Experience St. Moritz: The grandest address in the Alps
St. Moritz has always understood the appeal of winter. Set high in the Engadin in Switzerland at around 1,800 metres, the resort combines reliable snow, clear mountain light, and a social scene that has attracted visitors for generations. It was here that winter tourism began to take shape, with skiing, bobsleigh, the Cresta Run, and snow polo becoming part of the resort’s identity.
That sporting heritage remains central, but it’s only one part of the experience. You can spend the morning skiing Corviglia, take a horse-drawn carriage through the valley, shop along Via Serlas, or watch horses race across the frozen lake. A stay at Badrutt’s Palace and Kulm Hotel offer two distinct ways to experience St. Moritz: one deeply connected to the town’s social and cultural life, the other shaped by more than 170 years of alpine hospitality and sporting tradition.
A resort made for winter
St. Moritz is one of those rare mountain destinations where a holiday can be as active or as leisurely as you choose. The wider region offers 88 pistes and more than 350 kilometres of ski slopes, with Corviglia, Corvatsch, and Diavolezza each providing a different experience. Private instruction is readily available, making it easy to arrange anything from an introduction to skiing through to advanced coaching on the most demanding terrain.
The altitude and famously bright Engadin conditions give the resort an unforgettable quality. Mornings might begin with first lifts and freshly prepared pistes, followed by lunch in the mountains and a slower afternoon back in town. At Badrutt’s Palace, ski-school arrangements and equipment can be organised through the hotel, while its shuttle service makes access to the cable car simple. Kulm Hotel’s complimentary Ski & Mountain Pass, valid for the same number of days as the nights booked, is particularly useful for guests planning a longer stay.
Adventure beyond the pistes
The town’s winter character becomes even more distinctive once you look beyond conventional skiing. At Kulm Hotel, guests can arrange a ride on the Cresta Run or experience the Olympic Bob Run in a four-man bobsleigh, reaching speeds of up to 135 kilometres per hour. Corvatsch’s Friday night skiing offers another memorable way to use the mountains, with a 4.2-kilometre illuminated piste open after dark.
Badrutt’s Palace provides its own route into the Engadin’s more unusual winter experiences. Snowkiting on Lake Silvaplana, skijöring across the frozen Lake St. Moritz, and paragliding above the valley all offer a more exhilarating perspective on the landscape. For a gentler pace, you could try ice skating, curling, tobogganing, or a carriage ride beneath the peaks.
Two expressions of St. Moritz
Badrutt’s Palace is part of the fabric of St. Moritz. Its position on Via Serlas places the hotel at the centre of the resort’s luxury boutiques, restaurants, and winter social life, while the hotel itself has the atmosphere of a grand private residence. Le Grand Hall is the setting for its celebrated afternoon tea, with elegant interiors and views across the valley, and the hotel’s dining and bar spaces provide plenty of reason to return early from the slopes.
Kulm Hotel offers a different perspective. With more than 170 years of history, views across Lake St. Moritz, and a strong connection to the origins of winter tourism, it feels closely tied to the landscape and traditions of the Engadin. The hotel’s Alpine Sports Lounge & Boutique brings together ski concierge support, equipment, snacks, and drinks in a polished setting designed for both preparation and relaxation. It’s an excellent choice for guests who want activity to be central to their stay, without sacrificing the rituals of a historic grand hotel.
The pleasures of the Engadin
The town’s compact layout makes it easy to combine a morning on the mountain with an afternoon of shopping, gallery visits, or time in the spa. Via Serlas is home to a concentrated collection of international luxury brands, while the surrounding Engadin offers a quieter cultural dimension, from museums and historic villages to the Bernina Express route, which travels through a UNESCO World Heritage landscape towards Tirano.
The winter calendar adds even more reasons to visit St. Moritz. If you choose to visit during January or February, you may be able to watch the Snow Polo World Cup or White Turf horse racing on the frozen lake, see classic cars at The I.C.E., or attend Cricket on Ice. The Audi FIS Ski World Cup in December and the Cresta Run Grand National in February bring a more traditional sporting energy to the season.
Your handcrafted stay starts here
Winter in St. Moritz is best shaped around the way you want to experience the mountains. Your Travel Counsellor can arrange the wider journey around your stay, from business-class flights and private airport transfers to equipment hire, ski-school reservations, restaurant bookings, and carefully timed connections through Switzerland.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today to get things started.
