Chosen by many as a winter destination because of its picturesque snow-capped mountains and world-class skiing resorts, Switzerland is more than a great place to spend some days in the slopes.

With some of the most beautiful views in the world paired with unmatched hospitality and fantastic restaurants, this country is the perfect destination year-round. Explore some of our favorite hotels in Switzerland and pick the perfect fit for your next holiday.

The best hotels in Switzerland

The Woodward

The Woodward

Right beside Lake Geneva and facing Mont Blanc beyond, The Woodward is within easy walking distance from the picturesque old town of Geneva, with its cluster of museums and churches, and is just minutes away from the main retail routes. The railway station is a 10-minute walk and the airport is 15 minutes away by cab.

The post-Haussman exterior gives way to art-filled interiors that are elegant, ageless, and traditional.

The Woodward

Designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, working with BEA SA architects, successfully creates the atmosphere of a private residence rather than a hotel by weaving the latest technology into the walls, some of which are clad in exquisite silk wallpapers from Fromental's Prunus collection with hand-painted and hand-embroidered flowers.

Wood prevails with parquetry on the flooring, straw marquetry on bedroom cupboards and polished ebony from Macassar in the lobby. Overlaying everything is an abundance of muted gold that gleams under the chandeliers, creating a sensuous warmth.

The Woodward

Service is outstanding, with staff both professional and polite, while waiters and barmen are informed about the food and drinks that they provide. Facilities for a 26-suite hotel are impressive: apart from the two restaurants and bars there is an enormous Guerlain Spa (the first in Switzerland) with the longest swimming pool in Geneva, among whirlpool tubs and experience showers, a sauna, a hammam and a fitness facility.

Out of the 26 suites, 21 look out onto the lake. Some, such as those on the sixth floor, having balconies with tables. The remaining five feature lakeside vistas from their sitting areas and boring street views from their bedrooms. The suites are decorated in muted tones, with accents such as Atelier Ann Midavaine lacquered doors to the 'experience bars' (which include a minibar and a Nespresso machine) with mother of pearl inserts.

The Woodward

They are large, with ample wardrobe space and a separate sitting room that has a second television and a suitable working area. Bathrooms with marble have Japanese toilets, large tubs, and big showers with Guerlain or Bamford products.

Chalet Spa

Chalet Spa

Tucked 100 metres down a private road from the Savoleyres gondola, with keycard gate admission, Chalet Spa offers beautiful, far reaching views across the Mont Blanc valley including the Grand and Petit Combin peaks. Verbier’s Savoleyres section offers a mix of moderate, family-friendly pistes, a tougher race training hill and long tobogganing loop.

When powder is ample, guests can return to the chalet off-piste, heading down the south face of Savoleyres, past the lift and back to the door. It’s a 10-minute walk down to the crowd of Verbier’s famed aprés ski and nightlife, or everything is always close via chauffeured Mercedes Viana.

Chalet Spa

A handsome, modern-alpine exterior conceals a wealth of decadent, contemporary furnishings and cutting-edge technology, such as mirrors that double as discreet televisions, iPad control systems, and a system that circulates humidified air throughout all four floors, allowing everyone to breathe and sleep more comfortably.

Spa, one of a small collection under the Chalet Spa banner, features an indoor infinity pool that converts to a water polo court, as well as a view of the mountains to the south through giant glass panels over one of the hot tubs.

Chalet Spa

Chalet Spa has five separate ensuite double rooms. The top level is dedicated to the master suite, which has a private balcony and a super king bed with cashmere throw, as well as a fitted mirrored closet with a mirror television. The wardrobe room also includes a glass-walled fireplace with views of the mountains.

The ensuite offers light therapy, jacuzzi bath with mountain views, tv, double basins and shower. Three more doubles, below the ground level, have ensuite showers, one an ensuite bath; two of these rooms can be combined via a bathroom to produce a two-room family suite.

Chalet Spa

On the lower floor, a staff apartment including two double rooms can be hired at extra cost if necessary for nannies or children, taking the total the chalet can sleep from 10 to 14. All of the five main doubles have iPad for controlling lights, tv etc, as well as White Company robes and toiletries.

