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Caves to castles: 10 unforgettable Swiss hotels to stay in

Planning to explore Switzerland? We've compiled a list of the most unique and unforgettable places to stay in the Alpine nation, whether you want to try a fancy bunker, an old monastery or simply a bed and butler in the middle of nowhere.

Published: 21 February 2024 12:35 CET
Updated: 11 April 2024 12:39 CEST
Schloss Burgdorf
Schloss Burgdorf is a Swiss national monument - and you can stay there! Photo: Marcel Kesller / Pixabay

Felsenhotel La Claustra – Comfortable undercover

Airolo, Ticino

Formerly part of Switzerland’s imposing alpine defences, this erstwhile bunker is now a four-star hotel, Felsenhotel La Claustra, that offers a unique underground experience alongside a spectacular location in Switzerland’s border region with Italy. 

Reviews praise the excellent food and good wellness facilities, even featuring an outdoor pool. Others, however, issue a clear warning: if snow’s still on the ground when you arrive, the only way to the entrance is with a snow plough!

Berggasthaus Aescher – Hanging around with spectacular views

Weissbad, Appenzell Innerrhoden

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular location to stay. Comprising part of the Wildkirchli caves, Berggasthaus Aescher has been attracting visitors for thousands of years – from Neolithic hunters to 17th-century hermits. 

Since the 1860s, it’s been host to a guesthouse with spectacular views across the Alps. From 2019 onwards, a local events agency, Pfefferbeere, took on the accommodation, culinary and event offerings, making it a real draw for visitors seeking boutique experiences. 

BlackRock – Free helicopter parking

Stalden, Valais

BlackRock is a tiny two-person lodge near Stalden, but take heart: There’s free parking for your helicopter! Flights around the local region can be arranged for those without their own chopper – a fantastic option, knowing that the iconic Matterhorn is so close.

Reviews praise the modern, boutique facilities and the views across the mountain valley. Special recognition is also given to the owner, Otto, who advises visitors looking for unforgettable local experiences. 

Kloster Kappel – A hotel stay good for the (eternal) soul

Kappel am Albis, Zurich

Kloster Kappel is one of Switzerland’s most historic monasteries, founded in the 12th century by local nobility. Until the Reformation, it was a local seat of power, with many possessions across the region. So much was its local power that two battles were fought on its doorstep in the 16th century.

Now owned by the Zurich diocese of the Protestant church, guests can stay and unwind among the gorgeous surroundings. The Klosterkeller and Klostercafe also showcase homemade regional dishes using local ingredients – some even grown on monastery grounds.

Schloss Burgdorf – A hotel fit for a mediaeval knight

Burgdorf, Bern

Regarding historical locations, Schloss Burgdorf, a short distance from Bern, has played a central role in local history. Indeed, this is where the Canton of Bern essentially came into being, with the fiefdom of the famous Zähringer dynasty ruling from the castle for several centuries. 

In the 21st century, the Schloss hosts a museum, restaurant and youth hostel, each with fantastic reviews and a reputation for providing a suitably regal reception for visitors. 

Whitepod Original – Life in a bubble

Monthey, Valais

Talk about transparency: the rooms of Whitepod Original constitute geodesic domes, with massive clear windows giving wide-angle views across mountains and alpine pastures. For those wanting something cosier, an additional eighteen cabins offer traditional alpine comforts.

A gourmet restaurant, ‘La Tsijiri’, sits at the centre of the collection of roughly nineteen domes. It is committed to local dishes paired with the best Swiss wines. Another brasserie, ‘La Cerniers’, offers heartier local fare. 

Tschuggen Grand Hotel – The (alpine) peak of design

Arosa, Graubünden

Ever stayed in a hotel with its own railway? The whisper-quiet Tschuggen Express ferries guests from the five-star Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa to the ski slopes. The very definition of a design hotel, it features a unique, lively style against an absolutely spectacular mountainside backdrop. 

