Need help? Contact Us. While most head for the Alps, Savant Spy discovers clean air and cool spas in beautiful Swiss cities Bern and Lausanne, two of the cleanest cities in the world. Gazing out the window of a Swiss train at the beautiful expanse of Lake Geneva and dramatic mountains tinged with blue is instantly therapeutic.
When we went in early summer, trendy cafes and restaurants spilled out into the paved streets, impromptu concerts and cultural events popped up in parks. Everything was so clean and relaxed β hardly any cars, most people get about on bikes and trams, or by foot. We fell instantly in loveβ¦. Hotel Schweizerhof is right opposite the station β a grand, classic hotel on the outside, modern and arty inside, with Paul Klee prints in each bedroom the Paul Klee museum is nearby and a glowing onyx reception desk.
At the top is a lovely rooftop bar and restaurant, Sky Terrace, where you can eat and drink on comfy sofas and gaze out over sloping roofs, spires and clock towers to the mountains beyond. At the bottom, in the basement, is a very chic city spa. The elegant design, stylish lighting, relief artwork and spa scent created a fabulous first impression. I loved the glowing white waterbeds with rippling chiffon curtains in the relaxation room, the delicious iced tea, dates and fruit on offer.
But the highlight was the beautiful thermal space , with split-face black slate walls, grey slate floors around a huge, gleaming metal hydro pool, gorgeously warm with various bubble stations and a shoulder massage pipe. After heating up in the wooden sauna, I was brave enough to dunk in the deep, icy cold plunge pool. There is also a traditional hammam steam room, ice fountain, foot spa and experience shower.
Everything is design-perfect. The spa offers serious detox breaks with your hotel stay, as well as less strict healthy and wellness breaks. Or you can just pop down to use the facilities and have a treatment, perhaps a leg or foot treatment after exploring the city. We had a Honey Bee massage , with honey from the hotel bees who reside in hives on the roof, lucky things. The honey is applied to the back with sticking movements to stimulate circulation β an unusual but pleasant sensation β followed by a knot-loosening all-body massage with Propolis, also produced by bees, and said to be great for detoxing, cellulite and hydration.