Breakfast boasts choice of juices, yogurts, breads, confiture, cereals, eggs all ways including savoury accompaniments, while for afternoon tea, I thought it unnecessary to explore any further than the banana and sultana cake while others zoomed in on chef's still warm choc-chip cookies.

Dinner starts with canapés at apero time, then three dishes from a flexible chef who will be pleased to cater for private tastes whether spicy asian, roasted meats, vegetarian, pastas, vast selection of fish or simple nuggets and chips for the kids. A curry fan, I picked the Thai green king prawns with jasmine rice — excellent.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

The hotel is located on the right bank of the lake, near to the Point du Mont Blanc, the main bridge across the river Rhône to the town centre. It's a five-minute walk from the railway station.

The original grande dame of Geneva's hotel business has been dominating the waterfront for almost 180 years and shows no signs of slowing down now.

The opulent décor creates an immediate visual impact when visitors arrive into a foyer of marble floors, gilt-edged duck-egg-blue pillars, Ming-style vases and a chandelier raining tear-drop crystals over a big display of pink-hued tulips.

The extravagance continues in the salon, which recalls a 19th-century aristocrat's drawing room with its mahogany bookcases, porcelain lamps and blue-and-white patterned wallpaper representing castles, carriages and country views. Upstairs, the décor in the halls and bedrooms is calmer and more conducive to a good night's sleep.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

The service is responsive and courteous, without being stuffy. In addition to two restaurants, there is a charming bar with a creative cocktail menu and the Mont Blanc spa on the top level, which has a pool, sauna, hammam and comprehensive treatment possibilities. One minor complaint is that the lettering is often overly subtle, but there is typically a staff person on hand to assist you if you get lost trying to find food.

Rooms on the lower floors are classic in style, with a delicate blue-and-cream colour scheme, marble bathrooms and antique furniture. Those on higher levels pay hint to the hotel's background but are more contemporary, with cream-and-mocha soft furnishings, a rainforest shower encircled with led lights and (in the suites) a second television in the bathroom.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

The mattresses are large and comfy, the air-conditioning is quiet, there are tea and coffee-making facilities and a filled minibar featuring gluten-free snacks. Sometimes style overshadows substance – look out for convenient plug and USB sockets tucked away in trinket-like boxes by the bed.

Il Lago is a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant with magnificent frescoed rooms on the ground floor, while Izumi, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant, serves Nikkei cuisine in an intimate, contemporary setting of wood and frosted glass on the top floor. In the latter, my black cod Miso Zuke is melt-in-your-mouth soft, and a salad of spinach leaves coated in truffle oil is fantastic, while the mustard sauce on a salmon tataki starter is a tad overwhelming.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

On a hot day, guests can enjoy a spectacular view while eating on the beautiful roof terrace. The buffet breakfast at Il Lago includes handcrafted dishes including bircher muesli, granola, and chocolate spread. Eggs, pancakes and other cooked breakfast products are provided on the à la carte menu.

Gstaad Palace

Gstaad Palace

Towering above the Heidi-style village of Gstaad, the hotel's elevation offers dramatic views of the surrounding Swiss Alps. Lofty but not remote, with a three-minute shuttle ride to the nearby railway station or a half-mile walk down a forested path to the village centre. The pedestrianised main street features a promenade of high-end fashion and jewellery stores, interspersed by the occasional pharmacy or cheese shop. For skiers, neighbouring lifts provide access to more than 125 kilometres of mixed ability slopes in the Gstaad region.

The Gstaad Palace has the appearance of a luxury cruise liner parked in a high hamlet of the Swiss mountains. White-jacketed sommeliers, Venetian chandeliers, luxuriously carpeted halls and the sound of backgammon in the lobby bar all contribute to the regal hotel atmosphere. Alpine frescoes, hunting trophies, and a gallery of historic images of the owner's family and notable guests, including James Bond (Roger Moore) and Louis Armstrong, add a personal touch.

