21 Best Hotels in Berner Oberland, Switzerland

On the hill above Wengen (a bit of a hike from the town center, but that may be a virtue), this friendly family-run lodging offers the kind of views that made Wengen world-famous—a vista of mountain majesty with the nearby buildings nearly hidden by trees. Happily, the southern-exposure guest rooms come with balconies to take in the beauty. Pampering is close at hand: sink into a couch in the lounge, relax with a massage or visit to the sauna area, or enjoy a dip in the indoor pool or the bio-pond (complete with fish and lily pads). The highly rated restaurant lets in lots of light through its wide windows, and the bar is very cozy. Rooms are spacious and mostly modern—some have elegant brass beds and more traditional, rustic style.

A turn-of-the-20th-century mountain lodge done up in eclectic Alpine-vintage pageantry, this clubby lodging shakes up the pretty hamlet of Mürren with playful mountaineering style. Drei Berge attracts city-dwellers with an appreciation for cheeky design—note the Bernese bear drinking a beer on the hotel logo. Colorful pennants with names of peaks from around the world sweep across the carpeting in the lobby, and coats of arms painted in blues, reds, and golds run along the ceiling border in guest rooms swathed in warm wood paneling. Japanese and French dishes are served at dinner, along with high-altitude wines.

Overlooking the famed Giessbach Falls, this 19th-century belle époque showplace trimmed with fancy woodwork and topped with turrets offers lovely scenic views from almost any vantage point. The lobby has high, chandeliered ceilings and period furnishings in golds, yellows, and soft pinks. Stucco angels, full-length oil portraits of Swiss beauties, and other Proustian touches will have you feeling like an off-duty aristocrat in no time. Guest rooms are comfortable and spacious, and the communal maxibar offers free beverages and fruit around the clock. Les Cascades restaurant has a glorious orangery overlooking the falls, and Le Tapis Rouge is a serious gourmand affair.

One of Wengen's first lodgings, this welcoming inn—downhill and away from the center—has been run by the same family for more than a century. Adorable Alpine-style guest rooms with south-facing balconies are well worth the slight additional cost, as the sweeping views of the valley are sublime. The decor is homey, with a cozy mountain chalet look and comfy chairs and sofas for lounging throughout the hotel's large public spaces. While some of the guest rooms are on the small side, their Alpine ambiance, highlighting light woods and tartan details, is absolutely charming. The bar-salon is spacious and inviting, with an open fireplace and overhead beams, and there's a large outdoor area in front of the hotel with wonderful vistas. There's an emphasis on good half-board meals, with a four-course spread served each evening with a vegetarian option available.

With a front-row perch directly across from the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, it's no surprise that most rooms at this welcoming family-run hotel flaunt balconies with peak views. Inside, all is comfortably charming: the adorable bar has a big fireplace hood, regular guest rooms come with elegant pine wainscoting, and suites feature exposed timber beams and lovely fabrics. Guest rooms and suites face either the mountains or the forest; alpine-style family suites have a separate living room and sleep up to three kids (along with two adults). In addition, the hotel has room to spare for an indoor pool with staggering views of the snowcapped mountains, not to mention a sauna and hot tub to warm up after a tough day on the slopes, along with a small fitness room if your outdoor adventures weren't enough. If you want to enjoy the high life—in more ways than one—head here.

With windows looking out onto the village church and Eiger’s iconic north face, this chic chalet hotel offers a warm welcome. A peaceful oasis on the edge of town, Hotel Fiescherblick emphasizes sustainability with its carbon-neutral heating system and purified mountain water. Rooms are outfitted in modern Scandinavian style with touches of pine green and rocky mountain gray. Some rooms feature hidden-in-the-wall bunk beds for guests traveling with children. The breakfast buffet includes homemade pastries and jams and locally produced cheeses and meats, and the highly acclaimed restaurant offers three- to seven-course tasting menus with wine pairings.

