Why Stay at Gstaad Palace
Gstaad Palace is one of the defining hotels of Gstaad.
Rising above the village in the Oberbort, the hotel has occupied the same prominent position since 1913. Its turrets and hillside silhouette are immediately recognisable, but the character of the property extends well beyond its architecture.
The Palace remains family owned, with the Scherz family closely associated with the hotel since the late 1930s and owners since 1947.
Today, 90 rooms and suites, a substantial spa, several restaurants and bars, seasonal sporting experiences and more than a century of hotel history create an experience that is markedly different from Gstaad’s newer design-led properties.
For travellers looking for traditional Swiss grand-hotel hospitality while remaining closely connected with the village and the wider Saanenland, the Palace offers one of Gstaad’s most complete stays.
A Landmark Above Gstaad Since 1913
The story of Gstaad Palace is closely connected with the development of Gstaad itself as an international mountain destination.
The arrival of the railway between Montreux and Zweisimmen at the beginning of the twentieth century transformed what had previously been a small farming community.
Construction of the Palace began in 1912 on land in the Oberbort above the village.
The hotel opened on 8 December 1913 as the Royal-Hôtel & Winter Palace Gstaad.
At the time, it contained 165 rooms and represented an unusually ambitious investment for a young Alpine resort.
The Scherz-Bezzola family took over the management of the property in 1938. In 1947, the family acquired ownership, beginning the multi-generational relationship that continues today.
Andrea Scherz, representing the third generation, has led the hotel since 2001.
Although the hotel has changed considerably over more than a century, its elevated position and family continuity remain central to its identity.
This is not simply a historic building that has been converted into a hotel. Hospitality has been its purpose since the property first opened.
Rooms and Suites
Gstaad Palace currently offers 90 rooms and suites.
The interiors combine Alpine materials with a restrained, traditional style rather than pursuing a uniform contemporary aesthetic.
Accommodation ranges from approximately 28-square-metre Cosy Rooms to substantial multi-bedroom suites.
Many categories look across Gstaad, the Palace gardens or the surrounding Saanenland mountains, including the Wildhorn, Oldenhorn, Wispile and Le Rubli depending on orientation.
Several rooms can also be connected, which can be particularly useful for families travelling together.
At the upper end of the collection, the Tower Two Bedroom Suite extends across approximately 190 square metres, with balconies overlooking the village and mountains.
The three-bedroom Penthouse Suite occupies 240 square metres and adds a 150-square-metre rooftop terrace with panoramic views across the Saanenland.
Its private sauna, outdoor hot tub and dedicated lift create a much more residential experience than a conventional hotel suite.
Accommodation styles vary throughout the building, which is part of the Palace character rather than something the hotel attempts to conceal.
Travellers prioritising a particular direction or mountain panorama should therefore select their room or suite category carefully.
Dining at Gstaad Palace
Dining is one of the strongest parts of the Palace experience.
The hotel currently lists six restaurants and four bars, with individual concepts changing according to the summer and winter seasons.
Le Grand Restaurant and La Terrasse provide the traditional grand-hotel dining environment, accompanied by views across the gardens and surrounding mountains.
Le Grill offers a more gastronomically focused experience. Its open kitchen and international approach using regional ingredients currently hold 16 Gault & Millau points.
During winter, Gildo’s Ristorante introduces an Italian dining concept, while La Fromagerie provides one of the hotel’s most unusual settings.
The fondue restaurant occupies a former underground strong room that was created during the Second World War to store documents and gold for a Swiss bank.
In summer, Gildo’s al Fresco brings the Italian concept outdoors with a more informal Mediterranean atmosphere.
Beyond the main hotel, the Walig Hut creates an entirely different experience.
The historic Alpine hut dates from 1783 and stands at approximately 1,700 metres above sea level. The Palace has preserved it as a deliberately simple mountain retreat where traditional food can be prepared over an open fire.
