What it is

A throwback Alpine resort hotel that still attracts a regal crowd.

What it isn't

A glitzy, young hotel that chases the latest trends.

What we think

The Gstaad Palace celebrated its 100th birthday in 2013, but the hotel shows no sign of its age—other than its classic grandeur. Family-owned for more than 75 years, the turreted palace has maintained its old world sophistication, peering down from its hilltop perch to the storybook village of Gstaad below. The room keys are tasseled, the patterns are kept hushed and simple, the lobby a social hub populated by the people you’ll find in Hello! magazine. The 90 rooms and suites nod to the mountain lodge look while still feeling fresh and modern, with huge beds under wood-beamed ceilings. The recently installed spa is enormous. Spread over almost 20,000 sq. ft., there are a handful of treatment rooms, a private spa suite, saunas, steam baths, a hammam and a cozy lounge with a massive fireplace. At night, the indoor pool transforms into a sparkling dance floor, an extension of the hotel’s nightclub, GreenGo. Jackets are required for dinner at Le Grill, the Palace’s rôtisserie restaurant, but the overall feeling here is carefree, not rigid. After all, this is a ski resort at heart (or, in summertime, a place to go mountain biking and hike through the wildflowers) and thus infused with an air of sporty relaxation.

You're here because

You want to hit the slopes at a resort that’s hosted everyone from Louis Armstrong to Elizabeth Taylor and Madonna.

The Moment

Snow swirls around your horse-drawn carriage as its ascends the hill from the village up to the Gstaad Palace. Through the towering pines, you catch a glimpse of the hotel’s turrets aglow in the gathering dusk—like the inside of a snowglobe.

Restaurants & Bars

Le Grill - International gourmet

Le Grand Restaurant and La Grande Terrasse - International

Gildo’s Ristorante - Italian

La Fromagerie - Traditional Swiss

Lobby Bar - Bar food and snacks

Snack Bar - Light lunch options and snacks

The Lobby Bar is open from 10.00 a.m. Enjoy a comfortable spot with a warm atmosphere. When all other restaurants are closed, this is where you can still find a bite to eat.

Bar du Grill open in the evening from 7:30 pm

Family activities

Summer - hiking, biking, paragliding, horse carriage rides, alpine coaster at Glacier 3000, hot air ballooning, tennis, alpine zoo, chocolate factory tour

Winter - skiing, paragliding, hot air ballooning, husky sledging, cooking classes for kids. There is a special kids program summer and winter

Location

Nestled in the Bernese Alps, overlooking the picturesque Saanenland. The drive to Gstaad is just under two hours from the Geneva airport and about 2.5 hours from Zurich airport.