
Best Grand Hotels Hotels in Switzerland
As a long-established luxury travel publication, The Luxury Editor is known for showcasing hotels that go beyond star ratings alone and focus on what really matters to discerning travellers seeking a memorable stay in a grand hotels in Switzerland. Service, design, atmosphere, sense of place and the overall quality of the guest experience all play a part in whether a property earns its place in our curated list.
Whether you are at the early stages of planning or already comparing a shortlist, our choice of grand hotels in Switzerland is a credible and useful guide, with easy booking options too.
Let us help you make searching for the perfect place to stay more inspiring, more informed and more enjoyable.
Canton of Valais, Zermatt
Riffelalp Resort 2222m
(5 stars)The name provides a fairly clear clue, but this is in fact the highest luxury hotel in the whole of Europe. So much so, the resort can’t actually be accessed by car. Instead, guests take the train to the property, passing breathtaking views en route. Once installed, visitors can enjoy direct ski in-ski out access to the slopes. Ski rental is available at the property, plus there are swimming pools, a tennis court, billiards, bowling and activities for kids. The decor is very much a modern take on chalet living, although the building dates as far back as the 19th-century.
Canton of Ticino, Ascona
Castello del Sole Beach Resort & SPA
(5 stars)This low-rise 16th-century hotel is akin to a luxury manor home, with 78 accommodations. Guests can explore courtyards filled with roses, a bird sanctuary, vineyard and its exclusive stretch of beach, as well as playing tennis and swimming — all within the hotel’s perimeter. Castello del Sole is a Relais and Chateaux property, specialising in warm, personalised service and cuisine par excellence (which can be taken by candlelight on the terrace). Don’t miss the theatrical opera-themed bar and the Castello Spa, which incorporates ingredients grown on-site into the pampering treatments. Kids are very well catered for during the summer break, with a range of activities.
Canton of Bern, Bern, Rotes Quartier
Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa
(5 stars)This hotel has the only central spa and rooftop bar in the city where yoga is hosted in the warmer months. While it dates back to 1857, the Hotel Schweizerhof had a major makeover in 2011, bringing the Grand Dame right into the 21st century. Now it boasts boutique sophistication, featuring Murano glass installations, mood lighting, imaginative artwork and Art Noveau style furnishings. The Alps, old town and parliament are all within view of various areas within the building; many of its 99 bedrooms look out onto Bahnhofplatz or the medieval quarter. The decor is suave and designer – Japanese bathtubs with TVs can be found in some, with Bvlgari bath products in all. It has a number of dining options, including the celebrity haunt, Jack’s Brasserie, one of the best spots in town for food.
Engadine Valley, St. Moritz
Suvretta House
(5 stars)Suvretta House is an elegant luxury ski hotel and resort in the magnificent Alpine landscape of the Upper Engadine of St Moritz. This renowned hotel features 181 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, many featuring private balconies to enjoy the stunning surroundings and the resort’s warm, inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect retreat for discerning travellers.
Dining venues include a gourmet restaurant serving exquisite international cuisine, a traditional Swiss eatery, and a stylish bar offering a curated selection of fine wines and cocktails.
Guests can relax at the spacious Sports & Pleasure Club which offers a 25m swimming pool with integrated water jets, an outdoor whirlpool heated to 36°C, a solarium and sauna with Finnarium, Sanarium, Vaporium or Caldarium, a spa and treatments and a fitness centre too. There is a variety of outdoor sports facilities including an ice rink and curling and tennis courts for the summer months. Suvretta House is a family-friendly resort and offers an excellent kids club for its younger clientele.
Canton of Geneva, Geneva
Hôtel Bristol Genève
(4 stars)The Hôtel Bristol is a unique and luxurious escape in the heart of the beautiful city of Geneva and is located in the Square du Mont Blanc. There are 109 Art Deco-inspired guest rooms and suites for guests to choose from with plenty of space and options available. The Coté Square restaurant is on hand to serve gourmet cuisine to delight your palate while a buffet breakfast is included in your stay. There is also a chilled bar with live music and entertainment. Guests can also expect exclusive access to the hotel’s spa and wellness centre including a relaxing Hammam and high-tech treatments. There are also fitness facilities available only to guests. The Hôtel Bristol invites the whole family and provides babysitting services upon request. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
Canton of Zurich, Zürich
Storchen Zürich
(5 stars)Found in the beating heart of the old town, this lifestyle boutique hotel has 64 designer rooms. Modern and cosy, each has crisp white bedding, calming artworks above the bed, accents of muted colours, pale wood wall coverings, a Nespresso coffee machine, fresh fruit (replenished daily) and 40” LED HD flat-screen TVs with Airplay. Storchen’s La Rôtisserie restaurant has recently gained a Michelin star under Chef Stefan Jäckel and during the summer months, its cuisine is also served on the enchanting riverside terrace. Guests can continue their riverside experience at the Barchetta Bar, or imbibe in the Cigar Bar or at The Nest, Storchen’s rooftop establishment.
