Luxury Ski Chalets in Gstaad, Switzerland

Intro
Luxury Ski Chalets
DESTINATION GUIDE

A longtime favourite, Gstaad in Switzerland, is still beautifully unspoilt with typically Swiss good looks. Piled up on the mountain side are gorgeous old-fashioned wooden luxury ski chalets and the pretty pedestrianised town centre streets are lined with galleries, museums, restaurants and bars.

Luxury Ski Chalets

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About Luxury Ski Chalets in Gstaad, Switzerland

While lots of visitors come on a luxury holiday here, simply to enjoy the village, there’s also some great skiing to be had. The area is a Mecca for intermediate skiers who enjoy its gentle, wide, sunny slopes.

World famous as a quintessential Swiss ski resort, Gstaad is revered for its exclusive, sophisticated atmosphere and extensive ski area and range of luxury ski chalets.

During the ski season Gstaad attracts celebrities and even royalty. Development has been limited and tightly controlled, so as not to spoil the incredible natural beauty of the Gstaad valley. A fairytale castle nestles above the village, which is made up of old fashioned, pretty wooden chalets.

Gstaad itself stands at just over 1,000m and is surrounded by several charming villages, the largest being Saanen. The resort is pedestrianised, which makes wandering through the charming streets a pleasant experience. As well as luxury boutiques, there are art galleries and museums, and of course plenty of great restaurants and bars. Gstaad is also known as a ‘wellness destination’ having numerous spas and treatment facilities great for non-skiiers on a luxury ski holiday in Gstaad.

This mountain paradise is popular in both summer and winter, attracting visitors with its spectacular scenery and all year round activities. As well as winter skiing and summer hiking, you can go bowling, ice skating, husky sledding and much more besides. Gstaad also plays host to several major events such as music festivals, and major tennis and polo tournaments.

BEST TIME
TO VISIT

Visited all year round, Gstaad offers something for everyone. It is possible to ski here from October right through to April and even May, thanks to high level glacier skiing. Temperatures in Gstaad rarely rise above freezing between October and March, so be prepared for the cold.

NEED TO
KNOW

Ski Area

Glacier-Alpes Vaudoises
Resort Altitude

1050m
Top Lift Altitude

3000m
Total Pistes

220km
Lifts

74

Guide to Gstaad, Switzerland

What we love about Gstaad

Gstaad is a beautiful, unspoilt corner of the Swiss Alps with very high standards. We love the romantic setting, the classy restaurants and shops, and the range of slopes to suit all abilities.

Getting to Gstaad

The nearest international airport is Bern, at 1 hr 20 mins drive. Geneva Airport is 2 hours’ drive away.

The Skiing in Gstaad

With over 250km of pistes in the Gstaad Mountain area, including several nursery slopes, there’s enough variety to keep everyone happy, whatever their level of ability. Gstaad has 11 black runs, 35 red and 50 blue, and there are several adjacent, unconnected ski areas to explore too. The resort sits amidst four valleys and there are lots of great mountain restaurants for long lunches and refreshing pit stops as well as luxury as catered luxury ski chalets. With plenty of wide, gentle, sunny slopes, Gstaad is particularly well suited to intermediates.

Beginners have a few choice green runs in the Eggli and Bodme ski areas, and Wasserngrat is best for early beginners looking to escape the crowds.

Some of the best off-piste skiing is found in the Schonreid and Saanenmoser ski areas, and local guides are on hand to help find the best route through the powder. All year skiing is possible on the Les Diablerets glacier, accessed from Glacier 3000. La Braye has the best slopes for snowboarders, and heli-skiing trips are popular. Gstaad also has a good network of cross country ski trails for those who enjoy a slower pace of life.

Best Places To Eat and Drink in Gstaad

Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to fine dining in Gstaad. There are plenty of options to try, should you be staying in a self-catered luxury ski chalet including Gault Millau rated restaurants at several hotels, including the Gstaad Palace, the Grand Hotel Bellevue, Grand Hotel Park and the Bernerhof. The most highly rated, Michelin starred restaurant is the Chesery where Chef Robert Speth creates French and Italian dishes with the finest of ingredients, such as fresh seabass, local game and just-picked mushrooms and berries.

On a simpler level, there are plenty of places to sample Swiss specialities such as fondue, or to pick up delicious, freshly-cooked crepes and pizzas. For a more unusual experience, you could try Michel’s Stallbeizli where the dining area is in a barn, overlooking the owner’s prime dairy herd, lined up in their stalls.

The nightlife in Gstaad is sophisticated and sociable. Richi’s pub and the Rialto bar are firm favourites among regular visitors and locals. From après ski bars to live music venues, refined cocktail lounges and nightclubs, the choice of entertainment is wide offering plenty of choice when on a luxury ski holiday in Gstaad.