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Hotel Bären Gsteig or The Glacier Hotel?
Hotel Bären Gsteig and The Glacier Hotel sit on either side of Col du Pillon, where the Glacier 3000 cable car leaves, and both are a short drive from it. The Bären is about eight minutes away by car on the Gstaad side, The Glacier Hotel about six on the Les Diablerets side; winter times can be longer. Beyond that they are very different places. The Bären is Gsteig's village inn beside the church, with eight small, simple rooms and eight larger ones in the Sanetsch building next door. The Glacier Hotel is the largest hotel in Les Diablerets, with about 110 rooms, an indoor pool and apartments, across from the village cable cars.
The Bären suits skiers, walkers and families on a simple trip who want a real village base and hearty food all day. With the Gstaad Card, the PostBus to Col du Pillon takes about 11 minutes. The Glacier Hotel suits families with children and groups who want a pool, apartments for up to six and the village cable cars just across from the hotel.
Gsteig · 2-star
Hotel Bären Gsteig
Gsteig's village inn beside the church, with simple rooms and an all-day restaurant, eight minutes' drive from Glacier 3000.
Choose it if you want a village inn on the Gstaad side, eight minutes from the Glacier 3000 cable car.
Les Diablerets · 4-star superior
The Glacier Hotel
Les Diablerets' biggest hotel, opposite the village cable cars, with an indoor pool and apartments for families of up to six.
Choose it if you want a bigger hotel on the Les Diablerets side, six minutes away, with a pool and apartments.
Side by side
| Fact | Bären | The Glacier Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Gsteig | Les Diablerets |
| Classification | 2-star | 4-star superior |
| Rooms | 16 | 111 |
| Skiing | Bus or car to the lifts | Ski to the door |
| Pool | No pool | Indoor pool |
| Spa | No spa | Sauna or small wellness area |
| Kids’ club | No | No |
| Gault&Millau 2027 | None | None |
| Drive to Glacier 3000 | 8 min | 6 min |
| Dinner | Not confirmed | Half board from two nights |
| Dogs | Welcome | Not confirmed |
| Season | Winter season from 4 December | Winter season from 19 December |
| Book through | Hotel website | Expedia or the hotel |
Drive times are routed without traffic or snow. Checked October 2026.
Where they differ
Rooms and size
The Bären has eight rooms of 8.5 to 17.5 m², with beds of 90 or 160 cm by 190 cm; the two budget rooms sleep four in bunk beds, with their bathroom across the corridor. Its owners also let eight larger rooms in the Sanetsch next door. The Glacier Hotel has about 110 rooms, connecting rooms and apartments of 48 to 52 m² sleeping four to six.
Pool and wellness
The Bären has no spa or pool. The Glacier Hotel has a 12 by 8 metre indoor pool for hotel guests, saunas and a fitness room, but the wellness area is closed for renovation until 20 December 2026, and under-16s are not allowed in the sauna. For a swim after skiing, The Glacier Hotel is the only choice of the two.
Getting to Glacier 3000
From the Bären, the Glacier 3000 cable car is about 7 km, about eight minutes by car in clear conditions, or 11 minutes on PostBus 180, free with the Gstaad Card. From The Glacier Hotel it is about 4.9 km, about six minutes by car, and the bus is free with the Carte Bienvenue. Winter driving can take longer from both.
Food
The Bären serves Swiss country cooking all day, with raclette by the open fire in the Füürgruebe in winter and two terraces for warmer days. The Glacier Hotel's Restaurant Le Vernex has a new menu for winter 2026/27, and half board is available from two nights.
Questions
Which is closer to Glacier 3000, Hotel Bären Gsteig or The Glacier Hotel?
Both are close. The Glacier Hotel is about 4.9 km, roughly six minutes by car, from the cable car at Col du Pillon. The Bären is about 7 km, roughly eight minutes. These are free-flow estimates, and winter times can be longer.
Can you reach Glacier 3000 by bus from Gsteig or Les Diablerets?
Yes. From Gsteig, PostBus 180 reaches Col du Pillon in about 11 minutes and is free with the Gstaad Card. From Les Diablerets the bus is free with the Carte Bienvenue, and from November to April also with a Glacier 3000 ticket.
Are the Bären and The Glacier Hotel open in early winter?
The Bären closes for holidays from 16 November to 3 December 2026 and reopens on 4 December. The Glacier Hotel is open daily, but its wellness area is closed for renovation until 20 December 2026. Glacier 3000 opens on 7 November 2026.
Other comparisons
Sources: xn--bren-gsteig-l8a.ch, xn--bren-gsteig-l8a.ch, xn--bren-gsteig-l8a.ch, xn--bren-gsteig-l8a.ch, gstaad.ch, timetable.search.ch, glacier3000.ch, alpesvaudoises.ch.