Revitalised Art Nouveau gem:

#1 Grand Hotel Belvedere, Wengen (Bernese Oberland)

This past winter, French hotel group Beaumier, known for its design-led boutique properties in the French Alps and Provence, opened its very first loud house in Switzerland. The Grand Hotel Belvedere, a 1904 Art Nouveau building, has been carefully renovated and now features a contemporary spa with an outdoor infinity pool. Made of exposed concrete and defined by bold lines, the new addition creates an avant-garde counterpoint to the charm of the traditional, car-free mountain village. Two restaurants provide culinary variety. Spread across the main “Belvedere” building and the adjacent “Waldrand” wing (formerly Hotel Wengener Hof and not directly connected), the 90 rooms are minimalist in design – but offer sweeping views of the Jungfrau massif and Lauterbrunnen Valley. Not everything is quite finished yet, and some service routines are still finding their rhythm. But one wishes the hotel well – this is a place you’ll want to return.

 

Mürren’s new face:

#2 Mürren Palace, Mürren (Bernese Oberland)

A rare blend of seclusion, dramatic alpine scenery and nostalgic charm makes Mürren a truly unique destination. Time seems to move more slowly here, perhaps because of its car-free location, perched on a sunny plateau 1,650 meters above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The recently upgraded Schilthorn cableway from Stechelberg brings guests straight to Mürren in futuristic fashion, yet just a few steps into the village and you’re transported to another era For years, Mürren lacked a hotel that met modern expectations. This changed in early 2025 with the extensive renovation and expansion of the Mürren Palace.  The four-star property now offers 49 rooms that blend retro elegance with contemporary comfort, all within a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The listed Art Nouveau hall, which serves both as restaurant and informal “living room”, has quickly become the village’s new hotspot.

 

Luxurious understatement and plenty of privacy:

#3 BelArosa Chalet, Arosa (Graubünden)

Opened in December 2024, the BelArosa Chalet is neither a traditional nor a typical chalet. Rather, it is an exclusive retreat for individualists. There are only ten suites, but they make a strong impression: ranging from 95 to 210 square meters, the offer chalet-like living experience with plenty of wood and thoughtful details. Each suite features a fireplace and sauna; five suites additionally have a private infinity pool. Breakfast – a personalized “table set” experience – is served directly to the suite at the desired time. For lunch or dinner, guests can request “food hamper” – basket filled with carefully prepared ingredients and local delicacies, ready to be heated or finished off in their high-tech kitchens. It feels like a perfectly equipped second home, without any of the chores of shopping and housekeeping. This alpine hideaway, located in the centre of Arosa, is managed by Meike-Cathérine Bambach. It caters to travellers who prefer to avoid the “see and be seen” scene of classic luxury hotels but is still appreciate personal care and pampering.

 

Design meets the Black Forest:

#4 Luisenhöhe, Horben near Freiburg (Black Forest)

High above Freiburg im Breisgrau, at the foot of the Schauinsland excursion mountain, the Luisenhöhe – founded a hundred years ago and later forgotten – has been brought back to life, or rather completely rebuilt. The choice of architects, designers and landscape gardeners reveals great sensitivity. The U-shaped building was planned around existing trees and blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings with a four-story façade of glass and shingles, as well as a tiered inner courtyard garden with an outdoor pool. It almost seems to grow out of the landscape and meets high standards of sustainable management. Clean lines, natural materials and abundant daylight define the interior. The 83 rooms are stylishly cosy and offer wide-ranging views over the Black Forest or the Rhine Valley all the way to the Vosges. Those feeling weary from everyday life will find here a place of peace and regeneration. Wellness with a health focus is central to the spa offering, while the culinary side impresses too – after all, the region is a paradise for gourmets, including lovers of Baden wines.

