Bellevue Palace

Bellevue Palace is Switzerland's only official government hotel, set directly next to the Bundeshaus parliament building on a ridge above the Aare. The hotel has been a symbol of Swiss hospitality for over a century, and the 128 elegant rooms look out over the Alps and the river that loops around Bern's old town. The spa offers daily treatments anchored by a traditional sauna, hot-spring-inspired body work, and massage. A fitness studio is available to guests who want to stay active, and the wellness floor is designed as a quiet counterpoint to the political weight of the building's neighbours. The view across the Bernese Oberland and the Alps from the property is genuinely exceptional. Bellevue Palace's position by the Bundeshaus puts the UNESCO-listed old town, the Zytglogge clock tower, the Bärengraben bear park, and the Aare's celebrated swimming spots all within easy walking distance. The hotel's restaurant and bar handle dinner and drinks under the same panoramic view — a calm, statesmanlike setting for travelers who want sauna time inside an address that genuinely matters to Switzerland.