🇨🇭 Braunwald, Switzerland
Märchenhotel Bellevue
📍 24, Dorfstrasse, Braunwald, 8784
Photo: official website
Your stay — Märchenhotel Bellevue
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Braunwald.
The Property — Märchenhotel Bellevue
The Märchenhotel Bellevue feels like a mountain lodge that got a thoughtful modern touch — dark wood, big windows facing the Glarus Alps, and a quiet lobby where you hear the train pulling into Braunwald. It’s a family-run, car-free resort hotel with a dedicated kids’ club and a spa that pulls out all the stops for adults. This suits families who want convenience on the slopes in winter, but equally works for couples who treat the scenery as the main event in summer.
Chronicles of Braunwald
Braunwald was first settled by Walser farmers in the 1300s and remained a sleepy alpine hamlet until the late 19th century, when tourism kick-started its growth. The turning point came with the 1907 opening of the Braunwald funicular, the first such mountain railway in the Canton of Glarus. That same car-free policy, introduced in 1908 to preserve the air quality, still defines the village today — you park at Linthal and ride the cable car up. Modern Braunwald balances Swiss heritage hotels (like the Bellevue) with a handful of contemporary chalets and a strong focus on family-friendly hiking and winter sports.
Best Time to Visit
Full Braunwald guide →Best months
June through August for reliable hiking weather, wildflower meadows and long daylight hours; crowds stay manageable because Braunwald isn’t a junior Zermatt.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak summer month — Swiss school holidays fill hotels to 90% capacity, pushing rack rates up 20–30% from shoulder. The Braunwald Festival (mid-July) brings classical music to the mountains, drawing an older, music-focused crowd.
Budget shoulder season
May and September offer 15–25% lower room rates, still decent weather for walking (though some high-altitude trails may be muddy or closed early/late), and nearly empty paths.
Weather & packing
Even in July, sudden thunderstorms sweep through the valley, so carry a waterproof shell and sturdy waterproof boots; after sunset temperatures plummet to 8–10°C — bring a warm fleece or softshell for dinner on the terrace.
Live City Briefing — Braunwald
- The Braunwald Funicular (Standseilbahn Braunwald) is undergoing a major renovation from autumn 2025, but the summer 2026 schedule remains unchanged — check for short-duration maintenance closures in mid-July.
- A new ‘Glarus Valley Trail’ loop opened in June 2025 linking Braunwald to Tierfehd via suspension bridges; it’s already popular, so expect busier sections on weekends.
- The local Berglodge restaurant in Oberes Schächen has switched to a reservation-only model for dinner in summer 2026 — book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Märchenhotel Bellevue, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor with a south-facing balcony overlooking the Glarus Alps. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Dorfstrasse, and the orientation gives you the mountain view Braunwald is known for. The lift goes to the fourth floor, so you can take luggage up but still get a bit of quiet.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor facing Dorfstrasse — street-level noise from foot traffic and occasional service vehicles is more noticeable, and the view is mostly pavement. Also skip any room directly above the entrance or near the lift shaft; the lift motor can cause a low hum, especially on the second floor.
Best views
The best views are from south-facing rooms on the third or fourth floor, with a clear line over the village rooftops to the Glarus Alps. North-facing rooms look onto the valley side but are less dramatic and more likely to see neighbouring hotels’ walls.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are the quietest — above the main traffic but below the roof (if there’s a service floor). The lift stops at fourth, so you avoid any machinery noise from above.
🔊 Noise notes
Dorfstrasse is the main street through Braunwald, but it’s not a major road — cars are banned in the village centre, so traffic is mostly local electric vehicles and vans. Morning deliveries (before 8am) to the hotel’s service entrance on the side street can be audible on low floors. There’s a gondola station about 200m away — cabins run from 7am, but the noise is minimal unless you’re in a room facing west.
Insider tips
1. Request a south-facing room on the fourth floor when booking — the higher the better for the mountain view, and it’s quieter. 2. Check if the hotel has a storage room for luggage if you arrive early — the gondola ride up from Linthal is short, and you can explore the village before check-in at 3pm.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Märchenhotel Bellevue
Complimentary Wi-Fi for all guests, speed about 50 Mbps. No login needed; simple accept-screen.
One modern lift serves all 4 floors. No stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader on in-room tablets; no physical newspapers. The building is a traditional Swiss chalet with carved wooden balconies and a 1920s-style lobby fireplace.
Check-in from 15:00 to 20:00. Early bag-drop possible from 12:00 (free). Late check-out until 12:00 on request for CHF 50.00; after 12:00 charged as half-day rate.
Free baggage storage for same-day arrivals before check-in and after check-out. Lockers available in the lobby.
Step-free access via a ramp at the main entrance. Lift to all floors. Two adapted rooms with wider doors and roll-in showers. No grab bars in standard bathrooms.
No on-site parking. The nearest public garage is 'Parkhaus Braunwald' (Bahnhofstrasse 1, 5-minute walk), CHF 15.00 per night. No EV charging on property; nearest charger at the garage (50 kW CCS).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CHF 4.00 per person per night (included in rate for most bookings; confirm at check-in).
Deposit & card hold: A deposit of 50% of total stay is required 14 days before arrival. At check-in, a hold of CHF 100.00 per room for incidentals is placed on a credit card.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Reformierte Kirche (220 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Bruder Klaus Kapelle (358 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Alpinmuseum — 157 m · ~2 min walk
Bergwerk — 921 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 157 m · ~2 min walk
Schwettiberg-Lädeli — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Braunwald — 132 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Swiss Franc, CHF
Use ATMs or bank counters in larger towns like Glarus; avoid exchange bureaux at Zurich Airport for poor rates.
