St. Moritz, Switzerland: travel guide
A high Engadine resort with a long winter-sport tradition
An Engadine resort at 1,800 m that hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1928 and 1948 — the Cresta Run toboggan course is here, horses have raced on the frozen lake since 1907, and Switzerland's first ski school opened in 1929.
About St. Moritz
St. Moritz is an Alpine resort in the Engadine at around 1,800 m, set beside a lake and ringed by mountains. It has a long history as a winter-sports centre and twice hosted the Winter Olympics.
In winter, skiing, the Cresta Run and horse racing on the frozen lake are the signatures. In summer, the lake and surrounding trails are good for walking and sailing, while the scenic Glacier Express and Bernina Express railways call at nearby stations. Muottas Muragl is a classic viewpoint.
St. Moritz suits skiers, hikers and rail enthusiasts. Winter is the main season, and summer is calmer and green.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- Switzerland
- Currency
- CHF
- Time zone
- Europe/Zurich
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Top places to visit in St. Moritz
St Moritz Muottas Muragl
funicular-viewpoint · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Muottas Muragl — St. Moritz's spectacular 2,453m viewpoint accessible by the 1907 funicular railway, with the iconic panoramic Engadin lakes views, and the famous solar-powered mountain station.
Corviglia Ski Area
Ski Area · 4.8 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate
St. Moritz's premier ski mountain at 2,486m with 350km of pistes, 56 lifts, World Cup Downhill races, and the glamorous Corviglia mountain restaurant scene — the birthplace of winter sports tourism.
Engadin Lake (Lake St. Moritz)
Alpine Lake · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The iconic turquoise alpine lake at the heart of St. Moritz at 1,769m, famous for frozen-lake polo in January, the Cresta Run on the north shore, and surrounded by the dramatic Engadin peaks.
St Moritz Lake Walking
lake-walk · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The St. Moritz Lake walking trail — the spectacular 3km loop around Lake St. Moritz, with the iconic Belle Époque hotels, the famous frozen winter polo grounds, and the alpine views.
St Moritz Glacier Express
panoramic-train · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Glacier Express — St. Moritz's spectacular 8-hour panoramic train ride to Zermatt, the "slowest express train in the world", crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels.
St Moritz Bernina Express
unesco-train · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Bernina Express — St. Moritz's spectacular UNESCO panoramic train to Tirano, Italy, crossing the iconic Brusio circular viaduct, with the famous Alps-to-palms journey.
St Moritz Diavolezza
alpine-summit · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Diavolezza — St. Moritz's spectacular 2,978m mountain, with the iconic Bernina Glacier views, the famous freeride skiing, and the rich Engadin alpine heritage.
St Moritz Cresta Run
ice-toboggan · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Cresta Run — St. Moritz's spectacular 1885 ice toboggan run, the only natural ice skeleton track in the world, with the iconic St. Moritz Tobogganing Club heritage.
St Moritz Hahnensee Hike
alpine-hike · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The Hahnensee Lake hike — St. Moritz's spectacular alpine hike to the iconic 2,154m lake, with the panoramic Corvatsch views, and the famous Hahnensee Hütte mountain restaurant.
St Moritz Segantini Museum
painter-museum · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Segantini Museum — St. Moritz's spectacular 1908 museum dedicated to Italian Divisionist painter Giovanni Segantini, with the iconic alpine trilogy paintings.
St Moritz Sils Lake
nietzsche-village · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from St. Moritz to Sils Maria — the spectacular alpine village on Lake Sils, where Nietzsche spent 7 summers writing Thus Spoke Zarathustra, with the iconic heritage.
St Moritz Snowboard Park
snow-park · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
St. Moritz Corvatsch Snow Park — the spectacular 3,303m snowboard park, with the iconic freestyle features, the famous Corvatsch glacier, and the rich winter sports heritage.
Things to do
- Ski Day on Corviglia — St. Moritz Winter Sports · 7 h · from CHF 62 per person
Day trips and tours
- Glacier Express Full Journey St. Moritz to Zermatt 8 h · from CHF 150
Where to stay in St. Moritz
- St. Moritz Dorf (Village Centre) about CHF 900 per night
The only address that matters in St. Moritz — Badrutt's Palace and Kulm Hotel are here, with ski-in/ski-out access to Corviglia, the Via Serlas shopping street, and the famous King's Club nightclub. Ultra-luxury…
- Pontresina & Silvaplana (Value Alternative) about CHF 280 per night
The villages around St. Moritz offer 40-60% lower prices with the same ski pass and same piste access (the Engadin pass covers all 350km). Pontresina (5km) and Silvaplana (4km) have excellent character and direct bus…
Hotels
- Badrutt's Palace Hotel 5-star · CHF 1,000 to CHF 5,000 per night
- Kulm Hotel St. Moritz 5-star · CHF 700 to CHF 3,000 per night
- Hotel Nira Alpina St. Moritz 4-star · CHF 300 to CHF 700 per night
Where to eat
- Hanselman St. Moritz Swiss, Café, Pastry · about CHF 45 per person
- Chesa Veglia St. Moritz Italian, Swiss, Alpine · about CHF 90 per person
- Badrutt's Palace Restaurant Swiss, Mediterranean, Fine-Dining · about CHF 220 per person
Getting to St. Moritz
Nearest airport: St. Moritz (SMV), about 5 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bus
- Car Rental Self
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Ski Equipment Rental Overcharge
Ski rental shops, St. Moritz
Some ski rental shops in St. Moritz charge premium prices for standard equipment and add undisclosed fees for "insurance" or "damage cover" at collection time. The total is much higher than advertised.
How to avoid it: Always ask for the total final price including all insurance before agreeing to a rental. Compare prices between 2-3 shops and book online in advance through the hotel concierge for the best rates.
More in Switzerland
Frequently asked questions about St. Moritz
- What are the top-rated places to visit in St. Moritz?
- The highest-rated places in our St. Moritz guide are St Moritz Glacier Express, St Moritz Bernina Express, St Moritz Muottas Muragl, Corviglia Ski Area, Engadin Lake (Lake St. Moritz).
- Where should I stay in St. Moritz?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in St. Moritz: St. Moritz Dorf (Village Centre), Pontresina & Silvaplana (Value Alternative).
- How do I get around St. Moritz?
- Ways to get around St. Moritz covered in our guide: City bus, Self-drive car, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in St. Moritz?
- Scams reported to us for St. Moritz include Ski Equipment Rental Overcharge. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.