From a monumental spa carved into a mountainside to a Belle Époque brasserie long welcoming the great and good, and a castle reimagined for the 21st-century, Bürgenstock Collection's three Swiss hotels each champion their own story, writes Olivia Palamountain.

THE HOTELS

The Bürgenstock Collection operates three distinct hotels across Switzerland, each heralding its own spin on refined luxe. Over four days, we moved from the mountain heights of Bürgenstock Resort to the city-slick Hotel Schweizerhof Bern, then down to the palatial Royal Savoy Lausanne, on the lakeside. What the hotels share is a knack for blending heritage with hospitality – an approach recognised by Michelin, which has awarded Bürgenstock Resort Three Michelin Keys for the second year running and the Michelin Wellness Award 2025.

LOCATION

The Bürgenstock Resort adventure begins before you arrive; we hopped aboard the hotel's catamaran for a 25-minute crossing of Lake Lucerne to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock, followed by an epic six-minute funicular climb straight to the resort lobby. Yes, you can drive, but as ever the scenic route is better.The resort sits 500 metres above Lake Lucerne, with more than 300 rooms and suites spread across three hotels: The Contemporary, The Heritage and Waldhotel. Views are fabulous, stretching nearly 360 degrees across the lake and mountains. The Hammetschwand Lift, Europe's highest outdoor elevator, runs up the cliff face for Alpine panoramas.A stay at Schweizerhof Bern brings things back to street level. The hotel has been operating since 1859, positioned opposite the main station and within walking distance of the Old Town's Medieval cobbled streets. By the time we reached Royal Savoy Lausanne – opened in 1909, restored, with 196 rooms and gardens overlooking Lake Geneva – the pace had settled into something slower. Mountain, city, lake. Each with its own rhythm.

ETHOS & AWARDS

Where some five-star hotels shout, the Bürgenstock Collection whispers. The luxury is there – in the materials, the service, the attention to detail – but it's presented hush hush. There's an emphasis on craftsmanship, local sourcing and sustainability that reads as genuine care rather than hype, delivered by people who seem to enjoy what they do.Environmental commitments are taken seriously: Green Globe certification and "Swisstainable" programmes run across all properties. At Bürgenstock Resort, a hydroelectric system supplies 100% of electricity and 80% of heating. Lake water feeds the spa pools and irrigation systems, making the resort nearly CO₂-neutral. It's infrastructure, not greenwashing.

GUEST PERSONAS

At Bürgenstock, expect a mix of girly spa seekers, families in need of r&r and couples who've come to disappear into the clouds for a weekend. Schweizerhof Bern draws a more urban crowd – business travellers, diplomats and locals seeking schnitzel at Jack's Brasserie. Royal Savoy Lausanne, with its grand façade and palm-lined terrace, attracts a polished international set: the kind of guests who talk business over breakfast and the wine list over lunch.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Each property takes a different design approach, working with its environment and heritage to deliver an appropriate aesthetic. Bürgenstock Resort wows with contemporary mountain materials – wood, stone and glass, with the 10,000 square metre Alpine Spa the showstopper – more on that later.

Schweizerhof Bern keeps its Belle Époque bones – crystal chandeliers, marble floors – but handles them lightly enough to avoid stuffiness. Royal Savoy Lausanne is the most traditional of the three, with large spa facilities and one of Lausanne's biggest ballrooms, but modern artwork and furniture stop it feeling static.

ROOMS

Across all three, rooms feel generous and considered. At Bürgenstock Resort, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the mountains and the lake like living paintings. Schweizerhof's 99 rooms and suites comprise thoughtful lighting, work-friendly desks and beds that invite lazy lie-ins. Royal Savoy's rooms are the most classically beautiful – balconies overlooking the lake, muted tones, expansive penthouses, and a sense of seclusion despite being in the city.

MINIBAR AND IN-ROOM DINING

At Bürgenstock, expect Swiss chocolate, herbal teas and local wine. Schweizerhof adds a cosmopolitan touch - you can order sushi and sashimi as easily as schnitzel. 

RESTAURANTS: WHAT TO EAT

Dining is where the Collection shows its range. Spices Kitchen & Terrace at Bürgenstock delivers genuinely good Asian food – not the diluted "hotel" version, but dishes with real confidence and heat, delivered from an open kitchen. Oak Grill focuses on Swiss produce cooked over flame in a tavern-style space, warmed by a huge open fire.In Bern, Jack's Brasserie is a local institution named after founder Jack Gauer, with booths engraved with the names of distinguished past guests. White tablecloths, golden lamps and regional and seasonal ingredients combine for a fabulously classic experience; the seasonal Sky Terrace, meanwhile is a local go-to for chilled rosé and Asian small plates. Brasserie du Royal in Lausanne keeps French brasserie traditions alive – seafood, expert sauces and a wine list worth lingering over.

SPA & WELLNESS

While each property has spa facilities, the Alpine Spa at Bürgenstock Resort is extra-special. Switzerland is a global leader in medi-wellness and this is one of the finest in the country. Spanning more than 10,000 square metres, expect thermal experiences including a saltwater pool, steam baths, Finnish and bio saunas, and experience showers arranged to encourage slow movement rather than fixed circuits.

The show-stopper is an outdoor infinity pool that appears to float above the lake – ideal for sunbathing and Insta photo opps.Treatments work with premium brands including La Prairie, ESPA and Susanne Kaufmann. The spa also houses a medical and health centre offering diagnostics, physiotherapy and performance-focused programmes with a preventative and longevity emphasis. A large fitness centre, yoga and Pilates studios, and personal training spaces sit alongside quieter zones for rest and reflection.

ACTIVITIES

At Bürgenstock Resort, hiking trails wind through Alpine meadows and the Hammetschwand Lift offers vertiginous views. In Bern, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth exploring on foot (don't forget to check out the Zytglogge – a gorgeous clock tower dating from the 13th-century featuring an astronomical clock with moving figures). Lausanne combines lake access with Olympic Museum visits and vineyard tours in nearby Lavaux.

VERDICT

Taken together, the Bürgenstock Collection feels like Switzerland in three acts: elevated, intelligent and quietly self-assured. With effortless transport links between the three and rates that feel honest given what's included, the Bürgenstock Collection is a winner.

PRICE

From CHF 450/ £428 (Schweizerhof Bern) to CHF 800/ £760 (Bürgenstock Resort), including access to spa facilities and breakfast.

FACT BOX