Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
View prices for your travel dates
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.
Did you already book this hotel?
About
4.0
#19 of 65 hotels in Lucerne
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
You don't have to book an expensive flight to San Francisco to admire a former prison. Hotel Barabas in Lucerne is Switzerland's first prison-themed hotel. Heavy doors, iron bars, small windows, simple beds, and walls that tell stories - all of these elements evoke the former purpose of the Central Prison in Lucerne. Whether sleeping in a cell, the former office of the prison director, or the old library, today's Hotel Barabas offers plenty of comfort and is a unique experience for people of all ages, located in the heart of Lucerne's Old Town.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This hotel has lots of stories and off course you will feel in prison i you were never there like us!! Mattresses are great and we enjoyed it. We slept amazingly well until 6am that the garbage truck comes to the streets and makes lots of noise. Our room had two bunk beds and no other furniture. The bathroom was absolutely clean and great shower.
When I checked out is when I realized they had other bigger rooms for families, more space In general and some furniture to put your belongings. So, maybe if we come back as a family we may ask for bigger room.
Stuff is absolutely friendly. Breakfast is served in a box (PRE made), we honestly would’ve preferred different. But maybe is part of the experience of being in prison. Although the server offer to bring more of whatever we wanted. Because he brought one box for the table, not for person.
great location, no parking lot, too much noise in the morning.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from Barabas Luzern, Gästeservice/Empfang at Barabas Hotel Luzern
Responded Aug 28, 2020
Hi usmarcela Thank you for your feedback! We are happy to hear that you slept well in our prison hotel. Lucerne is very clean and they do sometimes clean the streets early in the morning. If you wish to have a quiet night in the city center in our hotel we can give you a room to the garden side. We have former cells for two, three or four guests and also superior rooms for two or four guest. The superior rooms are for example used as a library or the directors room. They are bigger and have also bigger windows but you still sleep behind bars ;) Above our japanese restaurant we offer some japanese rooms for two. Before the corono reality we offered a continental breakfast (buffet), but then had to reorganise it. Now, for hygienical reasons we serve japanese Bentoboxes with breakfast for one or two guests. You get your personal bread too. We prepare these boxes early in the morning. They are very fresh. We have many guests and be sure, that our guests don't have to wait for their breakfast. Maybe time changes again and we can get back to our buffet. But for the moment it's much more safe like this. We are sure you understand that. We are located in a very old building, the former prison of lucern in the old city within the city walls. For that reasons we don't have a parking in our hotel but you find one in walking distance. We are looking forward welcoming you again behind bars :) Kind regards Team Barabas
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Highlights 1. Great location, hardly 10 mins walk from train station. 2. Affordable breakfast at 9.5 chf per person. 3. Very much prison like experience with the doors setup and minimal amenities (no kettle, TV, AC, hair dryer) in the room. 4. A good Indian restaurant is in the neighbourhood.
Things that could have been improved 1. Some complimentary tours about the history of this prison converted hotel would have been nice. 2. Room price per night is too high for the minimal amenities and box sized rooms even though we booked the hotel around 1.5 months back. 3. This is a hostel and hotel both but there was no shared kitchen and common area was very small. There was an open garden as well but we always found it empty and cold. 4. A common seating area was getting used for hotel breakfast and their owned japanese restaurant so it defeated the purpose of it being a common area for guests. The microwave and kettle was put in the same area but it was a mildly lit area and they did not even allow to switch on the lights as it would impact their restaurant’s guests experience.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
A unique experience indeed of staying in a prison cell! We stayed here for one night in the first week of October. Location is right in the middle of Old Town, at a walking distance from the train station and all the other attractions. The staff is very welcoming and friendly. They even give you a wifi password for the city centre which I found was very useful. Ample opportunity to take goofy pics of ‘life in prison’ etc. The hotel has undergone some renovation recently and now has an elevator as well. Breakfast is decent with some veggie-friendly options. The room is quite small for two people, with a tiny prison window high up, probably best suited for solo travelers or couples like us for a night or two especially if you’re only going to be there for sleeping and a shower. There is so much to see and do in the charming town of Lucerne!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Response from Barabas Luzern, General Manager at Barabas Hotel Luzern
Responded Jan 14, 2023
Dear Guest Thank you for your review. The rooms still correspond to the jail cells, so they are rather smaller and with a small window. We would be glad to welcome you again in the Hotel Barabas. Kind Regards Team Barabas
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Went there for one night with my three boys. I booked the "3 bunk beds" room as nothing else was available and they had to sleep with me due to their age. Needless to say they were super excited to spend one night in prison. Getting there we found out the room was actually a dorm and that other people could be sleeping with us. On top of that, these rooms are not in the actual prison part and therefore, we missed out on the whole jail experience. The room was super warm (04.17) and had no direct window. No chair, table or anything to place our luggage and of course, with couldn’t leave anything in the room as others could come anytime. The were lockers but you need to bring your own padlock! The blinders didn’t work and as a result, the kids woke up super early 🙈! But the worse is yet to come…I decided to have a shower and not only it wasn’t draining properly with water accumulating, but there was human semence (sperm to be blunt) coming out of the drain and floating around!! Yuck!
