St Moritz Tourism

St. Moritz is a suave Swiss holiday destination with an air of cosmopolitan sophistication and some of the best skiing in the world. It is an all-weather sporting paradise that will entertain you regardless of the weather conditions. St. Moritz has hosted no less than 5 Alpine Ski World Championships. 88 pistes challenge skiers and snowboarders on exhilarating downhill runs. During summer, the lofty peaks beckon rock climbers and mountaineers with a promise of thrill and adventure.

In St. Moritz there are many ways of flying over the icy landscape. Lake Silvaplana is the perfect place to go kite-skiing over the ice. The famous Maloja winds will send you hurtling across the frozen surface at breath-taking speeds. If you want to go higher, go paragliding over snow-covered vistas of Engadin. Bobsledding is an equally electrifying winter sport that will fulfil your need for speed in an adrenaline-pumping run down a snowy track. St. Moritz is not only an exciting haven for winter adventures, but also a playground for amazing summer activities.

The fun starts with invigorating treks across well-maintained hiking trails. These trails also serve as the proving grounds for altitude training. There are over 400 km of well-marked mountain-biking tracks that pass over some of the most rugged terrain around the town. For leisurely strolls amidst greenery, there are 3 challenging golf courses where you can also show off your precision and skills. Lake St. Moritz becomes a buzz of activity, offering one of the finest sailing experiences in all of Europe. You can go kite-surfing at Lake Silvaplana and experience the thrill of the speed as the winds carry you along the mirror-like surface of the lake.

After all the adventure, St. Moritz offers the best way of rest and relaxation at its numerous spas. The town’s spa culture is more than 100 years old. Spend a day at the healing baths and pools, and let the exertions drain away. Here’s a closer look at St. Moritz’s tourism to help you design the holiday of your dreams

Highlights of St. Moritz Tourism:

Tourism in St. Moritz is an eclectic mix of outdoor activities, art and culture that is underlined by a cosmopolitan lifestyle. From a thundering horse race over frozen lakes to rousing winter polo matches, adventure in St. Moritz has class seldom found elsewhere. Whether you want to enjoy a restful picnic or swoop down icy slopes the town will oblige and deliver on both with equal aplomb. After all, tourism here is over a hundred years old.

A meal at Hanselmann has its own charms originating from its authentic Swiss Cuisine and an array of decadent Swiss chocolate. Breakfast here is served with spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The lesser-known Leaning Tower of St. Moritz leans much more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This 12th-century structure is the only surviving part of the St. Mauritius Church that was demolished over a hundred years ago. The Galerie Gmurzynska is the hub of European art in St. Moritz.

To simply gaze upon artistic creation, head to the Engadin Museum. The building is a prime example of typical Swiss Alpine architecture. Inside you will find a motley collection of traditional pieces of furniture, abstract wall frescoes and beautiful pine woodwork. On the other hand, the Segantini Museum is dedicated to the works of the late 19th-century landscape painter, Giovanni Segantini. Housed in a building that matches up to the art inside, this museum is a must-visit for art aficionados and history buffs.

Adventure Activities in St. Moritz:

Adventure is the other face of tourism in St. Moritz, one that is equally exciting as its cultural side. The track at St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun is the oldest in the world and the only one that is natural refrigerated. Experience the pure euphoria of speed and g-forces as you hurtle down the historic track.

St. Moritz has over 350 kilometres of pistes that are served by an intricate network of gondolas, ski lifts and funiculars. Zuoz, Diavolezza, Corvatsch and Corviglia are the closest skiing areas around the town that will let you show off your skiing skills. On Friday nights you can enjoy the world’s longest illuminated ski slope at Corvatsch until 2:00 am. If you feel confident, take on the slopes at Piz Nair which is the tallest skiable mountain in the region.

When the snow disappears in summer, you can enjoy the thrills of mountain biking in St. Moritz. Corviglia’s three, gently meandering trails are like roller coasters on two wheels while the St. Moritz Railway Tour is a challenging beast. The trail follows the tracks of the region’s funiculars to descend almost 6,500 metres down the mountains.

Lake Statz is an oasis of fun and offers the best swimming during summer, while Lake St. Moritz and Lake Silvaplana are the hubs of water sports. Both these lakes play host to Swiss, European and World sailing championships every year. Lake Silvaplana also offers the thrill of kite-surfing fuelled by the winds. Stand-up paddle boarding is a relatively quiet, but still a challenging way to explore the lakes. St. Moritz has plenty of adventures waiting for you, regardless of the season.

