The Alps are the greatest mountain range in Europe, curving for more than 1,200 kilometres through France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Slovenia, with the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, the Eiger and the Dolomites among their peaks. They are where mountain tourism was born: the first winter holiday, the first grand mountain hotels, the first ski resorts. And they still have the finest collection of mountain hotels in the world, from palace hotels and five-star ski chalets to historic inns and simple lodges on the edge of glaciers.
These are 20 of the best mountain hotels in the Alps, chosen from the more than 50 Alpine hotels in our collection, country by country. For more in each country, follow the links to our country guides.
The best mountain hotels in the Alps at a glance
- Best Matterhorn view: Riffelalp Resort 2222m, Zermatt
- Best palace hotel: Badrutt's Palace, St. Moritz
- Best spa: 7132 Hotel, Vals
- Best for ultimate ski luxury: Cheval Blanc Courchevel
- Best for food: Le Hameau Albert 1er, Chamonix
- Best for families: Naturhotel Forsthofgut, Austria
- Best infinity pool: Bürgenstock Resort, Lake Lucerne
- Best value: Berghotel Schatzalp, Davos, and Hotel Triglav Bled
Switzerland
1. Riffelalp Resort 2222m, Zermatt
Best for: couples, skiers, hikers and families
Reached by the Gornergrat railway and Europe's highest tram, Riffelalp sits on a sunny plateau 2,222 metres above Zermatt, with ski-in ski-out access and one of the most famous Matterhorn views in the world from its heated outdoor pool. Read our review of Riffelalp Resort 2222m.
2. Badrutt's Palace, St. Moritz
Best for: special occasions, families and lovers of Alpine glamour
The grand Alpine hotel against which all others are measured, still run by the Badrutt family, whose ancestor is credited with inventing the Alpine winter holiday in 1864. It has a private ice rink, a kids' club and some of the best restaurants in the Engadine. Read our review of Badrutt's Palace.
3. The Alpina Gstaad, Gstaad
Best for: couples, food lovers and spa lovers
A grand modern chalet above Gstaad, the most discreet of Swiss ski resorts, The Alpina combines Simmentaler craftsmanship with contemporary art, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a Six Senses Spa. Read our review of The Alpina Gstaad.
4. The Chedi Andermatt, Andermatt
Best for: couples, design lovers and spa lovers
An Alpine chalet outside and an Asian temple within, designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, with more than 200 fireplaces and a 2,400-square-metre spa, on the route of the Glacier Express. Read our review of The Chedi Andermatt.
5. 7132 Hotel, Vals
Best for: architecture lovers, couples and wellness seekers
A five-star-superior retreat built around Peter Zumthor's celebrated Therme Vals, a thermal bath of quarried quartzite, with penthouses by Kengo Kuma and every room facing the mountains. Read our review of 7132 Hotel.
6. Bürgenstock Resort, Lake Lucerne
Best for: couples, spa lovers and families
On a ridge 500 metres above Lake Lucerne, Bürgenstock has one of the most famous infinity pools in Switzerland and a 10,000-square-metre spa. A hotel has stood here since 1873; Audrey Hepburn married here in 1954. Read our review of Bürgenstock Resort.
7. Bergwelt Grindelwald, Grindelwald
Best for: couples, families and design lovers
A stylish alpine design resort beneath the north face of the Eiger, with warm timber interiors and an 800-square-metre indoor-outdoor spa, at the heart of the Jungfrau region. Read our review of Bergwelt Grindelwald.
8. Berghotel Schatzalp, Davos
Best for: history lovers, walkers and families on a budget
An Art Nouveau former sanatorium of 1900 above Davos, reached by its own funicular and said to have inspired Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, with old-world charm at a fraction of palace-hotel prices. Read our review of Berghotel Schatzalp.
For more, see our guide to the best luxury hotels in Switzerland's mountains.
France
9. Cheval Blanc Courchevel, Courchevel 1850
Best for: skiers and food lovers
LVMH's original Cheval Blanc is the ultimate ski-in ski-out hotel in the Three Valleys, with 36 rooms and suites, a three-Michelin-star restaurant and a Guerlain spa. Read our review of Cheval Blanc Courchevel.
10. Le Hameau Albert 1er, Chamonix
Best for: food lovers, couples and families
A Relais & Châteaux hamlet run by the same family since 1903, with private chalets facing Mont Blanc, a Michelin-starred restaurant and an indoor-outdoor pool. Read our review of Le Hameau Albert 1er.
