256 Best Hotels in Switzerland

It has a no-thrills modern exterior, but from the inside out guests are rewarded with stunning views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. The rooms are dressed in crisp white and muted browns and topped with sumptous touches—marble bathrooms and Bang & Olufsen TVs and sound systems. A large fitness room, two-story La Mer spa, outdoor pool, and Michelin-starred restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows of the lake add to the luxuriousness. 

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. 

This solid lodging has a delightfully old-fashioned facade, modern interiors, and a welcoming atmosphere that comes from being family-owned and -run. A dozen rooms have balconies with lake views, and four have small kitchenettes. The hotel is a block from the boat landing and close to the Rigibahn. Both the restaurant and the Stübli serve good, simple fish dishes, and there's a pleasant garden terrace.

The location of this modest but roomy hotel, within a brownstone dating from 1899, is a great asset; set across from the university, it's in a quiet area far from the shopping masses. Select renovated rooms feature comfy beds, simple furnishings, and air-conditioning; their generally large size makes them great for traveling families. The price is right, but don't expect basic in-room amenities such as coffee or tea.

This isolated hotel is reachable on foot, by bus, or by horse-drawn carriage/sleigh (it's about 7½ km [4½ miles] up the ruggedly beautiful Roseg Valley), but its location in this untouched valley at the foot of a majestic glacier makes for a unique hiking or relaxing point. The restaurant offers simple regional favorites throughout the year; in fall there's wild game. This is a very popular lunch spot for hikers, bikers, and cross-country skiers, who reward themselves with a selection from the massive dessert buffet. The rooms are spartan but fresh; you pay a little more for a private shower. Children can use the rustic playground. Be sure to arrange a bus transfer or, if you're feeling romantic, a horse-drawn carriage pickup, from the Pontresina train station before your stay.

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.

Ideally located on Lugano's main shopping street, this family-run hotel has a reception area that doubles as a coffee shop that serves up some of the best espresso drinks in town. It's near the funicular and a block from the waterfront, but manages to remain peaceful after sundown.

This 19th-century grand hotel welcomes you with its inspiring Roseg Valley views, warm interiors decorated in vibrant colors, and a free minibar that's restocked daily. The family-friendly property includes modern, spacious rooms with separate bedrooms to accommodate couples with one or two children. One part of the hotel is older, with art nouveau–style rooms, and one newer, with rooms done up in a contemporary fashion; most rooms are carpeted, so ask for one with parquet floors if that's your preference. There's also a pleasant spa that includes heated indoor and outdoor pools (outdoor pool open June–October), along with a sauna, steam room, and gym. The charming Art Nouveau Restaurant serves Swiss specialties along with a few international dishes, while the affiliated Giodi Vegetarian and Co. devises mostly vegetarian creations.

This neatly tailored hotel is just minutes from the main train station, as well as the city's markets and arcaded shopping streets. Across from the Stauffacher bookstore, it features pale wooden furniture, earth-toned textiles, and modern bathrooms with walk-in showers. The fourth and fifth floors have rooftop views, and suites have extra seating areas. Rooms facing the Hof (inner courtyard) are the quieter option.

With an ideal setting, the Schiff has a sheltered terrace overlooking a shady park and waterfront promenade. Inside, you'll find an eclectic collection of heavy wood furniture and antiques, sometimes overwhelmed by the floral wallpapers that can make some guest rooms feel cluttered. The gourmet restaurant, Lord Nelson, has lake views and wraps around the garden. Specialties include local fish and inventive combination dishes such as beef tournedos and giant shrimp. Bicycles are welcome, and the staff can help you rent one in town.

