256 Best Hotels in Switzerland

Mixing the contemporary with the historic, the century-old hotel is furnished with black-and-white modern pieces set against a gray palette, which contrasts with original stained-glass windows and a wrought-iron staircase. There are wonderful views of the castles from the upper-floor suites, and a copious breakfast is served in the mornings. The owners of this boutique lodging have installed eco-friendly air-conditioning, which pumps up cool water from underground. A spa area features jet showers, a Turkish bath, and a Finnish sauna. Downstairs in the common room are cold drinks and snacks.

Just yards from the train station, you can enjoy the convenience of a central location at this boutique hotel without worrying about getting a good night's rest, as there are no night trains; amenities and guest rooms are pleasantly modern, and service is friendly and efficient. Regulars needing a straightforward stopover return for its cleanliness, comfort, and free breakfast buffet. There's also a 24-hour fitness room, as well as a spa area with a sauna and steam room, available to guests for one hour a day by reservation.

Smack in the middle of Niederdorf, this is a smart, state-of-the-art hotel where, from the gleaming lobby to the sleek, modular rooms, the ash-and-granite decor makes the most of tight spaces. There are nice touches, too: all rooms have AC, which is unusual for the city, and hand-painted murals of local landmarks remind you that you're in Zürich. The restaurant off the lobby, Swiss Chuchi, is known locally as a great year-round place for fondue.

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. 

Ski legend Art Furrer returned to his village and became the recreational and hospitality backbone of the community. Perched on a ledge with panoramic views, the multibuilding complex combines a traditional hotel with newer structures connected by covered walkways. Dining areas satisfy demi-pension and à la carte diners.

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. 

About 200 yards from the ski lifts of Inner-Arosa, this friendly family-owned and family-run hotel is perfect for those seeking a homey feel that is modern, clean, and comfortable; the guest rooms and public spaces are light and bright, thanks to the pinewood paneling and soft colors. Several apartments are available, with multiple beds. Note that rooms facing south have great views and are a good size. The restaurant, open for dinner, offers tasty Italian cuisine, and the sauna makes a welcome stop after a long day in the mountains.

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.

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.

Affordable luxury and clean, neutral interiors set off this petite hotel on Nyon's main thoroughfare. Spring for the Castle Suite if you want a real treat, as its floor-to-ceiling windows look straight out onto the old city and castle. The elegant rooms boast first-rate bedding and compact modern baths with many amenities. All guests can enjoy views of the castle (which is illuminated at night) from the hotel's quiet garden terrace—an exquisite spot for a glass of wine or a light meal.

Genuine, warmhearted service is the key to this small, traditional house, plus the bar’s stone fireplace and some rooms' massive wooden four-poster beds are nice romantic touches. A scrumptious five-course dinner is available for an extra fee. The small spa with two Jacuzzis, a steam bath, a dry sauna, and an infrared sauna offers a great opportunity for relaxation and fantastic views.

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.

Built in 1908, this attractive business-class resort concentrates its comforts on a small but luxurious waterfront site, with a large restaurant above the manicured lawn, a small heated swimming pool with mountain views, and comfortable lounge chairs at the lake's edge. Its modern guest rooms glow with warm wood tones offset by neutral fabrics. It's at the center of town, near the boat landing.

If you're in Scuol primarily to visit the Bohn Engiadina Scuol, you can't do better than to stay at this centrally located family-owned hotel—there's a covered pathway that leads directly to the spa, so you can discreetly head over in your robe and slippers any time you like—and room prices include unlimited spa access. Rather generic though good-size guest rooms are heavy on the wood with bursts of color (lime green and red) on the chairs and curtains; some include cozy balconies with lovely views of the town and mountains. Scuol's Old Town is just a five-minute walk downhill, though you'll have a steep climb on your return. The lounge is a relaxing, airy spot for a glass of wine, and you can choose from the two restaurants, including one with Thai cuisine, if you decide not to venture from the hotel at all.

This hotel blends right in with the estates facing the lake on the main road between Vevey and Montreux. Its breezy rooms with blond modular furniture overlook a small marina and the turrets of the village castle. The building was once home to the Order of St. Joseph; the nuns still maintain a small chapel on the main floor. Request a lakefront room not only for the superb view, but also to avoid street noise. Keep an eye out for l'Olivier's chef harvesting herbs and vegetables for Provençal-inspired dishes from the walled garden below.

