Audrey Hepburn Got Married at This Iconic Swiss Hotel—71 Years Later, It’s Chicer Than Ever

If walls could talk, the Bürgenstock Resort would have a lot to say about its 152-year history. In 1954, for instance, Audrey Hepburn married Mel Ferrer wearing a Pierre Balmain dress at the Swiss resort’s chapel. In the 1960s, Sophia Loren enjoyed Bürgenstock so much that she moved into a villa on the grounds. While filming the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger, Sean Connery and the rest of the cast and crew took up residence at the hotel. Presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, mayors, and chancellors from over 100 countries have walked its hallowed halls. Kings, queens, princes, and princesses, too. And don’t for a second think that athletes have been left out—homegrown hero Roger Federer filmed a Uniqlo campaign at one of Bürgenstock’s tennis courts in 2024.

When you combine Bürgenstock’s history with its modern updates, world-famous spa, and dramatic setting rising over 1600 feet above Lake Lucerne, it’s not hard to understand why I traveled nearly 6000 miles from Los Angeles to stay there. After years of pining for a visit, I simply had to go to Switzerland to see it for myself. Continue reading below for a peek inside my camera roll and my thoughts on the resort’s accommodations, activities, dining, and more.

Planes, trains, and automobiles aren’t the only forms of transport you can expect to utilize on your journey to Bürgenstock. First, I flew from Los Angeles to Zürich. After deplaning, I made my way to the train station, which was conveniently located directly underneath the airport, so I never had to go outside. An hour and 15 minutes later, I arrived in Lucerne, where I walked a short distance along the lake to a boat dock and boarded the resort’s very own catamaran. Lastly, I hopped on the Bürgenstock Funicular, Switzerland’s first electric cable car, which took me directly into the lobby. Was it worth the trek? Absolutely. I highly recommend taking the scenic boat and funicular for the full Swiss experience, but you can absolutely drive straight to the hotel if you prefer.

Sitting on 148 acres, the property includes 360 hotel rooms and suites, 17 residence suites, 12 restaurants, a 100,000-square-foot spa, 30 buildings, a golf course, a movie theater, a ballroom, and dozens of conference rooms. In other words, don’t be shy about pocketing a map from the front desk.

Lots of hotels around the world have hosted famous people overnight, but how many can say that celebrities have actually lived there? As it happens, two of Hollywood’s biggest names have taken up long-term residence at the Bürgenstock Resort: Sophia Loren, pictured bottom left in front of her villa on the grounds, and Audrey Hepburn, pictured top right wearing a Pierre Balmain dress with her husband Mel Ferrer at the resort’s chapel. After marrying at Bürgenstock, Hepburn and Ferrer moved into a house on the property, which is where they welcomed their son, Sean, who was christened at the same chapel. Hepburn lived in several countries throughout her life, including Belgium, England, the Netherlands, and the United States, but Switzerland was known to be her favorite and is where she chose to be buried.