This big-city hotel in the center of town was built in 1896 and still offers grand public areas with carved wood and moldings alongside refined, if a tad faded, guest rooms with truly wondrous views. All rooms are done up in lively red and blues; southern-facing rooms have balconies with unimpeded views of the Alpine lakeside panorama. The lovely breakfast room has a ceiling featuring a glittering birch forest painted by Gottardo Segantini, son of the Italian artist, and the informal Acla restaurant serves up solid meals such as Swiss beef and Wiener schnitzel; its outdoor terrace is open in summer and winter (in good weather). The basement bars, featuring live music, are resort staples on weekends. The rooftop wellness center offers saunas, steam baths, massages, and superb views over the lake. In the summer months, the hotel provides free e-bikes to guests.

Part of Michel Reybier Hospitality Group (La Réserve), this cozy design-minded inn is a chic, almost urban, place to bunk down with velvet pillows, a fireplace in the library, and a full-size indoor pool in the spa. Its 95 airy, clean rooms feature sleek mid-century modern furniture, desks, and fluffy beds. Most have a terrace or balcony with views of the Matterhorn. Choose from BBQ and pizza in the Schweizerhof Kitchen (complete with a nightly DJ), Peruvian-Japanese fusion at La Muña (winter-only), and fondue at the Cheese Factory (also winter-only).

Across from the train station and next to the cable car to Mürren, this wonderful family-owned hotel with a lovely garden is a surprisingly quiet option. Knotty Arvenholz (pine) panels accent the spick-and-span guest rooms. On clear days you may want to chill out in one of the wicker chairs on the sunny porch. The dependable restaurant offers satisfying meals of Rösti and meat fondues in a swanky wood-lined salon. The more casual Gaststube overlooks a truly elegant fireplace room with cathedral ceiling, exposed timbers, and lots of happy guests. You can also get wood-fired pizzas every evening.

This delightful hotel in an old chalet-style building is family-run and welcoming of other families, with apartments featuring small kitchens and fireplaces perfect for a small clan. The regular guest rooms either feature wood paneling or are white with touches of pine, and south-facing rooms are bright, clean, and airy with nice balconies. Note that most bathrooms have showers instead of tubs. The communal living area, small bar with fireplace, large sun terrace with mountain views, and garden are homey and informal, with games for old and young (including billiards and foosball). A five-course dinner is available for a small extra charge.

Next to the Roseg Valley entrance, the cross-country skiing center, and the train station, this handy hotel offers dependable, low-key accommodations with simple, tasteful guest rooms decked out in traditional wooden furniture. In summer, a two-night stay gets you free travel on all local trains, buses, and cable cars; in winter, lift tickets can be arranged through the hotel, helping you avoid long lift-ticket lines. The bright and cheery restaurant offers simple, tasty Italian and Swiss fare at reasonable prices, nicely complementing the rustic wood-wood-and-more-wood chalet style of the Station. If you stay longer than a week, rates get cheaper.

This family-owned and family-run hotel, built in 1677, is next door to the town's main church and offers modern, wood-clad guest rooms, a cozy lounge with fireplace, a notable restaurant, and a rooftop terrace for relaxing. The Veltliner Weinstuben restaurant serves local wines and focuses on flavorful regional dishes such as Capuns (stuffed chard) and Maluns (potatoes slow-fried in butter); in autumn, it's all about the game and venison. Note that the elevator goes only to the third of the four floors.

The shuttered windows of this 18th-century patrician house overlook the waterfront, and inside you can lounge in sitting rooms richly furnished with precious antiques, handsome books, and even a grand piano. The rooms range from lavish corner doubles with lake views to tiny quarters overlooking the courtyard that are an excellent value.

Marked by its distinctive turret topped with a Swiss flag, this former post office provides simply and tastefully decorated guest rooms and a familial atmosphere ideal for those seeking a peaceful home away from home. Guests are welcomed with a drink in the antiques-filled sitting room. A nightcap in front of the fireplace on winter evenings rounds off a most restful experience. The hotel's restaurant serves a nightly four-course menu for a small additional fee.

