Whether

Whether
you’re heading to Switzerland to take advantage of its
many health spas, embrace adventure sports or simply eat your
weight in Swiss chocolate, the day should start the same way for
all – sipping coffee on the balcony of a palatial hotel with a view
of snow-capped mountains in the distance. Nestled between two
pristine lakes and surrounded by soaring peaks, the 150-year-old
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel &
Spa is the place to do just that, before either joining the
daring paragliders who land in front of the hotel almost every five
minutes, or making a beeline for the luxury spa downstairs.

During the belle epoqué period, this grandiose hotel in the
heart of the Bernese Oberland drew creatives, intellectuals and
even royals from around the world, and the century since has done
nothing to diminish its appeal. Sophisticated restorations have
taken this grande dame firmly into the 21st century, but the charm
of its heyday still shines through in gilded mirrors, crystal
chandeliers and stucco finishes. Wander the halls and you’ll find
innumerable bars, salons, spiralling staircases and a billiards
room, while guest rooms are opulent but understated and all come
with a view, guaranteeing that Instagrammable morning coffee in
your fluffy bathrobe.

Rooms

Elegant and timeless, 216 rooms come in varied shades and
designs but all overlook either the mountains or the picturesque
cityscape of Interlaken. While the neoclassical furnishings might
suggest otherwise, the generous rooms are fully equipped with every
modern amenity – including USB chargers for when you realise your
European adapter doesn’t work in Switzerland.

What’s for breakfast?

Head down to the La Terrasse restaurant and you’ll feel like you
stepped out of Switzerland and right into a sophisticated French
orangerie, surrounded by leafy palms and gilded parrots. If you’re
too hungry to notice the décor, the buffet spread offers up hot and
cold breakfast fare, with plenty to fuel a long day of exploring
the surrounding countryside.

What about lunch and dinner?

Post explorations, don your best holiday heels and head back to
La Terrasse for sophisticated French cuisine. Prefer something a
little more casual? Ristorante Sapori serves up a lengthy list of
wood-fired pizzas alongside other classic Italian dishes –
alternatively, nibble small plates of antipasti with a glass of
rosé in hand.

Is there a bar?

In the summer, find a seat on the sun-drenched terrace and watch
the world go by. If you can’t even see the terrace for snow, a
lounge in the cosy (and indoor) Victoria Bar might be more to your
liking.

Within a short distance you’ll find…

Plenty – this is one of the most scenic regions of Switzerland
and an excellent public transport system will take you anywhere you
want to go, from the quaint town of Thun nearby to the towering
peaks of Jungfrau. But honestly, if you make it any further than
downstairs to the gorgeous spa, complete with a heated pool, steam
baths, massage options, beauty treatments and outdoor hot tub
overlooking the mountain behind the hotel, we’ll be impressed.

Things you should know

As well as helping guests unwind after long days of exploration,
the 5,500-square-metre Spa Nescens offers up a range of programs,
from romantic spa days in private steam baths to week-long health
and
wellness treatments that will take care of everything from your
diet to cosmeceutical procedures.