Gourmet and luxury in the Swiss Alps

Lausanne, the city by the lake: the city is famous for its cosmopolitan lifestyle in a secluded setting between the Alps, vineyards and forests. It is wonderful to stroll along the lake, spend evenings in the lively city centre and enjoy the innovative gastronomy in the numerous restaurants.

After breakfast, take a journey through 500 years of watchmaking at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. Excellence and consistency are the guiding principles of this traditional Geneva manufacturer. During a private guided tour, you will have plenty of time to admire around 2,500 watches from the company's own and other manufacturers, automatons and miniatures, as well as decorative crafts closely associated with watchmaking such as engraving, enamelling, gem-setting and much more.

For lunch, we recommend "Dumplings by the Lake", a pop-up restaurant by Four Seasons de Bergues Geneva. Together with the dim sum company Madame Sum, a modern, airy meeting place has been created on the Ile de Rousseau, where the delicious dumplings are combined with imaginative drinks.

Alternative proposal Status as of 01.04.2024
As an alternative to the "Dumplings by the Lake" pop-up restaurant, which is unfortunately closed this year, we would like to recommend another highlight restaurant in the Rue du Rhône. The "F.P.Journe Le Restaurant" in Geneva is a new culinary partnership between the Michelin-starred chef Dominique Gauthier and the artist François-Paul Journe, a passionate wine connoisseur. The restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine with influences from Thailand's spices and citrus fruits and is housed in a historic building that has been remodelled several times over the years. François-Paul Journe incorporates elements of watchmaking into the ambience of the restaurant, with tables named after famous craftsmen and wall frames adorned with ornate clock mechanisms, the elegant design creates an inspiring atmosphere for your meal.

In the afternoon, take a stroll through Geneva, the headquarters of the UN in Europe, beautifully situated in front of Mont Blanc. The old town is the largest historical centre in Switzerland. The towers of St Peter's Cathedral, a stronghold of the Reformation, rise above the narrow houses. There are 157 steps to the top of the tower, and the reward is a unique panoramic view over the city. For dinner, we recommend the Brasserie Le Gogant in the Hotel des Horlogers in the Valle du Joux. Three-star chef Emmanuel Renaut has developed the cuisine, which is created on site by chef Julien Martineau.

After a relaxed breakfast, you will explore the beautiful town of Montreux on Lake Geneva today. The town on the hillside offers a cosy old town and a long, beautifully planted lakeside promenade. The town gardeners take advantage of the mild microclimate and decorate the promenade with exotic flowers and trees, creating a very special ambience. The regularly renewed plant sculptures are considered a speciality of the city and can be admired from December to May.
On a private guided tour, you can explore Chillon Castle, which is located on the promenade and resembles a fortress floating on the lake. This medieval monument from the 12th century is the most visited monument in Switzerland!

For lunch, we will be happy to reserve a table for you at Le Patio, the restaurant at the Mirador Resort & Spa above the lake. Here you can enjoy international cuisine combined with a dream view of the lake and the Alps. You still have plenty of time for extensive explorations in the region around Montreux. We highly recommend the old town of Vevey, for example, a labyrinth of narrow alleyways where you can take a leisurely stroll. Cars are not allowed, so you can take a relaxed stroll. A trip on the cog railway from Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye is also worthwhile, from where the view of the lake and the Alps is simply sensational. For the evening, we recommend the 57° Grill on Place du Port m Château d'Ouchy in Lausanne. Meat lovers in particular will get their money's worth here, as chicken, beef and co. are cooked at low temperatures. Watch chef Stan Smith and his team at work in the show kitchen and enjoy your dinner in the stylish ambience of the restaurant or on the terrace by the lake.

We have often eaten Gruyère, today you can find out how the cheese is made. At La Maison de Gruyère at the foot of Gruyère Castle, you can learn all about the king of cheeses! The interactive exhibition will give you all the information you need, but what's particularly exciting is the view of the cheese-making process from the gallery, which is offered 2 - 4 times a morning. The Marché Gruèrien offers specialities from the region such as meringue, double cream, fine baked goods and, of course, Gruyère.

We recommend the Sommet restaurant for lunch: head chef Martin Göschel conjures up culinary delights that he has brought back from his travels to France, Italy, South East Asia and South America. His cuisine has been awarded 18 out of 20 points by Gault Millau, while the Michelin Guide awarded him a star for his service, wine list and rustic, modern ambience.

On the way to Andermatt, you should make a stop in Gstaad in the afternoon. The mixture of discreet luxury and serenity is what makes this mountain resort so attractive in both summer and winter. Gunther Sachs and Elisabeth Taylor once lived here, today Bernie Ecclestone regularly flies in by helicopter. A stroll through the pedestrian zone is worthwhile: designer boutiques, restaurants, cafés and delicatessens have moved into the beautiful old houses - look out for the fine carving!

Once you arrive in Andermatt, you check into your room at The Chedi, the architectural masterpiece in the Alps. Alpine chic is combined with Asian-inspired design.

