Planning a Trip

Getting There -- Gstaad is on the local train line connecting Interlaken with Montreux and several smaller towns in central-southwest Switzerland. About a dozen trains come into Gstaad every day from both of those cities, each of which is a railway junction with good connections to the rest of Switzerland. Travel time from Montreux can be as little as an hour and 20 minutes; from Interlaken, about 30 minutes, sometimes with a change of train at the hamlet of Zweisimmen. Call tel. 0900/300-300 for rail schedules and information.

If you're driving from Spiez, head southwest on Route 11; from Bulle, head south and then east on Route 11.

Visitor Information -- Some streets have names; others are placed outside street plans, but there are directional signs to lead you to hotels and restaurants. The Gstaad-Saanenland Tourist Association, CH-3780 Gstaad (tel. 033/748-81-81; www.gstaad.ch), is a useful source of information, open July and August Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6:30pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm; September to June, hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to noon and 1:30 to 6pm, and Saturday 10am to noon and 1:30 to 5pm.