6 Best Hotels in Fribourg and Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Guests reserve months ahead for this quirky, high-style country inn noted for its fabulous gardens and fanciful theme rooms. The Mirabelle room has a stunning oversize curio case with treasures ranging from Russian nesting dolls to ceramic mugs, and the Cupidon room flaunts a cast-iron bath on rails—you can trolley out into the open air for a bath under the stars. Downstairs, the restaurant gives off an air of chic simplicity, a perfect setting for meeting the artsy locals and in-the-know guests who frequent this fun spot. The hotel can easily be reached by bus—take the No. 1 toward Portes de Fribourg/St. Leonard, get off at Poya, and stroll up the Route de Grandfey.

Talk about having it all: this converted 19th-century winegrower's home has stylish rooms with marble bathrooms, a lakefront location, a to-die-for terrace and garden, and even an indoor pool. There's great food available in the bistro and restaurant Wednesday through Sunday, as well as a renowned wine cellar. Located in the Fribourg Vully wine region, the hotel is by the canal that connects the Murten and Neuchâtel lakes. Incidentally, ours means "bear" in French, which explains the teddy bear in each room. The hotel is 3½ km (2 miles) north of Murten.

Delicious views make this hotel a treat—breathtaking mountain and valley views are definitely the main attractions. The four largest rooms are spacious and cheerful, and have traditional wood decor and edelweiss-embroidered bed linens. The hotel's restaurant and pizzeria are strikingly anchored by a massive fireplace and leads out to a large, light-filled winter garden. Bathrooms are sizable and clean, if a little old-fashioned.

This modest 19th-century hotel across from the train station overlooks tile rooftops, the sparkling lake, and white-capped Alps. The hotel's main building has preserved its original parquet floors and stone steps, while the annex boasts 16 new rooms that feature works by local artists. Along the pale yellow corridors, fresh flowers hide in niches in this sunny hotel. A lovely park surrounds the terrace.

In the heart of Murten's Old Town, this cluster of patrician houses dating back to 1428 conjures images of centuries gone by. Yet step inside, and the modern sits well alongside the revered history of this establishment, thanks to the sensibilities of the Joachim family, which has been running the show since 1978. Rooms and suites are individually designed and vary greatly; try out the Royal Senior suite if 16th-century baroque drawing rooms are your thing. The tavern and veranda are pleasant venues for the generous morning spread, and a changing à la carte fine-dining menu keeps you sated in the restaurant.

In the gorge of Vauseyon, 10 minutes from Neuchâtel, this restored 18th-century brewery with polished beams, yellow-sandstone highlights, and lush views sits alongside a roaring woodland stream. Every individually decorated guest room has lovely whitewashed walls. The glass-roofed winter garden restaurant (closed Saturday lunch, Sunday, and Monday) offers one of the region's best meals with its innovative seasonal cuisine, or you can enjoy a simpler lunch on the terrace overlooking the stream. Take the tunnels under Neuchâtel toward La Chaux-de-Fonds, exit toward Pontarlier-Vauseyon, and look for the hotel's signs.