For your dinner, we will be happy to reserve a table for you in the hotel's own The Japanese Restaurant, which has been awarded one Michelin star and 17 GaultMillau points. Dietmar Sawyere and his team will whisk you away into the world of authentic Japanese cuisine. Treat yourself to a five- to ten-course kaiseki menu that combines the texture, shape and colours of the food in perfect harmony. And choose a sake from the most extensive sake menu in Switzerland to accompany your meal.

3 nights at The Chedi – Details about the hotel

Take a day to experience the magnificent mountains around Andermatt. The Gütsch-Express cable car takes you up the mountain in just 8 minutes. An almost two-kilometre circular hiking trail offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys with practically no ascents - welcome to the picture-book version of the Alps.

We will be happy to reserve you a place for lunch on the fantastic terrace of the Michelin-starred restaurant GÜTSCH by Markus Neff. The restaurant is located at an altitude of 2,344 metres, where the team led by head chef Markus Neff is dedicated to their work. The interior design is modern and unfussy and therefore goes very well with the straightforward cuisine. In a casual and relaxed atmosphere, classic cuisine is served with wonderful wines, offering French haute cuisine dishes with regional influences.

A 3.5 kilometre hike takes you to the Schneehüenerstock gondola station, where you can enjoy another refreshment stop before taking the gondola to Oberalp. Take the train back to Andermatt.

For dinner, we recommend the rustic cuisine of the restaurant in the Hotel Sonne in Andermatt. Treat yourself to authentic Swiss cheese fondue or fresh brown trout.

Today you will experience the beautiful Lake Lucerne. Firstly, you head to the town of Altdorf at the southern end of Lake Lucerne. The houses are reminiscent of Italy in a marvellous Alpine landscape and the alleyways are a delight to stroll through. The most important sight is the William Tell monument at the original site of the apple shooting. You can find out "How William Tell became a monument" on a two-hour private tour of Altdorf. The tour then continues to the small village of Vitznau at the foot of the central massif of the Rigi, a magical place on the Lucerne Riviera. We recommend lunch on the terrace of the grill restaurant at the Park Hotel Vintznau. "All you need is fire and meet" is the motto of meat sommelier Felix Kattchin, who has been awarded 14 GaultMillau points. On beautiful summer days, you can enjoy perfectly grilled meat, fish and vegetarian dishes on the shores of Lake Lucerne. To experience the marvellous lake from the water, we recommend the ferry from Gersau to Beckenried. Return by car to Andermatt, where The Restaurant in your hotel awaits your visit in the evening. The opulent room with large chandeliers has four open kitchens so that you can watch the chefs preparing your Asian and European-influenced dinner. The highlight for cheese lovers is the Cheese Cellar, where you can sample more than 40 regional and national delicacies.

After breakfast, set off in a southerly direction. The first stop we recommend is the once secret Gotthard fortress Sasso San Gottardo. The artillery works were intended to help in the defence against possible attackers from Italy and were carved into the rock at the Gotthard Pass in the 1930s. An impressive, unusual site with exhibitions on the history and myth of the Gotthard. For centuries, the Gotthard Pass has symbolised the connection between northern and southern Europe. At an altitude of 2,091 metres is the historic hospice, a former hostel for pilgrims to Rome, now a hotel with a good restaurant, which we recommend for lunch. Continue southwards through a partly dramatic, partly lovely landscape. In the afternoon you reach Ascona on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore. You stay at the Ascona Giardini: dolce vita meets modern travelling, fresh and summery, bright and spacious. For the evening, we recommend the Ecco restaurant in the hotel: purist flavoured cuisine by Rolf Fliegauf, crowned with two Michelin stars.

4 nights at the Ascona Giardini – Details about the hotel

The joie de vivre of the Italians, the orderliness of Switzerland, the mild climate of the south and the snow-capped mountains: Italian-speaking Ticino combines the best of both worlds.

Enjoy, relax, La Dolce Vita: treat yourself to a relaxing day at the hotel spa. Massages, Ayurveda, yoga, pool and sauna await you. Also take time to explore the beautiful old town and the marvellous lakeside promenade of Ascona. Perfect location, good drinks, background music and competent service: the Sea Lounge by 7 is the best spot for an aperitif with a holiday feeling. For dinner, head to Restaurant Seven with a view of the piazza and lake, Italian cuisine with a modern twist: antipasti, homemade pasta, creamy risotto, sustainably sourced meat and fish and sinfully sweet desserts make for an exhilarating culinary evening.

