The trip to the Swiss Youth Hostel in Gstaad Saanenland is an absolute delight in itself. The road winds its way through snow-covered valleys, past cosy wooden chalets and fir trees sprinkled with snow. The route couldn’t be more beautiful!
Swiss Youth Hostels Our home for the weekend
During our long weekend in Gstaad, we stayed at the cosy yet ultra-modern Swiss Youth Hostel. Golden sunlight streams through the large windows, casting a radiant glow inside, where the presence of plants and wood elements creates a snug and inviting atmosphere. From the hostel, you can watch the skiers on the slopes on the mountainside opposite.
Bright, modern, cosy – welcome to the Youth Hostel Gstaad Saanenland! © Yvonne Schönthal
We stayed in the family room, which is equipped with a double bed for us parents and a bunk bed for the kids. There is also a shower and a toilet in the room. What’s more, breakfast is always included in the room rate at Swiss Youth Hostels! Other highlights for us were the spacious games room and the table football in the lounge.
Discover our range of valuable tips for your family stay in Saanenland:
Tobogganing fun for the whole family
The Gstaad region offers some cool, fast-paced toboggan runs – as well as some leisurely runs that are particularly suitable for families. Our programme originally included the Eggli Run – the longest family-friendly toboggan run. However, it was closed due to insufficient snow. That’s why we decided on the Saanersloch Run – the longest run in the entire region. Although it is not designated as a family run, we believe it is still suitable for families with older children (please note: Some sections are steeper!).
The surroundings of Gstaad are a true winter wonderland. © Yvonne Schönthal
Once you arrive at the Saanersloch summit station, a beautiful winter landscape awaits you, and after a few minutes’ walk you can stop for refreshments on some beautifully sunny terraces. If you buy a day toboggan ticket like we do, you can enjoy the descent as often as you like – it’s definitely worth it if you’re going to do three or more rides.
Aquatic adventures at the sports centre in Gstaad
If the thrill of tobogganing or skiing hasn’t worn you out, or if you’re in the mood for some extra relaxation, the spacious indoor swimming pool at the Sportzentrum Gstaad is just the place for you. As we didn’t get there too late in the afternoon, we had the pools almost to ourselves. There’s something for the whole family to enjoy at the indoor pool. Whether the baby pool, the non-swimmer pool or the outdoor pool with water jet features – everything you could wish for is right here. The XXL water slide is another attraction that brings joy to children’s eyes – it was definitely a highlight for us! Admission to the wellness area can be purchased separately.
Water rats really get their money’s worth at the Gstaad Sports Centre. © Sportzentrum Gstaad / David Birri
Kids in the spotlight at the Station in Saanen
A contrast to the action-packed winter programme can be found in the former fire station in Saanen. A real paradise for families has been created at the Station. Here you can play to your heart’s content with your kids, unleash your creativity and enjoy a few peaceful hours in this welcoming environment. The highlights of this experience for us are the creatively designed marble runs, which we can try out ourselves, as well as the numerous craft stations on the upper floor and the fantastic Märli gondola. The Station was a real highlight for us and we would highly recommend it to families.
There are no limits to creativity in the Station. © Yvonne Schönthal
Culinary delights
Do your kids get bored when you go to a restaurant? This won’t be the case at Michel’s Stallbeizli in Gstaad! This small and cosy restaurant is only separated from the adjacent cow shed by a large pane of glass. This means there’s always something to see, from cows eating hay to calves drinking milk. You can indulge in the creamy delight of genuine Gstaad cheese fondue and the children’s menus cater to every desire. We also really like the friendly, personal atmosphere and the reasonable prices.
Have you ever watched the cows eat while you eat? © Yvonne Schönthal
Round-up of our long weekend in Gstaad
The two-night stay at the Swiss Youth Hostel in Gstaad was perfect for us, as we were not focusing on skiing or snowboarding. If that were the case, you could easily spend a week or more in the region. We are impressed by the many family-friendly offers and will definitely be back soon – in the summer at the latest so that we can discover the many fantastic hiking trails!
Prefer the city?
Basel offers an incredible amount of variety for young and old.
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