Are you headed to Switzerland in the wintertime and looking to live the lifestyles of the rich and famous? Do you want to rub elbows with billionaires? Well, Gstaad has it all! I went skiing in Gstaad in winter and have some fantastic tips to share so you can have the best ski vacation, too.
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All About Gstaad, Switzerland
As soon as you arrive in Gstaad, Switzerland, you know that you’ve landed in the lifestyles of the rich and famous. All of the shops seem to be super high-end, well-known brands, like Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel. There are usually around 3,000 to 9,000 inhabitants, but around Christmastime, there can be 20,000 to 25,000 tourists because that’s when all the billionaires come to town.
The altitude of Gstaad is around 1,050 meters, so you might not see a lot of snow in town for a lot of winter. It’s actually quite low for European ski resorts, but it does go up to over 10,000 feet at Glacier 3000.
When I was there this February, there was plenty of snow. Unfortunately, the rest of the town had very little snow, and they were using snow machines to make paths down. It looked like a white ribbon with green Swiss Alps all around. It was crazy to see how little snow there actually was. I did have three good days skiing in Gstaad, though!
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How to Get There
So, let’s talk about how to get to this gorgeous city. It’s about two and a half hours from Interlaken, which is a beautiful place where you can do crazy stuff in the summer, like paragliding and skydiving. It’s about two and a half hours from Bern, which is the capital of Switzerland, and it’s about three and a half hours from Zurich and Geneva to Gstaad.
You’ll need to fly into a nearby city, like Bern or Geneva. You can then take a train, which is super easy to do. The train from Interlaken to Gstaad is actually a lot of fun! It is a gorgeous panorama train that’s only one level with skylights at the top. It’s so gorgeous coming into this area. It’s ridiculous how beautiful it is!
Exploring the Town of Gstaad
When you arrive at the train station in Gstaad, you are in the heart of the city. There are a couple of grocery stores in the main part of town, including a very famous (and expensive) one called Pernet. In fact, you can get escargot and caviar (for around 8,000 Swiss francs) there.
There is a beautiful church in the center of town, where you’ll find Prada, Louis, Chopard, and all of the very famous shops. You will also find great restaurants and coffee shops along the way.
Gstaad is a charming, charming town, and is actually quite famous for Bollywood movies from India. I’m not sure why, but my understanding is that a famous Bollywood director fell in love with the town and shot several of his movies here. You can take a tour of all the best Bollywood movie locations, which would be a lot of fun.
By the way – even if you’re not a big shopper of name brands like Chanel and Prada, I would definitely go to the Chanel store in Gstaad. It’s probably the most beautiful Chanel store I’ve ever seen.
Where to Stay in Gstaad
There is a nice range of hotels in Gstaad, from more affordable ones to super luxury, as well as homes and apartments to rent. Where you choose to stay will depend on your budget, preferred location, and whether you want a full-service hotel experience or to do your own cooking and live more like a local.
Gstaad Hotels
Gstaad hotels can be quite expensive. In February, I was looking for really nice three- and four-star hotels, and they were around 380 to 600 Swiss francs a night. Of course, if you’re going to live the lifestyles of the rich and famous, you can stay at the Gstaad Palace, which was starting around 800 to 1,100 Swiss francs a night.
It opened in 1916 and is the most popular place for all the billionaires to stay. Sitting on top of a hill, it looks sort of like the Disneyland Palace at the top. I couldn’t tell what the presidential suite would cost per night, but it’s got to be tens of thousands of dollars. Book your stay here!
Gstaad hotels can be quite expensive. In February, I was looking for really nice three- and four-star hotels, and they were around 380 to 600 Swiss francs a night. I stayed in the Gstaaderhof, a beautiful family-owned and operated four-star hotel just off the main pedestrian street. It was actually on the way to the Eggli lift (which I’ll talk about later) and right next to the Chanel store.
The hotel has a spa, bar, restaurant, and pool table and is beautifully finished with an alpine European look. The most delicious breakfast is included every morning at the Müli restaurant, which is also open in the evening for a fixed-price menu or a la carte dinner. The food was beautiful, and everyone there was wonderful! So, if you’re looking for the best hotel in Gstaad, the Gstaaderhof Hotel is wonderful.
Other Accommodation Options
You don’t have to stay in a hotel while visiting Gstaad; there are plenty of other options, too. If you prefer staying in a vacation home or apartment, then check out the availability on VRBO. You can find cute chalets, studio apartments, and larger homes for the whole family.
