The snow has melted, the Alps now don their summer coat of green, and a new world awaits summer visitors. The extensive mountains are a magical place to be this season, taking on a new life and character under the warm sun. If you’re headed to Europe, here are the top three resorts (in ascending order), that offer the best in outdoor activities, dining and experiences.
Gstaad, Switzerland
The Gstaad-Saanenland holiday region in the Bernese Oberland is a popular summer destination with its top hotels, gourmet restaurants and luxury chalets. While the village of Gstaad attracts countless celebs, the smaller neighboring villages offer attractive options for families with children. It has also developed the most popular and shortest shopping street in Switzerland.
The countryside around Gstaad offers versatile and diverse sports opportunities including a hiking trail network of over 186 miles, mountain biking, paragliding and golf. The nature reserve by the idyllic Lake Lauenen, with its waterfalls and high moors, is perfect for hikers and nature lovers. On the River Saane, travelers can explore the mountain torrents and embark on canoe adventures, while cross-country skiing is possible on the glacier above the town. Gstaad has no fewer than 18 renowned eateries, including the Restaurant Chesery which has been awarded 18 Gault Millau points.
If you’re looking for a different way to see the countryside, the GoldenPass railway journeys from Montreux on Lake Geneva via Gstaad to Lake Thun and from there on to Lucerne in Central Switzerland. It’s a fabulous sight-seeing opportunity.
The town hosts a number of larger summer events each year including FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, the Grand Slam Gstaad in July, The Swiss Open international ATP Tennis Tournament and the Hublot Polo Gold Cup with international teams riding fiery Arab horses in August. Foodies can enjoy the Davidoff Saveurs, a weeklong culinary celebration of authentic flavors from kitchen, cellar and humidor in July. Each year, the resort hosts the Suufsunntig Alpine festivals in July and August which ends with the crowning of a champion cow. In music the world, the Menuhin Festival honors the late-great violinist and conductor with various concerts from July to September.
Chamonix, France
Chamonix is the quintessential alpine resort. In the shadow of Mont-Blanc and surrounded by towering peaks, there’s no mistaking you’re in the heart the French alps. The town has an altogether different vibe from Gstaad and Zermatt. Chamonix is a party town in the evenings, in both the summer and winter, attracting a young and active demographic. Chamonix attracts hikers and climbers from far and wide, all there for the many fantastic trails and climbs that can be experienced here, including Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak.
A great day excursion is to walk from the Plan d'Aiguille to the Montenvers Train Station and take the train back down to Chamonix (or vice-versa). The Aiguille du Midi, a 12,600-foot peak, is the closest you can get to the summit of Mont-Blanc without hiking or climbing. It is the highest mountain peak served by an aerial lift system. Its name translates to "Needle of the Mid-day,” because when viewed from in front of the church, it indicates that it is noon when the sun passes over its summit. The Aiguille du Midi is an extremely popular attraction with nearly half a million visitors per year. It is open all year round, except for the annual maintenance period in November. The Aiguille du Midi is an ideal starting point of the Three Monts route to ascend Mont Blanc. The intermediate point, Plan de l'Aiguille, is the mid station of the Aiguille du Midi cable car and is an access point for hiking, rock climbing and paragliding in the summer season.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt has it all: a peak to rival Mont Blanc (the Matterhorn), a beautiful and compact village which is car free, fabulous mountain restaurants, amazing hikes and trails and some of the most luxurious chalets in the whole of the Alps. With 300 days of sunshine in the year, the micro climate is something to write home about too.
Every kind of sporting activity is supported, from mountain biking to cycling, running, paragliding, hiking, tennis, there’s even a golf course down in the valley below. Take the train from Zermatt up to Gornergrat, and walk back down to the village, stopping at the lake with the reflection of the Matterhorn. It’s a stunning spectacle. Stop for lunch at the Al Bosco Riffelalp restaurant, half way down. Another great walk, more akin to a climb, is to the Edelwiess, perched high on a rock outcrop. Make your way up through stunning pine forests and cascading waterfalls. The visitors book in the modest café is worth a read, and tells its own story of the history of Zermatt. Even in 1890 Zermatt was a draw for tourists from far and wide, even when getting here was a lot more of a mission that it is today.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn and the town has pulled out all the stops to organize events and happenings throughout the summer months. The Zermatt Ultra Marathon passes through the heart of the village on July Foruth. Watch the elite athletes pass through and then encourage the rag-tag band of stragglers who are determined to finish no matter how slowly they complete the course. It’s a carnival atmosphere and the whole town turns out to cheer the courageous souls on their way.
