Gstaad Seasonal Chalets

To make your move easier, our destination experts have compiled a list of essential information on daily amenities across Gstaad so you can hit the ground running. If you have secured seasonal accommodation in Gstaad, you will be pleased to know that this prestigious ski resort is well-connected to main transport hubs by Switzerland’s comprehensive public transport system, making travel to and from your accommodation straightforward.
Gstaad is easily accessible by road, rail and air, making it the perfect choice for busy professionals who may need to come and go for both business and pleasure.

Travel By Air

Both Geneva Airport (GVA) and Zurich Airport (ZRH) are significant hubs for international travellers coming to Gstaad.

The total road distance between Geneva Airport and Gstaad is approximately 150 km, and the journey will take just under two hours by car.  Travel by car is the fastest way to reach Gstaad from Geneva Airport.

Travelling by car from Zurich Airport will take just under three hours with the total road distance approximately 215 kilometres.

The closest airport to Gstaad is the regional airport of Bern (BRN). Bern’s small size can appeal to travellers who wish to avoid Switzerland’s larger airports during peak travel times.

As a regional airport, Bern mainly caters to domestic flights; however, it provides a limited number of international connections. Bern also offers charter flights and private jet services for customers interested in travelling to Gstaad in a more exclusive fashion.

Travel By Rail

Rail links connect both Geneva Airport and Zurich Airport to Gstaad, and trains depart regularly from both arrival points.

The travel time by train from Geneva Airport to Gstaad is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, and from Zurich Airport to Gstaad is approximately 3 to 3.5 hours.

There is no direct train, with passengers usually changing from Montreux to Gstaad.

Montreux provides an essential hub for travellers reaching Gstaad. From Montreux, you can either catch the standard regional train or book on the scenic GoldenPass Express, which offers superior comfort and panoramic windows to make the most of the scenic journey through the Alps. The GoldenPass Express runs four times a day from Montreux, and reservations are essential.

For those travelling to Gstaad by train from Europe, the station Lausanne is a vital transport hub.

Direct high-speed trains operated by TGV Lyria connect Paris with Lausanne, taking just under four hours to travel.  EuroCity trains connect Milain directly with Lausaane in four hours.

Trains from Geneva reach Lausanne in approximately 35 minutes, and trains from Zurich take around 2 hours. You can board an onward connection from Lausanne to Montreux.

Travel In And Around Gstaad

Those with a seasonal chalet in Gstaad will find travel in and around the town easy due to its compact size and good public transport network. The Swiss Postbus, known for its yellow buses, operates across the main routes in and around Gstaad.

The train station (Gstaad Bahnhof) is the town’s transport hub, where visitors and residents can catch trains, buses, and taxis. Numerous bus routes serve the town and surrounding area, and all routes depart from the train station.

Additional buses operate during peak seasons. During winter, ski shuttle buses are used to transport skiers and snowboarders to the lifts in addition to the public buses.  In summer, bus routes expand to cover popular hiking routes.

Visit the Swiss Postbus website to check current timetables and routes. You can also download the SBB mobile app, which provides real-time information on bus schedules, routes, and any delays or changes.

Gstaad has everything visitors and locals need for everyday life, including a full range of amenities, bank facilities, and shops.

Thanks to the town’s well-organised layout and pedestrian-friendly setup, all the key amenities are easy to access. Running through the centre of town, the attractive main promenade is lined with cobbles to either side, and you will find a range of shops, including numerous high-end boutiques and essential services.

USB, Raiffeisenbank, and Credit Suisse are all located on the promenade and offer a full range of banking facilities for residents. The local post office is near the train station for all your postal needs.

For your weekly shop, Gstaad’s main supermarket is the Coop, located a short walk from the train station. This large, well-stocked supermarket sells a full range of fresh produce, groceries, alcohol, and household items. It has speciality counters for cheese, meat, and fish, carries pre-prepared food, and has plenty of parking outside.

Denner, a discount supermarket, is also located centrally. It’s slightly smaller than the Coop but stocks a good range of reasonably priced produce, including alcohol. You will find Landi Prima Laden near the Coop, which supplies farming and gardening materials, household items, hardware, and food. Landi supports local Swiss farms and producers by offering local meats, cheese, and artisanal items from across the region.

Foodies will be in heaven In Gstaad with plenty of delicious offerings to sample in the village shops.

Stop by Earlybeck Bakery to indulge in fresh pastries, bread, and confectionery. The bakery has two locations in Gstaad, one near the train station. A few tables are outside the shop, and table service is available for customers.

