Summer Gets Cooler in Switzerland

Somewhere between a city escape and a lakeside holiday, there’s Mandarin Oriental, Geneva. The Rhône flows past the hotel’s doorstep, while the Swiss Alps frame the skyline and, just beyond, the Old Town plays out in storybook fashion with statue-dotted squares and cobbled lanes. You’re perfectly positioned to move from glacier-fed swims at Bains des Pâquis to beautifully plated Mediterranean lunches at Ottolenghi and cocktails from MO Bar’s new menu. Rooms and suites draw inspiration from the surrounding landscapes, while the hotel itself carries a rich sense of history—originally the Hotel du Rhône, it was the first luxury hotel built in Europe after World War II and is now listed as one of the city’s Historical Heritage landmarks.

At Park Hotel Vitznau, summer revolves around the water. The 100-year-old castle sits directly on Lake Lucerne, where private boat excursions, paddleboarding sessions and lakeside afternoons naturally fill the day. Behind its Edwardian façade, you’ll find Michelin-starred dining, one of Switzerland’s most impressive wine collections (six wine cellars and over 40,000 bottles as a matter of fact) and a spectacular infinity pool that appears to spill straight into the lake itself. Add fresh mountain air, impossibly scenic sunsets and the occasional champagne picnic on the water and it becomes very difficult to leave.

For 120 summers, Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern has watched Lake Lucerne shimmer beneath the Alps. Since opening in 1906, the Belle Époque landmark has welcomed generations in search of cool mountain air, lake adventures and the kind of grand European summer that never goes out of style. Today, that spirit feels refreshingly current—from panoramic lakeview rooms and alfresco Mediterranean dining at Quai 10 to paragliding over the lake, private hikes on Mount Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains, and evenings that end at Minamo, the hotel’s aptly named Japanese restaurant inspired by the reflection of water’s surface.

Everyone dreams about disappearing to Italy for the summer. Villa Principe Leopoldo offers a compelling reason to stop just short of the border. Set high above Lake Lugano on sun-drenched Golden Hill, the former princely residence captures that Italian lakeside feeling in full, from aperitifs on the terrace to palm-lined views and boats moving across the water, just with a distinctly Swiss ease. With only 37 suites, a shell-shaped pool nestled among lemon groves and evenings that end with piano music and cocktails, it delivers all the appeal of a Lake Como escape without ever needing to go any further.

The article’s cover photo features Villa Principe Leopoldo.

Anchored on the western end of the Swiss Riviera, Lausanne Palace has been a landmark in the Olympic Capital since 1915, overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps from its Belle Époque façade of sculpted stone, crimson awnings and brick arches. Inside, rooms and suites balance historic grandeur with modern refinement, while a full world of dining and nightlife is yours to explore across the hotel, from Michelin-starred La Table and the Parisian-style La Brasserie du Grand Chêne to Le Matcha Picchu and the marble-clad Le Bar 1915. Days move easily between the spa, rooftop views and lakeside strolls, before evenings gather over cocktails, wine and Instagram-worthy Riviera sunsets.

Perched 914 meters above sea level on the slopes of Ennetbürgen, Hotel Villa Honegg feels like summer in the mountains at its absolute peak. The beautifully restored 1905 Art Nouveau villa pairs panoramic alpine views with the kind of crisp, pine-scented air that makes you want to spend the entire day outside. Hike through wildflower-covered trails or set out on boat rides across the fjord-like lake below, before returning for a swim in the hotel’s iconic heated infinity pool, where the mountains seem to melt directly into the water. With just 23 rooms, the atmosphere feels intimate, peaceful and wonderfully above it all.

Summer at The Capra Saas-Fee is built around one very good idea: spend as much time outside as possible, then come back somewhere incredibly cozy. Tucked inside the car-free alpine village of Saas-Fee, the 38-room boutique lodge places guests among 300 days of sunshine and some of Switzerland’s freshest mountain air. Trek through alpine meadows and along more than 350 kilometers of hiking trails, where views of dramatic 4,000-meter peaks play out before you. Afterwards, you’re welcomed back with roaring fireplaces, timber-lined suites and alpine cuisine at Brasserie 1809, where nearly every ingredient comes from nearby farms and producers.

For all its reputation as a winter playground, Gstaad Palace might be even more magical in summer. Perched like a fairytale castle, the legendary hotel has spent more than 113 years perfecting warm-weather life in the Alps. Days begin with hikes through the Bernese Oberland, hot-air balloon rides or afternoons watching polo and tennis before cooling off in the Olympic-sized outdoor pool. Come September, even the local cows make a grand entrance during the traditional Gstaad Züglete, when herds decorated with flowers and bells descend from the alpine pastures into the village below. Back at the Palace, summer revolves around terrace dining, fondue nights and a new culinary experience inspired by the Amalfi Coast at Gildo’s al Fresco.

There’s a reason St. Moritz became synonymous with alpine glamour, and summer at Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz is proof that ski season is only half the story. Set beside the historic Mauritius Springs, the grand hotel turns the Engadin Valley into a high-altitude summer hotspot: hiking wildflower trails, swimming in glacier lakes and riding up peaks like Corvatsch and Diavolezza for the views. Return to the Alpine Spa with indoor-outdoor pools, saunas and treatments inspired by mountain botanicals. Top it all off by relaxing in the sunshine, refreshing drink in hand, at sunny Park Cafe.

Emerging from the forest above the Rhône Valley, chalet-like Crans Ambassador frames the Valais peaks while placing you in the center of Switzerland’s cycling haven, with 200 kilometers of road bike routes and 177 kilometers of mountain bike, cross-country and enduro trails, downhill lines and dedicated e-bike routes across the Alps. Inside, the scale shifts again with 56 rooms across 10 floors, each with a terrace facing the mountains, and a 1,300-square-metre spa designed as a counterpoint to everything outside: quiet, spacious and entirely wrapped in alpine serenity.

From waterfront cities to remote mountain retreats, this is just a snapshot of Switzerland at its most memorable. Browse the full collection for more destinations to discover.

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