Known for its stunningly picturesque scenery as much as its glittering clientele, Gstaad – located at an altitude of 1,050 meters (approx 3,445 feet) in the middle of the Saanenland region – is quietly revered as the epicentre of luxury alpine travel.
Although accessible by car as you snake through the Bernese Valleys, many choose the Golden Pass train for its breath-taking views as the track winds steeply through the mountains.
With a hospitality sector leading the charge for discrete opulence, the winter wonderland transforms in warmer months to a playground for the rich, famous, royal, and everything in-between. Olivia Cox visited to experience autumn in the Alps.
Where to stay
The approach to Gstaad HUUS is undeniably impressive. The imposing, peak-roofed building slathers itself down the face of the Bernese Oberland, allowing each of the 136 rooms a spectacularly untouched view. Billed as guests’ alpine home away from home, the vibe of HUUS is that of an over-grown chalet – an exquisitely familiar spot for groups to return to year after year.
The huge, welcoming lobby extends to a lounge area that’s somehow both phenomenally chic and exquisitely cosy, before spilling onto a sun-drenched terrace with yet more seating areas. Furnishings have just a hint of Art Deco – think velvet quilted sofas and low-hung statement lighting, with impressively high ceilings. And the bar is quite literally stocked up to the rafters.
Once you’ve got your head around hitting the down arrow on the lobby elevators to access guest floors, generous rooms meander through the hillside, seeming to spread in all directions. And the rooms are just as spacious, stylish and luxurious as you’d expect, each with small seating areas on a balcony accessed through sliding doors.
Corridors snake around until you reach the ground floor, complete with fitness centre, gym and games room. A hidden gem is the consistently heated 135 m2 panoramic indoor swimming pool plus outdoor sun trap area for lounging. Dining options at HUUS Gstaad are abundant, with an in-house sushi restaurant, and fine dining La Vue, which reinterprets classic dishes, infusing traditional favourites with a signature twist.
What to do
Gstaad town is in equal parts charming and extravagant, where phenomenally high-end shops wrapped in chocolate box village facades twinkle and beckon. Stepping inside is as much an experience as it is a shopping activity. Outside of the winter months, the town transforms into a sleepier, almost – whisper it – *quaint* – alpine town, with a pleasingly slow pace and joie de vivre for alpine life.
The picturesque hills of Gstaad boast in excess of 300km of signposted and well maintained trails and paths, peppered with sporadic alpine huts for a cosy break. An adventure paradise for seasoned hiker or bikers, the trails are also appropriate for younger visitors, families, and those simply wanting to experience the natural beauty of colourful meadows against snow-dusted mountains. A common hikers’ pilgrimage is to the sparklingly clear waters of one of Gstaad’s infamous lakes: Lauenensee or Arnensee. More commonly concealed by a thick layer of ice during the winter months, there is something quite magical about seeing the blissfully peaceful water during warmer months.
Caprices Festival
Caprices Festival is not just a festival it’s an experience – that’s how the organisers describe it, and frankly it’s a promise they deliver on. Maybe it’s the 360-degree mountain views, or maybe it’s the uniquely friendly and familiar vibe on the dance floor, but there is a real X factor that sets Caprices apart from competitors.
Born from an impromptu afterparty at the base of the Crans-Montana slopes back in 2012, Caprices is now in its 12th year and boasts an international following – Gstaad is just one of the alpine venues to play host. All follow a similar format: you hit base camp at the foot of the mountain, before riding a gondola up to the mountain stage. Featuring acts such as Parallelle, Bedouin, Âme, Carlita and Blond:ish, the carefully curated line-up is a unique balance of music scene legends, Caprices veterans, and up-and-coming talent. Predictably, then, the crowd is diverse, all united in the cause of an excellent party. The tents, outdoor areas, and bars all have a house-party vibe – no-one really knows each other but for the night, at least, they’re friends.
Where to eat
Central to the Gstaad experience is the phenomenal culinary culture – a delicate balance of traditional Swiss cuisine and international fine dining. Classically Insta-worthy La Bagatelle is as hard to get into as it is to leave (you’ll go for the enchantingly beautiful terrace and stay for the expansive wine list), Leonard’s is achingly elegant, and trying Le Petit Chalet’s raclette is essential. Restaurants in Gstaad make use of regional seasonal produce – a highlight is Le Vue’s local lamb coated in fresh herbs plucked straight from the HUUS garden. And with circa 40 restaurants smattered throughout the pedestrianised Gstaad Prommenade, choices are plentiful.
For the more al fresco-inclined, a popular and somewhat unexpected option is to dine in an over-sized fondue pot. Scattered around the picture perfect landscape are eight locations for a DIY a fondue right in the heart of Fondueland. It goes like this: you reserve a fondue backpack with all the ingredients and tools you’ll need, hike/bike/sledge to your desired location, and settle in for an intimate experience than can only be described as extremely Swiss.
For more information, visit Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus.
