Luxury hotels in Switzerland: Alps, lakes, historic palaces

This hotel sits at 5413 feet (1650 meters) above Zermatt and can only be reached through a tunnel carved into the rock and a glass elevator. The building follows the natural slope of the terrain and merges with the cliff face. Rooms open toward the Matterhorn, which rises directly across the valley. Inside, spaces flow across multiple levels, connected by staircases and passages lined with light wood. The wellness area with indoor pool sits beneath the roof, with large windows facing south. A terrace with an outdoor pool extends over the drop. The restaurant serves Alpine and Mediterranean cooking, and the wine list includes over 600 selections. In winter, ski runs lead down to the village, in summer hiking trails start right from the building.

The Aïda Hôtel & Spa combines a modern thermal facility with a comprehensive wellness area. The property has heated indoor pools, several saunas and massage rooms with various treatments. Rooms come with balconies or terraces, some offering views of the surrounding mountains. The restaurant serves regional dishes and international cuisine. The thermal area uses spring water from the region. The lounge and rest areas are furnished with deck chairs and soft lighting.

The Riffelalp Resort stands at 7290 feet (2222 meters) with a direct view of the Matterhorn. The rooms have large windows, the terraces face the peaks of the Valais Alps. In the restaurant a chef works with regional products, the wine cellar collects bottles from Switzerland and France. The wellness area sits under a glass roof, the pools are heated. You reach the hotel only by the Gornergrat railway, no cars drive up here. In winter the ski slopes lie right next to the building, in summer hiking trails start from the entrance. In the evening you see the last sun rays on the glacier, at night the stars shine above the mountains.

The Castello del Sole Beach sits on the north shore of Lake Maggiore in a park filled with old trees and Mediterranean plants. This property has direct access to a private beach, several outdoor pools and a wellness center with saunas. The rooms are spread across multiple buildings set among the gardens. The restaurant serves regional cuisine made with local ingredients. The terraces open toward the water, where sailboats pass by and mountains rise on the opposite shore.

The Suvretta House has stood since 1912 on a south-facing slope above St. Moritz at around 6135 feet (1870 meters) and shows a pale facade in Belle Époque style. The rooms look out over the surrounding mountains of the Engadin Alps. The house contains a Michelin-starred restaurant, alongside a traditional dining room with wood paneling and chandeliers. A heated outdoor pool sits directly on the terrace, surrounded by loungers and facing the mountain slopes. Tennis courts and a wellness area are also present. In winter several ski runs lead close to the hotel, in summer you can hike from here into the valleys.

The Woodward sits on the edge of Lake Geneva and offers 26 suites along with a Michelin-starred restaurant. From the rooms, you can see the lake and, on clear days, Mont Blanc rising in the distance. The interiors mix light materials with dark wood, while the service remains discreet and attentive. The restaurant serves contemporary cuisine that blends local ingredients with French influences. The spa area includes several treatment rooms and a small pool. The location on the right bank allows short walks to the old town and the shops along Rue du Rhône. The reception area shows a mix of classical proportions and modern details, without feeling overloaded.

The Alpina in Gstaad is a five-star hotel built in the chalet style, with 56 rooms in a mountain village of the Bernese Alps. Three restaurants serve food, including one with several awards. The wellness area extends over two floors and includes treatment rooms, a sauna and an indoor pool with views of the surrounding slopes. A private wine cellar stocked with Swiss and international bottles is open to guests. The building stands about ten minutes from the centre, with access to ski runs in winter and hiking trails in the summer months.

Villa Honegg is a small hotel from 1905 on the Bürgenstock with 23 rooms. From the terraces you see Lake Lucerne and the mountains all around. The building sits on a rock ledge above Ennetbürgen at about 3000 feet (900 meters). There is a spa with several treatment rooms, a heated outdoor pool and a cinema room inside. The architecture still shows elements from around 1900, the rooms have been renovated. The restaurant serves Swiss and international cuisine. The location works for hiking in summer and trips to nearby towns.

The Hotel Schweizerhof has stood on the shore of Lake Lucerne since 1845, combining mid-19th century architecture with contemporary facilities. The rooms look out over the water and the surrounding mountains. The building sits at the edge of Lucerne's old town, a few steps from the Chapel Bridge. The facade shows classical proportions with tall windows and pale stone walls. Inside, you will find salons with wood paneling and crystal chandeliers alongside renovated areas in clean design. The restaurant has a terrace with direct views over the lake. A wellness area with pool and treatment rooms occupies the upper floors. The location provides access to walking paths along the shore and boat services on the lake.

This historic property was built in 1861 and sits in a 10-acre park on the shore of Lake Geneva. The rooms and suites look out over the water and the mountain range beyond. You walk through bright halls with stucco and chandeliers, past parlors with wood paneling and terraces under old trees. The restaurant holds several distinctions, the wine cellar counts several thousand bottles. In the wellness area there is an indoor pool, treatment rooms and an outdoor pool facing the lake. The garden stretches down to the water, with lawns, gravel paths and shaded seating areas.