I of course complained, but the guy in the lobby, although really nice, wasn’t impressed at all : ok, sorry, have a good day sir!
For what we could tell, the proper prison part looked nice and clean (didn't check the shower though !). Breakfast was decent and the staff pretty nice. We had dinner at the Japanese place and it was a pleasant experience. As for the rest, I have to agree with other comments, the hotel is well located, walking distance from all the major touristic places.
So overall, steer away from those 6 bunk beds’ rooms as they are nothing but a cheap boiling IKEA room not even in the jail part with more than questionably clean amenities.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Make sure your room is in the prison part!
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.
Response from Barabas Luzern, General Manager at Barabas Hotel Luzern
Responded Jan 19, 2023
Dear guest Thank you very much for your evaluation. We regret that your stay did not quite meet your expectations. It would have been a certainly better stay if they had booked the normal triple room. We would like to apologize again from the bottom of our hearts to you and the family and we would be glad if they would visit our Hotel Barabas again. Best regards Team Barabas
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Good idea, but the price (2 bed room for CHF 174 incl a basic breakfast and city tax) was far too high for what we got. The rooms are missing a small table and chair. If you're travelling with a small backpack only, you're in luck as there are only a few hangers, but no storage available. And only one bed/guest (at least if you don't have a double bed) has access to a nearby shelf, light and sockets. Trying to open/close the window and blinds is a balancing act on this one shelf (not recommendable). The beds are simple and ours had ugly metal posts sticking into the air (maybe to change them into bunk beds?). The room - except the bathroom - was clean, but worn.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Response from Barabas Luzern, General Manager at Barabas Hotel Luzern
Responded May 7, 2024
Dear Sonora67 Thank you for your review. As our hotel offers a sleep behind bars experience, the size and furnishings are still fairly original. You are right, our rooms are only equipped with the essentials as listed in our pictures and room descriptions. Too bad you had other expectations of us that we could not fulfill. We hope you were still able to enjoy your stay in our prison and in the beautiful city of Lucerne. Kind regards Team Barabas
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What a unique place to stay! Everything was clean, the front desk was very helpful, and it’s a 10 minute walk from the train station. It you get there early, there is a place where they can keep your luggage as you go out and tour the city. The room is very simple but the beds were comfortable.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Response from Barabas Luzern, General Manager at Barabas Hotel Luzern
Responded Jan 19, 2023
Dear guest Thank you very much for your review. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay with us. The concept "sleep behind bars" has accordingly left a positive experience with you. We would look forward to a return visit. Best regards Team Barabas
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our family of two parents and one adult son stayed at Barabas for two nights. The hotel is clean and conveniently located. The staff are friendly and helpful. I only marked this down one star because the room is TINY. (It is a former jail cell, after all.) We laughed when we saw the semi-translucent bathroom surround, but really, it’s fine. It lets light through so the room isn’t dark, and you really can’t see through the walls. The hotel also has a section for hostel groups. There is a fascinating history here, and it’s worth a short stay just to be in an interesting piece of local lore. I would not hesitate to stay here again for a short stay.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from Barabas Luzern, General Manager at Barabas Hotel Luzern
Responded Jul 22, 2023
Dear Lisa Thank you for your nice feedback. We are happy you could enjoy your stay with us. We hope to see you again. Best regards Team Barabas
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The location of this hotel was perfect for exploring the city of Lucerne. The rooms are quite small and feel a bit like a college dorm room. Hallway noise can be heard quite easily in the room. There are signs posted reminding guests to keep the noise level down but there were guests who did not adhere to this request. Breakfast was well presented with lots of options and plenty of seating.
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from Barabas Luzern, General Manager at Barabas Hotel Luzern
Responded Jun 29, 2023
Dear AllisonD398 Thank you for your review. You are definitely right that the former cells are a bit smaller than other hotel rooms. Since the corridors are a bit higher in our building, there is some noise, which can be unpleasant if the other guests do not respect the night's rest. You could have let the reception know that you feel disturbed by the noise of other guests so that we could have reacted. We are pleased that you enjoyed the breakfast and hope to welcome you again and thank you for your review. Best regards Team Barabas
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It was a very interesting idea to experience sleeping in jail but a lot posher than the Inmates‘ experience. The location is perfect, near the train station, near the pier, near shops, a lot of sceneries with just few meters away. Hotel is very clean. Staff are very accommodating and friendly. It’s worth the price.
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Great place for people traveling on a budget. If you’re not claustrophobic and can survive without AC in a summer time - book it! Great location in the heart of old city, friendly and extremely helpful staff, discounted tickets for selected tours, very good buffet breakfast.
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
There are more places to choose from in the Lucerne area.
PRICE RANGE
C$172 - C$262 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
jailhotel loewengraben lucerne, jailhotel loewengraben hotel lucerne
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Jailhotel Loewengraben
LOCATION
SwitzerlandCanton of LucerneLucerne
NUMBER OF ROOMS
60
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.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
