Suspended over Lake Lucerne, Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa 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 – The Heritage and The Contemporary. 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.