17 Best Hotels in Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland

On the edge of the Old Town, this former embroidery factory is now an upscale hotel with sleek interiors (polished cabinetry, subdued floral fabrics), a uniformed staff, and a five-star attitude. There's a generous breakfast buffet, laid out in the skylighted top-floor loft, but it's an additional cost. The bar is dark, leathery, and appropriate for the business-class clientele. A modern annex houses more rooms, and guests have free access to an adjacent fitness center and spa.

This renovated, elegant half-timber hotel has an historic air, loads of charm, and an unbeatable location steps away from the Rhine. Interiors are tastefully decorated with delicate furnishings and warm wood floors. There's also a bistro, an excellent coffee shop, and a lovely bar on-site.

With one of the most elaborately frescoed 15th-century facades on the Rathausplatz, this hotel has a split personality: colorful and historic on the outside, no-nonsense and automated on the inside. The decor is airy, slick, and immaculate, with industrial carpet, white stucco, and blond wood throughout. Double-glazed windows cut some of the noise from the square. A local family runs the hotel, so family groups will fit right in. 

A popular destination among locals seeking a massage or other spa treatment, the sprawling and leafy Hotel Hof Weissbad is on a quiet street in the village of Weissbad. The resort remains a local favorite for wellness breaks and romantic retreats and offers an array of spa treatments with emphasis on baths and cosmetic treatments using everything from local hay to beer malt. The spa also includes a sauna, various thermal pools, and steam room. The proximity to an 18-hole golf course attracts a golf crowd and the new seminar building attract business travelers as well. Rooms are bathed in deep reds and rich fabrics. The service is warm and flawless, and a buffet on each floor offers complimentary drinks, fruit, and pastries.

Located on the busy waterfront promenade, this small inn has a delightful half-timber facade with green shutters and some lovely views of the Rhine, including from some of the rooms. The updated furnishings are minimal yet functional and modern, and the excellent and unexpectedly authentic Spanish restaurant (closed Tuesday) has a full-length bay window along the riverfront; in summer seating is outside on the river.

In the quiet town of Murg, this mod lodging is a high-concept boutique hotel overlooking the sparkling Lake Wallen. The rooms occupy a former industrial mill and range from an awkward four-story tower loft connected by a spiral staircase to more normal rooms overlooking the water. Biking, cooking classes, and other activities keep the place feeling fresh and filled with young, creative types.

A 10-minute walk from the Old Town, this glass-and-steel business hotel has modern rooms with spacious baths. The hotel staff is outgoing and extremely accommodating. Many locals and tourists come to try their luck at the casino.

This stylish, comfortable, and centrally located hotel near the St. Gallen train station has a friendly staff and offers free Wi-Fi. Recently refreshed, the updated rooms nod to St. Gallen's textile roots, and feature fabrics from Jakob Schlaepfer and Christian Fischbacher. Rain showers are featured in all bathrooms.

Close to the train station, this former guild house turned hotel impresses with its grand staircase, glass elevator, and ornate ballroom where Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann once entertained. Each of the 30 guest rooms has its own unique character, and many have fine views of the Old Town. Five rooms have air-conditioning.