake or along the shore and boast light-filled interiors and fabulous bathrooms.
You can easily hop into the water from the lake pavilions, giving you a taste of the Maldives without the hassle of jet lag. Fortunately, the complex, which was built as a temporary luxury getaway for the Expo.02 national exhibition, will remain a city hotel for individualists seeking peace and quiet By the way, the pile-dwelling construction of Palafitte is linked to the history of the location – remnants of early Swiss settlements built on stilts were found in the region. (double room from CHF 460)

#2 Hermitage, Lucerne on Lake Lucerne LU

When you arrive, take a deep breath. The view of the Lucerne lake basin, Mount Pilatus opposite and the Central Swiss Alps is magnificent - even at night, when the stars in the sky compete with the twinkling lights of the city of lights. And the great thing is that all 68 rooms are blessed with this view and none measure less than 34 square metres. In addition, the rooms in the "Lake View Design Balcony" category were recently redesigned by architects Herzog & de Meuron. In the Beach Club with its open-air restaurant, you can watch the char, trout and whitefish swim by. If you have long legs, you can even stick one foot in the water and  take the sea bass fillet with lemon polenta on your fork at the same time. Hotel guests can use a pedalo, a tennis court, paddle boards, e-bikes and city bikes free of charge. The city centre is four kilometres away, and the public boats for excursions on Lake Lucerne dock and depart directly at the Hermitage. (double room from CHF 350.-)

#3 Parkhotel Gunten, Gunten on Lake Thun BE

There is a hint of a never-ending holiday in the air.
A mild breeze blows through the air, boats quietly pass by behind the tall lakeside trees, and every now and then, you hear the sounds of laughter and glasses clinking from the two restaurant terraces, mixed with the occasional joyful shouts of swimmers. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau greet you from afar. City life and the hustle and bustle of everyday life seem light years away. Haste has no place here, and local host Beat Bührer does his bit to help guests slow down. New things become important: letting the birds chirp you into a nap, visiting the panoramic sauna in the former boathouse, venturing out onto the water on a stand-up paddleboard or watching a cat from your balcony. When it disappears into the bushes, you can place bets on where it will reappear.
Since 1910, this three-star hotel has stood on a promontory along the lakeside road, and despite its somewhat mundane interior design, it remains a cheerful place for uncomplicated pleasure-seekers and families, whose children play hide and seek in the spacious garden. (double room from CHF 230.-)

#4 Beatus, Merligen on Lake Thun BE

The "cream slice facade" from the 1960s may initially be somewhat perplexing, but with so much natural beauty concentrated around the Beatus, any lingering doubts about whether one should have gone to the seaside this summer quickly dissipate. The interior also evokes holiday feelings – especially because the majority of rooms overlook Lake Thun and feature their own covered balcony. From the park-like garden with towering old trees, countless roses, and a private harbor, you can jump directly into the refreshing water or set off kayaking. If bad weather approaches, there's Plan B: The wellness area with an outdoor brine bath ranks among the largest in the Bernese Oberland. In the evenings, as the lights twinkle on the opposite shore and the pyramid-shaped Niesen mountain seems to hover above the lake, one's heart feels light and dizzy with happiness. (double room from CHF 510.- including half board)

#5 Romantik Seehotel Sonne, Küsnacht on Lake Zurich ZH

If you want to fall asleep to the sound of the waves and wake up to the vastness of the lake, the Sonne has been the place to be since 1641. Less than a quarter of an hour from Zurich city centre and right next to the landing stage for the Lake Zurich steamers, the Seehotel has a relaxed atmosphere, cosy rooms and solid market cuisine. You can really fill up on good vibes here if you manage to get a seat on the private bathing lawn, on one of the two restaurant terraces or in the open-air lounge under the 350-year-old lime tree. When booking a room, make sure you are facing the lake - in the rooms at the rear, the noise of the busy lakeside road can be heard when the windows are open. The hotel, which is steeped in history and furnished with high-calibre modern art (it belongs to Urs Schwarzenbach, who also owns the "Dolder Grand" eight kilometres away), attracts a wide-ranging clientele, and despite the celebrities on the walls and at the restaurant tables, everything here - in the heart of the Gold Coast - has remained pleasantly normal. (double room from CHF 270.-)

