Swiss Lakes Cycling

Highlights

Beautifully flat traffic-free trails make this a popular cycling choice for novices or families with children. The route takes you via pretty riverside villages, past chic waterfront marinas and through protected nature reserves linked by sun-dappled trails.

Hotel Krone, Aarberg

The Hotel Krone, also known as the Hotel Couronne (The Crown in English), is in the heart of this pretty village on the enormous oval town 'square'. The building has been a hotel for several hundred years, as the creaking floorboards and old black and white photos on the corridor walls will attest.

The 25 bedrooms are on the second and third floors, corridors lined with black and white photos of Aarberg in the old days. Bedrooms are quite modern and spacious, many with sloping ceilings as the third floor is in the eaves. En suite bathrooms are white tile and chrome, and most rooms have views out onto the village square.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.

Hotel Beaulac, Neuchatel

The Hotel Beaulac is a modern waterfront building located directly on the Neuchatel marina. Recently renovated with a range of fanciful and colourful furnishings in the lobby and with very elegant accessories in the restaurant, it makes the most of this position with massive floor to ceiling windows throughout the ground floor.

The 90 bedrooms have great views either over the city or Lac Neuchatel, and a wooden terrace runs along the front of the property so you can watch yachts sailing in to moor up for the night with a drink from the glass and chrome bar.

All rooms are equipped with high-speed and wireless internet, flat screen TVs, a new air conditioning system, in-room safe and mini bar.

The hotel position is excellent for exploring Neuchatel. The Tourist Information Office is only 200m away and all the main sights are within walking distance. If you don't wish to eat in the hotel there are dozens of local options in the city centre just a stroll from the front door.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.

Hotel du Theatre, Yverdon des Bains

The Hotel du Theatre is a typical C19 townhouse in Yverdon, a short bike ride from the lakeshore. It is located a stones throw from the Grand Benno Besson theatre in Yverdon (itself next to the station), and is handily placed just a 3 minute walk from the centre of the town.

Artistically decorated using natural stone and attractive lighting, the lobby leads through to a stone terraced area at the back where you can take breakfast on sunny days.

The bedrooms are equipped with minibars, phones, flat screen TVs and are compact with en suite 'wet room' style bathrooms. Breakfast can be taken inside or out either in a light, bright room on the first floor with a continental breakfast buffet, or you can take breakfast outside.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.

Hotel Murtenhof and Krone, Murten

The Murtenhof and Krone Hotels are two enterprises that have been merged into one by the Joachim Family, long time hoteliers in Murten who have been in the village for generations.

Located in the centre of town on a high bluff overlooking the Murtensee, the hotel has incredible panoramic views from the breakfast room and the light and airy restaurant, and it is only one street back from the arcaded main street that bustles with cafes, shops and bars.

The charm of the hotels is immense - the buildings used to be grand patrician houses and are almost castle-like in some areas where low stone doorways lead up spiral corkscrew staircases. Public lounges are tastefully decorated with panelled wooden walls, comfortable antique furniture and wood floors and rugs.

The bedrooms are all different shapes and sizes, many with whitewashed stone walls and reproduction antique furniture. Rooms have minibar, telephones and TVs.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.