Gstaad Palace

Part of the Palace's attraction stems from the theatricality of its service rituals, which see a small army of uniformed workers answer to guest requests with speed and grace. The magnificent (and infamous) GreenGo club has kept its original Seventies dance décor long enough to be popular again.

The modern spa is inviting rather than clinical, with an authentic hammam and a beautiful circular fireplace. Tennis courts, an Olympic-sized pool, and the hotel's mountain getaway, the Welig Hut, all offer opportunities for active visitors during the summer.

Gstaad Palace

There are 104 rooms, including 25 suites and one penthouse apartment atop the main tower. The décor is in excellent condition thanks to frequent restorations performed when the hotel is closed in the spring and autumn. Standard rooms have pine panelling and fine upholstery in subtle greens, taupe, and claret. Victorian prints and embroidered couches complement the opulent chalet aesthetic. Balconies are not usual, and south-facing rooms are worth the higher price.

Gstaad Palace

Four restaurants range from the fancy Le Grill, which has a theatrical kitchen, to the earthy La Fromagerie, which is located in a former Swiss gold vault and serves delicious truffle fondue. Breakfast is served buffet-style at Le Grand restaurant. At the heart of the hotel is the enormous lobby bar, where a 30CHF (£24) cocktail will provide you a front-row ticket to the diamond and fur-clad operetta of Gstaad's high life.

The Alpina Gstaad

The Alpina Gstaad

I found an overheard remark that The Alpina is located in "the Beverly Hills of Gstaad" ridiculous - the town is small and the wealth is visible everywhere - but the property does occupy an outstanding hilltop position approximately a 10-minute walk from the main street. Upper-level accommodations offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and meadowlands; winter sports and hiking routes are easily accessible from anywhere in Gstaad.

The Alpina Gstaad complies with the town's strict planning regulations (only six storeys tall, timber-clad, and with cascades of blazing-pink geraniums falling from its balconies each summer), but this ostensibly traditional property, which opened in late 2012, also incorporates carefully chosen contemporary elements.

The Alpina Gstaad

A nice variety of modern art is on show throughout; a vintage popcorn maker is the only old feature in the otherwise high-end subterranean cinema. The design team has done an excellent job of endowing an apparently conservative property with attractive progressive aspects, and The Alpina clearly seems like one of Gstaad's more forward-thinking properties.

The Alpina is well-appointed for a hotel with only 56 guestrooms and suites. In the summer, the resort's main attraction is an outdoor pool, while in the winter, it is a nicely proportioned indoor pool.

The Alpina Gstaad

The Six Senses spa is multifunctional, with a 'healing grotto' completed with dusty-pink Himalayan salt bricks, as well as the traditional saunas and steam rooms. Every day, complimentary fitness classes are offered.

Service is also assured and efficient, albeit restaurant workers might be somewhat stiff and formal at times, which is a common occurrence in Switzerland.

​Rooms (all with balconies and fireplaces) are cosy, comfortable and delightful places to linger, clad in timber and maybe equipped with century-old, hand-painted cabinets or finished with samples of traditional Swiss art. Beds, linens, and toiletries (from Acqua di Parma) all meet the high standards expected by Gstaad regulars, and the chalet-style suites are also noteworthy; The Telegraph's Ultratravel magazine ranked the hotel's premium Panorama Suite one of the world's top 50 suites.

The Alpina Gstaad

The dining alternatives are wide. Refined Sommet delivers dependably delightful cooking - a gently warmed carbonara cooked with Swiss spaetzle noodles and topped with gooey poached egg yolk was pure, unadorned pleasure; the Swiss wines on offer aren't always as effective, but sampling the cellar's various labels is worthwhile.

More trendy sushi restaurant Megu pays subtle homage to Japan with slate-grey gardens groomed to mimic temple gardens; standards are high (like Sommet, it has a Michelin star) and, given Gstaad's location, fish quality is impressive.

The breakfast buffet, meanwhile, goes above and beyond with an extensive spread of on-trend healthy options - a rainbow of quinoas, scrambled egg whites and fresh vegetable juices - and the lounge and bar area allows for casual dining, with homemade pastas and simple Mediterranean dishes complemented by decent, classic cocktails. All have terrace seating in the summer, while the wood-paneled, chalet-style restaurant Swiss Stubli serves classic meals in the winter.

