St Moritz Attractions
The world-famed winter sports resort (Winter Olympics 1928 and 1948) of St Moritz (Romansch San Murezzan), in the midst of the Upper Engadine, is in two parts. St Moritz Dorf - a "village" which has all the appearance of a town, with its large and palatial hotels - is situated on a sunny terrace, sheltered from the north wind, above the St Moritzer See (Lake of St Moritz, 1,768 m/5,801ft), through which the river Inn flows from south to north. St Moritz Bad, on the valley floor at the southwest end of the lake, has iron-bearing springs of high carbonic acid content which were already being used in Bronze Age times.
The beautiful scenery with 25 crystal clear mountain lakes, forests and glaciers, the legendary "Champagne climate" and intense sunshine provide an unforgettable setting for an action-packed holiday. Along with winter sports in the colder months, in summer there are watersports (sailing, windsurfing and rafting on the river Inn), summer skiing, tennis, horse-riding and golf.
The magnificent view from St Moritz embraces the mountains from Piz Languard in the east to Piz Julier in the west, the most prominent peaks being Piz Rosatsch with its glacier, above the lake, to the right of this Piz Surlej and Piz Corvatsch, and in the distance the beautiful Piz della Margna.
Transport
Access is from Chur, over the Julier pass or from Landeck. The airline companies Air Engadinia and Crossair fly regularly to Zurich. There are four memorable Alpine rail journeys to St Moritz with the Rhätische Bahn: Glacier-Express (St-Moritz-Zermatt), Bernina-Express (St Moritz-Tirano/Italy), Engadin-Express (St-Moritz-Bad Scuol-Landeck) and the Palm-Express (St Moritz-Ascona-Zermatt).
The beautiful scenery with 25 crystal clear mountain lakes, forests and glaciers, the legendary "Champagne climate" and intense sunshine provide an unforgettable setting for an action-packed holiday. Along with winter sports in the colder months, in summer there are watersports (sailing, windsurfing and rafting on the river Inn), summer skiing, tennis, horse-riding and golf.
The magnificent view from St Moritz embraces the mountains from Piz Languard in the east to Piz Julier in the west, the most prominent peaks being Piz Rosatsch with its glacier, above the lake, to the right of this Piz Surlej and Piz Corvatsch, and in the distance the beautiful Piz della Margna.
Transport
Access is from Chur, over the Julier pass or from Landeck. The airline companies Air Engadinia and Crossair fly regularly to Zurich. There are four memorable Alpine rail journeys to St Moritz with the Rhätische Bahn: Glacier-Express (St-Moritz-Zermatt), Bernina-Express (St Moritz-Tirano/Italy), Engadin-Express (St-Moritz-Bad Scuol-Landeck) and the Palm-Express (St Moritz-Ascona-Zermatt).
Cableways (Corviglia)
From St Moritz Dorf a funicular (2.1km/1mi) ascends in 20minutes via an intermediate station at Chantarella (2,005 m/6,578ft) to Corviglia (2,486 m/8,157ft; restaurant), with fine views and excellent skiing; from there a cabin cableway (2,450 m/8,038ft, 10minutes) up Piz Nair (3,057 m/10,030ft; magnificent view).
From St Moritz Bad the Signalbahn (cabins; 1,460 m/4,790ft, five minutes) serves the Signalkuppe (2,150 m/7,054ft; several ski-lifts).
From St Moritz Bad the Signalbahn (cabins; 1,460 m/4,790ft, five minutes) serves the Signalkuppe (2,150 m/7,054ft; several ski-lifts).
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
St Moritz Dorf
The heart of St Moritz Dorf is the Schulplatz (Pl. da Scoula), in which stands the Town Hall. To the southeast, lower down, is the Tourist Information Office, to the north, on higher ground, the Protestant church (1786), and beyond this, in the idyllic Old Cemetery, the Schiefer Turm (Leaning Tower), all that remains of the old Romanesque church of St Maurice.
Engadine Museum
The Engadine Museum in the Badstrasse contains domestic interiors, embroidery, costumes, implements and utensils. Exhibits excavated in the Engadine from Neolithic and Bronze Age periods and Roman finds from the Septimer and Julier passes are on display.
Hours
June 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
November 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Segantini Museum
The Segantini Museum is a memorial to the artist Giovanni Segantini who spent the last 5 years of his life in the Engadine. The building, with its large cupola, was constructed in the style of the pavilion Segantini had planned for his Alpine Panorama, which was to have been exhibited at the 1900 Paris World Exhibition. This unfinished triptych and over 50 of his other works are housed inside.
Hours
June 1 to October 20
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
December 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 |
| Open | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday - Christian (Feb 21)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday - Christian (Feb 21)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Spa Establishment
On the eastern fringe of the forest are the Spa Establishment (1973-76), an open-air swimming-pool and the Kurhaus. Attractive paths run along the wooded slopes.
St Moritz Bad
In St Moritz Bad (1.5km/1mi south of St Moritz Dorf), with its high-rise buildings, is the Roman Catholic church (1867), with a separate tower.
