There are few places more suited to a winter break than Zurich’s Baur au Lac hotel
Maybe it’s an age thing. Maybe we’re all just grumpy. Maybe the inner Scrooge thing is just something that happens to everyone eventually. Whatever the reason, it’s getting harder and harder to feel festive.
They probably don’t have that problem in Zurich though where, well, it’s all magical and glowy and stuff. Even our Ebeneezer-y hearts melt a little confronted by Christmas Markets such as Christkindlimarkt at Zurich Main Station, one of Europe’s largest, with its 10m Christmas tree covered in crystals. The same thing happens at Wiehnachtsdorf (“Christmas Village” in Swiss German), outside the city’s Opera House, with 100 stalls and speciality food trucks although that could just be the opportunity to consume our bodyweights in fondue. And that, dear reader, is a LOT of fondue.
And as bases go to explore Zurich and its markets, it’s very hard to beat Baur au Lac hotel. There’s no escaping the festive season either: the hotel is home to Zurich’s largest Christmas tree. Mind you, you could head out of the hotel and into its parkland and stay at the Chalet au Lac instead but we suspect the snow, warm lighting and such like will give you It’s A Wonderful Life levels of the warm and fuzzies.
Prices at the historic Baur au Lac start from CHF 695 per night, based on two adults sharing a Deluxe Double room on a room-only basis. For bookings, more details, and information on their two Michelin-starred Christmas and New Year dinners, take a look at the website.