18 Best Hotels in Vaud, Switzerland

Silver mansards and yellow awnings flag this vast institution as a landmark, though its aristocratic interiors are now filled with cell-phone-chatting travelers. This colossal belle époque folly of stained glass, frescoes, and flamboyant molded stucco opened in 1906 and counts Vladimir Nabokov among its notable former residents (a bronze of the author stands in the lakeside gardens). Updated facilities do not compromise the allure of this grand hotel. You can be cyber-connected from any corner or secluded in a massage suite at the Willow Stream Spa. Guest rooms have fruitwood furniture, bold accessories, and whirlpool tubs trimmed in granite and marble.

Occupying four graceful 18th- and 19th-century villas and a historic hotel near the waterfront, this small complex has been modernized without ruffling its gentility or disturbing its graceful stone arches, marble floors, or discreet gardens. It's the best of both worlds: small-hotel attentiveness plus access to the facilities of the grand Beau-Rivage Palace next door. The hotel, where Lord Byron penned "The Prisoner of Chillon," anchors the compound. A private courtyard with glass pavilion receives guests and dispenses them to quarters furnished in styles ranging from contemporary historical to garden-party floral. A meal taken on the terrace of L'Accademia, the quay-facing Italian bistro, provides a glimpse of the lakefront lifestyle.

Honeycombed by dramatic atrium stairwells that look down on marble columns and gleaming floors inlaid with golden coronets, this regal landmark was Henry James's home base when he wrote (and set here) the novella Daisy Miller. Burgundy brocade with floral swags and coverlets contrast boldly with striped wallpaper in generously sized guest rooms. The spa, called Puressens (Pure Senses), offers a full range of restorative services that are a relaxing extension to time spent in the lower-level pool. A vast lakefront terrace overlooks the pollards, the promenade, and the steamers plying the lake.

After a six-year, top-to-bottom renovation, the historic Royal Savoy has been unveiled as the latest—and perhaps the finest—five-star hotel in all of Suisse Romande. Shaded by tall pines that surround its extensively manicured grounds, the art nouveau castle has strikingly modern interiors of palatial proportions, providing the ultimate urban luxury getaway. Ample rooms in a soothing gray color scheme are available in the main building or in a more contemporary annex, where you'll find a bamboo-enclosed indoor pool, footbaths, and a first-rate fitness center within the sleek, black marble confines of the Spa du Royal. Spend sundown with a signature cocktail on the rooftop lounge overlooking Lavaux vineyards and Alpine peaks across Lac Léman, then head to the smart-casual Brasserie for an unforgettable evening meal.

Behind this historical facade you'll find a courtyard hotel of modern proportions. Filled with light from the atrium, the streamlined rooms have ample work spaces and safes large enough to hold a laptop. A bamboo garden and palm trees add freshness to the busy reception area. The Thai kitchen overseen by imported chefs attracts locals for the most authentic Asian food around. Although the hotel is close to the train station, the walk uphill is a bit of a challenge with luggage.

Offering the best of old and new, this hotel contains 1920s frescoes of a winegrowers' festival on the ceiling of Brasserie La Coupole 1912, the old-fashioned restaurant, as well as a modern annex of guest rooms wired with up-to-the-minute technology. Adjacent to the train station, the congenial family-run place has an outdoor café and coffee bar, both convenient rendezvous points. An underground garage uses an elevator to lower cars from the narrow alley entrance to parking spaces beneath the building.

Of the scores of luxury hotels in Switzerland, this gleaming grande dame stands apart—its neoclassical flourishes seamlessly restored to period opulence, its vast waterfront grounds manicured like a country estate. Every inch of marble, crystal, and polished mahogany sparkles like new. Guest rooms have many modern touches—remote light controls, towel heaters, Wi-Fi. The hotel has a trio of top-notch restaurants: the romantic Anne-Sophie Pic, the lively Café Beau-Rivage, and the Miyako sushi bar. You can also enjoy the lake views over breakfast in the glass-enclosed La Terrasse. The sybaritic spa, umbrella-canopied terraces, meandering footpaths, and a hovering staff make it easy to understand why some guests stay the season.

A quiet tree-lined street in one of Lausanne's nicest neighborhoods masks this lodging's proximity to the train station. Rococo-style architecture is emphasized by embossed wallpapers, textured upholstery, and sweeping draperies in the nicely decorated guest rooms. The marble lobby and guest-room baths are polished to a high gloss; other aspects of innkeeping are equally as bright. Relax with a glass of wine in the French-influenced Carlton's Bar, knowing you are minutes from the Métro and the lakefront promenade.

Anita Brookner set her novel Hotel du Lac in this lakefront doyenne, where readers find an abundance of refinement and global sophistication proffered beneath the Relais & Châteaux banner. Dramatic Asian decor in the lobby and lounge are a sharp contrast to soothing pastels and honey creams that outfit luxe guest rooms. The veranda takes on a garden-party air at Sunday brunch, when, fortunately, hat and gloves are no longer de rigueur. An intimate spa and the only outdoor pool in town add to the attraction for today's discerning sojourners.

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.

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 Edwardian landmark, distinctly urbane in setting and style, stands on a hill high over the lake, with layers of city scenery draped behind. It faces a city street, so to take advantage of its views you need a back room. Shaded by an enormous indoor tree, the lobby is exquisite. Classic rooms blend new and old with contemporary tones and period details such as marble fireplaces. The sleek, calming spa offers a wide array of treatments and classes.

If you enjoy being away from the downtown resort scene, book into this demure little inn on a hillside in Veytaux, between Chillon and Montreux. Since it was built in 1829, it has had only a handful of owners, and the current family takes pride in its genteel period decor and the personalized attention that attracts repeat guests season after season. You'll find floral prints, brass beds, pristine linens, buffed parquet floors, and expansive lake views from the numerous balconies. The breakfast buffet is generous, with homemade breads and jams.

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.

Hidden in a parklike setting off the lake road, this mustard-color relais (inn) sits amid historic châteaux and country homes. Guest rooms with lawn and lake views have recently been updated and boast clean lines and neutral colors. Spacious baths have granite countertops, separate tubs and showers, and towel warmers. The bright breakfast room and fine-dining area spill onto a wide terrace. French cuisine dominates the menu, which ranges from fish specialties to local game.

No need to book a lake view room at this quaint hotel on the shoreline—all rooms provide a beautiful glimpse of Lac Léman. While it won't win any prizes for its traditional interiors, the hotel boasts simple, spotless rooms that channel the calm and serenity of the area. Two restaurants leave guests spoiled for choice: Downstairs, informal Le Pavois has a well-priced menu du jour at lunch, while the upstairs dining room is a bastion of refined French and Swiss cuisine.

In a town of world-renowned musical heritage, it's appropriate that the rooms of this small modern inn, tucked in the sharp curve of an Old Town thoroughfare, are themed for jazz, rock, and blues stars. The black, white, and red interiors are far from kitschy in their sleek minimalism, and the top floor has views over the city's rooftops, with postage-stamp balconies and contemporary showers. An active wine bar doubles as the morning breakfast nook.