Top 10 Best Hotels in Switzerland: Icons of Hospitality

Key Takeaways

• Switzerland is home to some of the world's best hotels, known for blending timeless hospitality traditions with modern luxury and innovation.
• Prestigious properties like The Chedi Andermatt, Beau-Rivage Palace, and Badrutt's Palace Hotel offer guests the chance to experience excellence firsthand.
• SHMS students gain hands-on experience through internships at the best Swiss hotels and international properties.

Switzerland has long held a reputation as one of the world's premier luxury travel destinations. Beyond its snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and postcard-worthy towns, it offers an unmatched standard of hospitality.

The best hotels in Switzerland are known for raising the bar in service, design, and comfort. These iconic properties reflect the country's deep-rooted commitment to hospitality excellence.

Guests often leave with memories shaped not only by the surroundings but also by warm welcomes, thoughtful details, and world-class amenities. Truly, these are some of the finest hotels that continue to define Swiss hospitality at its highest level.

Best Hotels in Switzerland

What sets the best hotels in Switzerland apart is their blend of heritage, elegance, and forward-thinking design. Each property embodies the timeless traditions of Swiss hospitality, where service is discreet yet deeply attentive. From grand historic palaces to contemporary hideaways, they offer refined interiors, world-class dining, and unforgettable views.

These hotels also combine classic and often historic charm with modern comforts, often integrating wellness, technology, and eco-conscious practices. The result is a luxury experience that feels both personal and progressive, rooted in quality and shaped for today's sophisticated traveler.

The Chedi Andermatt

Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, The Chedi Andermatt brings together Alpine charm with Asian-inspired design. This five-star hotel features warm wood interiors, expansive spa facilities, and rooms that offer panoramic mountain views.

Guests enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine, a 2,400-square-meter wellness area, and ski-in/ski-out access. Opened in 2013, it has quickly gained recognition for redefining luxury in alpine hospitality. Its commitment to eco-conscious operations and refined detail makes it stand out among the best hotels in Switzerland.

Beau-Rivage Palace

Overlooking Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Beau-Rivage Palace is a masterpiece of Belle Époque architecture. First opened in 1861, it is celebrated for its historical elegance and world-class service. The hotel features lush gardens, a grand ballroom, award-winning restaurants, including Pic au Beau-Rivage Palace by Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, and a serene Cinq Mondes spa.

Beau-Rivage Palace has hosted royalty and dignitaries for generations, including the likes of Diana Ross, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Consistently ranked among Europe's top luxury stays, Beau-Rivage is known for harmonizing timeless opulence with contemporary comfort.

Kulm Hotel St. Moritz

Founded in 1856 by hotelier Johannes Badrutt, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz helped turn its mountain village into a global destination. This hotel has a rich history of over 165 years, with its grand alpine façade housing suites with alpine pine paneling and a Michelin-starred restaurant, the K by Tim Raue.

The historic Sunny Bar and Cresta Run are also elite, evoking decades of winter sports tradition. After a CHF 12 million (€12.3 million) refurbishment of the Kulm Country Club, guests can enjoy seasonal pop-up restaurants, spa facilities, golf, and cinema. The combination of legacy, sweeping lake views, and modern comfort makes it a masterpiece of alpine hospitality.

Gstaad Palace

Perched above Gstaad's charming village, Gstaad Palace opened in 1913 with timber-clad façades that echo Swiss elegance. TFamily-run and full of character, the hotel may resemble a fairytale castle, but it delivers very real, world-class hospitality. Inside, suites blend rustic wood and luxurious fabrics, while the spa's indoor/outdoor pools embrace mountain wellness.

Dining ranges from gourmet French to cozy fondue evenings. Guests rave about the personalized service and the hotel's dedication to sustainability, which culminated with an initiative to invest 6% of their funds to protect the environment. With its rich ambiance and discreet glamor, Gstaad Palace maintains its status as a timeless icon.

The Woodward

Originally built in 1901 by François Durel, this chic lakeside gem was reimagined by Pierre-Yves Rochon into Geneva's first all-suite luxury hotel. With 26 distinctive suites featuring marble fireplaces and bespoke design, The Woodward offers stunning views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.

The intimate, art-filled ambiance and the 1 200 m² Guerlain Spa, spread across two wellness floors, make it feel more like a private club than a hotel. A World Luxury Spa Award winner, The Woodward is a sanctuary of personalized, refined living.

Hotel Schweizerhof

Built in 1845, Hotel Schweizerhof stands proudly across from Lucerne's train station as a cultural landmark. Its ornate salons and period architecture reflect its storied past, having welcomed luminaries like Mark Twain, Leo Tolstoy, and Richard Wagner. Today, guests also find modern wellness, a rooftop terrace with lake views, and curated art events.

Recognized as a top city-center retreat by Condé Nast Traveler and awarded the "Luxury Cultural Hotel of Europe," the Schweizerhof blends elegance with urban convenience.

Park Hotel Vitznau

On the shores of Lake Lucerne, Park Hotel Vitznau combines mid-century design with serene minimalism. Its Zen garden and lakeside spa invite calm reflection, while the gourmet "Focus Atelier" restaurant holds two Michelin stars for its culinary artistry.

This hotel earned awards as "Luxury Lakeside Resort of the Year 2025" and placed third in "Luxury Leisure Hotels" within the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), recognizing exceptional service, design, and atmosphere. What makes Park Hotel Vitznau a standout is its wine cellar and the staff's thoughtful gestures, like late-night garment care, reinforcing its reputation for attentive, modern elegance.

