World’s Best: Five of the Best Luxury Spa and Wellness Retreats in Switzerland

Switzerland is renowned for having some of the best medical wellness retreats in the world, but there are also luxurious restorative retreats with exquisite forest views and high-end hospitality. And with each season in the Alps bringing its own sense of magic, from winter walks in snow-covered peaks and summer hikes through the Alps, there’s no better place to switch off from the world.

From historic icons of the spa world to more to modern offerings, we’ve compiled some of our favourite luxury wellness retreats in Switzerland to help you narrow down your search.

Clinique La Prairie, Montreux

First opened in 1931, Clinique La Prairie still pays homage to its founder, Dr Paul Niehans, and his pioneering work in the fields of anti-ageing and cellular therapy. The very definition of a pioneering medical wellness retreat, Clinique La Prairie is global leader in medical wellbeing. It’s philosophy is to combine innovative scientific advances with holistic wellness to provide world-class treatments and wellness therapies.

If you’re craving a deep, results-orientated experience, Clinique La Prairie is the place to come. It employs more than 50 medical specialists and programmes range from a week-long revitalisation to weight management sessions, all in a luxurious, five-star setting. Overlooking Lake Geneva in Montreux, the facilities are jaw dropping, with 12 treatment rooms surrounded by Kneipp and hydrotherapy circuits, indoor and vitality pools, a hammam, steam room, sauna and ice waterfall. Experiences unique to the brand include Neuro Wave Stimulation, which is joined by Ayurveda-inspired rituals and non-invasive, rejuvenative treatments includes facial lifting and body remodelling.

Clinique La Prairie leaves no stone unturned in its quest for wellness – every guest receives a complete medical evaluation, tailor-made menus and exercise plans, plus a programme of results-oriented wellness and aesthetic treatments. The aim? To make you an ‘architect of your own vitality’ and ensure you leave with a new state of mind and enhanced physical wellness.

Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa, Lucerne

With views over Lake Lucerne that take your breath away, the award-winning Bürgenstock Alpine Spa offers 10,000sqm dedicated to wellness. There are evidence-based, self-guided hydrothermal journeys, five pools, saunas, vitality pools, cold plungs, Kneipp walk and a sumptuous relaxation lounge.

The iconic outdoor infinity pool, heated to 35˚C, will help you draw energy and peace from the spectacular views over Mount Pilatus, Rigi and Lucerne. There’s also a spa garden with a Bull’s Eye pool bar and Roman pavilion.

A sustainability-driven property, Bürgenstock’s Alpine Spa offers customised wellness treatments in 13 treatment rooms, each guided by thorough research and Swiss medical expertise. Treatments embrace modernity and medical advances, meaning everything from a full lifestyle transformation to some deep relaxation is on offer. You’ll arrive courtesy of the hotel’s own shuttle boat, MS Bürgenstock, and after a short climb on the scenic funicular railway prepare to be welcomed into a haven of health, tranquillity and wellbeing.

Gstaad Palace, Gstaad

From the outside, Gstaad Palace – which is set on a hill overlooking Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland – looks like an enchanted fairytale castle rising from the forest. On the inside, the 1,800sqm spa is a real life haven for deeply restorative, targeted relaxation.

First opened in 1913, Gstaad Palace is a Swiss gem and one of the most famous Swiss ski resort hotels. But it’s also a wellness goliath offering nine treatment rooms plus a private spa suite. Facilities at the Palace Spa include saunas and steam baths, relaxation areas, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool with hot tub. Its crowning glory is a seven-room Hammam experience and the outdoor hot tubs, with bubble loungers boasting mountain views.

Passed down through three generations of the Scherz family, the five-star Gstaad Palace Hotel and its Palace Spa promise that every guest will leave feeling like ‘one day was a week-long holiday’. Luxury brands used in the spa include ID Swiss Botanicals, Sisley, Shiva Ananda – rooted in Indian wisdom dating back 2,500 years – and Augustinus Bader.

Uniquely, the Palace Spa offers the Cellgym method, a revolutionary technique to train your cells’ power station. While you relax, Cellgym uses a controlled supply of oxygen stimulate the mitochondria, activating your body’s own healing powers to produce higher stress tolerance, and a sense of wellbeing.

Tschuggen Grand Hotel, Graubunden

The 5,000sqm Tschuggen Bergoase spa is an architectural marvel, designed by the renowned architect Mario Botta to resemble glass sails rising from the mountainside. Set across four floors, it has been hewn from the Alpine landscape and its philosophy focuses on simple, natural healing as part of its Moving Mountains concept.

The concept, built on holistic wellbeing principles, promotes long-lasting physical and mental benefits through the harmony of body, mind and soul. Backed by sound medical knowledge and modern science, the approach to wellness at Tschuggen Bergoase spa also centres around restoring vitality and helping guests celebrate the joy of life. Each experience offered is rooted in both science and holistic modalities, with fully organic products used in all the indulgent and restorative rituals to further promote stillness and wellbeing.

For facilities, think private spa suites, hydrotherapy circuits, various saunas and steam baths, physical training spaces and 12 cocooning treatment rooms. Massages incorporate everything from deep-tissue techniques to singing bowls, rollers and herbs. Product partner Methode Physiodermie is a brand created by Geneva-based Laboratoire Sintyl, which offers a synergy between natural ingredients and cutting-edge Swiss technology. The Tschuggen Grand Hotel also offers a range of targeted wellness-focused retreats. For those seeking a wellness break with a difference, look no further.

The Spa Nescens at La Réserve Genève, Geneva

The sprawling Spa Nescens is renowned in the spa world for offering an unparalleled sense of luxury and privacy alongside curated wellness and anti-aging treatments. Located on the banks of Lake Geneva, the unique décor of La Réserve Genève and Spa Nescens stands out, with hypnotic jellyfish-shaped lamps scattered throughout, leopard print carpets, rare butterfly displays and fake exotic birds creating a buzzy atmosphere.

With 17 treatment rooms, the 1,850sqm Spa Nescens has a magnificent indoor pool, a large fitness area and a variety of saunas and steam rooms. The outdoor swimming pool doubles as an ice rink in winter. The menu offers classic massages, facials and beauty treatments by Nescens, which was created by Professor Jacques Proust – a pioneer in biology of cellular ageing and anti-ageing medicine.

There is also an aesthetic medicine division, with treatments performed by Dr Sophie Menkes. Cutting-edge anti-aging cures and regenerative medicine are delivered under medical supervision in the Nescens Clinique de Genolier and all of the unique range of services are developed and approved by the Nescens brand scientific committee.

Each month, Spa Nescens also hosts yoga retreats which include sound baths and meditation workshops led by acclaimed yoga teacher and life coach, Jeff Grant. It’s easy to see why it’s hailed as one of Switzerland’s most exclusive wellness destinations.