The Best Alpine Hotels For Fall
Fall in the Alps is overlooked, but it is a glorious time to escape to the mountains. Days are still warm and sunny, with perfect conditions for hiking and biking, before the peaks become dusted with snow once again. Mushrooms and chestnuts are there to be foraged, and harvest time hits with wine tastings all around. Cooler evenings call for cozy drinks and dinner — and hunkering down in our edit of the best Alpine hotels for Fall, from the Swiss Alps to Bavaria.
The Brecon, Adelboden, Bernese Alps, Switzerland
Just opened, The Brecon, is an Alpine hideaway that will bring hospitality to the Swiss Alps like that of a generous friend who intuits your every need – with the facilities of a luxury Alpine chalet at hand. Tucked away in the mountain village of Adelboden, 45 minutes from Bern and two hours from both Zurich and Geneva, its offering is about warm hospitality, careful attention to detail, and delectable freedom from the outside world. The adult-only property is complete with a sensory spa, featuring a steam room, sauna, ice baths, swimming pool, and a near-monastic relaxation room with an open fire. Guests can also enjoy a range of restorative treatments conducted by expert therapists. Beyond the Brecon’s doors you’ll find superb hiking trails and cycling routes to explore, rivers for bracing dips, and memorable local experiences of the modest, heartening kind.
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Suvretta House St Moritz, Switzerland
Surrounded by the glorious Engadine mountains with spectacular leaf-peeping come fall lies the fairytale Suvretta House. St Moritz's pleasantly dry microclimate offers plenty of sunny days in autumn. Outdoors, guests can hike the Corviglia mountain or stroll into town and enjoy The Sports & Pleasure Club in the afternoon, enjoying everything from a 25-meter swimming pool to thermal and cold baths. Foodies are spoiled for choice too: The Grand Restaurant is an elaborate dining room where Chef Fabrizio Zanetti serves a four-course French dinner menu; the Suvretta Stube serves up traditional Swiss specialities, with a few homeland flourishes from Costa Rican chef Isaac Briceño Obando; the Sun Terrace is open for breakfast, and the hearty House offers afternoon tea during colder days. Our favourite of the 181 rooms and suites is the Tower Suite, an apartment-size two-bedder with a big terrace and majestic views of the lake and the surrounding landscape. It is ideal for small families, who will also love the Kiddy Club and kids' restaurant. Just make sure you pack your suit—it is a jacket-and-tie kind of place, even for the boys.
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Chetzeron Crans Montana, Switzerland
Perched above the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana at 2112m, the Chetzeron started life as a gondola lift station and restaurant (hence the height) before being transformed in 2014 into the minimalist Alpine hotel we know today. With epic views over the highest peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, it is a true sanctuary for those in search of rest and relaxation. In autumn, delight in your meadow surroundings and tick off its endless footpaths and mountain bike trails, as well as morning yoga — you might even catch the sunrise. For counteracting any outdoor activities at the end of the day, there is a sauna and hammam. In the evenings, enjoy the spectacular sunsets with a glass of natural wine in hand on the panoramic terrace, before settling in for local Alpine dishes in the warmth of the restaurant.
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Saltus Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy
Saltus is located on the edge of a forest, high up in the secluded mountain village of San Genesio, and yet not far from Bolzano in South Tyrol. The Dolomites’ first eco-hotel, its superpower is the Forest Spa, nestled deep in the spruce forest, which is almost entirely chemical-free and an oasis of purity and tranquility. Two Sky Pools, one indoor and one outdoor, are heated all year round and have spectacular 180-degree views of the Dolomites. There are daily yoga, meditation, and forest bathing sessions to relax the body and mind, as well as progressive muscle relaxation techniques and qigong, a traditional Chinese medicine. We love the cozy Tschögglbergerhof restaurant, where you can feast on mountain-to-plate South Tyrolean specialties such as asparagus cream soup, and dandelion with wild garlic cheese dumplings. Fair weather hikers will love the trails of the Monzoccolo area which extend over 800km and are peppered with chestnut, spruce, and larch trees as well as chance encounters with Haflinger horses.
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Berghotel Ladinia Corvara, Alta Badia, Italy
Nestled in the Dolomites’ Alta Badia, The Ladinia is the quintessential mountain inn and Corvara’s first. Open in 1930, and a sister hotel to the iconic La Perla, it has 13 rooms, traditional Ladin interiors that hold centuries of stories, and beautiful views of Mount Sassongher. The glorious Alta Badia is a riot of fall colors, especially come October when the larches turn red, which can be best enjoyed by the area’s magnificent hiking and biking trails. Fall days are often sunny here (the area enjoys 300 days of sun a year) before cooler temperatures in the evening pave the way for evenings in the hotel bar, where the charismatic Alessio encourages guests to mingle over a glass of local red, and cozy dinners in the tube. The region is also a gourmand’s paradise, with four Michelin stars across the small valley, including across the road from Berghotel Ladinia at La Perla’s La Stua de Michil restaurant.
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Hirschen Schwarzenberg, Bregenzerwald, Austria
One of our favourite hoteliers in the Alps, Peter & Pia Fetz, their family and team have spent the past years dreaming up stunning expansion plans for their Hotel Hirschen Schwarzenberg. The old barn and chalet have been meticulously reimagined into new modern apartments and an extensive spa featuring a bathhouse, ecologically heated pool, sports deck, and a biodiverse garden inviting guests to now enjoy the gastronomically-driven property all year round. Fall is a wonderful time to visit, take a morning dip in their new outdoor pool, enjoy a long breakfast and hike, and indulge in an afternoon 'jause' with cakes and cheese specialities. Finish your day with a sauna session and a cold beer in front of the house overlooking the picturesque square of Schwarzenberg. Your day ends in the restaurant with a 4 or 5-course dinner menu, and Peter's evolving wine suggestions.
Naturhotel Tannerhof Bavaria, Germany
Set in the Bavarian Alps and nestled between mountains and lakes, the Tannerhof feels more like a small village than a hotel. No frills, unconventional, easy-going, and sustainably-minded, its slopeside position enjoys sweeping views of the Leitzach Valley and the Wendelstein. Founded in 1905, it is run by the fourth generation of the von Mengershausen family and has a holistic approach to hospitality that seeks to immerse its guests in nature and boost their health through medically supervised fasting and therapeutic treatments. The extensive spa also houses an indoor pool, sauna, Kneipp basin, and panorama gym to keep you busy. Its organic menu has been designed to further augment your well-being with a choice of daily four-course menus that range from gourmet to fasting. We love the fact that the hotel likes to arrange mixed tables for guests. Beyond the Tannerhof, you can explore the Bavarian market town of Bayrischzell (within walking distance) and swim in the nearby Schliersee, as well as walk, hike, and bike the valley.
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