Chocolate, cheese, and expensive watches—these are likely the first things that pop into your mind when you think of Switzerland. Perhaps they're quickly followed by visions of trains rolling through mountain passes, snow lovers soaring down pristine ski and toboggan runs, and funiculars plying between lake shores and quaint hillside towns. Yes, the country's cuisine, crafts, and countryside are iconic, but Switzerland's many world-class spas are also worth weaving into a vacation itinerary.
Thermal baths are, after all, a great way to cope with alpine temperatures or weary muscles after an epic hike or ski day. And just imagine getting your massage on a heated bed as you gaze over the snow-capped Alps beyond Lake Geneva. Oyster editors have visited more than 400 hotels throughout the country, from Basel to Zermatt, to find the best spas in Switzerland.
The luxurious 19th-century Beau-Rivage Palace on Lake Geneva is the crème de la crème of Lausanne hotels. And its stylish spa—with a hammam, sauna, ice cellar, and ice fountain—is the area's spa par excellence. The fantastic space includes eight rituals and treatment rooms, a calming relaxation room, yoga and meditation studio, fitness center, and more. The indoor pool is heated to perfection, while the outdoor pool is surrounded by manicured lawns and a furnished deck facing the lake, with the snow-capped Alps in the distance. The treatments are just as exceptional as the facilities. The Beau-Rivage Palace recently opened a new Guerlain Spa, offering treatments inspired by the Swiss Riviera.
A hotel with four restaurants (one Michelin-starred), three bars, and an extensive wine cellar would have a luxurious spa, too. The historic 139-room Lausanne Palace & Spa’s has a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, sauna, and hammam. The modern fitness center offers cardio equipment, weights, and a Pilates studio. An Aveda hair salon provides cuts, styling, and scalp treatments. All this, and we haven't even mentioned the 50-plus massages and body treatments on offer, which include stone massages, deep healing facial massages, and renewal treatment options. Towels, water, and hot herbal tea are all free.
Opened in 1904, Le Mirador Resort & Spa offers unparalleled Lake Geneva and mountain views from its hillside location. All 11 treatment rooms face Lake Geneva and the Alps, providing a serene backdrop for spa attendees. Here, guests can enjoy anti-wrinkle facials, four-handed massages, or moisturizing body wraps with a side of spectacular views. There are also men's and women's saunas and steam rooms, a modern fitness center overlooking the lake, and a beautiful glass-domed pool with a hot tub and sun terrace where Vevey's alpine splendor is on full view.
The Hotel President Wilson is a beautiful luxury hotel with an even more gorgeous location overlooking Lake Geneva. Its proximity to international organizations and government buildings makes it popular with business travelers, but all travelers can appreciate its many on-site amenities, including a luxurious spa by La Mer, which is accessed via a private elevator. Each of the five spa treatment rooms features a private marble bathroom, and the Spa Suite has a large hot tub, sauna, and steam room. The menu offers facials (including one centered around the brand's signature Miracle Broth), massages, and more. Specific packages include complimentary access to the hotel's heated seasonal pool overlooking Lake Geneva.
The Europe Hotel & Spa is a charming chalet in Zermatt, a short walk from the Swiss Alps ski village's main square. Fourteen of its 38 rooms have views of the Matterhorn. The property's namesake spa—with its Finnish and herbal saunas, bubbling warm pool, steam bath, and lounge for cooling off—offers a heavy dose of Swiss-style Zen and is an especially lovely (and adult-only) place to relax after a day on the slopes. The spa's massage-and-bath menu offers nearly 20 options, and many incorporate local alpine herbs. In the winter, the après-ski massage, which features mint oil to warm up the leg muscles and boost circulation, is a popular choice.
Park Hyatt Zurich was the city's first purpose-built luxury hotel when it opened in 2004 and it still holds the position of one of the finest properties in the city. Its on-site Club Olympus Spa & Fitness features a well-equipped health club and a wellness center with notably long operation hours. Towels, bathrobes, slippers, water, and fruit are provided for free. Spa facilities include separate men's and women's areas with saunas, steam baths, and a unisex relaxation room. Treatments like body polishes, algae wraps, facials, and scented oil massages occur in private rooms, while a beauty room is dedicated to makeup, nails, and waxing services. However, there's no pool—unusual for such a high-end property.
Like all of InterContinental Geneve's common areas, Le Spa Cinq Mondes features four private treatment rooms, a hammam, a sauna, and a fitness room. Many treatments are Balinese inspired, such as the Bali Flowers and Fruits Massage Treatment, which utilizes natural active ingredients from tropical flowers and fruit acids.