Together, these venues give the hotel a dining identity that moves between formal grand-hotel tradition, regional Swiss cuisine and distinctly seasonal experiences.
Palace Spa
The Palace Spa extends across approximately 1,800 square metres.
Created through a major expansion in 2007, the wellness area uses regional stone, timber and Alpine views to maintain a connection with the surrounding landscape.
Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, saunas and steam facilities, relaxation areas, treatment rooms and fitness.
The spa is deliberately substantial enough to become part of the daily rhythm of a stay rather than functioning only as an occasional treatment facility.
During summer, wellness extends outdoors through one of the most distinctive features of the Palace.
The hotel’s open-air «PISCINE» dates from 1928.
Its 50-metre format gives it the proportions of an Olympic-sized pool, surrounded during summer by sun terraces and mountain scenery.
The combination of the indoor Palace Spa and historic outdoor pool makes the wellness proposition noticeably different between winter and summer.
Winter at Gstaad Palace
Winter has been part of the Palace identity since the hotel opened for its first season in December 1913.
The hotel itself is not a ski-in/ski-out property.
Instead, its elevated Oberbort position sits above the village, with Gstaad’s different ski areas accessed through the local lift network.
The Palace provides shuttle service between the hotel and Gstaad village, while the wider destination connects skiers with sectors including Wispile, Eggli, Wasserngrat and the broader Saanenland ski network.
This arrangement suits travellers who want skiing to form part of the stay without making the hotel itself purely a ski resort.
Returning to the Palace shifts the atmosphere quickly from mountain sport towards spa, dining, drinks and evening entertainment.
The GreenGo Club adds another element to the winter identity.
Its 1970s-inspired interior, resident DJ programme and seasonal events have made nightlife part of the Palace experience for guests who want to remain within the property after dinner.
For a more personalised way to experience the region beyond the hotel, our Private Alpine Experience in Gstaad can be incorporated into a privately planned stay.
Summer at Gstaad Palace
Summer reveals a very different side of the property.
The outdoor «PISCINE», Palace gardens and terraces become much more prominent, while hiking, cycling and tennis replace skiing as the principal outdoor activities.
The hotel has a particularly long relationship with tennis.
Its history records a tournament at the Palace as early as 1915, part of the sporting tradition that later developed into today’s Swiss Open Gstaad.
Summer also provides the most natural opportunity to experience the Walig Hut and the surrounding Alpine landscape.
The Palace itself participates in Gstaad’s broader seasonal calendar while retaining enough facilities that guests can spend significant time within the property.
The contrast between winter and summer is important when considering the hotel.
This is a genuinely seasonal Palace rather than a city-style luxury hotel transplanted into the mountains.
For broader seasonal planning and ideas around the destination, explore The Essential Luxury Guide to Gstaad.
Staying at Gstaad Palace with a Family
The size and configuration of the Palace make it suitable for families as well as couples.
Many room categories offer connecting configurations, while the larger suites can provide multiple bedrooms and substantial shared living space.
The hotel also operates a dedicated Kids Club for children from five to twelve years old.
Younger children aged three to five can participate in selected activities when accompanied by an adult.
The programme changes seasonally and includes activities both inside the hotel and outdoors.
Children are also permitted within designated areas and hours of the Palace Spa, including the indoor pool.
For multi-generational stays, the combination of connecting accommodation, large suites, children’s programming and a broad range of restaurants can reduce the need to organise each part of the day separately.
Who Gstaad Palace Suits
Gstaad Palace is particularly well suited to travellers who consider the hotel itself an important part of the destination.
Its heritage, scale and social spaces create a markedly different experience from smaller boutique properties.
Guests interested in traditional European grand hotels may appreciate the sense of continuity that comes from more than a century of operation and several generations of the same owning family.
Families benefit from flexible accommodation and children’s facilities.
Travellers interested in dining and wellness can make substantial use of the Palace without needing to leave the property every day.
The hotel also suits guests who enjoy a more animated environment, particularly during winter and major periods in Gstaad’s social calendar.