Shopping in St. Moritz:

Shopping and Switzerland make an almost perfect combination for soothing retail therapy. By its very nature, St. Moritz is an opulent shopping destination that has art and high-fashion on offer. The via Maistra, near Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, is the town’s shopping hub. You will find global high-fashion brands such as Versace, Bulgari, Prada and Louis Vuitton vying for your attention. Even if you’re not shopping, this is a great place for window shopping.

There’s no better place than Bucherer for beautiful jewellery and timeless timepieces. Head to Moncler for coats and outerwear inspired by Italian designs. Faoro curates clothes with sustainable design philosophies that are a bit different from the mainstream fashion sensibilities. Rebecca Ardessi showcases antique jewellery and designs range from art deco pieces to stunning diamond sets.

If you’re looking for some sturdy sports equipment and practical clothing options Corviglia Sports and Ender Sport on via Maistra will take care of your needs. Boom Sports on via Tegiatscha is also worth checking out for sensible clothing options. You will also find some great souvenir shops all over the town that sell memorabilia to carry back home. Ettlin offers wood carvings and hand-crafted furniture while Lüthi sells ceramics, glassware and wrought iron.

Cuisine of St Moritz: 

St. Moritz’s adventure sports and stunning views are best enjoyed with a generous helping of the town’s flavourful culinary offerings. Most of the restaurants in St. Moritz offer stunning Alpine views that are beautiful in summer as well as winter. The La Marmite at the top of Mt Corviglia champions truffles and caviar, and uses them to elevate everyday food like pizzas and burgers to new heights. The ‘Caviarissimo’ is a pricey but flavourful carpaccio served with smoked salmon, caviar and truffles.

The EL Paradiso lets you enjoy the mountains and lake views from their sprawling sun terrace. The views are accompanied by their homemade ravioli stuffed with ‘Älpler Gruyère’ served with caramelised apples. The Panorama Restaurant atop Piz Nair is the place to go for a heart Swiss meal. Their veal sausage with Rösti potatoes is highly recommended. The Veltinerkeller is an unpretentious eatery that serves Swiss and Italian cuisines amidst a cosy decor that gives it an intimate ambience. This is the place to enjoy delicious homemade pastas with succulent meats.

Ecco on Snow offers you fine dining with a view. The sophisticated ambience beautifully complements the Michelin-starred cuisine served as innovative creations. In January, the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival plays host to the rock stars of the culinary world. Rub shoulders with celebrities as you sample the delights from some of the most famous international chefs.

Interesting Facts About St. Moritz:

• St. Moritz was a summer holiday destination before a bet converted it into a winter sports resort in 1854.
• St. Moritz has hosted the International Winter Olympics twice, in 1928 and 1948.
• Though it is one of the coldest towns in Switzerland, it receives over 300 days of sunshine.
• St. Moritz is only place in the world to host horse races, known as White Turf, over a frozen lake.
• It also hosts ice-hockey and ice-cricket tournaments every year.
• The Cresta Run does not allow women to compete or use the track until the last day of the racing season.
• The Leaning Tower of St. Moritz has a tilt of 5.5%, which is more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• The Glacier Express which runs between St. Moritz and Zermatt is the slowest fast train in the world.
• The train takes 8 hours to complete the journey and passes over a record 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels.
• The first golf tournament in the Alps took place in St. Moritz in 1889.

Location of St Moritz: 

St. Moritz sits at an altitude of 1,856 metres in the Engadin region, on the southern side of the Alps. The town is made up of two parts; the Dorf (village) and the Bad (spa), in addition to the suburbs of Survetta and Campfèr. It is settled around the shores of Lake St. Moritz which is a hub of activities all around the year.

Best Time to Visit St Moritz:

St. Moritz is a town for all seasons. Visitors flock here for skiing, snowboarding, kite-surfing and tobogganing in winter; and hiking, sailing, mountain biking and rock climbing in summer. Despite its cold weather St. Moritz enjoys over 300 days of sunshine which makes it a much-sought-after holiday destination. Summer is the peak season here as the warmer weather attracts more tourists than the cold of the winter. But the colder season has it charms fuelled by the promise of adventures across snowy slopes and frozen surfaces.

How to Reach St. Moritz:

St. Moritz does not have an airport, but enjoys good connectivity with nearby cities. Zurich and Milan are the closest international airports which are well-connected with India. Many operators such as Swiss Air, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Air India have regular flights to these two destinations. You can easily get a direct flight from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and other major Indian cities.

You can reach St. Moritz from Zurich Airport by train or bus. The train journey takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes, while the bus takes longer at around 5 hours and 20 minutes. The only way into Zurich from Milan is by road. A bus journey takes 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes depending on the route.

Thomas Cook’s Swiss holiday packages are designed to show you the best of St. Moritz. Visit your nearest Thomas Cook branch for a customised holiday package or book your holidays online.