11. Les Fermes de Marie, Megève
Best for: couples, families and lovers of chalet style
A hamlet of centuries-old Savoyard farmhouses, rebuilt beam by beam in 1989, that became the chalet hotel that defined Alpine luxury. Read our review of Les Fermes de Marie.
12. Hôtel Le Faucigny, Chamonix
Best for: skiers, climbers and hikers on a budget
A stylish chalet hotel of 28 rooms in the centre of Chamonix, at a price well below the town's grand hotels. Read our review of Hôtel Le Faucigny.
See all 12 in our guide to the best hotels in the French Alps.
Austria
13. Post Lech Arlberg, Lech
Best for: families, couples and skiers
The original grand inn of Lech, run by the Moosbrugger family since 1937 and a member of Relais & Châteaux, in one of the most beautiful ski villages in the Alps. Read our review of Post Lech Arlberg.
14. Naturhotel Forsthofgut, Leogang
Best for: families, couples and spa lovers
A forestry estate since 1617, now one of Austria's best family hotels, with an adults-only forest spa and the Skicircus on the doorstep. Read our review of Naturhotel Forsthofgut.
15. Heritage Hotel Hallstatt, Hallstatt
Best for: couples and photographers
The way to see one of the most photographed villages on Earth at dawn and dusk, without the crowds, at a fair price. Read our review of Heritage Hotel Hallstatt.
See all 8 in our guide to the best hotels in the Austrian Alps.
Italy
16. FORESTIS, Dolomites
Best for: couples, design lovers and wellness seekers
High on the Plose above Brixen, facing the peaks of South Tyrol, FORESTIS combines a historic building with three slender timber towers and a 2,000-square-metre forest spa. Read our review of FORESTIS.
17. Hotel Hubertus, Dolomites
Best for: spa lovers, couples and families
Home of the Sky Pool, a 25-metre infinity pool cantilevered from the hillside above Olang, with a vast spa and Kronplatz close by. Read our review of Hotel Hubertus.
18. Lac Salin Spa & Mountain Resort, Livigno
Best for: skiers, families and couples
The best-rated hotel in Livigno, the high, snow-sure and duty-free town that co-hosted the 2026 Winter Olympics, steps from the slopes, with indoor and outdoor pools and suites with private hot tubs, at a fair price. Read our review of Lac Salin Spa & Mountain Resort.
For Italy's most famous mountains, see our guide to the best hotels in the Dolomites.
Germany and Slovenia
19. Schloss Elmau, Bavarian Alps
Best for: couples, families and music lovers
A castle hotel in a hidden valley beneath the Wetterstein mountains, host of the G7 summits in 2015 and 2022, with several spas and up to around 200 concerts and readings a year. Read our review of Schloss Elmau.
20. Hotel Triglav Bled, Lake Bled
Best for: couples, walkers and travellers on a budget
A charming boutique hotel of 1906 above Lake Bled, with terrace views of the island church, the castle and the Julian Alps, at a price far below the big lakeside hotels. Read our review of Hotel Triglav Bled.
When to go to the Alps
The ski season usually runs from December to April, with January and March often the best months for quieter slopes and good snow, and Christmas, New Year and February the busiest and most expensive weeks. The high resorts, such as Zermatt, Val Thorens, Tignes and Livigno, are the most snow-sure. Summer, from late June to September, is the season for hiking, lakes and mountain railways, and September brings settled weather and fewer crowds. Many Alpine hotels close between seasons, in spring and in October and November, so check dates before booking.
Explore the Alps
For skiing, see the best ski-in ski-out hotels in the Alps; for wellness, the best spa hotels in the Alps; for summer, the best hiking hotels in the Alps; and for winter magic, winter wonderland villages in the Alps. Explore all our hotels in the Alps and the Dolomites.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best mountain hotels in the Alps?
Our favourites include Riffelalp Resort 2222m in Zermatt, Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, 7132 Hotel in Vals, Cheval Blanc Courchevel, Le Hameau Albert 1er in Chamonix, Post Lech Arlberg, FORESTIS in the Dolomites and Schloss Elmau in Bavaria.
Which country in the Alps has the best hotels?
Switzerland has the greatest concentration of grand and luxury mountain hotels, France the biggest ski areas and the most celebrated ski-hotel dining, and Austria the warmest family-run hospitality and some of the best family spa hotels.
Are there affordable hotels in the Alps?
Yes. Berghotel Schatzalp in Davos, Hôtel Le Faucigny in Chamonix, Heritage Hotel Hallstatt, Lac Salin in Livigno and Hotel Triglav Bled all offer character at a fair price.
When is the best time to visit the Alps?
January and March for skiing, late June to September for hiking, and September for settled weather and fewer crowds.
