Gstaad Saanenland
Gstaad Saanenland is a tourism region in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, made up of ten chalet villages including Gstaad, Saanen, Schönried, Saanenmöser, Zweisimmen, Lauenen, Gsteig and Abländschen. The region lies in the high Alps, framed by peaks such as the Rinderberg, Wispile, Eggli and the Glacier 3000, and is crossed by the river Saane and dotted with mountain lakes such as the Lauenensee, Arnensee and Sanetschsee. It is a rural, nature-rich area where alpine farming, cheese-making and traditional crafts remain very much alive, alongside a refined, elegant tourism scene centred on the car-free village of Gstaad. The region is known for its hiking and cycling networks, its culinary scene with over a hundred restaurants, and a lively calendar of music festivals, art and top sporting events. Gstaad itself is the vibrant heart of the region, while the surrounding villages offer a quieter, more traditional alpine character.
Summer activities
Summer in Gstaad Saanenland is built around a network of over 300 kilometres of marked hiking trails and more than 500 kilometres of GPS cycling routes, from gentle family paths and themed trails to demanding mountain and gravel tours. Mountain lakes such as the Lauenensee, Arnensee and Sanetschsee invite swimming, boating and picnicking, while the region's peaks, including the Wispile, Rinderberg, Eggli and Glacier 3000, are served by cable cars. Families find themed adventure trails, playgrounds, a rope park, pump tracks and a family programme, and the Fondueland offers outdoor fondue at oversized caquelons. Golf, tennis, via ferrata and alpine cheese dairy visits round out the summer offer.
Winter activities
Gstaad Saanenland is a well-established winter sports destination whose mountains, including the Eggli, Wispile, Wasserngrat, Rinderberg-Horneggli, Rellerli, Sparenmoos, Glacier 3000 and Sanetsch, are served by cable cars and offer skiing and snowboarding across the region's ski areas. The Magic Pass provides access to the region's lifts, and winter visitors can also enjoy snowshoeing, sledging and the Fondueland's outdoor fondue reached on skis or snowshoes. The Gstaad New Year Music Festival and the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad add a cultural dimension to the winter season.
Culture and entertainment
Gstaad Saanenland has a distinctive cultural life centred on world-class music festivals, above all the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, which has drawn classical music lovers since 1957, alongside the Country Night Gstaad, the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad and the Gstaad New Year Music Festival. The region also hosts top sporting events such as the Swatch Beach Pro Gstaad beach volleyball tournament, the EFG Swiss Open tennis tournament and the Hublot Polo Gold Cup. A lively contemporary art scene is anchored in galleries and hotel collections along the Gstaad promenade, and traditional alpine customs such as yodelling, Treicheln processions, cheese markets and the Suufsuntig are kept alive throughout the year.
