Information
City: Saint MoritzCountry: Switzerland
Continent: Europe
Saint Moritz, Switzerland, Europe
Overview
St. Moritz, tucked into the snowy Engadine Valley in Switzerland’s canton of Graubünden, ranks among the world’s most famous and luxurious alpine resorts.St. Moritz, with its snow-dusted peaks, flawless ski runs, and glittering cultural festivals, has drawn the world’s elite for generations.Number one.Perched 1,856 meters-about 6,089 feet-above sea level, St. Moritz ranks among Europe’s highest resort towns, where the air feels crisp even in summer.The town sits on the edge of Lake St. Moritz, with the snowcapped peaks of Piz Bernina and Piz Corvatsch rising behind it.Winters here are cold and heavy with snow, while summers stay cool and crisp.In winter, the temperature often sinks below freezing, and from late November through March, snow blankets the ground in a quiet white sheet.Summer stays pleasantly mild, hovering between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F), perfect for a breezy lakeside stroll and a favorite escape for visitors.People have lived around St. Moritz since Roman times.The town takes its name from the San Maurizio (St. Maurice) church, built in the 12th century, whose stone bell tower still stands as a familiar landmark.In the mid-1800s, St. Moritz began transforming into a health and winter retreat, attracting Europe’s aristocracy with its snow-bright peaks and the promise of healing from its mineral springs.When the Engadine Railway opened in 1914, it brought the world’s wealthy right to St. Moritz’s doorstep, fur coats and all.The town soon gained fame as the cradle of modern winter tourism and a trailblazer in snow sports.St. Moritz hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and again in 1948, and it’s still buzzing with skiers, snowboarders, and hikers.Tourism drives its economy, filling hotels and cafés year-round.The town’s known for its plush hotels, candlelit dinners that linger late into the night, designer boutiques, and invitation-only events.Winter sports like skiing bring in huge revenue, and in summer, hikers and mountain bikers keep the trails busy.St. Moritz drips with luxury, drawing wealthy travelers from every corner of the globe.Shops and little boutiques line the streets, selling designer clothes, sparkling fine jewelry, and gleaming Swiss watches.Luxury properties-think secluded villas with mountain views and cozy timber chalets-play a big role in the local economy.It’s also fueled by world-class sporting events like the St. Moritz Polo World Cup, White Turf’s thundering horses on snow, Snow Polo, and the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.These events draw visitors and participants from around the world, and St. Moritz isn’t just about skiing-it’s a cultural hub, with intimate music halls, art galleries, and theaters buzzing through the evening.The Engadine Museum brings the region’s history to life, from steep-roofed Alpine chalets to age-old mountain customs.Around town, art galleries buzz with color and light, many spotlighting bold works by contemporary Swiss artists.All year long, St. Moritz hosts exhibitions and art festivals, but summer draws the biggest crowd of international artists, turning the town into a lively haven of ideas and color.The St. Moritz Festival fills the air with the sound of violins and cellos, as world-class musicians bring classical music to life.The town buzzes with opera and theater, drawing crowds to stages like the Musik- und Kongresszentrum.Just beyond, Lake St. Moritz gleams beneath towering peaks, where you might spot sailboats in summer or skaters tracing wide arcs across the ice in winter.In winter, the lake gleams a deep, glassy blue beneath a crown of snow-covered peaks, a sight that stops you in your tracks.Towering nearby, Corvatsch Mountain-one of St. Moritz’s tallest-unfolds sweeping views over valleys, glaciers, and rugged summits.The Corvatsch cable car carries visitors up to the summit, where they can carve down snowy slopes, strap on a snowboard, or set off on a brisk mountain hike.Nearby, the Diavolezza peak rises just as impressively, reached by its own cable car and known for thrilling ski runs and rugged mountaineering routes.You’ll catch sweeping views of the Bernina Range, where sunlight glints off the surrounding glaciers.The St. Moritz–Celerina Olympic Bobrun, carved for the 1928 Winter Olympics, still holds the title of the world’s oldest natural ice bobsleigh track.It still runs today, letting visitors feel the rush of a bobsled slicing over ice.Chesa Futura, with its sweeping curves and silvered wood, is a luxury creation by Swiss architect Tadao Ando.It captures the way St. Moritz weaves old-world charm with sleek modern style.Just beyond town, Lej da Staz shimmers under tall pines-a quiet lake ideal for hiking, casting a line, or simply breathing in the crisp Alpine air.The lake lies at the heart of a protected nature reserve, alive with wildflowers and the rustle of birds in the trees.Just beyond, St. Moritz offers some of the finest skiing and snowboarding anywhere, with several resorts and more than 350 kilometers of crisp, groomed slopes.The town sits in the Engadine Ski Paradise, a vast stretch of slopes and trails that ranks among Switzerland’s biggest ski areas.The slopes in St. Moritz welcome everyone-first-timers wobbling on their skis and seasoned pros carving down steep runs-and plenty of ski schools stand ready to help sharpen your turns.Beyond skiing and snowboarding, you can race a bobsleigh, glide over a glassy ice rink, sled down crisp white trails, or trek through snow on sturdy shoes.The area’s rugged slopes invite mountain climbers and paragliders year-round, whether under summer sun or winter snow.In St. Moritz, miles of winding trails lead you to sweeping lookout points or across alpine meadows fragrant with wildflowers.Hikers flock to the Bernina Range and the glittering Fellaria Glacier, while in summer, St. Moritz buzzes with mountain bikers tackling everything from gentle forest paths to steep, rocky climbs.Cyclists can ride through breathtaking alpine scenery, pedaling along routes that wind through pine forests, quiet valleys, and sunlit pastures.In summer, St. Moritz’s renowned golf course welcomes players to tee off with the snow-dusted Alps rising in the distance.Getting there’s easy too-Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) connects the town to major cities like Zurich and Chur.The Bernina Express and Glacier Express both roll through St. Moritz, treating passengers to sweeping Alpine views-snow-dusted peaks, deep valleys, and glittering lakes.The town’s small airport handles private planes and charter flights only.If you’re flying in from abroad, the nearest major hub is Zurich Airport, roughly 200 kilometers-about a two-hour drive-away.
Landmarks in Saint Moritz
