A 20-minute cogwheel-rail journey followed by a ride on Europe’s highest tram (or, in winter, a snowy hike) brings you to a lodge at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Most of the alpine-style rooms have terraces that face the Matterhorn.

From $362. 41/(0) 27-966-0555, riffelalp.com. This appeared in the May/June 2012 issue. Photo courtesy of Riffelalp Resort. See more railway hotels.