Travellers seeking contemporary minimalism, a very small boutique property or direct ski-in/ski-out access may naturally prefer another style of hotel.
For a factual comparison of locations, design, wellness and hotel styles, explore our Luxury Hotels in Gstaad guide.
Experiencing Gstaad from the Palace
The elevated position provides a useful balance between separation and access.
From the Palace, guests look down towards the chalet landscape of Gstaad while remaining only a short journey from the promenade, railway station, restaurants and shops.
The hotel operates its own shuttle service between the property and the village.
This means guests can spend part of the day within the Palace environment before moving easily into central Gstaad.
During winter, the same arrangement connects with the destination’s different ski sectors.
During summer, hiking trails, Alpine valleys and seasonal events broaden the itinerary considerably.
The location therefore works particularly well for travellers who want to experience Gstaad without necessarily staying directly on the pedestrian promenade.
Private Travel to Gstaad Palace
Unlike Zermatt, Gstaad is not car-free.
A private vehicle can therefore travel directly to Gstaad Palace.
From Geneva Airport, the hotel estimates approximately two to two and a half hours by road, depending on conditions.
Luxury Switzerland can arrange a private transfer from Geneva to Gstaad directly to the hotel, with space for luggage and ski equipment according to the vehicle selected.
Guests arriving by train can also arrange collection from Gstaad railway station through the hotel.
For longer journeys through Switzerland, private chauffeur services can connect Gstaad with Geneva, Montreux, Lausanne, Zermatt and other destinations while allowing the itinerary to remain flexible around stops, luggage and seasonal conditions.
Planning Your Stay
Where is Gstaad Palace located?
Gstaad Palace is located at Palacestrasse 28 in the Oberbort, on the hillside above Gstaad village.
Its elevated position provides views across the village and surrounding Saanenland mountains.
When did Gstaad Palace open?
Gstaad Palace opened on 8 December 1913.
The Scherz family began managing the property in 1938 and acquired ownership in 1947.
How many rooms and suites does Gstaad Palace have?
The hotel currently offers 90 rooms and suites.
Accommodation ranges from approximately 28-square-metre rooms to a 240-square-metre three-bedroom Penthouse Suite.
Is Gstaad Palace ski-in/ski-out?
No.
Gstaad Palace is positioned above the village rather than directly beside a ski piste.
Guests access Gstaad’s different ski areas through the destination’s lift network.
Does Gstaad Palace have a spa?
Yes.
The Palace Spa extends across approximately 1,800 square metres and includes an indoor pool, sauna and steam facilities, treatments, relaxation spaces and fitness.
Does Gstaad Palace have an outdoor swimming pool?
Yes.
During summer, the hotel operates its historic outdoor «PISCINE», a 50-metre pool that dates from 1928.
What restaurants are at Gstaad Palace?
The Palace operates several seasonal dining concepts.
These include Le Grand and La Terrasse, Le Grill, Gildo’s Ristorante or Gildo’s al Fresco depending on season, La Fromagerie and the Walig Hut.
The hotel currently lists six restaurants and four bars in total.
Is Gstaad Palace suitable for families?
Yes.
The hotel offers connecting accommodation and larger multi-bedroom suites together with a Kids Club for children aged five to twelve.
Selected activities are also available for younger children when accompanied by an adult.
Is Gstaad Palace open all year?
No.
Gstaad Palace operates dedicated winter and summer seasons, with seasonal closures between them.
Current opening dates should be confirmed when planning travel during spring or autumn.
How long is the transfer from Geneva Airport to Gstaad Palace?
The hotel estimates approximately two to two and a half hours by road from Geneva Airport, depending on traffic, weather and road conditions.
Can a chauffeur drive directly to Gstaad Palace?
Yes.
Gstaad is not car-free and conventional vehicles can reach the hotel directly.
Luxury Switzerland can arrange private airport transfers and chauffeur services to the property.