Hotel Eden Roc

Set on the sun-soaked shores of Lake Maggiore, Hotel Eden Roc has been a Mediterranean haven since the 1880s. Even the Forbes Travel Guide specifically notes that this hotel is all about "Mediterranean charm and sublime lakeside views." Its pastel exterior gives way to airy rooms, expansive terraces, and lush gardens perfect for lakeside dining or poolside relaxation.

The property features a private beach, heated outdoor pool, and spa offering holistic treatments. With wellness, fresh seasonal cuisine, and a calm lakeside vibe, Eden Roc earned its spot as part of the Tschuggen Collection. Guests highlight its relaxed elegance, wellness focus, and lakeside luxury.

Four Seasons Hôtel des Bergues

First opened in 1834 on the edge of Lake Geneva, Four Seasons Hôtel des Bergues blends neoclassical grandeur with modern touches by Pierre-Yves Rochon. The property offers 115 rooms and suites with lake or city views, a rooftop Spa Mont Blanc, an indoor infinity pool, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Notably, it also hosts the iconic Salle des Nations, the site of the first League of Nations meeting. Guests praise its combination of historic charm, thoughtful service, and its central location near Old Town landmarks.

Badrutt's Palace Hotel

Since 1896, Badrutt's Palace has defined luxury in St. Moritz, offering over 150 rooms, eight restaurants, and a sprawling spa. The hotel is still family-owned and has a history of pioneering guest-first innovations, including Europe's first indoor tennis hall, a designer shopping gallery, and cutting-edge 5G technology.

Recent renovations introduced refreshed suites that combine antique rugs with modern fabrics, creating an inviting and timeless feel. In winter, it's a favorite among skiers, while summer brings lakeside serenity and festivals. With five stars from Forbes and recognition from Vogue, Badrutt's Palace continues to attract royalty, celebrities, and loyal guests year after year.

Innovation and Evolution in Swiss Hospitality

Swiss hospitality has long mastered the balance between heritage and forward-thinking innovation, and nowhere is this more evident than in its finest hotels. For example, The Chedi Andermatt leads the way with geothermal-sourced heating, hydroelectric and wind power, and LED sensor-controlled lighting, all embedded within an Alpine wood and stone design.

The Woodward in Geneva brings high-end design with all-suite layouts and stellar dining by Michelin-star chefs, showing how Swiss luxury is evolving with global expectations. Hotels like Park Hotel Vitznau invest in digital wine lists and climate-controlled cellars, offering guests a modern experience grounded in tradition.

Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) reflects these changes in its curriculum, focusing on both heritage and innovation. Our students learn not just about classic service but also how to implement green practices, manage smart technologies, and deliver personalized luxury through data-driven tools.

Through our programs, students are immersed in environments where tradition meets transformation. This prepares them to lead in a hospitality world that values both the timeless and the forward-looking.

Education Opportunities in the Best Hotels of Switzerland

For those interested in studying hospitality, Swiss Hotel Management School offers students immersive internship opportunities and exceptional career support, ensuring they graduate ready for the real world of luxury hospitality and in line with current hospitality trends.

Through practical placements at top Swiss hotels, SHMS students gain hands-on experience in guest service, hotel operations, and management while honing hospitality skills. These internships are secured with guidance from SHMS career coaches and the International Recruitment Forum (IRF), a renowned networking event that frequently leads to job offers at prestigious properties.

The IRF (hosted twice yearly) connects students with over 100 luxury hotel and resort recruiters, including names like Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton. Through these partnerships, SHMS opens doors to internships, direct coaching, and career pathways.

As Ulrika Björklund, our Executive Director of Industry Affairs & Career Services, explains: 

Our commitment to quality education is evident in the importance we place on internships, which serve as a vital bridge between theory and practice. Not only do these internships introduce our students to the real world, but they also lay the foundation for their future success.

Students learn global hospitality practices, everything from personalized check-ins to sustainability protocols while mastering the innovation and service expectations of high-end hotels. By working alongside professionals in spas, front offices, or food and beverage departments, they immerse themselves in luxury service standards and cutting-edge technologies.

Speaking on the internships at IRF, student Miklós Kálnoky from Hungary emphasizes the chance to get employed at the best of the best:

At the IRF, the most valuable thing on offer is opportunity. Surrounded by so many recruiters and representatives of huge brands and companies, all looking for capable and motivated future employees.

A Look Back at Switzerland's Top Stays

Switzerland's leading hotels stand out for their timeless elegance, personalized luxury, and forward-thinking innovation. These properties not only define excellence in service but also serve as benchmarks for the global hospitality industry. Many of them welcome interns and graduates from Swiss Hotel Management School, where students are trained to meet the same high standards.

If you're passionate about hospitality and dream of working in places like The Chedi or Badrutt's Palace, explore the Bachelor of Arts in International Hospitality Management or the MA in International Hospitality Business Management at SHMS, programs designed to prepare you for a global career in luxury hospitality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is the best time to look for a job in Switzerland's hotel industry?

The ideal time to apply is from late winter to early spring (February to April), as hotels begin hiring in preparation for the busy summer season.

What is it like to work in Switzerland's hotel industry?

The environment is professional, structured, and deeply guest-focused. You'll find high service standards, a strong sense of teamwork, and excellent opportunities for learning, growth, and career advancement.