Gstaad in Switzerland is known for its cheese and its incredible summer season

Gstaad shares the same status as St. Moritz. Switzerland’s most glamorous resort towns. There are five-star hotels, celebrity sightings, and a car-free promenade flanked by high-end boutiques and designer stores—but don’t expect the grand outposts you’ll find in cities like Geneva or Zurich. Gstaad adopted regulations in the 1950s that required all buildings to adhere to the Simmental architectural style (low-pitched roofing, wide eaves and carved façades). Swiss charm This is evident throughout the village. However, as I learned on a visit this past winter, Gstaad isn’t just a postcard-worthy après-ski playground for the wealthy; its residents are deeply passionate about history, centuries-old traditions, and the natural beauty that surrounds this idyllic enclave of the Bernese Alps.

Anita Roth Reuteler is a guide at Gstaad. She says, “Gstaad has so much to offer than just the village and its promenade.” Explora Gstaad. tells Travel + Leisure. “Go to the mountains and enjoy various sports and activities. [and] “Let yourself be carried by the beauty and strength of nature.”

It’s still a small, cozy village, despite its international fame for celebrity visits and wealth. Nuno Costa is the head concierge at The Alpina Gstaad. He says that it’s about elegance over extravagance. While skiing is a big draw during the winter, says Nuno Costa, Gstaad becomes a “paradise for hiking, mountain bicycling, swimming in mountain lake, and festivals” in summer. There’s even an annual country music concert that takes place each September—this year, the lineup features Scotty McCreery and Old Crow Medicine Show.

Best Hotels & Resorts

The Alpina Gstaad

The Alpina Gstaad is intimate and cozy—just 56 rooms and suites in total—but there’s a grandness to its design and level of service that initially led me to believe the property was much larger. The hotel was closed at the end winter, but everything was still pristine. From the branded, plush slippers that were left on my bed, to the ease of renting skis right outside the front door. The accommodations are amazing, and you will regret leaving the room during the day. These rooms feature period furniture and woodwork from the area, as well as hand-built fire places. They are not too dark, nor kitschy. What is my only regret about my stay? I wish I had spent more time at the Six Senses Spa, which offers heated waterbeds, a cold plunge, sauna and an indoor pool.

Gstaad Palace

More than 100 years of excellence in the industry Gstaad Palace The property, which is a castle in style and towers over the town, has attracted wealthy guests. The 90-key resort, which is only open during the winter and summer (like many luxury hotels in Gstaad), offers a place where you can easily spend weeks without getting bored. The rooms and suites all have an alpine-view, and there are a number of amenities, including an Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts and squash courts and an iconic nightclub called GreenGo.

Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad

Gstaad offers another five-star resort. Le Grand Bellevue It dates back as far as 1912, but the renovations that took place over a period of a year were spearheaded by Daniel and Davia. The 57 rooms are located on the promenade. It has a modern, chalet style design, with a Wes Anderson-inspired vibe. It’s retro and nostalgic. There are pops of colors and patterns that complement the woods and neutrals used. Le Grand Spa was refurbished in 2017 and is a highlight of the guest experience. It features steam baths, herbal saunas, an herb fountain, as well as an outdoor relaxation pool.

What to do?

Glacier 3000 is a panoramic mountain view.

Gstaad’s elevation is more than 3,400 ft above sea level. But you can go higher with the cable car (to nearly 10,000 ft) Glacier 3000, a mountain resort with incredible views of the Alps. Costa: “On a clear day, you can view the Matterhorn Mont Blanc and Jungfrau.” The famous Peak Walk is a suspension walkway connecting two mountain peaks. Be sure to bring layers, gloves, a cap, and a hat. When I visited Glacier 3000, my light jacket was not able to withstand the wind and ice.

Gstaad has many major festivals.

Gstaad offers more than just skiing, as its list of top-notch events proves. It attracts visitors from around the world every year. Roth-Reuteler recommends that you plan your trip around Country Night GstaadThe Swiss OpenThe Swatch Beach Pro GstaadOr the Gstaad Menuhin FestivalThe first classical music concert was started by Yehudi Menhin in 1957.

Hike up the mountains—with a fondue backpack.

Roth-Reuteler as well as Costa both recommend taking in the beauty of nature, whether you are hiking, biking, e-biking, etc. If you don’t want to pack a lunch, fondue can be a good way to fuel up for your mountain adventure. Reserve a backpack filled with fondue essentials—a classic or truffle fondue cheese, bread, spices, a pot, a chafing dish with fuel, plates, and forks—from the Molkerei cheese shop and tote it up to one of the seven oversized “fondue pots,” designed to fit up to eight people, in the region.

