Swiss room with a view

A holiday to the Swiss village of Gstaad conjures up images of skiing on snow-coated mountains. But visiting in summertime has its own charms, particularly if you stay at the luxe Gstaad Palace. There’s a host of top-class restaurants, a hamman experience in its ample spa and great children’s activities, including summer tobogganing. But arguably the biggest draw is an overnight stay at the Walig Hut. Perched 1,700m above the village of Gsteig, the chic mountain retreat offers families breathtaking views of the area while they enjoy a luxury picnic or three-course dinner.   

For where to go in Europe in every month of the year, see Your Continental Year, and if a trip to the mountains in summertime appeals, see Awesome Austria. Both in our brilliant Travel section.