Best Luxury Hotels in Switzerland

The grand turreted building housing the Palace Hotel is like something from a Disney movie – or a Bond film (Roger Moore himself once booked in here). Indeed, this has a reputation as one of the finest places to stay in the whole of Switzerland. Its elevated position looks out across the town and serves as an ever-present lofty landmark. The hotel is perfect for active types; an Olympic sized outdoor pool, another indoor pool, a pilates studio and a tennis court. Guests have a choice of four eateries, including La Fromagerie, housed in a former Swiss gold vault. The authentically retro GreenGo Club is the hotel’s late-night venue and has hosted many big names since its mid-century heyday.

Dating back to 1910, this five floor hotel sports a traditional style, both inside and out. It has four restaurants (its newest, Chubut, has been inspired by the food of Patagonian Argentina) and a wine bar/cigar lounge. Found close to the slopes, the hotel also has an indoor salt infused pool and an outdoor pool, a spa, a tennis court (that doubles as an ice rink), a club for kids and 94 forms of sleeping accommodation. Grand Hotel Park Gstaad’s fanciest room, is a four bedded penthouse suite – the largest in the Alps – with butler service and a private spa.

Arrive at this hotel in your choice of a horse-drawn carriage or electric bus. The multi-award-winning Grand Hotel Zermatterhof first opened its doors in 1879. Much of its original charm can still be enjoyed today, alongside the contemporary touches. The Alpine Wellness Spa incorporates an indoor pool with a waterfall. Dine on French-Italian cuisine at its Prato Borni restaurant, Mediterranean food at the Brasserie Lusi and a decadent fondue at Saycheese! Drinks can be taken by the fireside at the Ruden Bar, or to piano accompaniment at Stars. Many of the 78 rooms have their own balconies, while the fancier suites have fireplaces and jacuzzis.

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.

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.

Imagine sitting in a hot marble whirlpool, looking out to a majestic mountain as the steam rises, indulging in treatments at a slick spa, dining in a Michelin starred restaurant and sipping cocktails in a Cavern Club, before retiring to an oversized, extra comfy bed in a sophisticated bedroom. This is The Omnia. It has an alfresco terrace, a pool that spans both inside and outside the building, a well-stocked library, artistic in-house chefs, a roaring log fire, an electric shuttle service and just 30 bedrooms. Designed in a modern American style, The Omnia has a very grown-up feel that’s perfect for couples.

One of Gstaad’s newer hotels, having opened in 2012, The Alpina has just 57 rooms. This gives it more of a boutique feel than some of its imposing neighbours. But it still packs a punch when it comes to facilities. Its Six Senses Spa boasts a range of thermal rooms, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a gym and a juice bar. There’s also a ski shop, a Graff diamond boutique, a hair salon and a cinema. When it comes to food, the options are plentiful too – Megu, a fine dining Japanese restaurant, a Swiss Stübli, French cuisine at Sommetand and a casual lounge bar.

This is the town’s oldest hotel, a cosy Victorian building, once a family home, with a long history. And this past has had an impact on the ambience; it does indeed feel homely, in a very upmarket way. The boutique property has 41 bedrooms and while there’s no spa onsite (its lack pleasantly contributes to the country house feel), guests can use the facilities at the nearby Mont Cervin Palace. Yet the hotel’s Brasserie Belle-Époque, with its stuccoed ceilings and chandeliers, creates a contrasting sense of vintage grandeur, The leafy gardens and pretty window boxes make the exterior especially picturesque and equally suited to summer visits as the peak winter season.

Redesigned by the multi-award-winning studio, Dreimeta, and fully renovated in 2020, the Cervo Mountain Resort has an airy, modern, New England feel. Its overhaul has included major improvements in the way of sustainability – a geothermal pump enables the building to generate almost all of its own power for heating and hot water. The main restaurant, Bazaar, focuses on plant-based dishes and is loosely themed around the markets of the East. Italian dishes can be ordered at Madre Nostra, while the third eatery, Ferdinand, serves local cuisine. Choose between three accommodation types at this resort: The Huntsman, The Nomad and The Alpinist. Its Ashram Spa offers meditation sessions, Onsen baths, massages, and treatments.

One of the landmark hotels of the Danish capital, the Angleterre has a ritzy glamour and plays host to the rich, from royalty to rock stars. Located on Kongens Nytorv, a grand central square, the hotel has seen and indeed hosted, much of the city’s history since 1755. It feels like a palace with its grandiose proportions, columns and chandeliers, accentuated by soft colours, luxury fabrics, and dramatic floral displays. Climate controlled rooms are sophisticated but comfortable. High class naturally means the restaurant has a Michelin star and if a glass of bubbly is on your mind, Balthazar champagne and cocktail bar extends a warm welcome. There’s also a fitness room and spa with pool, sauna and hammam.

Opt to stay downtown in the four-star Passage. It’s so named due to its placing between the old and new towns of Basel. The central location is handy (not least as there’s no hotel restaurant) yet won’t impinge on a good night’s sleep thanks to soundproofing in the 46 bedrooms. Designer accommodation fuses mid-century and Scandi style, with trendy feature pieces and LED lighting. Clarins toiletries are provided for all guests and those in the loft apartments have their own kitchenettes and balconies. An organic breakfast is served daily in the lobby or on the patio, with day or evening drinks in the bar.

Located on Rue de Médran and nestled in the Alps at a height of 5023 feet, W Verbier provides doorstep access to the slopes. It’s open all year round, for winter skiing and summer hiking, but there’s plenty to tempt you to stay inside. W hotels operate internationally as part of the wider Marriott group – this one offers 123 guest rooms and four residences, each with their own fireplace and private balcony, decorated in with an alluring urban-meets-Alpine vibe. Work out in a cutting edge techno-gym or relax in Away Spa, with steam rooms, a plunge pool and hammam. Meals can be taken in one of 6 eateries – there’s everything from Swiss fine cuisine, and healthy snacks to sushi and tapas. By night the atmosphere turns to après-ski action. Dance the night away to the DJ’s beats in W Off Piste, or watch the sunset as you sip on imaginative cocktails on the hotel’s panoramic terrace bar – Living Room.