Baur Au Lac

Baur Au Lac

Baur au Lac is surrounded by green private parks on the outskirts of the financial centre and the upscale shopping area Bahnhofstrasse, with views of the lake and the Alps. Stadelhofen station is a 10-minute walk along the promenade, and there are tram and bus connections to the main station nearby.

A cute market can be found on nearby Bürkliplatz, and old town landmarks such as the beautiful twin-spired Grossmünster are all within a 10-minute walk. It is Zurich's only hotel authorised to meet customers at the airport luggage carousel.

The hotel first opened in 1844 and has stayed in the same family ever since, hosting renowned guests such as Empress Sisi of Austria and Alfred Hitchcock. A mostly listed structure built in a figure of eight, it is a maze of vast hallways with low-ceilinged cosiness. It combines immaculate old-world grandeur (the lobby is panelled in wood and has a classic kiosk) with subtle flamboyance, as seen in jewel hues, enormous porcelain vases, modern oil paintings, and magnificent flowers chosen by the in-house florist.

Baur Au Lac

The brilliant centrepiece is Le Hall, which exudes an intoxicating sense of activity. Afternoon tea is served here among stylish topiary, velvet sofas in the style of Louis XVI, and a tumbling chandelier.

Smart workers are cheerful and energetic while providing outstanding service with discretion and etiquette. They are clearly proud to be a part of the hotel, know a lot about its history, and will gladly show you around. Request to be shown the wonderful private rooftop deck. There is a business area, ballroom, meeting rooms, and a light-filled top-floor gym with lake views, cutting-edge equipment, and massages.

The 119 rooms and suites are big and elegant. There's a nice mix of Art Deco, Louis XVI, and English Regency designs, so midnight velvet sofas nestle up to big porcelain lamps, and claw-foot side tables rest beneath large mirrors and modern artwork. You'll enjoy the view from the lake-view junior corner suites, but whatever room you select, request a balcony.

Chosen by many as a winter destination because of its picturesque snow-capped mountains and world-class skiing resorts, Switzerland is more than a great place to spend some days in the slopes.

With some of the most beautiful views in the world paired with unmatched hospitality and fantastic restaurants, this country is the perfect destination year-round. Explore some of our favorite hotels in Switzerland and pick the perfect fit for your next holiday.

The best hotels in Switzerland

The Woodward

The Woodward

Right beside Lake Geneva and facing Mont Blanc beyond, The Woodward is within easy walking distance from the picturesque old town of Geneva, with its cluster of museums and churches, and is just minutes away from the main retail routes. The railway station is a 10-minute walk and the airport is 15 minutes away by cab.

The post-Haussman exterior gives way to art-filled interiors that are elegant, ageless, and traditional.

The Woodward

Designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, working with BEA SA architects, successfully creates the atmosphere of a private residence rather than a hotel by weaving the latest technology into the walls, some of which are clad in exquisite silk wallpapers from Fromental's Prunus collection with hand-painted and hand-embroidered flowers.

Wood prevails with parquetry on the flooring, straw marquetry on bedroom cupboards and polished ebony from Macassar in the lobby. Overlaying everything is an abundance of muted gold that gleams under the chandeliers, creating a sensuous warmth.

The Woodward

Service is outstanding, with staff both professional and polite, while waiters and barmen are informed about the food and drinks that they provide. Facilities for a 26-suite hotel are impressive: apart from the two restaurants and bars there is an enormous Guerlain Spa (the first in Switzerland) with the longest swimming pool in Geneva, among whirlpool tubs and experience showers, a sauna, a hammam and a fitness facility.

Out of the 26 suites, 21 look out onto the lake. Some, such as those on the sixth floor, having balconies with tables. The remaining five feature lakeside vistas from their sitting areas and boring street views from their bedrooms. The suites are decorated in muted tones, with accents such as Atelier Ann Midavaine lacquered doors to the 'experience bars' (which include a minibar and a Nespresso machine) with mother of pearl inserts.