A vastly improved version of the standard chalet-style lodging, the Gletschergarten has been in the same family for four generations, and the interior radiates welcome, from heirloom furniture to original paintings by the owner's grandfather to tea roses cut from the garden. There's heraldry in the leaded-glass windows, a ceramic stove with a built-in seat warmer, and a wood-paneled lounge taken from an old Grindelwald farmhouse. All rooms have balconies, some with glacier views, others overlooking the emerald-green hills. Ask for a corner room, as the angles are especially pleasing. Don't miss the pleasant spa with a sauna, a steam bath, and a relaxation area.

The oldest hotel in town, the Hotel Interlaken has been hosting overnight guests since 1323, but now it's thoroughly up-to-date, with comfortable guest rooms filled with sleek and eye-catching Alpine-chic furnishings and a highly regarded restaurant. For the budget-minded who want to enjoy the same location and breakfast, there are rooms of a simpler nature on the fifth floor. The hotel first began as a hospital, then as a cloister, and by the early 15th century as a tavern. Today, the in-house Restaurant Taverne highlights Swiss cuisine with a modern twist along with a well-chosen selection of Swiss wines. It's a short walk to the Interlaken Ost train station, making excursions a snap. 

Set in a nicely landscaped park at the northern edge of the village, this resort features whimsical decor, several on-site dining options, and a very large spa with numerous relaxation chambers. Rooms, decorated in pleasing neutral tones, are spacious and feature large closets to stow away luggage and ski gear. Many bathrooms feature deep soaking tubs, perfect for relaxing after a day hiking or in the snow. The lounge/library is full of plush seating and coffee table books, and there is even a small cinema in the basement. Leonard's restaurant prepares creative meals, and you can dine outside in the gorgeous garden lounge in warmer months. Le Petit Chalet serves fondue all year long in a mountain log cabin on the hotel grounds.

Perched up a small hill toward the western end of town, the Bergwelt is a blend of Alpine lodge and chic abode; it features brown-and-tan rooms with comfy beds, a spa with small indoor and outdoor pools, and a large lobby perfect for watching the scene. Though guest rooms are on the dark side, red plaid accents on the bed frames liven them up. Many rooms include balconies, though not all have mountain views. Suites have fireplaces, and two include private saunas; for larger groups, the hotel also offers apartments and residences with two and three bedrooms. BG’s Grill focuses on (what else?) grilled meats, and the mixologists at the Seven Spirits Bar whip up a fine cocktail. Besides the pools, the Fire & Ice Spa also includes saunas, a relaxation room, treatment rooms, and a fitness room.

Clad in time-burnished pine, fitted with gables, and sporting some great gingerbread trim, the Alpenruh is as picturesque a hotel as you can get in Mürren, with a spectacular perch—nearly cantilevered over the vast valley and with reach-out-and-touch vistas of the great Jungfrau and Eiger—plus no place in Mürren has such a fetching and gorgeous dining terrace. The prices here are on the gentle side, but the guest rooms verge on plain. The owners also run the Mürren cable car up to the Schilthorn, so you can substitute breakfast at Piz Gloria for no extra charge. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves local meat and cheese platters, Rösti and fondue, and a selection of meat and veggie dishes. During especially popular weeks, room rates are upped to include board. 

This cheerful bed-and-breakfast sits on a quiet side street between Interlaken West and the Heimwehfluh; the breakfast room is bright and airy, making it the perfect place to relax with a morning newspaper. The hotel's bright and tidy rooms, which come in single, double, and triple configurations, are done up in shades of blue and white. There's free parking on-site.

This family-run chalet just below the center of town has bright interiors and good views; be sure to dine in (or visit the restaurant for dinner if you're not a hotel guest), as the local, seasonal cuisine is some of the best in town. Guest rooms, while simple, are done up with modern furnishings and accented by watercolors painted by the owner's mother; front rooms have balconies, so be sure to ask for a view when booking. There's also a comfortable separate chalet, perfect for families, next to the hotel. The nearby playground is a winner for young children.

