- The Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz, opened in 1896, has 163 rooms, including 47 suites, and opens for winter from 3 December 2026 to 30 March 2027.
- The Gstaad Palace, open since 1913, welcomes guests from 15 December 2026 to 7 March 2027, from CHF 2,868.80 for two nights in January, breakfast and dining credit included.
- The Mont Cervin Palace stands in the car-free centre of Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn, with 154 rooms and suites.
- The Bürgenstock Resort near Lake Lucerne comprises 4 hotels, 12 restaurants, and the historic 1.9 km Felsenweg rock path.
The Swiss Alps have remained Europe’s favourite luxury playground for over a century. From the Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz to the Gstaad Palace, from Zermatt’s Mont Cervin Palace to the jewels of Crans-Montana, these grand hotels combine Alpine tradition and Swiss hospitality. On the shores of Lake Geneva, the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne completes the map. Season dates and January rates were checked on the hotels’ own websites on 23 October 2026.
- Badrutt's Palace Hotel · 3 December 2026
- Mont Cervin Palace · 10 December 2026
- Gstaad Palace · 15 December 2026
1. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel · St. Moritz
The neo-Gothic landmark above the lake officially opened on 29 July 1896 and is still run by the Badrutt family. 163 rooms, including 47 suites; in winter, 11 restaurants, two bars and a club, among them La Coupole-Matsuhisa (16 GaultMillau points), Chesa Veglia (15 points) and the Paradiso Mountain Club on Corviglia. An indoor infinity pool and a heated outdoor pool complete the Palace Wellness. Up to 80% of the hotel is heated by a pump drawing on the water of Lake St. Moritz. Winter season: 3 December 2026 to 30 March 2027. GaultMillau named it Hotel of the Year 2026.
- Address: Via Serlas 27, 7500 St. Moritz
- Capacity: 163 rooms, including 47 suites
- Distinction: 5-star superior · GaultMillau Hotel of the Year 2026
- Winter 2026-2027: 3 December to 30 March · rate on request (online booking engine not readable on 23 October)
- Official website: badruttspalace.com
2. Gstaad Palace
Above the village since 1913, owned by the Scherz family since 1947 and run by Andrea Scherz since 2001. 90 rooms and suites, six restaurants and four bars, including Le Grill (16 GaultMillau points), Gildo’s Ristorante and La Fromagerie, and a 1,800 m² Palace Spa with indoor and outdoor pools. Rates usually include breakfast and a dining credit of CHF 100 per person per day. Winter season: 15 December 2026 to 7 March 2027. We found CHF 2,868.80 for two nights in a Classic Room from 17 to 19 January 2027 (two-night minimum, taxes, breakfast and dining credit included), on the hotel’s booking engine on 23 October 2026.
- Address: Palacestrasse 28, 3780 Gstaad
- Capacity: 90 rooms & suites
- Distinction: 5-star superior · Le Grill, 16 GaultMillau points
- Winter 2026-2027: 15 December to 7 March · from CHF 1,434.40 a night on a two-night stay (checked 23 October 2026)
- Official website: palace.ch
3. Beau-Rivage Palace · Lausanne
On the shores of Lake Geneva since 1861, with 168 Belle Époque rooms and suites, Anne-Sophie Pic au Beau-Rivage Palace restaurant (2 Michelin stars), Café Beau-Rivage brasserie, Cinq Mondes spa. Panoramic views of the lake and the Vaudois Alps. The only lakeside palace in our selection · the antithesis of an alpine palace, but equally essential.
- Address: Place du Port 17-19, 1006 Lausanne
- Capacity: 168 rooms & suites
- Distinction: 5-star · ⭐⭐ Michelin Anne-Sophie Pic
- Official website: brp.ch
4. Mont Cervin Palace · Zermatt
At the foot of the Matterhorn, in the heart of the car-free village, one of the oldest grand hotels in the Alps still in operation. 154 rooms and suites blending mountain tradition with contemporary comfort, Le Cervin restaurant, and a Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant. Spa with swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, listed ballroom. Direct views of the Matterhorn from most rooms.