The Woodward

They are large, with ample wardrobe space and a separate sitting room that has a second television and a suitable working area. Bathrooms with marble have Japanese toilets, large tubs, and big showers with Guerlain or Bamford products.

Chalet Spa

Chalet Spa

Tucked 100 metres down a private road from the Savoleyres gondola, with keycard gate admission, Chalet Spa offers beautiful, far reaching views across the Mont Blanc valley including the Grand and Petit Combin peaks. Verbier’s Savoleyres section offers a mix of moderate, family-friendly pistes, a tougher race training hill and long tobogganing loop.

When powder is ample, guests can return to the chalet off-piste, heading down the south face of Savoleyres, past the lift and back to the door. It’s a 10-minute walk down to the crowd of Verbier’s famed aprés ski and nightlife, or everything is always close via chauffeured Mercedes Viana.

Chalet Spa

A handsome, modern-alpine exterior conceals a wealth of decadent, contemporary furnishings and cutting-edge technology, such as mirrors that double as discreet televisions, iPad control systems, and a system that circulates humidified air throughout all four floors, allowing everyone to breathe and sleep more comfortably.

Spa, one of a small collection under the Chalet Spa banner, features an indoor infinity pool that converts to a water polo court, as well as a view of the mountains to the south through giant glass panels over one of the hot tubs.

Chalet Spa

Chalet Spa has five separate ensuite double rooms. The top level is dedicated to the master suite, which has a private balcony and a super king bed with cashmere throw, as well as a fitted mirrored closet with a mirror television. The wardrobe room also includes a glass-walled fireplace with views of the mountains.

The ensuite offers light therapy, jacuzzi bath with mountain views, tv, double basins and shower. Three more doubles, below the ground level, have ensuite showers, one an ensuite bath; two of these rooms can be combined via a bathroom to produce a two-room family suite.

Chalet Spa

On the lower floor, a staff apartment including two double rooms can be hired at extra cost if necessary for nannies or children, taking the total the chalet can sleep from 10 to 14. All of the five main doubles have iPad for controlling lights, tv etc, as well as White Company robes and toiletries.

Breakfast boasts choice of juices, yogurts, breads, confiture, cereals, eggs all ways including savoury accompaniments, while for afternoon tea, I thought it unnecessary to explore any further than the banana and sultana cake while others zoomed in on chef's still warm choc-chip cookies.

Dinner starts with canapés at apero time, then three dishes from a flexible chef who will be pleased to cater for private tastes whether spicy asian, roasted meats, vegetarian, pastas, vast selection of fish or simple nuggets and chips for the kids. A curry fan, I picked the Thai green king prawns with jasmine rice — excellent.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

The hotel is located on the right bank of the lake, near to the Point du Mont Blanc, the main bridge across the river Rhône to the town centre. It's a five-minute walk from the railway station.

The original grande dame of Geneva's hotel business has been dominating the waterfront for almost 180 years and shows no signs of slowing down now.

The opulent décor creates an immediate visual impact when visitors arrive into a foyer of marble floors, gilt-edged duck-egg-blue pillars, Ming-style vases and a chandelier raining tear-drop crystals over a big display of pink-hued tulips.

The extravagance continues in the salon, which recalls a 19th-century aristocrat's drawing room with its mahogany bookcases, porcelain lamps and blue-and-white patterned wallpaper representing castles, carriages and country views. Upstairs, the décor in the halls and bedrooms is calmer and more conducive to a good night's sleep.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

The service is responsive and courteous, without being stuffy. In addition to two restaurants, there is a charming bar with a creative cocktail menu and the Mont Blanc spa on the top level, which has a pool, sauna, hammam and comprehensive treatment possibilities. One minor complaint is that the lettering is often overly subtle, but there is typically a staff person on hand to assist you if you get lost trying to find food.