You will also find another branch on Gstaadstrasse 103, conveniently located between Gstaad and the neighbouring village Saanen. This family-run business has been baking in Gstaad since 1910 and is currently run by the fourth generation. They use quality, raw, local ingredients in their baking and are open 365 days a year.

For your cheese needs, the fabulous Molkerei Cheese shop has an extensive selection of local cheeses from Gsaad, the surrounding region, and across Switzerland. This delightful store is within walking distance from the train station, provides excellent customer service, and stocks the highest-quality products.  Once you shop for cheese at Molkerei, you can guarantee you will be back!

In addition to the cheese shop, the team at Molkerei has created Gstaad’s very own cheese grotto, where over 3000 cheeses, including rare and historical varieties, have been displayed in a monument to all things cheese.

Affectionately known as Gstaad’s Cheese Cathedral, you can book a tour that includes cheese tasting to get a closer look at and taste these treasures—some of the oldest cheeses stored here date back to 1931.

The local Gstaad Butcher’s, Metzgerei Boucherei, is a well-loved institution stocking excellent-quality meats and regional specialities, including in-house-produced regional specialities such as Saanenland dried beef, country ham, smoked bacon, sausage, pies, and terrines.

They also sell an excellent selection of charcuterie products, cheeses, fresh produce, and fresh fish. The shop is located centrally and is a fantastic addition to Gstaad’s local amenities. It offers great-quality produce and has friendly, knowledgeable staff on hand to help.

Renowned wine merchant Le Caveau de Bacchus is an excellent place to pick up a special drop. They stock a diverse range of exclusive wines and spirits in a warm yet elegant atmosphere.  Bacchus’s philosophy is to match the right bottle with their customers’ needs. Their in-house sommeliers are knowledgeable, professional and happy to talk wine with their customers.

Unlock Fresh Alpine Produce

One of the joys of staying in an annual chalet in Gstaad is that it gives you plenty of time to explore the region’s quality produce and unique flavour profiles.

Small-scale subsistence farming and crop growing have been taking place on the surrounding Alpine pastures for centuries.  Today, agriculture still plays a vital role in Gstaad and the surrounding Saanneland region, with many farms embracing sustainable and organic farming methods.

Many local farmers look to preserve traditional agricultural techniques that have been handed down through generations. Several restaurants in the area follow a farm-to-table philosophy, showcasing the region’s best seasonal produce in their dishes.

A Taste Of Gstaad

Beer lovers can try the local Saanegutsch beer, a regional craft beer made by passionate local brewers using high-quality regional ingredients. It comes in four varieties and is a firm favourite with locals and visitors. It’s found in many restaurants in the region, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Grab some fresh, free-range Kobi eggs from the Zeller family farm in Grund near Gstaad.  This local business looks after over 2000 chickens and supplies local shops, hotels and restaurants with delicious free-range eggs.

Thanks to the region’s rich history of farming, several regional meat products are available to sample. Saanenland is known for cattle farming, and farmers often keep Simmental cattle. The local beef is prized for its high quality and used to make artisanal meat products, such as Switzerland’s famous air-dried meats.

In addition to meat products, the region has an abundance of dairy produce. Swiss cheese is revered worldwide, and local Saanenland cheeses are no exception.

There are several local cheese producers in Gstaad and plenty of varieties to try, from traditional mountain cheeses, full-fat Alpine cheese, gooey fondue, and extra-hard Hobel cheese.

For remote workers, Gstaad is an incredible location with its small yet vibrant community, excellent amenities and unbeatable mountain setting. Securing annual accommodation in Gstaad can help you prioritise your work-life balance and allow you to enjoy everything Gstaad offers after you clock off.

When staying in one of our Gstaad long-term rentals, you will have everything you need to make your remote work a breeze.  Our properties have only the finest standards so you can be assured of your optimum comfort.  Your new home will be equipped with modern amenities, from high-speed internet to ample working space and, of course, incredible views.

For those looking to work outside the home, Gstaad offers co-working options, which are ideal for professionals looking to network in the wider community.

The IT company SR Gmbh supports the coworking community by offering rentable coworking spaces and meeting rooms in its Saanen and Gstaad offices. It provides a calm space amongst other professionals for remote workers, excellent internet facilities, and office infrastructure. Flexible booking options are available for daily, weekly, and monthly hires.

The local Gstaad branch of Credit Suisse offers a complimentary co-working zone and three individual workstations with power outlets. You can reserve a spot online.

In addition to these dedicated co-working spaces, many of Gstaad’s cafes offer internet and are cosy places to get some work done while enjoying a snack or drink. Try Charly’s on the promenade, which has free Wi-Fi, delicious food, and spacious seating.