Many guests come for the 1000 sqm spa and wellness area, boasting a cutting-edge design built from mountain granite. You can even get your hair done by professionals working there. 

Hotel & Berghaus Val Sinestra – Where the guests never leave

Sent, Graubünden

There is a not unsubstantial segment of the travelling public who finds the thought of staying in a haunted hotel quite thrilling, the author included. For those who enjoy such a prospect, the Hotel Val Sinestra offers cosy accommodation, great food, beautiful surroundings – and paranormal activity.

See, the Hotel Val Sinestra began as a sanatorium in 1904. Many suffering from illnesses such as tuberculosis came in search of relief from the healing spring waters nearby and the fresh mountain air. According to many visitors, some always stayed. Poltergeist activity within the hotel has been widely reported, and TV psychics have posited that former patients are responsible. 

Rosita – On the road

Wittenbach, St Gallen

What about accommodation that you can take with you? Based near Wittenbach, Gerold Huber has lovingly restored six caravans from the former GDR and converted them into ‘rolling luxury hotels’ under the name ‘Rosita‘,

Each can be rented with an accompanying diesel or electric vehicle and is ideal for short stays across the Lake Constance region. Best of all, you get to pick your own views! 

Null Stern 

Nothing but the basics, all over Switzerland

Null Stern (which translates in German to zero star) is perhaps the most unique experience on this list – you get just a bed and a butler! Devised by conceptual artists, the Riklin brothers, luxury beds are placed each year in stunning locations across Switzerland. Guests are provided with an on-call butler and provided breakfast – and that’s it! The rest is up to you. Hope for good weather! 

As the concept creators note – ‘the only star is you’!

Do you have any suggestions for cool places to stay in Switzerland? Let us know in the comments or email us at [email protected].

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DISCOVER SWITZERLAND

Where are the best places in Switzerland for the spectacular white daffodil season?

For a brief period in May and June, Swiss hillsides blossom with a carpet of beautiful white daffodils - so where's the best places to see them?

Published: 17 May 2024 17:24 CEST
Where are the best places in Switzerland for the spectacular white daffodil season?

More than just a pretty flower, the white daffodils, or Narcissus, have been used for healing in Switzerland for hundreds of years.

While the plant is poisonous, extracts from it can be used to treat both respiratory infections and sore joints. 

Such is its popularity, that organisations have been set up to protect the flower from tourists picking or trampling it. 

While this year’s bloom is unseasonably late, thanks to inclement weather, now’s the time to enjoy the annual display. 

Read more: IN PICS: Ten stunning images of Switzerland in spring

If you’re looking for the best place to take in the spectacle, Les Pleaides in the canton of Vaud is said to be unmissable. 

The 1,361-metre mountain, which overlooks Lake Geneva, is the country’s most popular destination for Narcissus lovers. 

From the town of Vevey, a cog railway takes passengers up to the summit, via the small community of Blonay. 

From the top, vast swathes of flowers blanket the mountainside, framed in the distance by several mountains such as Mont Blanc. 

There’s also a restaurant and a bar for a bite to eat and a drink after enjoying the flowers. However, it’s important to stay on signposted travels during your visit. The white daffodils are delicate and fragile, and significant efforts are being made to protect them from too much foot traffic.

If you’re looking to enjoy the flowers this year, car parking is available in both the town of Vevey and Blonay – roughly an hour and a half from Geneva via the motorway.

From both Vevey and Blonay, there are trails up the mountain if you’re feeling adventurous, in addition to the cog railway. 

A second place to take in the flowery views, but no less gorgeous, are the fields above the village of Seewis im Prattigäu, in the canton of Graubünden. 

A 3.5 km trail loop through the fields will take you between three and five hours to complete. 

Seewis im Prattigäu can be reached by train, via the Seewis-Pradisla train station. It is also around a 80 minute drive from Zurich.

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