Best Ski Hotels in Switzerland

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.

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.

This 4-star boutique hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World organisation. It houses 32 luxe suites and 17 apartments – the latter offering ample space and a home from home for lengthy stays. The soothing design by Berlin-based Christina van Baal and Carolin Scheffold, is a fusion of vintage Alpine and contemporary chic, with features pieces such as aged wood floors and hand-knotted carpets from Nepal. Set across two floors, it also has a toasty indoor pool and spa area for supreme relaxation after a day on the snow, a programme of events and a brasserie serving hearty dishes emphasising local produce. Celebrate a special occasion by booking La table du chef, showcasing the art and intensity of Cordee des Alpes’ cooking.

Ideal for those serious about their skiing and sport, this apartment hotel is located in the heart of Laax, offering a bike garage, a washing area and toolbox for bikers; lockers, a drying room and a mountain shuttle bus for skiers. The 850 sqm spa and wellness retreat, La Senda, is perfect for easing tired muscles after a day of activity. Then relax over a healthy, hearty meal made following grandmothers’ recipes at restaurant s’nani, followed by a nightcap in front of the fire. Apartments sleep between three and eight guests, with minimal design and self-catering facilities.

Sporting a striking cubist exterior, Rocksresort really owns its footprint, conveniently close to the Laax ski lift. 500 tons of 40-million-year-old quartzite stone went into the build of this 122-bedroom property, which is one of the most sustainable around – it was named the Best New Ski Resort by Wallpaper Magazine after opening. Interiors are minimal, in earthy tones with hints of retro shaping. Guests can stay in suites or multiple bedroom apartments catering for large groups and on-trend bathrooms are equipped with mini spas. Pan-Asian, Swiss and Mediterranean food can be enjoyed in the restaurant by chef Sacha Meyer and there’s a spa.