 

Less is more:

#5 Chiemgauhof Lakeside Retreat, Chiemsee (Upper Bavaria)

The Chiemgauhof is the stylish newcomer on the northern edge of the Bavarian Alps. The wood-dominated design residence, reminiscent of a modern barn, bears the signature of Milanese architect Matteo Thun – unpretentiously elegant and as consistent in design as few others in southern Germany. The 28 suites are free of loud signals, offering everything you need, but nothing unnecessary. The hotel is set in a garden directly on the shore of the idyllic Chiemsee. On warm summer days, the area around the house buzzes with excursionists and swimmers, yet until late morning the retreat belongs exclusively to overnight guests. In the afternoon, the estate opens up: the restaurant and lakeside bar also welcome external visitors. Critics may complain about the constant coming and going – but instead of aloof exclusivity, owner Dieter Müller,  founder of the Motel One hotel chain and owner of the nearby Das Achental golf resort, deliberately wanted to bring a certain liveness to the house. “We didn’t want to create a golden cage,” he says. Those seeking peace retreat to the small wellness spa area with outdoor pool or their private terrace.

 

A cinematic location:

#6 Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, Fuschlsee (Salzkammergut)

For almost 600 years, Schloss Fuschl has shaped the image of the Salzkammergut region on the edge of the Austrian Alps. This impressive estate, perched on a picturesque peninsula by the shores of Lake Fuschl, was the setting for the famous “Sissi” film trilogy starring Romy Schneider in the 1950s. A small museum commemorates this era. The former summer residence of the Archbishops of Salzburg, along with its standalone chalets, has recently undergone an extensive renovation and is now managed by the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group Rosewood. This gives the place an international flair – many different languages fill the air, and English is often the best way to communicate with most staff. In summer, the long sun deck directly by the water beckons, while on less sunny days the beautiful spa with indoor and outdoor pools invites relaxation. The cuisine in the two restaurants focuses mainly on local ingredients, and the 92 rooms are so cosy you might never want to leave. For those eager to explore, a three-hour hike circles the lake or a day trip to Salzburg, 25 kilometers away, awaits.

 

Wellbeing with a view:

#7 Lefay Resort di Garda, Gargnano (Lake Garda)

Sometimes you have to climb high to truly relax deeply. Those seeking to lose themselves in spectacular nature and find their inner balance will feel right at home at the Lefay Resort Lago di Garda. Perched 400 metres above the lake and far from the bustle of the lively “Riviera dei Limoni,” here you experience indulgent slow living. Hotel, gardens, spa and views blend into a harmonious whole. After just twenty minutes in one of the huge infinity pools, even the most stubborn everyday stress melts away. The interior impresses too: the recently refreshed junior suites and suites shine in light colours and invite lingering. Culinary delights come from two restaurants serving light, Mediterranean-inspired menus. The wellness and therapy offerings range from four-handed massages and cryotherapy to gentle, non-invasive aesthetic medicine. Particularly noteworthy are the acupuncture treatments: even sceptical needle-phobics feel in the best hands with the empathetic therapists. And last but not least: the landscape. The northwestern shore of Lake Garda, part of the southern Alpine region, is a hiking paradise and pure wellness in itself.

 

Fresh breeze instead of heatwave in Skåne:

#8 Maryhill Estate, Glumslöv (Schweden)

While temperatures soar dramatically across much of Europe, the southern Swedish region of Skåne offers a refreshing alternative. With pleasant highs between 20 and 24°C and water temperatures in the Öresund – the strait between Sweden and Denmark – ranging from 17 to 20°C, this area provides a cooling climate for those seeking relaxation. Since autumn 2024, Maryhill Estate has enriched the Scandinavian hotel scene. Nestled in gentle rolling hills and farmland with sea views, the previously private estate invites guests to unwind and recharge – just a 30-minute drive from Malmö and about an hour from Copenhagen. The property comprises two buildings: the historic, castle-like “Hill House” with a restaurant and a unique nightclub, as well as a modern hotel wing with 163 rooms and a spacious spa area. Guests also have access to four pools, tennis and padel courts, and the culinary waterside venue “Ålabodarnas Hamnkrog” right on the shore.