This 12th-century building that once served as a cloister and then a prison, now captivates its clientele with slightly faded elegance, a peaceful location, and a terrific restaurant. There are some reminders of the building's austere past—guest rooms overlooking the courtyard are still called "cells," with uniformly tight square footage. "Police office" rooms facing the town offer more space at a slightly higher rate. The art deco brasserie, with its mirrored bar and iron-legged tables, serves French classics. The former residents here—priests and prisoners—never had it so good.

In a typical chalet-style building, this hotel is perfectly located right by the children's and beginners' slope, and the cross-country ski track; in addition, the Parsenn funicular is only a few minutes' walk away. Guest rooms in the main building are small, and some have showers instead of a tub. Larger, more expensive rooms are in an annex, connected to the hotel by an underground passage, where you will also find the spa including saunas, a steam room, and a relaxation area, along with a fitness room. There's also a good-size garden with a children's play area and large sun terrace.

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.

Set in the town center, this pleasant (if worn) little hotel shares the Kulm's lovely mountain views, but not its prices. Details like sgraffiti, carved ceilings, and fine darkened pine in some rooms preserve the best from its earlier days. The big corner guest rooms deserve their higher price; back rooms are small, but all have tile baths. Front rooms have mountain and lake views, and some also have balconies. In the small sitting area, check out the collection of skiing trophies won by the owner's father, who used to run St. Moritz's ski school.

Perched near Lago Maggiore, this Old Town restaurant-with-rooms has pleasant, fairly good-value accommodations tucked under the rafters, with classic tile floors in cream and red adding to the simple, rustic charm. Even better, the popular trattoria downstairs offers inexpensive regional food—pizzas, pastas, and simply prepared fish—and fancier fish dishes are available in the more formal restaurant upstairs.

This basic but charming hotel in the middle of St. Moritz-Bad will make you feel right at home, as the friendly service and a drink by the crackling fire in the cozy "living room" are often all one needs at the end of a long day of hiking or skiing. The large and airy restaurant is highly recommended and has a great deal of locally sourced, seasonal dishes to choose from, including lots of venison, veal, fondue, and pastas. This hotel offers cheaper deals for longer-staying guests, as well as for summer visitors.

Impeccable taste, total discretion, and a passion for detail mark this stylish boutique hotel, where thematic decorations stretch from African to baroque. Desks are equipped with office supplies, breakfast can be tailored to your needs, and room service includes afternoon tea. Guest rooms are individually decorated; one may be dressed in rich greens with faux-fur throws, and another might be done in rich browns to give off a more masculine vibe. The Leopard Room bar has a working fireplace, live music several nights a week, and an adjacent smoking room with a wide selection of cigars. Windows, the quayside winter-garden restaurant, serves creative French cuisine with a front-row view of the Jet d'Eau and Mont Blanc.

Standing outside the gates of Gruyères, this family-friendly hotel shares the same views of the valley and castle as in-town lodgings, but without the noise. The decor in the guest rooms mixes regional antiques, handsome woodwork, and ceramic stoves with contrasting color schemes. Although the hotel doesn't have a restaurant, breakfast is served in the dining room. Additional meal plans are offered using the restaurant of the sister property Hostellerie St-Georges.

In a typical 17th-century sandstone house, this hotel is within walking distance of museums, churches, the cathedral, and Old Town. The hotel is friendly and familial; all the rooms have been renovated, but the old-world charm has not been lost. It's on Fribourg's main street, so ask for a back room if you are a light sleeper.

This family-run country inn is draped in a profusion of geraniums in summertime and bundled in snowbanks in winter. Guest rooms are walled in pine and larch, with carved furniture and mounds of white linen on the beds. Hikers and skiers gather on the porch or near the stone hearth in the dining room for raclette bubbling off the open fire. Ask the owner, who's an experienced mountain guide and photographer, to show you some of his work; it leaves you breathless.

Right on cobblestoned Rue du Bourg, this beckoning small hotel has large, airy rooms that tastefully mix bright Tuscan colors with traditional pine furnishings. Rooms in the rear overlook the valley, and front rooms gaze out on the village. The honeymoon suite, with its pretty four-poster bed, is ideal for a romantic getaway. The restaurant serves steaming fondue, raclette, local trout, and other Swiss dishes. Special low rates in the quiet season are attractive.

Built in the 19th century on the site of two ancient guildhalls, this waterfront lodging is full of style, and one of the best addresses in the heart of the Old Town makes this the slickest in its price class. Rooms come with state-of-the-art tile baths, parquet floors, and black-and-white furnishings, and its chic restaurant has a combination as desirable as it is rare: an elegant interior, shimmering river views, and sophisticated fare adorned with 14 Gault-Millau points. There's a more casual, less expensive bistro area as well.