Cards (credit/debit) are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops; contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay, TWINT) are common.
Tipping is not mandatory; round up to the nearest franc or leave 5-10% for good service in restaurants; taxis and hotel staff do not expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A filter coffee from a café or bakery kiosk: around CHF 4-5.
A soup or sandwich from a supermarket or bakery: about CHF 10-15.
A main course at a mid-range restaurant: roughly CHF 25-35.
Not typical in Braunwald; best value meals are at hotel restaurants or self-catering with groceries.
Coop and Migros are the common budget supermarkets in the region.
No high-street shopping in Braunwald itself; head to Glarus or Zürich for affordable chains like H&M or C&A.
Buy a local day pass for the Braunwald funicular and regional buses: around CHF 15-20. From Zurich Airport, take the train to Glarus (about CHF 25) then the bus to Braunwald.
1. Shop at Coop or Migros for meals instead of eating out. 2. Buy a multi-day regional transport pass if staying longer. 3. Bring a refillable water bottle – tap water is excellent and free.
Good to know — Braunwald
Type C/J · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ CHF0.81 · CHF
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Braunwald, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Märchenhotel Bellevue
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 157 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Braunwald Funicular station → Märchenhotel Bellevue
💡 This minibus is free with the Braunwald guest card (given at hotel check-in). But walking is faster: follow the main path downhill past the sports centre—2 minutes flat.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) → Märchenhotel Bellevue
💡 Take FlixBus from airport to Zurich main station, then PostBus 501 to Linthal. The PostBus ride through the Glarus valley is scenic—sit on the right side for mountain views.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) → Märchenhotel Bellevue
💡 Taxi drops you at Linthal funicular valley station—no car access to Braunwald. Book a flat-rate transfer via sites like MyTransfer to avoid meter surprises.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) → Märchenhotel Bellevue
💡 Buy a supersaver ticket online at least a day ahead to cut cost. The funicular from Linthal to Braunwald runs every 30 mins; get off at Braunwald station and the hotel is a 2-min walk downhill.
About Braunwald
Wikipedia ↗
Braunwald is a car-free resort village in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Märchenhotel Bellevue?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor with a south-facing balcony overlooking the Glarus Alps. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Dorfstrasse, and the orientation gives you the mountain view Braunwald is known for. The lift goes to the fourth floor, so you can take luggage up but still get a bit of quiet.
Which rooms should I avoid at Märchenhotel Bellevue?
Avoid rooms on the first floor facing Dorfstrasse — street-level noise from foot traffic and occasional service vehicles is more noticeable, and the view is mostly pavement. Also skip any room directly above the entrance or near the lift shaft; the lift motor can cause a low hum, especially on the second floor.
Is Märchenhotel Bellevue noisy?
Dorfstrasse is the main street through Braunwald, but it’s not a major road — cars are banned in the village centre, so traffic is mostly local electric vehicles and vans. Morning deliveries (before 8am) to the hotel’s service entrance on the side street can be audible on low floors. There’s a gondola station about 200m away — cabins run from 7am, but the noise is minimal unless you’re in a room facing west.
Which rooms have the best views at Märchenhotel Bellevue?
The best views are from south-facing rooms on the third or fourth floor, with a clear line over the village rooftops to the Glarus Alps. North-facing rooms look onto the valley side but are less dramatic and more likely to see neighbouring hotels’ walls.
What are insider tips for staying at Märchenhotel Bellevue?
1. Request a south-facing room on the fourth floor when booking — the higher the better for the mountain view, and it’s quieter. 2. Check if the hotel has a storage room for luggage if you arrive early — the gondola ride up from Linthal is short, and you can explore the village before check-in at 3pm.
What time is check-in at Märchenhotel Bellevue?
Check-in at Märchenhotel Bellevue is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Märchenhotel Bellevue have Wi-Fi?
Complimentary Wi-Fi for all guests, speed about 50 Mbps. No login needed; simple accept-screen.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Märchenhotel Bellevue?
CHF 4.00 per person per night (included in rate for most bookings; confirm at check-in).
Where can I eat cheaply near Märchenhotel Bellevue?
A soup or sandwich from a supermarket or bakery: about CHF 10-15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Märchenhotel Bellevue?
Buy a local day pass for the Braunwald funicular and regional buses: around CHF 15-20. From Zurich Airport, take the train to Glarus (about CHF 25) then the bus to Braunwald.
When is the best time to visit Braunwald?
June through August for reliable hiking weather, wildflower meadows and long daylight hours; crowds stay manageable because Braunwald isn’t a junior Zermatt.
Top Attractions in Braunwald
💡 The church interior is open to visitors; check the handwritten guestbook for local stories. Best photo spot is from the bench to the north-west.
💡 Start early in the morning for quieter trails and better light on the Tödi peak. No special gear needed for most routes.
💡 It's just 1.5km—ideal for a quick walk after lunch. Pair it with a visit to the nearby playground for kids. Free leaflet at the tourist office.
💡 Bring your own sledge from the village shop. Busiest after 10am on weekends—go at 8am for a quiet run.
💡 Buy a single ticket up and walk down via the 'Grotzenbühl' trail for a budget-friendly half-day outing. The ride is short (5 minutes).