 

Island idyll at Stockholm’s doorstep:

#9 Season Hotel, Ekerö (Sweden)

For years, Jan Björklund worked toward his dream – and now it has come true. Together with his daughter and two close family friends, he has breathed new life into a decommissioned shipyard in the harbour of Jungfrusund on the island of Ekerö. The result is the Season Hotel, a haven of calm inspired by the timeless charm of Cape Cod and shaped by the understated elegance of Scandinavian design. The boutique hotel offers 37 rooms, a spa with pool and various saunas, and a rooftop bar with sweeping views over Lake Mälaren. The in-house brasserie serves regionally sourced ingredients in creative yet down-to-earth dishes – much to the delight of locals as well. Art exhibitions will soon expand the experience, while the neighbouring microbrewery already offers guided tastings of freshly brewed craft beers. From the moment you arrive, you feel like part of an extended family – at refreshingly moderate prices. And best of all: it takes just fifteen minutes by water taxi to reach the heart of Stockholm.

 

Scandinavian Retreat

#10 Landet Stay, Södermanland (Sweden)

Cabins – often called stugas in Sweden – are an essential part of the Scandinavian lifestyle: retreats set in the heart of nature, usually simple, with cleverly used space and a distinct sense of cosiness. A particularly beautiful example is the seven cabins of Landet Stay, located near the coastal town of Trosa in Södermanland, southwest of Stockholm. Each measures 40 square metres and accommodates two to four guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the surrounding nature reserve. The smooth transitions between indoors and outdoors, the blend of comfort and minimalist architecture – it exists elsewhere too, but rarely as harmoniously as it does here. Amenities include modern technology, a fireplace, and a fully equipped kitchen that can be stocked with regional produce upon request, unless guests prefer to sample the culinary offerings in nearby Trosa. Bicycles, two saunas, kayaks and paddle boards are available, and yoga and meditation classes, as well as fishing and boating excursions, are held regularly. Hosts Umberto Garabello and Ted Wachtmeister have created a place for those who wish to escape everyday life in style, even if only for a few days.

 

Outdoor adventures and midnight sun at the gateway to the Lofoten Islands

#11 Wood Hotel Bodø, Nordland (Norway)

Global warming is playing into the hands of Northern Europe: summer travel to Norway is seeing growing popularity – especially among nature enthusiasts who prefer active holidays over lounging on the beach. Hiking, biking and experiencing the midnight sun are high on their wish lists. This natural phenomenon can be witnessed during the summer months above the Arctic Circle, starting in Bodø and continuing north. Even south of that line, the so-called “white nights” remain almost continuously bright – it never gets completely dark. A new highlight in the Nordland region is the Wood Hotel Bodø, which opened in May 2024. Perched high above the coastal town of Bodø on the Rønvikfjellet viewpoint, the hotel blends harmoniously into the landscape with its striking wooden architecture. The 175 functionally designed rooms, built using natural materials, range in size from 17 to 79 square metres. A true eye-catcher is the rooftop spa with an outdoor pool. On the seventh floor, the restaurant ATTME – led by award-winning local chef Christian André Pettersen – serves cuisine that fuses traditional regional flavours with modern techniques and creative presentation, all accompanied by breathtaking views of the Lofoten Wall, the sea and the island of Landegode.

 

Simplicity at its finest:

#12 Eriro Alpine Hide, Ehrwald (Tyrol)

When summer heat becomes overwhelming, many seek refuge in the mountains—the higher, the better. Since last summer, Eriro has been a standout addition to Tyrol’s hotel scene: perched at 1,550 metres above sea level, high above the village of Ehrwald and at the foot of the Zugspitze. This alpine hideaway answers the longing for simplicity and authenticity—executed to the highest standards. Its interior design combines raw reclaimed wood with modern elements, deliberately steering clear of Tyrolean clichés and instead reflecting the rugged elegance of the surrounding Alps. The nine suites—exclusively for adults—are blissfully free of hotel clutter. Instead of TVs, floor-to-ceiling windows open up sweeping views of untouched nature. Time slows down here, and the stars at night shine brighter than anywhere else. When the last gondola descends into the valley, guests are left in peaceful seclusion. The all-inclusive offering features workshops in traditional crafts, nature excursions, yoga and meditation sessions, as well as all meals and beverages. The regional cuisine, made entirely from 100% locally sourced ingredients, is so refined that nobody misses avocados or seafood. The only exception: the wine, which is sourced from across Europe.