Rooms on the lower floors are classic in style, with a delicate blue-and-cream colour scheme, marble bathrooms and antique furniture. Those on higher levels pay hint to the hotel's background but are more contemporary, with cream-and-mocha soft furnishings, a rainforest shower encircled with led lights and (in the suites) a second television in the bathroom.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

The mattresses are large and comfy, the air-conditioning is quiet, there are tea and coffee-making facilities and a filled minibar featuring gluten-free snacks. Sometimes style overshadows substance – look out for convenient plug and USB sockets tucked away in trinket-like boxes by the bed.

Il Lago is a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant with magnificent frescoed rooms on the ground floor, while Izumi, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant, serves Nikkei cuisine in an intimate, contemporary setting of wood and frosted glass on the top floor. In the latter, my black cod Miso Zuke is melt-in-your-mouth soft, and a salad of spinach leaves coated in truffle oil is fantastic, while the mustard sauce on a salmon tataki starter is a tad overwhelming.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

On a hot day, guests can enjoy a spectacular view while eating on the beautiful roof terrace. The buffet breakfast at Il Lago includes handcrafted dishes including bircher muesli, granola, and chocolate spread. Eggs, pancakes and other cooked breakfast products are provided on the à la carte menu.

Gstaad Palace

Gstaad Palace

Towering above the Heidi-style village of Gstaad, the hotel's elevation offers dramatic views of the surrounding Swiss Alps. Lofty but not remote, with a three-minute shuttle ride to the nearby railway station or a half-mile walk down a forested path to the village centre. The pedestrianised main street features a promenade of high-end fashion and jewellery stores, interspersed by the occasional pharmacy or cheese shop. For skiers, neighbouring lifts provide access to more than 125 kilometres of mixed ability slopes in the Gstaad region.

The Gstaad Palace has the appearance of a luxury cruise liner parked in a high hamlet of the Swiss mountains. White-jacketed sommeliers, Venetian chandeliers, luxuriously carpeted halls and the sound of backgammon in the lobby bar all contribute to the regal hotel atmosphere. Alpine frescoes, hunting trophies, and a gallery of historic images of the owner's family and notable guests, including James Bond (Roger Moore) and Louis Armstrong, add a personal touch.

Gstaad Palace

Part of the Palace's attraction stems from the theatricality of its service rituals, which see a small army of uniformed workers answer to guest requests with speed and grace. The magnificent (and infamous) GreenGo club has kept its original Seventies dance décor long enough to be popular again.

The modern spa is inviting rather than clinical, with an authentic hammam and a beautiful circular fireplace. Tennis courts, an Olympic-sized pool, and the hotel's mountain getaway, the Welig Hut, all offer opportunities for active visitors during the summer.

Gstaad Palace

There are 104 rooms, including 25 suites and one penthouse apartment atop the main tower. The décor is in excellent condition thanks to frequent restorations performed when the hotel is closed in the spring and autumn. Standard rooms have pine panelling and fine upholstery in subtle greens, taupe, and claret. Victorian prints and embroidered couches complement the opulent chalet aesthetic. Balconies are not usual, and south-facing rooms are worth the higher price.

Gstaad Palace

Four restaurants range from the fancy Le Grill, which has a theatrical kitchen, to the earthy La Fromagerie, which is located in a former Swiss gold vault and serves delicious truffle fondue. Breakfast is served buffet-style at Le Grand restaurant. At the heart of the hotel is the enormous lobby bar, where a 30CHF (£24) cocktail will provide you a front-row ticket to the diamond and fur-clad operetta of Gstaad's high life.

The Alpina Gstaad

The Alpina Gstaad

I found an overheard remark that The Alpina is located in "the Beverly Hills of Gstaad" ridiculous - the town is small and the wealth is visible everywhere - but the property does occupy an outstanding hilltop position approximately a 10-minute walk from the main street. Upper-level accommodations offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and meadowlands; winter sports and hiking routes are easily accessible from anywhere in Gstaad.

The Alpina Gstaad complies with the town's strict planning regulations (only six storeys tall, timber-clad, and with cascades of blazing-pink geraniums falling from its balconies each summer), but this ostensibly traditional property, which opened in late 2012, also incorporates carefully chosen contemporary elements.