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Where to Go Skiing in Gstaad
There are several places to go skiing in Gstaad. You can go to the Eggli lift, which is about a 10-minute walk outside of town, or to the Bergbahnen Destination “across the street” from Eggli.
You can also go to the Saanenmöser, which is about a 20-minute train a little bit further down the road. That spot had lots of snow because it was a bit higher in elevation. About a 30-minute bus ride away is Glacier 3000, where you’ll find plenty of snow.
What level skier do you have to be?
Gstaad is a wonderful place for beginner skiers. Sixty percent of the runs are beginner, 30 percent intermediate, and only 10 percent expert. There are over 50 lifts across the entire area, and it’s a beautiful place to ski, especially if you’re a beginner.
Whether you’re a beginner or even an intermediate, I always recommend taking ski lessons. At Gstaad, you can take private lessons with your ski instructor for around a hundred Swiss francs for one hour.
How much does it cost to ski in Gstaad?
As far as renting skis, which I highly recommend, you can go to Intersport. There’s also a place right next to the Eggli lift. You can expect to spend around 60 to 70 Swiss francs for really good skis, poles, boots, and a helmet. You’ll also be spending about 75 Swiss francs a day for a lift ticket.
And then when you’re going to be getting a private ski instructor, that adds up quite quickly. The good news is that it’s still less expensive than skiing in the United States, like in Colorado and Utah. It’s about a third of the price of a lift ticket in the U.S., which is just bananas!
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Food in Gstaad
Now, let’s talk food, and you know I’m a foodie! This is a place for Michelin-quality restaurants; there are so many Michelin-noted or Michelin-starred restaurants in Gstaad. It’s bananas! You could eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner – okay, maybe not breakfast – in a Michelin restaurant here.
There is 16 Art, Sommet, Le Petit Chalet; these are just some of the incredible restaurants that you can spend an exorbitant amount of money at as you eat your way through this beautiful city.
Restaurants in Town
If you don’t want to spend that much money, I do have a couple of amazing recommendations. The first is the only fast food in town, Wally’s, where you can get a burger and french fries and a drink for about 25 to 27 Swiss francs. There’s also Mango, which is an Indian restaurant just off the main street where you can see photos of famous Bollywood actors. And I have to say, the food was dynamite!
The final restaurant recommendation in town is the Arc-en-ciel, a hotel with the most delicious gluten-free pizza. It’s a great place to visit après ski because the sun is perfect on the terrace, and it is a great place to hang out, see and be seen.
Restaurants Up the Mountain
If you’re going to be skiing on the mountain, I recommend going to the top of the Eggli lift. There is a bar up there with absolutely beautiful views. If you’re going to be skiing around Saanenmöser, there is a wonderful restaurant at the top of the gondola.
Actually, the best goulash I had on this trip to Switzerland was at the top of the Saanenmöser gondola at that restaurant. I can’t remember the name (it might have been Hotel Restaurant Hornfluh), but I’ll tell you what: that goulash was so, so good!
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Other Things to Know About Gstaad
How long should you stay?
How long should you stay in Gstaad? Well, I recommend staying maybe three to four days. That’s enough time, unless you’re gonna be eating your way around the city, too. Even after three or four days of Michelin-quality food, you’re probably going to need a break anyway. I would say a week is probably a little too much.
What is the local currency & language?
The currency in Gstaad, Switzlerand, is the Swiss franc, and as I mentioned, it’s quite expensive here because it’s the playground of the billionaires. As for the language, they are mostly a German-speaking town.
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Is Gstaad safe?
Is this town safe? Yes! It didn’t matter where it was, day or night, if it was lit or not lit, hiking, no matter what I did. Going skiing, I felt completely safe in this charming town. I recommend that kids, adults, solo women, and anybody else go to Gstaad.
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Are you curious about other skiing spots?
So, if you’re curious about skiing in other parts of Europe, make sure to check out this video on Lech, Austria, another luxury, beautiful place to go skiing. Or check out my video on Ischgl, which is more about partying than it is about luxury.
Are You Ready to Go Skiing in Gstaad?
I had a fantastic time skiing in Gstaad and exploring the town and surrounding areas! It’s such a beautiful place with a surprising history and connection to Bollywood. I definitely recommend Gstaad for your next ski vacation, especially if you’re looking for a luxurious destination with Michelin-quality food.
Have you ever been to Gstaad? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!
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Looking for more tips and resources for your next ski vacation? Check out my favorite travel products and some of my other posts on skiing below!
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