Brimming with personal warmth, this family-run hotel has become a favorite among those who value tranquility and convenience. The chatty Bohren family has been running the place since 1977 and makes everyone feel like an old friend. Rooms in this chalet are not huge or lavish, but they have comfortable furnishings, fir paneling, and original artwork. All come with balconies or terraces that overlook some of Grindelwald's less developed countryside toward the mighty Eiger. A sauna helps soothe ski pains, and a fitness center with games and table tennis (as well as free access to Grindelwald's nearby sport center) gives the kids something to do on inclement days. Standard Swiss-style breakfasts include Birchermüesli, meats, and soft-boiled eggs.

Families often settle in for a week or two at this hotel high above the lakefront, their evenings spent by the immense stone fireplace, in the panoramic winter garden, or on the spectacular terrace. The grounds of this 1910 lodge are beautifully manicured, the atmosphere both familial and formal. Guest rooms are quirkily and individually decorated by themes—cheese, forest, flower meadow, and straw hut, to name a few. Children love these hideaways, and families with small ones appreciate that they can dine together by the fire, apart from other guests. Those with lots of luggage will want to call ahead to be picked up from the train station.

At the eastern end of the main thoroughfare, this charming Victorian-style inn has an elaborately painted facade and intricately carved woodwork in every interior niche. Both the folksy guest rooms and the more elaborately decorated suites are atmospheric and include modern details like lighted closets and espresso machines. The places to see and be seen are the hotel's bar and upscale restaurant. Offerings at the elegant establishment might include lobster bisque or lamb in an olive crust. A more economic way of scoping the scene is to sip a coffee on the sidewalk terrace.

At this genteel Victorian hotel with its plush and handsome lobby, most large guest rooms have French doors leading to private balconies with geraniums in summer. The hotel's popular restaurant, Chez Meyer's, is adorned with vintage family photos and serves a creative seasonal menu. Paintings and rustic antiques (such as a huge wooden sled) are scattered throughout the hotel. Besides Chez Meyer's, guests can dine in the conservatory-like Jack's Brasserie, which serves an eclectic menu including "sushi" made with local ingredients. You can visit the small spa area, which includes a sauna and steam room, daily by reservation. 

MGallery has taken over this classic Victorian grand hotel, and the restored rooms feature soothing Alpine colors (think greens and browns), leather daybeds, and balconies, and bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and separate showers, while the older-style Baroque rooms, though charming, are a bit rough around the edges. Though the Baroque rooms are spacious and feature original moldings, built-in furnishings, and fantastical bath fixtures, they are in need of an update. The spa, with two saunas and a steam room, is a great retreat after a long day of sightseeing.

Overlooking the magnificent ice-blue glacier—as well as a sprawling parking lot—this pretty and wood-trimmed (though quite simple) inn offers generous lunches on the terrace and good regional dining inside the comfortable restaurant. The adjoining Gletscherstübe attracts locals as well as the hordes of hikers who come to marvel at its namesake. The bright rooms, all with mountain views, feature lots of pine as well as colorful modern bathrooms.

Behind its dark-wood, red-shuttered chalet facade dating from 1892, this large, welcoming hotel invites you in with cozy wing chairs and bookcases in the lobby lounge and dining rooms—perfect spots to lounge in on rainy days. Guest rooms are decorated in carved pine and have tile baths. Service is attentive, unhurried, flexible, and extremely friendly, which more than satisfies the loyal clientele. The elegant Schmitte restaurant, aglow with decorative wall paintings and mint hues, serves nouvelle Swiss cuisine. For more casual fare, head to the rustic Gaststübli. There's also a pool, saunas, a steam bath, and a bowling alley.

This modern apartment-hotel, ideally situated at the foot of the Oltschibachfall waterfall, only 500 meters (1640 feet) from the Hasliberg ski resort and a short walk to the train station, offers cozy apartments with large balconies in a contemporary Alpine style. The resort comprises six buildings with apartments ranging from two to four rooms, which sleep from four to eight people. All apartments include kitchens with ovens, stoves, and sinks; some also have dishwashers. If you'd rather not cook, the Bistro, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, specializes in burgers (meat and veggie) and fondue. You’ll find a small onsite sauna, too, though you’ll need to reserve a spot in advance. The hotel also caters to children with an inviting playroom and games room inside, and a playground outside. There's often a minimum stay required, from three to seven nights, depending on the season.