The Hotel Widder brings together nine medieval houses in central Zurich, rebuilt into a single property. Inside the rooms, original beams and old stone walls meet modern furniture and contemporary art. The 49 rooms and suites show different design approaches, each with its own character. A large tree stands in the inner courtyard, giving guests a quiet place to sit. The restaurant serves dishes from the region, and the wine list includes bottles from various growing areas. The entrance sits on a narrow lane in the old town, just a few steps from Bahnhofstrasse.

La Réserve Eden au Lac was built in 1909 and sits on the shore of Lake Zurich. The building shows Belle Époque features with wrought-iron balconies and tall windows. The 40 rooms are spread across several floors. From the waterfront you can see the lake and the Alps in the distance. The hotel is close to the old town and Bahnhofstrasse.

Badrutt's Palace was built in 1896 and sits on the edge of Lake St. Moritz, slightly above the town center. The building shows a Belle Époque facade with tall windows and visible towers. The location at around 5900 feet (1800 meters) altitude provides a direct view of the lake and the surrounding mountains of the Engadin Alps. Inside there are several restaurants, including one with fine dining, as well as a wellness area with an indoor pool. The rooms are spread over multiple floors and preserve elements from the founding period. The hotel is within walking distance of the ski slopes and the center of St. Moritz.

The Dolder Grand sits on a wooded hill above Zurich since 1899, mixing its turreted facade with a modern glass and concrete wing added later. The hotel stands at the edge of the forest in the Hottingen district, surrounded by trails leading into the Adlisberg. Public spaces display works by contemporary artists that the house has gathered over time. Its two restaurants hold Michelin stars and draw guests from across the city. The spa spreads over several floors with a pool, treatment rooms and a fitness area. From the rooms and terraces you look over rooftops toward the Alps. A funicular connects the grounds to Römerhof down in the valley, bringing you to the center in a few minutes. The building shows turrets and balconies from the turn of the century, while the extension brings clean lines and plenty of daylight.

The Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues has stood on the shore of Lake Geneva since 1834 and was the first major hotel in the city. Rooms face the lake or the old town, some showing the Jet d'Eau in the distance. The Michelin-starred restaurant serves French dishes, the wine list includes regional and international bottles. On the roof there is a spa with treatment rooms and a terrace offering views over the rooftops toward the mountains. The lobby displays marble columns and chandeliers from the 19th century, some salons have stucco ceilings and parquet floors. The hotel is a short walk from the Rhône and the shops of Rue du Rhône.

Hotel Schloss Lebenberg sits in a building from the 17th century at 6463 feet (1970 meters) in the Bernese Oberland. From the rooms and restaurant you see the surrounding peaks and the Lauterbrunnen valley. The house has a wellness area with sauna and treatment rooms. The kitchen works with regional products and serves dishes from Alpine cuisine. In winter you can reach several ski areas from here, in summer hiking trails start right at the house. The rooms are furnished with wood and some have balconies facing the mountain ranges.

The Victoria-Jungfrau was built in 1865 and stands in the center of Interlaken, where the main street leads directly toward the peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The hotel holds 224 rooms spread across several floors, a one-star restaurant and a medical spa covering 59,200 square feet (5,500 square meters). The facade shows elements from the 19th century with wide windows and balconies, while the public spaces combine wood, marble and high ceilings. Inside, the hotel connects historic lounges with modern wellness areas offering massages, thermal baths and treatment cabins. The location between the two lakes Thun and Brienz provides access to the mountain railways and hiking trails of the region.

The Park Hotel Vitznau was built in 1903 on the shore of Lake Lucerne and shows Belle Époque facades with views across the water and the mountains. The rooms face the lake, many with private balconies. The house contains a wine cellar, two restaurants and a medical spa area with treatment rooms and rest zones. The terraces lead down to the water, where a small boat dock lies. Inside there are historical salons with stucco and wood paneling from the construction period. The hotel is surrounded by a park, through which paths lead to the lakeshore.

This city hotel from the 17th century stands in the old town of Geneva, close to Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the shops along Rue du Marché. The 32 rooms spread across several floors in a building with bright facades and narrow windows. On the ground floor there is a restaurant with vaulted cellars and exposed wooden beams, serving fondue and raclette. Some rooms have ceiling beams, wooden furniture and floors made of old planks. Some windows open onto the street, others onto the courtyard. The building is among the older structures in the area and keeps the layout from the time when Geneva was still surrounded by city walls.

Lausanne Palace opened in 1915 and sits above Lake Geneva with views across the water toward the Alps. The building holds 140 rooms and suites with tall ceilings and wood floors. Four restaurants serve French and international cuisine, one of them with a Michelin star. The wellness area includes an indoor pool, treatment rooms and a fitness space. The location in the upper town gives direct access to the cathedral and the old center. On the ground floor there are several lounges and a bar with a terrace.

