The Märchenhotel Braunwald in Switzerland has been named one of the best hotels in Europe for families in 2024 by the latest Kinderhotel awards. The “fairy tale” resort in the Swiss mountains was given high praise for its childcare services, events, facilities and activities.

Märchenhotel Braunwald named one of Europe's best for families

With Blue Monday fast approaching, people across Switzerland will likely be trying to beat the January gloom by planning their next holiday. According to the latest awards by the hotel listing site Kinderhotel, one of the top destinations for families is right here in Switzerland at the Märchenhotel Braunwald, Canton Glarus.

The hotel in the car-free resort of Braunwald was rated as the second-best hotel in Europe for families, just ahead of the Family Hotel Oberkarteis in Hutschlag, Austria. This year, the Austrian Dachsteinkönig - Familux Resort in Gossau took the top spot. 

Fairy tale hotel in the Swiss Alps

The hotel itself is steeped in history, having been built in 1907 as a luxury resort - an overnight stay cost three whole francs, a small fortune at the time. After closing during the First World War and serving as a base for the military in the Second, the resort was converted into a “fairy tale” hotel for families in 1977 by Fridolin Vogel. His grandson Patric runs the hotel today.

So what does it mean to be a “fairy tale” hotel? Well, the Märchenhotel Braunwald offers swimming pools, a climbing course, a playground, llamas, outdoor games and a locomotive-pulled kids buffet with levitating tables. Activities for kids are planned from 9am to 9pm, with one-on-one supervision available on request. In a hotel tradition, a fairy tale is read to the children before dinner at 6pm every night.

Video: Märchenhotel / YouTube

Owners of Swiss fairy tale hotel celebrate podium finish

As a result of all these activities for kids, the “fairytale” for the grown-ups will be a few days of holiday without having to stress, fuss and fight with the kids. To help parents along, adult wellness and other facilities are offered to make the time fly by.

Speaking to 20 Minuten, owners Patric and Nadja Vogel said they were happy with the podium finish, especially considering the high standards set by other family hotels in the ranking. “We give the award a very high weight because the ranking is specifically aimed at the family segment”, they said, adding that they hoped other family hotels in Switzerland would join them on the ranking in the future.

Want to see which other hotels made the cut? Check out the official website.