Things to do in Gstaad: where to eat, drink, shop and stay

Your guide to the glitzy resort in Switzerland that's not just for skiing
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Alice-Azania Jarvis30 September 2016

Madonna, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor — they’ve all fallen for the charms of Gstaad, one of the glitziest spots in the Swiss Alps. In winter, the slopes surrounding the village buzz with skiers but the town in Switzerland is a destination all year round thanks to the elegant cuisine, scenic strolls and serious shopping.

Stay in style

Opened in 1910, the Grand Hotel Park has welcomed the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Margaret Thatcher. A recent refurbishment means that today it’s very much in the 21st century; there are 84 rooms and 10 suites (plus a Gucci boutique, spa and cigar room) spread over five floors. Every room comes equipped with Nespresso coffee machines, Bang & Olufsen sound systems and, of course, wifi. Not that you’ll be wanting to spend time screen-gazing; mountains and forest surround the hotel so you’re guaranteed spectacular views while the constantly changing cloud patterns mean the horizon never looks the same. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff — you could ask them to hand-deliver a birthday card to your cousin in Australia and they’d do it. Probably. This is luxury, Swiss style. Rooms from £306 (grandhotelpark.ch)

The Grand Hotel Park

Hit the shops

The chocolate-box town centre is a shopaholic’s paradise — though it helps if you have a trust fund to raid. Quaint chalet-style storefronts hide all manner of haute delights; Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Prada all have boutiques here. For more affordable (though no less delectable) offerings, visit Pernet Comestibles to stock up on local mountain cheeses and fine wines.

Say cheese

You’ll find fondue and raclette aplenty, but there’s more to Alpine cuisine than cheese and carbs. Take a table on the terrace of The Gallery for imaginative, seasonal food (think game, local vegetables and fresh trout). In town, Chesery is the place to bag a seat thanks to chef Robert Speth’s refined take on local favourites such as spätzli and apple tart. (chesery.ch)

Get active

Whether you’re looking to burn calories or simply get the endorphins going, exercise lovers are spoiled for choice. Ski season runs from November until May; the rest of the year you can take your pick from Alpine walking, paragliding, riding and mountain biking. A trip up the cable car to the Glacier 3000 mountain station on the plateau of Les Diablerets is a must. On a clear day you can see 24 summits all more than 4,000 metres high, including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and the peaks of the Bernese Alps. For thrill-seekers, the ‘alpine coaster’ offers the chance to zoom down the slopes at up to 40 km/hour while Peak Walk — a 107-metre-long, 80cm wide bridge — is the only suspension bridge in the world that connects two mountain summits. Cross if you dare. After something a little more chilled? The spa at the Grand Hotel Park has steam baths, saunas and a heated saltwater pool, as well as fluffy robes, slippers and bespoke treatments. (glacier3000.ch)

Getting there

Swiss flies out of London City Airport to Geneva three times a day (the flight takes just one hour 40 minutes, with prices from £71). From there it’s an easy train journey to Montreux, then up into the Alps on the Golden Pass mountain train, which has panoramic windows to make the most of the Alpine climb. A Swiss Transfer Ticket covers the return journey. From £104 (swisstravelsystem.co.uk)

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