LeCrans sits on the southern slope at 4900 feet (1500 meters) and faces the Valais Alps and Rhône valley. The property holds 29 rooms and suites finished with wood and stone. The spa area includes an indoor pool, treatment rooms and a sauna. The hotel restaurant holds a Michelin star and serves alpine cuisine with regional ingredients. The terrace opens directly onto the ski slope and operates as an outdoor space in summer. Nearby trails and several golf courses surround the area. The architecture follows the local style with wide balconies and natural materials.

The Bürgenstock Hotel sits on a rocky ledge above Lake Lucerne and allows open views toward the surrounding mountains. Several restaurants run upscale kitchens here, including one with a Michelin star. The wellness area spreads over multiple floors with indoor pools, saunas and treatment rooms. Rooms show contemporary furnishings with large windows facing the lake. From the hotel you reach the summit station by funicular, which has run since the 19th century. Hiking trails pass through forest and across meadows along the mountain edge. In winter guests use the ice rink and snowy walking paths around the grounds.

The Hotel Splendide Royal stands in central Lugano inside a building from the 19th century. Many of the 93 rooms look out over the lake and the surrounding mountains. Rooms are fitted with classic furniture, some have a balcony. On the top floor there is a restaurant serving Italian and Mediterranean cooking. The garden grows palms and other southern plants. A terrace leads straight to the water. The indoor pool sits under a glass dome, the spa offers treatments and massages. The lobby shows marble columns and old chandeliers. The shore is reachable on foot in a few minutes. Overall the hotel conveys an atmosphere from the Belle Époque, with modern comforts in the background.

The Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois stands directly on the Rhine riverbank in Basel and has been operating since the 17th century. Its 101 rooms spread across several floors of a building whose facade faces the river. Inside, there are three restaurants, including one with three Michelin stars, plus a bar-lounge and a terrace that extends over the water. The interior combines old wood paneling with modern elements, while the windows offer views of passing ships and the opposite shore. This place has welcomed guests across generations, often travelers moving between business meetings and cultural events in the city.

The Grand Hotel Kronenhof has stood in Pontresina since 1848 and shows a neo-baroque facade with turrets and bay windows. The rooms have stucco work and wood paneling. From the balcony you see the mountains of the Engadin Alps. Inside there is a spa area covering 21,500 square feet (2000 square meters) with pools and saunas. The restaurant serves regional dishes and international cuisine. In winter the ski slopes are a few minutes away, in summer you can walk on trails into the valleys. The lobby has high ceilings and chandeliers from the 19th century.

The Kempinski Palace Engelberg stands as a restored palace from 1904 in the middle of an alpine valley. Its 129 rooms spread across several floors, the dining room with veranda opens to the garden, and on the top floor sits a wellness area covering more than 8000 square feet with views of the surrounding mountains.

La Réserve Genève Hotel & Spa sits in Bellevue directly on Lake Geneva, about six miles from the city center. The 102 rooms are spread across a modern building facing the water. Inside there are five restaurants with different styles, from French cuisine to Asian dishes. The spa covers 21,500 square feet (2000 square meters) and includes treatment rooms, a pool and relaxation areas. The surroundings are quiet, with access to a private beach and boat dock. From the hotel you see the opposite shore and the Alpine backdrop behind it.

The Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola sits in a subtropical park right on the shores of Lake Lugano and preserves the architecture of a 19th century manor house. The building spreads 74 rooms across several floors, many of them offering views over the lake or the surrounding mountains. The garden extends with old trees, palm trees and maintained paths down to the water. At the outdoor pool you can swim while looking toward the opposite shore. The house runs three restaurants, including one with classic cuisine and one with Mediterranean dishes. The wellness area includes several treatment rooms and an indoor pool. The atmosphere combines Ticino tradition with international comfort, without being intrusive.

The Hotel Mont Cervin Palace in Zermatt has stood in the village center since 1851 and offers three restaurants, a heated indoor and outdoor pool, and several lounges with views over the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks. The rooms are spread across the historic main building and several adjoining sections. The wellness area includes saunas, steam baths and treatment rooms, while the spa combines modern facilities with traditional wood and stone elements. The bar features dark wooden walls and opens outward to a terrace facing the mountains.

The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof has stood at the edge of the village since 1879, combining wood paneling with modern rooms. From the building you can see the Matterhorn, the surrounding peaks over 13000 feet (4000 meters) and the lanes of Zermatt. Inside there are two restaurants, a wellness area with a heated pool and several lounges with fireplaces. The rooms vary in size, some with balconies facing the mountains. The building was extended several times but kept its facade from the founding period. On the ground floor there are seating areas and a bar, in the basement the spa area with sauna and relaxation rooms.