Discover local cheese traditions in the cheese grotto. 

Gstaad is proud of its cheese, and what better place to discover it than at the Gstaad Cheese Museum? cheese grotto. This hour-long, free tour will give you the inside scoop about the 500 year-old tradition behind the production of alpine cheddar. You’ll be 80 feet below ground (bring your jacket), and you’ll find 3,000+ wheels of alpine cheese.

Test your mental as well as physical strength by climbing the via ferrata.

Skiers may descend La Videmanette In the winter months, the area is used for skiing. But in the summer months it’s a haven for climbers. The via ferrata is a system of ladders, pins and steel cables that allows you to traverse the terrain. You can rent equipment from either Edelweiss Sport Gstaad or By the Rougemont – La Videmanette cable carIf you have little climbing experience, it is also recommended that you use a guide.

Best Restaurants

Restaurant Rössli

Costa says Restaurant RössliQuality is the key to this restaurant, which is located in Feutersoey village, south of Gstaad. It’s seasonal, authentic and made from local and homemade ingredients. The restaurant has its own fish tank for the renowned trout.

Restaurant Sonnenhof

Menu at Sonnenhof Costa confirms that the food “is lovingly prepared and made using seasonal ingredients.” But the real star of this show is the terrace. Enjoy dining outside with views of the Gstaad mountains and town.

Posthotel Rössli

“Other than the highly recommended restaurants like Sonnenhof in Saanen You can also find out more about Rössli in Feutersoey, it’s always a delight to enjoy traditional Swiss dishes at Posthotel Rössli or Hotel Kernen in Schönried,” says Roth-Reuteler. The oldest inn in Gstaad, Posthotel Rössli was built in 1845 and has two cozy restaurants, Alti Post and Stübli.

Alpine Huts & Mountain Farms

Many of Gstaad’s restaurants offer cheese and panoramic views. alpine huts and mountain farms. Refrigerators that are self-service at places such as the Alp vordere Wispile You can also find out more about the following: Rastplatz Gspan Bring alpine cheddar, dried sausage, snacks, drinks and sweets. Bring cash, and be sure to check the timing before heading up—some are only open from July to September.

Best Shopping

Shopping in Gstaad can be an unforgettable experience. The pedestrian-only promenade is lined with luxury brands like Hermès, Chopard, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren, all housed in the traditional chalet-style buildings you can’t help by photograph while strolling from store to store. Roth-Reutele also recommends brands that aren’t household names. Zwahlen-Hüni AG It is known for its “alpine fashion” Ds Cadenöli for Swiss découpage art (also known as paper-cutting), and Charly’s Gstaad Chocolates and pastries are delicious.

Costa has also recommended a few places on or near the promenade. Marina Anouilh You can also find out more about the following: Trois Pommes Clothing and accessories. He adds that “you cannot miss the wonderful bookshop in Saanen. Librairie des Alpages … or the cheese shop Molkerei Gstaad.” It even has a vending machine with all kinds of dairy items, such as cheese, milk and yogurt, outside.

When is the best time to visit?

Gstaad has two primary seasons—summer and winter—although Roth-Reuteler says fall, with the “changing colors of the season,” is also delightful. The village comes alive with outdoor activities and festivals in summer. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy sports or laze around by the pool. Costa adds that, unlike many places in Europe, the summers are not hot and there are no heat waves. It’s a great place to get away from the busy cities.

Of course, if you’re coming to Gstaad to ski (or just experience the après-ski scene), aim for December through February; when I skied there in early March, the conditions weren’t ideal, and the snow was a bit too slushy in some areas. Roth-Reuteler says that the winter landscape, which is covered with snow, has a unique look, and it attracts people to all kinds of winter sports.

She says that November is the time to avoid as it can be unpleasant and the days are getting shorter. We all await the first snowfall. Costa mentions that the luxury hotels are only open between June and September, as well as from December to February.

How to Get There

The majority of international visitors to Gstaad fly into Zurich Airport ZRH or Geneva Airport GVA. From either, you can take public transportation. Download the SBB Mobile app For easy navigation and shopping a Swiss Travel Pass Before you arrive, make sure to purchase the All-in-One Pass. It allows unlimited travel on train, bus, or boat. There are some exceptions. Even after a late-night flight, the three-hour journey to Zurich couldn’t have felt easier or been more scenic.

How to Get Around

Gstaad has a pedestrian-only center. If you don’t have the Swiss Travel Pass—and plan on mostly staying in Gstaad—you can use the Gstaad Card. The card is given to you by your host, such as a hotel. It allows you to use public transport between Saanenland & Simmental. Between May and October, biking or ebiking between Gstaad villages and around Gstaad is a great way to discover the area.