With its own lakefront garden, a full-service spa, and a restaurant in the former boathouse with views over the glittering lake, you're likely to be tempted to stay a little longer, no matter how many days you booked. Paul Klee, Richard Strauss, and many a head of state have visited this Jugendstil hotel since it opened in 1901. During renovations, the designers kept original architectural flourishes like frescoed ceilings and curved stucco moldings to balance out the modern, modular furnishings.

With the friendliness that comes from a family-run establishment, this chalet-style guesthouse is set on a quiet street overlooking the village and houses one of the best restaurants in town. The recently renovated rooms are bathed in buttery yellows and soft pinks, with comfy beds. There's exceptionally warm service from bubbly and genuine proprietress Evelyne Beckert-Grichting, who can be seen making the rounds in the restaurant, chatting with the guests in multiple languages. The rustic restaurant dishes up Valaisan meat dishes, raclettes, and fondues complemented by excellent regional and Bordeaux wines. Rates include a breakfast buffet and six-course gourmet dinner, as well as three hours in the Alpentherme baths, use of the Torrent and Gemmi cable cars in the summer, and other perks. The sprawling terrace has great mountain views and is home to frequent live music.

This welcoming family-run grand hotel, dating from 1907, highlights an appealing blend of contemporary style and old-fashioned charm. Guest rooms vary greatly in style and size, ranging from compact and rather sparse with no balcony to elaborately decorated with stunning views; all feature brightly colored fabrics. Note that not all rooms have been renovated; some are carpeted, and others don’t have separate showers, so be sure to ask if you want something specific. Restaurants range from the Grand Restaurant, in an elegant art deco style; the cozy Italian La Trattoria; and Gondolezza, which serves fondue and raclette in a former cable car cabin. Guests are welcome to use the Aqua Viva indoor pool and wellness center, which includes a sauna, steam bath, and whirlpool; the fitness center; three clay tennis courts; and mountain bikes—all free of charge. There’s also a heated ski storage room if you’re there to hit the slopes—as you should, since you’re surrounded by some of Switzerland’s best.

One of the city's best-known hotels, the gracious and atmospheric Wilden Mann has stone walls, coffered ceilings, brass fittings, and burnished wood everywhere. Even the street feels authentic—across the way is a 16th-century pharmacy. The hotel's reputation extends to its restaurants: the Burgerstube is cozy with its dark beams and family crests, whereas Restaurant Sauvage is more formal. Both menus strike a fine balance between local cooking and French cuisine, with main dishes such as venison with wild mushrooms and cream sauce, and desserts like caramel flan with fresh fruits and whipped cream.

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.

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.

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.

Next to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, this historic hotel's 1908 interiors are exuberantly decorated, with gilded paintings, ornate antiques, and heavy, sumptuous furniture. Family-run for more than 100 years, it's the only hotel in the Old Town with a large garden and pool area. Light sleepers should request a room away from the street.

Away from the throb of downtown but only a 15-minute walk back, this is the best deal in town for anyone on a budget and willing to share a bathroom. Each room has its own color scheme, inspired by a local liqueur (the Kirsch room has a mural of cherry trees on one wall). Beds are very comfortable, with down quilts and soft pillows. The café downstairs doubles as the reception area and breakfast room.

In an elegant waterfront mansion, the art deco Krafft has a can't-get-any-better location that makes it perfect for people-watching; the building is open and airy, and comfortable guest rooms have wood floors and are simply furnished with Swiss designer furniture. Two rooftop suites offer riverside balconies. The traditional, highly rated dining room and ever-popular waterfront terrace provide spectacular views of the Old Town. The Consum Residence, across the street, is where you'll find additional rooms as well as a trendy wine-and-cheese bar.

Lodging high up on the Corniche Road yields superlative views with elegant comfort. The inn is named after 17th-century author and adventurer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, and its entry is stocked with stained glass, porcelain, and metalwork similar to the trove brought back from his travels to Persia, Africa, and the Orient. Guest rooms are clad in honey and green with marbled bathrooms and private balconies. Le Deck, an expansive terrace bar and eatery connected by a crosswalk, is tethered above the lake like a hot-air balloon.