Winter sports
The origins of winter tourism in St Moritz go back to the end of the last century. From those early days with the first ski-runs it has developed into a world famous modern skiing metropolis with 25 snow cannons.
It features artificial and natural ice-rinks; curling, toboggan run, the famous Cresta Run or Skeletonbahn (1,400 m/4,593ft); bobsled run to Celerina-Cresta (1,600 m/5,250ft); Olympic ski-jump.
Every year there are three international horse races on the frozen lake, as well as winter golf, polo and grayhound racing. This excellent skiing country with descents of varying difficulty is easily accessible by the funicular, cableways and numerous lifts.
The new slopes opened in 1988 and the glacier on Corvatsch and Diavolezza make skiing possible from November to May. There are cross-country trails to Majola and Zuoz.
The birthplace of winter sports, twice host of the Winter Olympics and magnet for the rich and celebrated, St Moritz is the best-known resort in the Upper Engadine Region. Because it is so celebrated for shopping, dining and nightlife, it's easy to forget St Moritz is also the highest resort in Switzerland offering great intermediate terrain with many very long runs. Since lifts in town can be somewhat congested, many skiers stay on the upper lifts for their day of skiing. The quiet and traditional village of Pontresina is nearby and shares the same slopes.
It features artificial and natural ice-rinks; curling, toboggan run, the famous Cresta Run or Skeletonbahn (1,400 m/4,593ft); bobsled run to Celerina-Cresta (1,600 m/5,250ft); Olympic ski-jump.
Every year there are three international horse races on the frozen lake, as well as winter golf, polo and grayhound racing. This excellent skiing country with descents of varying difficulty is easily accessible by the funicular, cableways and numerous lifts.
The new slopes opened in 1988 and the glacier on Corvatsch and Diavolezza make skiing possible from November to May. There are cross-country trails to Majola and Zuoz.
The birthplace of winter sports, twice host of the Winter Olympics and magnet for the rich and celebrated, St Moritz is the best-known resort in the Upper Engadine Region. Because it is so celebrated for shopping, dining and nightlife, it's easy to forget St Moritz is also the highest resort in Switzerland offering great intermediate terrain with many very long runs. Since lifts in town can be somewhat congested, many skiers stay on the upper lifts for their day of skiing. The quiet and traditional village of Pontresina is nearby and shares the same slopes.
St Moritz Surroundings
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Hahnensee (Furocla Surlej, Piz Corvatsch)
Along a scenic route an hour and a half away from St Moritz visitors can find the Hahnensee restaurant, Furocla Surlej and the Piz Corvatsch Summit, all of which offer breathtaking scenery of the surroundings.
Piz Julier
To the west of St Moritz there is a rewarding climb (not difficult for experienced climbers) by way of the Alp Suvretta (2,211 m/7,254ft) to the summit of Piz Julier (3,385 m/11,106ft; five hours), which offer magnificent distant views.
Piz della Margna
To the south of Isola (4-4.5 hours, with guide) is the Piz della Margna (3,159 m/10,365ft; superb views). A cableway ascends to the Alp Präsura (2,311 m/7,582ft), giving access to the Furtschellas (2,800 m/9,187ft; ski-lifts).
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Val Fex
From Sils Maria a narrow road (closed to cars) runs south up the Val Fex to Crasta (3km/2mi, alt. 1,948 m/6,391ft) and Curtins (6km/4mi, alt. 1,976 m/6,483ft), from which there is a beautiful view of the mountains framing the Fex glacier.
Marmorè
East of Sils Maria (1.25 hours) is the Marmorè (2,203 m/7,288ft; ski-lift), with a magnificent view into the Upper Engadine. A good footpath (3.5 hours) leads east to the Fuorcla Surlej (2,756 m/9,042ft).
Oberalpina
There are fine views from Oberalpina (1,990 m/6,529ft; 30minutes southwest of St Moritz Dorf), Alp Nova (2,185 m/7,169ft; one hour west) and Alp Laret (2,101 m/6,893ft; one hour north). From Oberalpina there is a ridge path by way of the Chantarella funicular station to the Alp Laret (one hour).
Silvaplana (Surlej)
7km/4mi southwest of Piz Julier, at the junction with the road over the Julier pass, is Silvaplana (1,815 m/5,955ft; bypass), a health and winter sports resort situated on the green alluvial fan of the Ova dal Vallun, with a Late Gothic parish church (1491). A bridge crosses the narrow neck of the lake on which it lies to a 19th C. baronial mansion, the Crap da Sass (private property), and the houses and chalets of Surlej ("above the lake"). 15-minute walk farther up is the lower station (1,870 m/6,135ft; parking, restaurant) of the Corvatsch cableway.
St Moritz Lake
2km/1mi from St Moritz Dorf on the east side of the lake are the Meierei hotel-restaurant and cafe. From there it is another kilometer to the Staz Hotel and restaurant on the eastern shore of the Lej Staz (Stazer See, 1,808 m/5,932ft; swimming pool), from which it is an hour's walk on forest paths to Celerina or Pontresina.
Facilities
On-site accomodations
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
