Suspended over Lake Lucerne, Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa Resort blends sleek modernity with time-honoured charm. A facelift has brought it into the 21st century, but its history is still at its heart – quite literally – in the form of a storytelling corridor that links the hotel’s two buildings. Tales are told of when Audrey Hepburn stayed to wed and of which royalty once strolled the halls and showcasing some original artifacts including a funicular carriage. It’s the cavernous spa that steals the show though: an architectural marvel of glass and water with a horizon-edge pool and views that silence even those who claim to have seen it all. Here, wellness flows from morning yoga on an open-air deck to sunset soaks in the infinity pool, with spa suites immersing vitality hunters into their own private sanctuaries.  

Outside of the well-being shell, a collection of restaurants (eight in total in summer), mountain-view tennis courts, immersive experiences and Lucerne city across the lake leave no place for boredom. So, while at first blush it would seem a place for the grown-ups, families are thoughtfully welcomed too. A kids’ club sits beside the spa, which itself has dedicated sessions for under 16s, and connecting suites allowing close proximity with a dash of independence sealing the deal.