photo by
Kiara Schwartz
Travel
If Switzerland Isn't on Your Bucket List, It Should Be
It’s officially that time of year where we find ourselves spending hours gazing at snow-capped mountains and alpine landscapes, and no place consistently captures our attention quite like the vast terrain of the Swiss Alps. So,...
It’s officially that time of year where we find ourselves spending hours gazing at snow-capped mountains and alpine landscapes, and no place consistently captures our attention quite like the vast terrain of the Swiss Alps. So, here are all the best places we’ve found for sleeping like kings, eating award-winning meals and adventuring beyond the ski slopes. A true Swiss bucket list, if you will. From a penthouse with 360-views of alpine mountains to a restaurant you have to hike through caves and mountains to get to, we've got the best of Switzerland's destinations and plenty to keep you busy on your next Swiss holiday.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Here’s a bucket list addition for you: Take a few laps in a heated indoor pool overlooking Lake Lucerne. This four-hotel Bürgenstock resort includes a dozen restaurants, a massive spa and the best infinity-edge pool on a cliff that towers over the Alpine region.
At this collection of geodesic domes overlooking a beautiful river valley, you can spend your days on the private ski slopes or simply relaxing at the on-site spa. Take out the toboggans or go for a husky ride if you’re up for something extra bucket list worthy.
Located in the heart of Gstaad village, this palatial Swiss chalet is home to two Michelin starred restaurants and a thermal oasis of 17 wellness zones that range from steamy spas to ice fountains. The suites here are cozy and warm, and there’s an etoile suite with its own private glass-roofed Jacuzzi that you should most definitely add to your bucket list goals.
With 360-degree mountain views, it’s mountains, mountains, mountains everywhere you turn at The Cambrian in Adelboden. This spot turns skiing the Bernese Oberland into a holistic experience that includes high-intensity activity, deeply rejuvenating wellness programs, delicious food and the coziest suites you ever did sleep in.
If thermal baths are your thing, a stay at 7132 is a must-add for your list. Here you’ll find thermal baths made of 60,000 slabs of Vals quartzite. The hotel itself is a marvel of modern architecture, and the rooms each frame a beautiful scene through towering windows.
This 140-year-old Swiss resort may have a birthdate that exceeds all our ages, but you’d never guess it thanks to a recent renovation. There’s a farm-to-fork restaurant, a prosecco bar, a fancy library and a glass-walled pool overlooking an outdoor bathing pond. And overlooking the towering pine trees and surrounding Alpine landscape, you’ll find posh and cozy suites that’ll tick “live the life of Swiss luxury” right off your bucket list.
Should you find yourself part of the billionaires club this winter, snag a stay at the Panorama Suite of Alpine Gstaad (for a cool $21k a night) and you’ll have your own private penthouse, spa and chef. The three-bedroom residential style suite is surrounded by views of the snow-covered Alps and rolling green pastoral hills.
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If you can only get to Switzerland in the warmer months, Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli should be at the top of your spring or summer bucket list. Open May through November, this sweet mountain guesthouse can be reached via a cable car ride followed by a hike through the Wildkirchli caves. The food is good, but the views are what you’re here for.
Located in the quaint village of Furstenau, Schauenstein Schloss Restaurant is one of the most famous dining spots in Switzerland. Choose from three to six courses and prepare for a feast of flavorful, decadent dishes worthy of 3 Michelin stars.
You’ll find cozy, comfortable Yardbird Southern Fried Chicken in central Zurich, inside a heritage-listed building. The space is welcoming and warm, and the menu of buttermilk-fried chicken served with waffles or buffalo-style should be considered guilt-free eating after a day on the slopes.
The product of a classically French trained chef (Sebastian Zier) and another more avant-garde Asian style chef (Moses Ceylan), Einstein Gourmet serves a set 6-course menu that’s well-worthy of adding to your bucket list. The recipient of two Michelin stars, this fine dining restaurant occupies the top floor of Hotel Einstein in the town of St. Gallen.
Not into controlling your own airborne device in the Alps? Check out these hot air balloon rides instead. These flights take off from Chateau-d’Oex Balloon and can include panoramas from Mont Blanc to Eiger via the Grand Combin, the Matterhorn, the Jura, or the Lemanic and Friborg regions.
Twice a day, an après-ski train travels from Andermatt over the Oberalp Pass to Disentis and back. On board is Victor Costa, a traveling bartender, ready to offer you a coffee, a cocktail or whatever it is you crave after a day on the slopes.
Provided you don’t suffer from a fear of heights, go ahead and add walking across this suspension bridge to your bucket list. The only bridge in the world to connect two mountain peaks, Glacier 3000 offers plenty of amazing viewpoints and outlooks you’d never otherwise get to see.
If you want a truly immersive experience in the Swiss Alps, hop aboard the Glacier Express and prepare to be wowed by the scenery. The classic route from St. Moritz to Zermatt takes just a few days and will have you enjoying tiny alpine towns and majestic snow-capped mountain scenes.
Skip the costly fee of a tour guide and opt for a tram ride with a view. These aerial trams are located throughout the country and offer the absolute best views of the Swiss Alps.
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For the most epic of walks and views, add the First Cliff Walk by Tissot to your bucket list. This winding bridge curves around the cliffs and juts out over some of the most spectacular scenery you’ll see in your lifetime.
For a totally different vantage point of the Alps, hop aboard this hundred-year-old Belle Epoque steamboat and explore the Swiss Riviera. Cruise on by islands, mountains and castles for a bucket list worthy outing.
Switzerland is one of the top destinations in the world for paragliding and skydiving, as there’s so much that can only be seen from above in this varied terrain. Go on and add this view point to your Swiss bucket list.
With the wildflowers in bloom and the air still fresh and crisp, mountain biking is perhaps best enjoyed in the springtime in the Swiss Alps. Just be sure to bring your Go Pro along for the ride so you can show off all those gorgeous green hills and mountains to your friends when you get back home.