Canton of Ticino, Lugano
Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano
(5 stars)A palatial Belle Epoque property, the Hotel Splendide dates back to 1887. Deeply fashionable, with a prime waterside spot, it boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant – Due Sud – serving traditional dishes by Executive Chef Domenico Ruberto and La Veranda with its stunning terrace views. Bar Belle Epoque offers expert mixology to the sounds of the grand piano and there’s a chic pizza lounge for cocktails by the lake. Splendide’s Lifestyle Spa includes a starry steam room and a dreamy indoor-outdoor pool overhung by glittering chandeliers. The bedrooms range from classic, to contemporary, to regal, depending on the category.
Canton of Geneva, Geneva
Hôtel Métropole Genève
(5 stars)In an idyllic setting on Lake Geneva’s left bank, the Hotel Métropole Genève overlooks the lake and the stunning English Garden and is a stone’s throw from Rue du Rhône in the charming Old Town. There is a lavish selection of expertly decorated guestrooms and suites with views over the lake and the city while the luxurious Suite Royale provides vistas containing Mont Blanc Bridge and the Jardin Anglais. The nearby Hôtel de Parc des Eaux-Vives restaurant offers stunning cuisine in a gorgeous new setting while the Hotel Métropole Genève itself boats the MET Rooftop Lounge. The lounge serves tapas and a vast selection of drinks alongside seasonal décor and sensational panoramic views. There are several meeting and event spaces fit to host sophisticated functions for up to 180 guests. The hotel is within walking distance of the main shopping areas of the city.
Vaud, Lausanne, Lausanne Centre
Lausanne Palace
(5 stars)Not to be confused with the Beau-Rivage Palace, the Lausanne Palace is an impressive Grand Dame just a few minutes walk to the train and metro stations. 140 contemporary rooms – some with lake views – have dark wood flooring, free minibars and Penhaligon’s bath products. Its spa area includes a family-friendly pool. The Michelin-starred La Table du Lausanne Palace provides a sensory journey with panoramic rooftop views. But guests can also dine alfresco at Côté Jardin, in the Sushi Zen Palace, at Brasserie du Grand Chêne, or grab a healthy snack at Yogi Booster. Lausanne Palace has been popular with locals and visitors alike since its inception in 1915.
Engadine Valley, St. Moritz
Grand Hotel Des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz
(5 stars)The Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski is an iconic ski in/ski out hotel located in the heart of St. Moritz. Comprising 184 elegantly designed rooms and suites, each offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the picturesque lake. The hotel offers a selection of fine dining restaurants, (including Michel-starred) serving gourmet Swiss cuisine international delicacies, there’s also a stylish bar for après-ski enjoyment. Its world-class wellness centre covers 2,800 sqm and includes four different saunas, an indoor and outdoor heated pool, Kneipp Garden, a state of the art Gym and personal training services. Younger guests are well catered for with activities, experiences and great snack, at the dedicated Kids’ Club
Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski is a quintessential destination for luxury ski enthusiasts, blending exquisite accommodations, unparalleled service, and with direct access to one of the world’s premier skiing locations and first-class facilities, Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski, promises an unforgettable experience in the heart of St. Moritz.
Canton of Bern, Gstaad
Le Grand Bellevue
(5 stars)A pale gold exterior, art deco signage and a lavish entrance ensure guests receive an impressive welcome here. It’s another small hotel in terms of bedrooms – 57 to be exact. But, like The Alpina, it has much to offer in the way of amenities; a huge subterranean spa with a 17 zone thermal suite, a salt grotto and an indoor hydrotherapy pool, an outdoor spa pool, fitness classes, tennis courts, a kids’ club, a playroom and a cinema. The main restaurant, Leonard’s, has a Michelin star, while Le Petit Chalet serves traditional Swiss comfort foods and there’s the Sushi Bar for lighter, more casual meals.
Canton of Bern, Bern, Breitenrain-Lorraine
Swissôtel Kursaal Bern
(4 stars)A more recent addition to the Berne landscape, this hotel completed construction in 1998, although was completely renovated in 2020. Its most significant feature is an in-house casino with table games and slot machines. Guests can dine at the Italian-style restaurant, Giardino, (indoors or on the sun terrace) or at the Asian kitchen, Yu. There’s also a garden lounge, a bar and a fitness centre. Rooms are sleek and modern, all with good views and minibars, some with balconies, Nespresso machines and sofa beds.
