Set on a lake in a valley of farmland and forest, this German-speaking village draws both cross-country and downhill skiers in winter. Hikers and fishermen come in the summer months, when it can get quite rainy, especially in August. The one-day-out-of-three precipitation rate keeps the countryside lush, green and dotted with wildflowers for the half the year that is not covered with snow. German-speaking Giswil is very old, first settled sometime before the 12th century, and there are two ruins sites nearby for the archaeologically minded. The town is ringed with tiny hamlets of two or three houses each. Giswil hotels are mostly family-run inns and bed-and-breakfasts, although grander accommodation is available just outside town. Ferries connect the town with other villages on Lake Sarnen, but Giswil feels cozy and nestled away from the world. Not a place for nightlife or fine dining, this is an outdoor lover's destination.

other spellings: giswilhotels, geswil otel, hotell gisvil, giswil hote, giswel hotes, hotelin jiswil, giswil