Blog | Explore the Swiss Alps beyond the slopes

The Swiss Alps have long been much more than just a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Well away from the ski runs and outside the high season, a destination unfolds that surprises with cultural and architectural highlights. From iconic museums and experimental pavilions to meticulously designed hotels and restaurants, the Swiss Alps unquestionably deserve a place on your list for a future trip.

FOOD

- Amaru (St. Moritz)
At the refined Peruvian restaurant Amaru, located in the historic Kulm Hotel, British designer Luke Edward Hall created a strikingly eclectic interior, featuring expressive prints and colours that extend from carpet to ceiling. The cuisine likewise offers a rich blend of flavours and spices, with a menu inspired by the street food of Lima.

- Monti (Gstaad)
Monti serves fine dining in the authentic atmosphere of a charming wooden log cabin, reimagined with a contemporary twist. Locally sourced elm wood with hand-carved detailing runs from walls to ceilings and even into the furniture. A striking focal point upon arrival is the four-metre-long buffet cabinet, crafted from fibreglass and bronze.

STAY

- Grand Hotel Belvedere (Wengen)
After an extensive renovation, the Grand Hotel Belvedere reopened its doors two years ago. The grandeur of the Art Nouveau era, complemented by classical elements, has been translated into a refined modern interior. The original crystal chandelier was carefully restored, and bespoke pine furniture has been added throughout.

- Drei Berge Hotel (Mürren)
Following a comprehensive transformation, the picturesque ‘Hotel Bellevue’ reopened in 2023 as ‘Drei Berge Hotel’. The characteristic Swiss architecture was preserved as much as possible, while the interior was furnished with an eclectic mix of vintage design. Guests will spot pieces by the likes of Charlotte Perriand and Carlo Mollino.

- Experimental Chalet (Verbier)
This boutique hotel offers peace and relaxation in a luxurious, intimate atmosphere high in the mountains. The renewed interior, designed by Italian interior architect Fabrizio Casiraghi, combines elements from his Tyrolean upbringing with Bauhaus influences and 1950s design.

- The Brecon (Adelboden)
The Brecon Hotel opened its doors in summer 2024. Behind the classic Swiss chalet architecture of the former centuries-old hotel now lies a warm mid-century interior, designed by Amsterdam-based interior design studio Nicemakers. Be sure to take a dip in the Art Deco outdoor swimming pool.

- Chesa Marchetta (Sils Maria)
The Swiss village of Sils Maria has long been beloved by artists and musicians, including the late David Bowie and Gerhard Richter. Located right in the village centre, hotel and restaurant Chesa Marchetta occupies a sixteenth-century building recently acquired by the Wirth family of art dealers and renovated by Paris-based architecture studio Laplace. The interior combines local antique furniture with a rich art collection and murals. The restaurant likewise focuses on the finest regional produce.

ACTIVITIES

- Nomad St. Moritz (12-15 February)
From 12 to 15 February, the winter edition of the travelling art event Nomad takes place. Hosted in the renovated Villa Beaulieu in St. Moritz, the festival brings art and design into dialogue with the surrounding landscape and architecture. Highly recommended!

- La Congiunta (Giornico)
La Congiunta is one of Swiss architect Peter Märkli’s most renowned works, specifically designed in 1992 to display the reliefs and sculptures of artist Hans Josephsohn. Its elongated form sits perfectly within the narrow valley of Giornico. Elsewhere in this small village, you’ll also find several historical monuments in the open air.

- The White Tower - Tor Alva (Mulegns)
Since last year, the remote village of Mulegns has gained a striking new inhabitant: the tallest 3D-printed tower in the world. The white structure – a thirty-metre-high tower printed from soft concrete – is an initiative by the Origen Cultural Foundation and can be visited at this location for the next five years.

- Skyspace Piz Uter (Zuoz)
Since 2005, visitors to the village of Zuoz have been able to discover Skyspace Piz Uter by installation artist James Turrell. The cylindrical structure has two openings: an entrance and an oculus at the top, offering an uninterrupted view of the sky. As always in Turrell’s work, an intriguing two-dimensional effect emerges, making the sky appear as a flat, almost painterly image.

- Museum of Fine Arts (Chur)
In 2016, the neoclassical Swiss art museum received a striking addition. The concrete volume was designed by Spanish architecture studio Barozzi Veiga – the same studio that recently left its mark on the Abby Museum in Kortrijk (Belgium). The distinctive building stands out with its monolithic geometric façade and rigorously pared-back interior.

- Kulm Eispavillon (St. Moritz)
In 2017, the historic Kulm Eispavillon was restored to its former glory by the architects from Norman Foster’s studio. With its impressive canopy dating back to 1905, the wooden structure now once again serves as an ice rink, club restaurant and sun terrace after its extensive renovation.

- Mirage House (Gstaad)
On the occasion of the Elevation 1049 festival, American artist Doug Aitken completely clad a typical Californian ranch house in mirrors in 2019. The installation reflects its surroundings and changes with the seasons. The interior is also entirely mirrored. Begin your visit from the inside and wander through this unique, kaleidoscopic experience.

- Strip Tower (962) (Sils Maria, Engadin)

The colorful installation’Strip Tower (962)’ by German artist Gerhard Richter has settled among the mountains of the Engadin. The work will remain there for the next three years as part of the ‘Elevation 1049’ festival. Inspired by Richter’s ‘Strip Paintings’ from 2010, the installation represents his exploration of painting, photography and digital processes. Panels clad in brightly colored, striped ceramic tiles rise more than five meters high, forming a cross-shaped sculpture in the heart of the Alpine landscape.