Gstaad hosts two of Switzerland’s most glittering events, in two very different fields. The first ten days of July see the world’s sporting media – and sports celebs galore – descend on the village for the Swiss Open tennis tournament, a principal fixture on the international ATP tour drawing the best players in the world. Tickets cost around Fr.80 for the final, or Fr.400 for the week, and are available from Rado Swiss Open, Postfach, CH-3780 Gstaad (033/748 83 83, www.swissopen.ch).

The Gstaad Music Summer runs from mid-July until early September each year. Founded by the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin to serve as a showcase for young talent, it has developed into a cycle of major classical concerts – with stellar performers – staged at a variety of locations, principally the church at Saanen, but also at venues in Gstaad and the nearby villages of Lauenen, Zweisimmen and Gsteig. Individualtickets (Fr.20–125) and various passes are available from Musiksommer Gstaad, Postfach 65, CH-3780 Gstaad (033/748 83 38, www.musiksommer.ch).

Lesser events, both still with enough pulling power to book the area out, are the Polo Silver Cup in mid-August, and an international country music weekend in mid-September.