The Alpina Gstaad

A nice variety of modern art is on show throughout; a vintage popcorn maker is the only old feature in the otherwise high-end subterranean cinema. The design team has done an excellent job of endowing an apparently conservative property with attractive progressive aspects, and The Alpina clearly seems like one of Gstaad's more forward-thinking properties.

The Alpina is well-appointed for a hotel with only 56 guestrooms and suites. In the summer, the resort's main attraction is an outdoor pool, while in the winter, it is a nicely proportioned indoor pool.

The Alpina Gstaad

The Six Senses spa is multifunctional, with a 'healing grotto' completed with dusty-pink Himalayan salt bricks, as well as the traditional saunas and steam rooms. Every day, complimentary fitness classes are offered.

Service is also assured and efficient, albeit restaurant workers might be somewhat stiff and formal at times, which is a common occurrence in Switzerland.

​Rooms (all with balconies and fireplaces) are cosy, comfortable and delightful places to linger, clad in timber and maybe equipped with century-old, hand-painted cabinets or finished with samples of traditional Swiss art. Beds, linens, and toiletries (from Acqua di Parma) all meet the high standards expected by Gstaad regulars, and the chalet-style suites are also noteworthy; The Telegraph's Ultratravel magazine ranked the hotel's premium Panorama Suite one of the world's top 50 suites.

The Alpina Gstaad

The dining alternatives are wide. Refined Sommet delivers dependably delightful cooking - a gently warmed carbonara cooked with Swiss spaetzle noodles and topped with gooey poached egg yolk was pure, unadorned pleasure; the Swiss wines on offer aren't always as effective, but sampling the cellar's various labels is worthwhile.

More trendy sushi restaurant Megu pays subtle homage to Japan with slate-grey gardens groomed to mimic temple gardens; standards are high (like Sommet, it has a Michelin star) and, given Gstaad's location, fish quality is impressive.

The breakfast buffet, meanwhile, goes above and beyond with an extensive spread of on-trend healthy options - a rainbow of quinoas, scrambled egg whites and fresh vegetable juices - and the lounge and bar area allows for casual dining, with homemade pastas and simple Mediterranean dishes complemented by decent, classic cocktails. All have terrace seating in the summer, while the wood-paneled, chalet-style restaurant Swiss Stubli serves classic meals in the winter.

Baur Au Lac

Baur Au Lac

Baur au Lac is surrounded by green private parks on the outskirts of the financial centre and the upscale shopping area Bahnhofstrasse, with views of the lake and the Alps. Stadelhofen station is a 10-minute walk along the promenade, and there are tram and bus connections to the main station nearby.

A cute market can be found on nearby Bürkliplatz, and old town landmarks such as the beautiful twin-spired Grossmünster are all within a 10-minute walk. It is Zurich's only hotel authorised to meet customers at the airport luggage carousel.

The hotel first opened in 1844 and has stayed in the same family ever since, hosting renowned guests such as Empress Sisi of Austria and Alfred Hitchcock. A mostly listed structure built in a figure of eight, it is a maze of vast hallways with low-ceilinged cosiness. It combines immaculate old-world grandeur (the lobby is panelled in wood and has a classic kiosk) with subtle flamboyance, as seen in jewel hues, enormous porcelain vases, modern oil paintings, and magnificent flowers chosen by the in-house florist.

Baur Au Lac

The brilliant centrepiece is Le Hall, which exudes an intoxicating sense of activity. Afternoon tea is served here among stylish topiary, velvet sofas in the style of Louis XVI, and a tumbling chandelier.

Smart workers are cheerful and energetic while providing outstanding service with discretion and etiquette. They are clearly proud to be a part of the hotel, know a lot about its history, and will gladly show you around. Request to be shown the wonderful private rooftop deck. There is a business area, ballroom, meeting rooms, and a light-filled top-floor gym with lake views, cutting-edge equipment, and massages.

The 119 rooms and suites are big and elegant. There's a nice mix of Art Deco, Louis XVI, and English Regency designs, so midnight velvet sofas nestle up to big porcelain lamps, and claw-foot side tables rest beneath large mirrors and modern artwork. You'll enjoy the view from the lake-view junior corner suites, but whatever room you select, request a balcony.