With temperatures breaking the 30℃ mark in Zurich and the street parade on top of that we had two good reasons to escape from the city and head for a weekend in the mountains. Arosa is wonderfully situated over 1,700 meters above sea level and offers everything it takes for spending a restorative weekend in fresh air…
Partly hidden among trees, the 4-star Superior Waldhotel National reigns on a small rise above the village. It is easy to reach by car but also on foot, if you arrive by public transport, just a short 10-minute walk from the train station up a slightly steep footpath. Of course, at the train station you have the option of boarding the hotel’s shuttle and letting it whisk you up to the lobby.
On arrival, we were offered a fresh mountain herb ice tea in welcome, and the friendly desk personnel plied us with helpful tips and brochures about all there was to see and do in Arosa. The hotel is furnished in style and offers a variety of spaces to linger in. Particularly beautiful is the sun terrace with a view of the surrounding mountain landscape!
Hotel rooms
Our garret suite was in the newly renovated “Chesa Silva” wing and our accommodations really left nothing to be desired! You cannot help but feel good in a generous 58 square meters with living and sleeping area, two bathrooms and large balcony with mountain view. Surrounded by natural materials, among them noble oak and slate, and looking out from high up in the garret level only added to the feel-good vibes.
Check out prices and availability here.
Renovation
Already in the works for fall is the next renovation project. The hotel will be closed for the duration, but everything will be finished right on time for the winter season opening.
“The Waldhotel National, despite the industry doldrums, is investing millions. By end-November, roughly 2.1 million francs worth of renovation projects will be completed. In addition to a complete renewal of the lobby and bar area, 16 rooms will be renovated and four new, spacious suites are planned.”
Wellness
The spa is divided into the Aqua Silva area and the Spa Salus. The entire wellness oasis comprises more than 1,100 square meters. The offerings are gigantic; you’ll find here a sauna as well as a Kelo outdoor sauna, a steam room and swimming pool, a fitness gym, a sanarium and herb room.
It is all topped off with wonderful nature and mountain views from practically everywhere.
At nearly 30° it was almost too warm for wellness, but for colder winter days this has to be the ideal place for recuperating from a day on the snow. The hotel is also ideally located for winter sports enthusiasts: the ski run starts and ends in front of the new “Chesa Silva” wing, so you can get skiing right from the hotel. And for the annual Arosa Humor Festival you can ride the Weisshornbahn direct to the Mittelstation and from there continue on foot to the festival tent.
Dining
Every evening a five-course dinner is served as part of the half board room rate, with a vegetarian main course if desired. Special requests were also no problem, the chef de cuisine each time had a suitable alternative ready. In the winter, two more restaurants, including “Kachelofa Stübli” (loosely translated, “Tile Stove Parlor”) with 16 Gault Millau points and the red symbol in the Michelin Guide, will open to spoil guests with fine cuisine.
Our appetizer was a Superiore salmon fillet Japanese style, followed by a fine zucchini cream soup with cubed pumpkin. For the next course, we were allowed to serve ourselves at the well-rounded salad bar.
The two main courses were also delightful, with each plate moreover artfully decorated. For dessert, we were served a chocolate green tea parfait with pear sorbet and, if that was not enough, you could help yourself to the cheese buffet.
Evening program
Every Tuesday and Saturday evening a water and light show with music sparkles on the Arosa Obersee. The hotel also offers a weekly program of diverse activities including a guided hotel tour.
From the 1024 jets of the fixed water show installation shoot powerful fountain streams that move elegantly in time to music from 30 loudspeakers. 200 light sources put the show in the proper light. The colorful show on the Obersee is free and for many vacationing guests a highlight of their stay in Arosa.
Activities
During the summer in Arosa, you can have the ‘All Inclusive Card’ that opens up a world of opportunities to explore the area around the village. Already on the first day we took a pedalo out on the Obersee and made a leisurely waterborne tour of the lake. If you’re keen on swimming, you can plunge into the Untersee.
Then, on Sunday, we wanted to scale even higher heights and decided on an excursion up the Weisshorn. The hotel offers modern e-mountain bikes for rent, which they let you take on the mountain railway. You have your choice of varied hiking and biking trails both from the Mittelstation and the Bergstation that lead to the surrounding Alps and villages.
The view from the top of the Weisshorn is fantastic through 360°. Be sure to stop in the Gipfelrestaurant, which, at 2,563 meters above sea level, has the additional distinction of having Europe’s highest show bakery-patisserie.
Next, we rode our e-mountain bikes toward Ochsenalp, over hill and dale at speeds up to 25 km/hour. It was an extremely fun ride on those bikes, which make getting around surprisingly effortless.
Management / Our thanks
Christian Zinn took over as the Waldhotel’s managing director in March 2014. You can feel the good vibes of his whole-hearted engagement not only in the hotel operation but also in very positive fashion from the people working for him.
Our thanks to Herr Zinn and the entire Waldhotel crew for the “magic” Waldhotel moments. We felt super in Arosa and look back fondly on a fine weekend well spent.
