A Swiss helping of wellness at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

I was staying at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, the Grande Dame of European wellness and medical retreats, resting on the edge of the little spa town that shares its name. The air felt like a tonic in itself and the Pizol peak loomed in the foreground as if safeguarding guests. It’s located in eastern Switzerland; Zurich one hour away by train and Liechtenstein a short drive away. Wellness has shaped this valley for centuries since the 13th-century hunters discovered the Tamina Gorge and the mineral-rich spring. Today, the same water runs at 97.7 degrees and flows into the resort’s thermal pools.

Spread over 200 acres of manicured parkland that could double as a sculpture park, there are three hotels, The Grand Hotel Quellenhof & Spa Suites, the Grand Hotel Hof Ragaz and the Palais Bad Ragaz—each with their own distinct style. The Quellenhof, the original property was built in 1869 by architect Bernhard Simon, who first secured the rights to the Tamina hot springs and created Europe’s first indoor thermal pool, the Belle Époque-era Helena Bad. It drew aristocrats and artists in its day. This legacy and history lingers today along the corridors of the hotel.

My junior suite in the Quellenhof felt like a cocoon of comfort with velvet armchairs, crafted wood features and an oversized headboard. A pillow menu promised the perfect night’s sleep, while the bathroom, complete with heated floors, was stocked with pots of face cream and body lotion made with the thermal water flowing beneath. From the balcony, wrapped in the hotel’s fluffy robe, the landscape stretched wide and high, the air crisp and cool. But it was the lobby that stole the show with a 16-metre chandelier created with 2,500 blue and white glass baubles to replicate a cascading waterfall, adding another notch of glamour to the hotel.

Food for thought

“We are what we eat” and here, with award-winning chefs, the best ingredients are assured by drawing on seasonal, local ingredients. The resort’s seven restaurants collectively hold six Michelin stars and one Green Star. Breakfast at Verve by Sven, a one-star restaurant, set the tone with dainty health dishes to nourish the soul. Dinner was a richer affair of mountain beef from Berner Oberland slow-braised with cassis and beetroot potatoes. Namun, the Thai restaurant, was a highlight of fragrant lemongrass and lime leaves. In contrast, Zollstube is dressed in Swiss tradition with Alpine décor paired with an authentic menu. Pike-perch fritters in a spring beer batter with saffron mayonnaise from Fläsch won our vote as the best dish. There’s an entire ritual around water here, with a water sommelier to guide you through the mineral spectrum. Book a water tasting session – it’s fascinating.

Leader in European health retreats

Beyond pampering. wellness has a serious side - medical wellness. In October 2025, the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz launched the Tamina Health Centre positioning the resort at the forefront of evidence-based health transformation. Its philosophy focuses on prevention, longevity and measurable wellbeing. With a team of more than 100 medical professionals and therapists, the centre tailors programmes around movement, nutrition, sleep and mental health. Each guest undergoes detailed diagnostic assessments before receiving a personalised plan with the aim “not just to add years to life, but life to years.”

Thermal waters

From consultations on nutrition and physiotherapy to simply floating in the thermal water, guests can choose the extent of wellness immersion during their stay. The public Tamina Therme, free for hotel guests, is a sea of pools of varying temperatures, indoors to out where the steam rises into the mountain air. There are saunas, steam rooms, hammams and, for the fearless, a textile-free sauna. Go early when it's quieter. The hotel pools are just as opulent, while the spa has an extensive treatment menu. A must-try is the signature Tamina Flow Massage, which uses a massage technique that echoes the movement of water. And, with health and vitality a focus, don’t be surprised to spot Olympic athletes or members of royal families padding around in their dressing gowns with little dogs in tow!

A stay here has longevity as its DNA. Live well, be happy and adopt mindful healthy practices - this is precisely what I did, lounging in the lap of luxury, floating in healing waters and enjoying fine dining at its best. Over the hotel entrance, a sign read “Everything is going to be alright” … and it was.

Fact box:

Nightly rates at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz from £296, based on two people sharing a standard double room https://www.resortragaz.ch/en/

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