#6 Vitznauerhof, Vitznau on Lake Lucerne LU

What does a proper dream landscape look like? It would have to be a lake, dark blue of course. Lush meadows around it and mountains with a dark green forest. Is something still missing? Yes, you should add a few steep rocky peaks, then spread the whole thing out nicely around the lake, fish in the water, cows in the meadow and deer in the forest - and to top it all off, perhaps a small Art Nouveau hotel on the shore of a small bay overlooking the lake. Too good to be true? The Vitznauerhof at the foot of the Rigi has it all. This place looks like a painting. And you can even look behind the scenes: The 53 bright rooms are completely contemporary. In the garden, you can relax in peace and quiet, watch a bee buzzing around and look forward to dinner. Whether you opt for delicately prepared fish dishes in the "Sens" or Mediterranean classics on the panoramic terrace: Both restaurants offer cosy seating right by the water. (double room from CHF 275)

#7 Park Hotel Vitznau, Vitznau on Lake Lucerne LU

The delightful castle on Lake Lucerne offers an enormous amount of space and privacy for every guest with its park on the lakeshore, discreetly closed off from the outside world. If you are looking for a feeling of real exclusivity in one of the most spectacular locations in Switzerland, the Park Hotel Vitznau is the antithesis of the see-and-be-seen classic grand hotels. Instead, it is run in the style of a noble private guest house. Overnight guests and friends of the hotel (including individual external restaurant guests who book in advance) are offered a stay that promises "splendid isolation" for days of inspiration. There is a choice of three restaurants for different needs - all with summer terraces where sunsets become natural spectacles. The outdoor pool is huge and pleasantly warm, and the hotel's direct access to the lake stretches over several hundred metres.
(double room from CHF 1150.-)

#8 Seerose Resort & Spa, Meisterschwanden on Lake Hallwil AG

What was once an excursion restaurant on the shores of Lake Hallwil has become an uncomplicated holiday resort for people who want to take a relaxing break for a few days and recharge their batteries in peaceful natural surroundings right by the water. Today, the Seerose is a seductive mix of design hotel, spa resort and country inn - including reliably good cuisine in three restaurants, including the exotic and trendy "Samui-Thai". After a weekend, you'll be tempted to extend your stay - which may well be possible: four stars are available here from CHF 135 per night and dreamer. (double room from CHF 270)

#9 Eden Roc, Ascona on Lago Maggiore TI
The ensemble of buildings could just as easily be in Miami or Dubai - but the stunning natural backdrop and Mediterranean ambience more than make up for this impression. Wherever you are in the Eden Roc, Lake Maggiore shines in front of you. In this modern hotel classic, everyone is looking for the better life and a slice of Ticino dolce farniente - and they find it. High standards of gastronomy, service and wellness are met here. The subtropical vegetation on the lakeshore and the 95 light-flooded rooms contribute to the southern holiday atmosphere. The lakeside promenade of Ascona is just a few steps away, but you can also spend the day under palm trees and old trees in the garden. The small private beach and numerous water sports activities attract water lovers: kayaks, stand-up paddles and a motorboat without a licence (8 hp) are available free of charge; water skiing and wakeboarding as well as the hire of various sailing and motorboats, with or without a skipper, are available for a fee. (double room from CHF 430.-)

#10 Castello del Sole, Ascona on Lago Maggiore TI

More than a hundred hotels in Switzerland claim to be a resort. However, those that deserve this description can be counted. The Castello del Sole on the Maggia delta off Ascona is one of them. The amount of space per guest is unrivalled in the country. When you step outside through the reception building, you could jump for joy: Surrounded by 140 hectares of agricultural land belonging to the hotel's own "Terreni alla Maggia" estate, this park leading to the private beach is home to countless sun-loving plants and gnarled old trees, under which you can escape the summer heat with a garden lounger. Nature and luxury could hardly be better combined, and those staying in one of the 78 rooms here will never feel restricted, even during a longer stay, thanks to the three restaurants, spa, tennis courts, water sports facilities, kids' club and enormous space to run around. (double room from CHF 640.-)