You've admired the lake from the shore, now it's time for a change of perspective. The skipper and his crew are already waiting on the shore for your private boat trip on Lake Maggiore. You have until late afternoon to experience this most beautiful lake in Ticino. One of the destinations is Isola Madre, which is famous for its botanical collections. Equally worthwhile is a visit to Isola Bella with the Palazzo Borromeo, statues, obelisks, fountains and beautiful terraced gardens. Belle Époque meets La Dolce Vita: at the Hotel Grand Majestic on the shores of Lake Maggiore, we recommend not only a stroll through palm trees, flowers and the manicured greenery of the large garden, but also lunch in the hotel restaurant, in an elegant and informal atmosphere in the archway with a view of the garden. You then continue your boat trip - at your own pace and according to your needs. For the evening, we will be happy to reserve a table for you at the Eden Roc restaurant in Ascona. Head chef Sara Vosti cooks what the region has to offer. As a true Ticinese, the top chef knows the traditional dishes of her grandparents and gives them a modern twist.

After breakfast, we head into the incredibly beautiful landscape of the Ticino valleys surrounding Lake Maggiore. The magically bright green Verzasca flows through its eponymous valley under the picturesque Ponte di Salti double bridge. Take a short hike here and bathe in natural whirlpools - it's hard to imagine a more romantic setting. On the way to Brione, 17 works of art along the way provide the perfect combination of culture and nature. What makes you happier? The view over the mountains, Lugano and Lake Maggiore or the excellent local Ticino cuisine? You don't have to choose, because on the terrace of the Grotto Al Ritrovo you can enjoy both at the same time. Afterwards, the picturesque mountain road will take you back to the lake, and this afternoon you can take some time to explore the town of Locarno. The Città Veccia, the old town centre, is full of interesting discoveries in the narrow alleyways that all lead to the famous Piazza Grande. Perhaps you are staying in Locarno for dinner? We will be happy to help you choose a suitable restaurant.

After breakfast, you will travel to another famous and beautiful lake: Lake Lugano is shared by Switzerland and Italy. You can enjoy a magnificent view from Monte Brè, which can be reached by funicular railway in a quarter of an hour. You can reach the village of Brè from the mountain station via a beautiful forest path - it has retained the charm of an old rural settlement. Alternatively, we recommend the Museo d'arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI Lugano), whose huge exhibition hall overlooks the lake, creating a dialogue between art and nature. For lunch, we will be happy to reserve a table for you at Restaurant Ciani, an informal city restaurant with a large terrace on the lake. Chef Dario Ranza is particularly famous for his creamy risotto. The journey continues to Tirano, from where you wind your way over the Bernina Pass by car, through the mountains, along more lakes - the road is one of the scenic highlights! Your destination is the Kronenhof Pontresina in the Engadin. The historic 19th century architecture, a marvellous spa facility and the location in the Swiss Alps make the hotel one of the best addresses in the country. Savour masterpieces of Italian-Mediterranean and French cuisine in the hotel's own gourmet restaurant, Kronenstübli.

3 nights at the Kronenhof Pontresina – Details about the hotel

Pamper yourself this morning in the spa at the Hotel Kronenhof. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround the indoor pool and offer a view of the forest and mountains. Various saunas, grottos and relaxation areas as well as luxurious facial and body treatments await you. For lunch, head to St. Moritz, just half an hour away by car. This Engadin resort is synonymous with luxury and elegance. Hardly any other holiday resort impresses with such beauty and diversity. Modern, Italian-Mediterranean cuisine is served in the Kulm Country Club, a casual, authentic and innovative trendy restaurant in Kulm Park with an Alpine-style bar and spacious sun terrace. Spend the afternoon in the cosmopolitan village, for example with a hike around Lake St. Moritz or power shopping in Via Serlas: at 1,822 metres, the world's highest outdoor shopping mile with many top shops. Boutiques and flagship stores from Cartier, Dior, Hermès, Patek Philippe and Valentino look forward to your visit.
For the evening, we will be happy to reserve you a place at the Chef's Table in the Waldhaus Sils - you will dine in the kitchen at a festively laid table - an unrivalled backstage experience. Afterwards, you will return to the Kronenhof through the Alpine scenery.

A journey on the Glacier Express is one of the most beautiful railway experiences in the world. You take the train in the morning for the section from St. Moritz to Chur. There we recommend a visit to the Graubünden Art Museum in the historic Villa Planta and a sensational extension built in 2016. In a cosy Swiss atmosphere, you can enjoy Graubünden dishes prepared according to traditional recipes in the Weinstube zum Stern. After a stroll through the car-free old town, take the train back to St. Moritz. For dinner, head up to the 2,453 metre high Muottas Muragl. The pretty red funicular railway will take you up in time for you to enjoy German and Asian classics during the twilight "magic hour". You will spend the night again at the Hotel Kronenhof.

On your last day in Switzerland, visit the world-famous Davos: magic mountain, party town, meeting place. Follow in the footsteps of Thomas Mann, the World Economic Forum in Davos and visit the Kirchner Museum, where you can see Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's paintings in the place where they were created. For dinner, we recommend Restaurant 7132 by Head Chef Mitja Birlo: his cuisine is imaginative, creative and modern in a futuristic setting. You will spend the night in Vals, the hiking and wellness paradise in the mountains.

After a final night in the Swiss Alps, check out by 12.00 noon. We will be happy to organise your journey home.