These are the five most beautiful spas in Switzerland

Sometimes they showcase water as an archaic element, sometimes they make the architecture almost invisible. Those who bathe in these spas immerse themselves in spaces that touch both body and soul.

Switzerland has always been considered a country of spas. The Romans bathed in warm springs here, artists and intellectuals sought healing in fashionable spa resorts in the 19th century, and today, architecture, design, and high-tech merge with centuries-old wellness expertise. The result: spas that showcase the landscape and culture as modern retreats – where bathing is always a form of storytelling.

A place that has long been legendary. Around 30 years ago, Peter Zumthor not only renamed Therme Vals, but also redesigned it with more than 60,000 slabs of Vals quartzite, as if cut directly from the mountain. Pools of varying temperatures, a sound bath, a steam bath, quiet alcoves and, outside, a pool with a view of the valley – here, bathing becomes a spectacle of stone, water, and light. No frills, just pure architecture that defines luxury through reduction.

Star architect Mario Botta designed the Rigi-Kaltbad, which reopened 13 years ago, as a play on geometry, glass and natural stone. The spring has been known since the 16th century and today, its waters flow into indoor and outdoor pools, herbal saunas, steam baths, and the mysterious crystal bath. Here, Alpine tradition meets modern architecture – a spa that deliberately showcases the view of the sky and mountains.

The legendary Dolder Grand was reinterpreted in 2008 by the renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners and has since come to be considered a veritable statement of contemporary luxury. The Day Spa by the same name covers 4,000 square metres and delights visitors with an aqua zone including a panoramic pool, whirlpools, steam baths, saunas, and Japanese-inspired retreats. Treatments from luxury cosmetics brands such as La Prairie and Amala underscore the exclusive appeal. Here, you don’t just bathe – you immerse yourself in a world that perfectly combines the metropolis and retreat.

450 metres above Lake Lucerne lies a spa that makes the panorama the star of the show. This is ensured first and foremost by the famous infinity pool, which seems to lead out into the sky; there are also indoor pools, a hammam, saunas, and relaxation rooms featuring glass façades. Spanning and area of 10,000 square metres, the Bürgenstock Alpine Spa is one of the largest wellness oases in Switzerland, yet it maintains a personal feel – as the view of the sea of fog or the sunset makes every moment unique.

The modern day Tamina Therme, realised in 2009 by the Zurich-based firm Smolenicky & Partner, translates Bad Ragaz’s wellness tradition into a clear, light-flooded architecture of wood, glass, and stone. Indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and steam baths open out to the mountain landscape; at the centre is the 36.5‑degree water of the Tamina Gorge, which has been put to therapeutic use since as far back as 1242.

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