This Alpine resort town has hosted two Winter Olympics. Its frozen lake hosts horse racing and polo matches in winter. Sunny days are common year-round.
St. Moritz, perched at 1,856 meters in the Swiss Alps, is a luxury resort town in the Upper Engadine valley. Visitors come year-round to experience its Alpine charm. In winter, you can ski Olympic-level runs or watch horse races on the frozen lake. Summer brings opportunities for hiking through meadows and sailing on Lake St. Moritz. The town's upscale atmosphere is evident in its Michelin-starred restaurants and designer boutiques.
Luxury Accommodations in St. Moritz
St. Moritz has several high-end hotels. The Kulm Hotel, established in 1856, has 164 rooms and suites overlooking the mountains. It includes seven restaurants, including the Michelin-starred K, and a 2,000-square-meter spa. Badrutt's Palace Hotel, built in 1896, is family-friendly with its indoor/outdoor pool and on-site ski equipment storage. The Carlton Hotel has 60 rooms decorated in Alpine style. The Grace La Margna, a recent addition, combines modern amenities with preserved Art Nouveau elements from its original 1906 structure.
Winter Sports in St. Moritz
In St. Moritz, you can access over 350 kilometers of ski slopes suitable for beginners to experts. The Cresta Run, a 1,214-meter natural ice track, lets you try skeleton sledding. For a unique experience, try skijoring - skiing while being pulled by a horse. On frozen Lake St. Moritz, you can watch or participate in horse racing and polo matches. After skiing, warm up with a traditional Swiss cheese fondue at mountain restaurants like Alpetta or El Paradiso.
Summer in the Alps
During summer, you can explore 580 kilometers of hiking trails in the surrounding Alps. Lake St. Moritz and nearby Lake Silvaplana are ideal for sailing and windsurfing, with consistent winds. The Inn River and local lakes are good spots for fishing, with species like brown trout and Arctic char. Golfers can play at the Engadine Golf Club, one of Europe's highest courses at 1,700 meters. The Segantini Museum houses a collection of works by Giovanni Segantini, known for his Alpine landscape paintings.
Culinary Scene in St. Moritz
St. Moritz's restaurants range from Michelin-starred establishments to casual eateries. At Sunny Bar by Claudia Canessa in the Kulm Hotel, you can taste Peruvian-inspired dishes. Pizzeria Heuboden, located in the 17th-century Chesa Veglia building, serves Italian cuisine. On the slopes, restaurants like Paradiso and White Marmot combine mountain views with gourmet meals. Try local specialties such as Engadine nut tart or visit Ludwig Hatecke's shop for air-dried meats made using traditional methods.
Getting to St. Moritz
While St. Moritz has an airport for private jets, most visitors arrive by train or car. From Zurich Airport, take a train to Chur, then transfer to the Rhaetian Railway for a scenic 2.5-hour journey over the Albula Pass to St. Moritz. If driving, the main winter route is via the Julier Pass. The total trip from Zurich takes about 3.5 hours. In town, you can use the local bus system or walk, though some areas have steep inclines.
