Hotel Sempachersee

The rooms were quiet, clean, and comfortable, and the staff were friendly, though at times they seemed inexperienced. We also enjoyed the good, if expensive, food at the upstairs à la carte restaurant and the lovely view from Sempia. There’s a small balcony in each room, which was nice for fresh air. Getting around, though, was confusing. The buildings sit in something like a compound alongside a hospital and research centre, and the lake is only visible in the distance. We struggled with the signs and lifts on arrival before realizing that the way to reception is through the car park. The accommodation is in four rectangular, two-storey blocks that look as if they may once have been school camps. They’re separate from the main building and from each other, so you have to carry your bags outside in whatever weather there is and use the outdoor metal stairs. There are no lifts to the upstairs rooms, and the gardens were messy and weedy. The rooms only have single beds. When we asked about a double, we were told we could push two beds together, which I think should be made clearer on the website. Room service is listed there too, but reception seemed surprised when we asked and had to check with the chef. None of the dishes on the online menu was available, so I settled for salad and bread. I think the salad may have come from leftovers from the lunch buffet downstairs. For reference, “free flowing” means buffet style. This is a confusing and odd place to stay. I’m not sure I’d call it a hotel so much as an accommodation option. The rooms were quiet and comfortable, but the limited food choices, separate buildings, lack of upstairs lifts, single beds, confusing signs and layout, and untidy gardens were minuses.

I stayed here in spring of 2026. The staff were kind and helpful, but getting around was a struggle. There are no signs to guide you to the gym, and it was hard to find reception too. To reach the hotel in the first place, you have to enter the parking basement and look for the entrance there. The signs that do exist appear to be in German only, not English. The rooms are in neighboring buildings, with no covered route between them and the main buildings. For a conference, it’ll have to do, but if you’re visiting the area for a vacation, I’d look elsewhere.

We held a two-day workshop for 60 people, and everyone was very satisfied. The food at the coffee breaks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner all went down well. From the planning stage, the staff were professional, quick to respond, and focused on finding solutions. They also made all our special requests possible. Thanks for helping make the workshop a success. I can highly recommend the hotel as a place for congresses and conferences.

The hotel is incredibly easy to access, and the breakfast was very nice too.