- Address: Bahnhofstrasse 31, 3920 Zermatt
- Capacity: 154 rooms & suites
- Distinction: 5-star superior · Matterhorn view
- Official website: montcervinpalace.ch
5. Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne
On the Bürgenstock plateau, 500 metres above Lake Lucerne. A multi-address resort (Bürgenstock Hotel 5*, Palace 5*, Waldhotel 4*, Taverne 1879 3*), 12 restaurants and bars, the legendary 1.9 km Felsenweg rock path, and an Alpine spa. Audrey Hepburn lived part of her private life here. An XXL Swiss experience, halfway between alpine and lakeside.
- Address: Bürgenstock 22, 6363 Bürgenstock
- Capacity: 4 hotels + residences
- Distinction: Multi-hotel resort, 12 restaurants
- Official website: buergenstock.ch
6. Le Crans Hotel & SPA · Crans-Montana
On the heights of Crans-Montana, with panoramic views of the Valaisan Alps. 39 contemporarily designed rooms and suites, a 2,500 m² spa with heated indoor and outdoor pools, and LeMontBlanc restaurant. The antithesis of a classic palace: intimate, contemporary, human-sized. A premium niche in a resort with few others like it.
- Address: Plans Mayens 1, 3963 Crans-Montana
- Capacity: 39 rooms & suites
- Distinction: 5-star superior · 2,500 m² spa
- Official website: lecrans.com
7. The Chedi Andermatt
In the heart of Andermatt, in the Urseren valley (canton of Uri), an Asian-inspired palace in the heart of the Alps. 123 rooms and suites + 119 residences, designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. The Restaurant with its 4-season open kitchen, The Japanese restaurant, and a 2,400 m² spa with indoor and outdoor pools. Unique contemporary chalet architecture within the Swiss alpine landscape.
- Address: Gotthardstrasse 4, 6490 Andermatt
- Capacity: 123 rooms + 119 residences
- Distinction: 5-star superior · Jean-Michel Gathy
- Official website: thechediandermatt.com
8. The Alpina Gstaad
The Park Gstaad, which used to hold this place, is closed this winter and will reopen as a Four Seasons in summer 2027 (our report). In its place, The Alpina Gstaad, opened on 1 December 2012 on a sunny slope above the village: 56 rooms and suites, all with a private terrace, Switzerland’s first Six Senses Spa, with indoor and outdoor pools, Japanese cooking at Megu, plus Monti and the Swiss Stübli. Winter season: 11 December 2026 to 7 March 2027. We found CHF 4,887.20 for two nights in a Deluxe Room Schönried from 17 to 19 January 2027 (two-night minimum, breakfast and tourist tax included, non-refundable; CHF 5,427.20 on the flexible rate), on the hotel’s booking engine on 23 October 2026.
- Address: Alpinastrasse 23, 3780 Gstaad
- Capacity: 56 rooms & suites
- Distinction: 5-star · first Six Senses Spa in Switzerland
- Official website: thealpinagstaad.ch
The 2026 Newcomer: Chesa Marchetta, Sils Maria
Artfarm, the hospitality company of Hauser & Wirth founders Iwan and Manuela Wirth, opened Chesa Marchetta in Sils Maria, in the Upper Engadine, at the start of 2026. Its 13 rooms are spread across four connected buildings, restored by the Paris studio of architect Luis Laplace, where art and local cooking share the bill.
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Read articleOur editorial team covers news on Swiss alpine and lakeside palaces throughout the year. Find our latest articles below.
Practical Information for this Destination
- Destination: Swiss Alps + Lausanne
- Peak seasons: December-March (ski) and July-August (alpine hiking, Lake Geneva)
- Access: Geneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH), Basel-Mulhouse (BSL/MLH) airports. The GoldenPass Express runs direct from Montreux to Gstaad in 1 h 24, and St. Moritz is about 3 h 30 by train from Zurich via Chur.
- Specifics: most alpine palaces operate seasonally (summer + winter), with a 6-8 week inter-season closure
- Tourist Office: official website
- All our news: News on Hotels in Switzerland
