5 Of The Most Magnificent Lakeside Hotels Around The World
There are few vacation destinations as picturesque and charming as a beautiful hotel on the shore of a lake. Here, KATIE BERRINGTON chooses five of the most luxurious lakeside hotels around the world – where simple pleasures and astounding vistas meet exquisite design, sumptuous food and decadent wellness offerings
Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Appearing like a marbled mirage in the middle of Udaipur’s Lake Pichola, the utterly resplendent Taj Lake Palace was built almost three centuries ago as a private summer retreat. At every turn throughout the palatial white marble walls, guests are treated to breathtaking views of the encircling waters, city and countryside across the Aravalli and Machla Magra Hills. But the panorama is mirrored in splendor by the palace’s own opulent gardens, cascading fountains and elaborate courtyards.
Domaine des Etangs Auberge, France
Dating back to the 13th century, this sublime, turreted chateau rises like the setting of a fairytale amid 2,500 acres of undulating countryside in the Charente region of south-west France. Rooms, suites and farmhouse cottages punctuate the forested landscape between seven lakes. In the walls of the thoughtfully restored property, there is the Dyades restaurant (headed up by Michelin-starred chef Matthieu Pasgrimaud), which celebrates local produce and a farm-to-table ethos. Domaine des Etangs Auberge also has an art gallery that presents exhibitions throughout the sprawling grounds, a well-stocked library, Gallo-Roman-inspired thermal baths, a floating tennis court, and a wellness center. And there are plenty of activities allowing guests to immerse themselves in the estate’s serene natural surroundings – from horse-riding through the forest to rowing and paddle-boarding on the pond.
The Woodward, Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, with a majestic view of the French Alps – as far as Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc – this grand 1901 mansion (formerly a bank) was renovated to open as a hotel, under the Oetker Collection umbrella, in 2021. With a showstopping Guerlain spa (featuring the longest private pool in Geneva) and enticing dining options from L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (where the views are unrivaled) and Alain Verzeroli’s Le Jardinier, there is much to occupy and entertain guests during their stay at The Woodward. A private boat charter can cruise guests out into the waters of Lake Geneva – where paddle-boarding, kayaking, windsurfing and waterskiing are all adrenalin-fueled options – with a picnic to complement a sunset ride. Of the hotel’s 26 characterful suites, all individually designed, a lake-view suite gives the perfect, peaceful position from which to soak up the spectacular surroundings.
Il Sereno, Lake Como, Italy
Bringing something a little different to the quintessential, historic stalwarts that line the famed Italian lakes, the design-led Il Sereno gives a contemporary, clean-lined perspective of the legendary destination. Throughout the luxuriously understated property, designer Patricia Urquiola pays homage to the natural wonders in which it sits, on the banks of Lake Como’s eastern shore. Phenomenal views take center stage from every corner, via the floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces (each of the 40 suites faces the lake), the former-boathouse spa and the open-air, suspended swimming pool – not to mention the restaurants and bar, where delectable, regional dishes are served at tables perched alongside the water’s edge.
Lake Kora, New York, United States
Nestled in Upstate New York’s Adirondack Park, Lake Kora gives guests the exclusive run of 1,000 wonderful acres of wilderness and a 500-acre lake. A camp that once hosted Gilded-Age aristocrats, Lake Kora makes bucolic decadence the name of the game, from toasting marshmallows on the fire at the side of the water, and feasts in the main lodge’s vast dining room, to a whole range of sporting pursuits – or simply soaking up the tranquility from the lakeside deckchairs. The lodgings take the form of beautifully appointed log cabins and gardener’s cottages, a boathouse and a treehouse – and even an island cabin (with a wraparound deck for 360-degree lake views), which is accessible only by boat.