Gstaad is the place to be if you’re looking for a healthy, active lifestyle. There are many outdoor activities to get involved in and a well-equipped local sports centre that is open to the public.

The local sports centre is a community hub for sports and fitness fans and is a fantastic place for those with annual chalets in Gstaad or seasonal chalets in Gstaad to get out and meet like-minded people from the community.

The centre features an impressive array of facilities, including indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, a children’s paddling pool and a turbo slide.

The pools are staffed with trained swimming instructors, many of whom are multilingual. Bathing equipment is available to rent, and several swimming and water gymnastic classes are hosted here. For relaxation and wellness, there is a dedicated spa area with a Finnish sauna, soft sauna, steam bath, high-quality solarium, and cold plunge pool.

There is also a well-equipped fitness centre that members can access 24/7, three indoor and three outdoor tennis courts and a badminton court. In summer, the centre has a kid’s playground and five beach volleyball courts; in winter, it features a well-maintained ice rink. If you feel like grabbing a bite to eat, the newly opened Boat restaurant is on site.

Yoga Gstaad offers a serene environment for small-group yoga practice in classes of nine or more. It also offers private pilates sessions.  Many of the hotels in Gstaad have impressive on-site gyms and wellness areas and provide fitness classes which non-guests can access with day passes or temporary memberships.

Renting an annual chalet in Gstaad allows you to experience this charming Alpine destination year-round. Choosing to stay longer means you can see this tranquil and picturesque village transform through the seasons.

Experience the bustling winter season when Gstaad exudes a winter wonderland vibe with its snow-dusted mountain vistas, roaring log fires, and warm twinkling lights. Then, revel in the lush greenery of the warmer months with its flower-filled Alpine meadows and wide-open blue skies.

As an exclusive destination, Gstaad caters to refined tastes year-round with abundant cultural, music, and sporting events and a glamorous social scene to match its well-heeled clientele. Concerts are hosted throughout the year, as well as a series of festivals, from film and literary festivals, the Gstaad International Balloon Festival, to traditional Swiss festivals such as the harvest festival, the Saint Nicholas festival, and the Gstaad Zuglete, where farmers move their cattle from the surrounding Alpine mountains through the promenade to their winter home.

Classical music lovers are in for a treat. The prestigious Gstaad New Year’s Music Festival, the Les Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, and the Gstaad Menuhin Festival present high-quality intimate performances in acoustically beautiful settings, such as the 15th-century church of Saanen and the Gstaad chapel.

Other events throughout the year include the popular Gstaad Country Night, which hosts a weekend of top-quality country entertainment, the Gstaad Promenade Party, and the lavish Gstaad Summer Yacht Party.

During the ski season, there is plenty of terrain to keep you busy. Gstaad’s pistes are set across three separate mountains: Wispile, Eggli, and Wasserngrat. The area forms part of the larger Gstaad Mountain Rides region, which boasts over 200 kilometres of ski runs and links an idyllic collection of Alpine villages.

No matter what kind of winter thrill you’re looking for, Gstaad provides from heli-skiing, free-styling, tobogganing, and winter hiking to cross-country skiing.  You can purchase a ski pass to access the wider Gstaad Mountain Rides area resorts, including the mighty Glacier 3000 on the Diablerets Massiff, which lies 15 kilometres out of Gstaad.

As the warmer months draw in, the region’s hiking trails open up. Make the most of the incredible surroundings by walking or mountain biking. You can also play a round of golf at the Gstaad—Saanenland Golf course.

Cheese enthusiasts can indulge in several cheese-related activities around Gstaad, especially in the summer when cheese is traditionally made in surrounding mountain pastures. Ranging from enjoying a traditional fondue outdoors to touring the region’s mountain cheese dairies, where you can watch cheese production take place.

There are two outdoor fondue huts near Gstaad, the Chessler and Bodmen huts. These unique huts have four oversized fondue pots that can provide a gooey, cheesy treat for up to eight people. You can purchase a stylish fondue or raclette backpack from local dairies and also the Wispile mountain hut and enjoy this traditional Swiss activity amongst the stunning natural surroundings of the Swiss Alps for a fondue experience like no other! There are also several outdoor barbecue areas to take advantage of, some of which are also maintained throughout the winter.

Whatever you’re into, Gstaad has an incredible array of entertainment options, from lavish parties and cultural gems to its unbeatable outdoor experiences.  As they like to say in Gstaad, “Come up, slow down”, and embrace the richness of everyday life in the Alps.

If you are considering moving to this unique and truly beautiful destination, we have the finest Gstaad long-term accommodation on our books. So, don’t hesitate to reach out so our destination experts can make your Alpine dreams a reality.