In Switzerland, you can stay in a random hotel and you will happy. But there are places higher up in the mountains with million-dollar views. Such hotels are the best for mountain photography, relaxation and the Swiss Alps experience. And the best thing is that these hotels are easy to access, so no mountaineering experience is needed. However, I would not go there with luggage. A backpack is better!
The list below is organised around some photography or travel topics, and all of these hotels or areas were visited and tested by us, so.. we know what we are talking about. These hotels are not the cheapest ones but also are not the most expensive in Switzerland (where the sky is the limit).
Steamship on Lake Lucerne
The best hotels for lake views
Switzerland has one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. This is probably something you did not consider, but mountains reflected in the water are a view to die for. You can think of large lakes like Bodensee, Lake Geneva (Lac Leman), Lake Lugano or Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) or medium ones like lakes in Engadin or near Interlaken to small, tiny mountain lakes - all of them are beautiful. Our top hotels to stay by the lakes are:
Park Hotel Vitznau - the best lakeside hotel for Lake Lucerne
Bürgenstock Hotels - the best spa hotel above Lake Lucerne
Villa Honegg - the best hotel jacuzzi
Villa Orselina, Locarno - a hotel for an Italian romance
The View, Lugano - the best view of Lugano Lake
Villa Emden, Ascona - if you want to stay on an island
Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne - a hotel for a French romance
Sunrise at Grimsel Pass
The best hotels for epic car drives
in the Swiss Alps
So you want to park your Porsche in a decent place and let the brakes rest for a while. There are some good hotels with parking and comfortable beds waiting for you. For all the epic drives you probably want to spend your time around Furka Pass, Grimsel Pass, Susten Pass and Gotthard Pass.
Alpinhotel Grimsel Hospiz, Guttannen - the best historic hotel in the Swiss Alps
Grimsel Passhöhe, next to the previous one
The Chedi, Andermatt - the most luxurious "pit stop" in Switzerland
3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat, Zermatt
Hotels with the best mountain views
in Switzerland
The higher the better. If you want to wake up with the best mountain view in your life, we suggest picking one (or multiple) hotels from the list below. All of the hotels are fantastic for mountain and landscape photography and also astrophotography. By staying here, you are just a few meters from the best photography locations in Switzerland (and in the world).
Fronalpstock, Stoos - the best hotel for sunrise and sunset
Berghaus Diavolezza - the best hotel for Bernina Alps and glaciers
Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl, St. Moritz - romantic chill with a splendid view
Berggasthaus First, Grindelwald - the best mountain hotel for large groups
Wengener Hof, Wengen - the best view of Lauterbrunnen valley
Berghotel Schynige Platte, Interlaken - the best traditional hotel in Switzerland
Hotel Pilatus-Kulm, Lucerne - the easiest to access mountain hotel in Switzerland
3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat, Zermatt - hotel located the highest in the Swiss Alps - glaciers, the Matterhorn, alpine views
Check our guides for more hotel recommendations
and the best photography locations in Switzerland
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