WHAT TO DO IN ST.MORITZ, ENGADIN
St. Moritz is a premium winter destination in Switzerland – but it is also the perfect travel destination year-round. Yes, St. Moritz and Upper Engadin are perfect little dreams.
First of all, St. Moritz and the Engadine Valley are extremely picturesque – really, really picturesque. Second, there is a lot to do in St. Moritz – even if you come here outside of the winter season.
So, if you are wondering about the best things to do in St. Moritz – where to go and what to do, you will find the answers here. Though I have traveled through Switzerland for many years, it took me a while to actually St.Moritz. And I immediately fell in love – I have visited St. Moritz many times since then. I’ll also share some travel tips for your trip to St. Moritz.
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TOP THINGS TO DO IN ST. MORITZ
So, without further ado, here are the best things to do in St. Moritz (which made me fall in love).
STROLL THE TOWN CENTER
Okay, St. Moritz is surely NOT the prettiest town in Switzerland. However, it is interesting to stroll the “town of the rich” with all the fancy shops lined up. Those shops are often also the prettiest buildings in the town center.
What I loved most about the town center were the (few) unique buildings that were so different from many other destinations in Switzerland. But, you will not need much time to walk around the village center. I often just stroll it for 30-60 minutes and think, it should be enough if you just do window shopping. If you enjoy (luxury) shopping, then plan in more time.
HEAD UP PIZ CORVATSCH
What a view! For the best panorama, make sure to go to the top of Piz Corvatsch which is a mountain peak in the Bernina Range of the Alps. It is the highest peak, at about 3300 meters above sea level, in a region easily accessible via cable car/funicular.
The views are AMAZING. In all honesty, this was my favorite view in all of St. Moritz and Engadin (and there is quite a bit of competition) – if not in ALL of Switzerland. On the one side, you have a fantastic panorama of Lake Sils, Lake Silvaplana, and Lake Champfer with the mountains in the background, and on the other side, you have the mighty glaciers.
It is also the perfect starting point for certain hikes – I will talk about those later on. But even if you are not into hiking…the views…the views! If you could only do one mountain excursion in St.Moritz, I would pick this one as it has some of the best panoramas.
HOW TO GET THERE: Get to Corvatsch Talstation Surlej (1,870 meters above sea level) by bus. Then take the gondola to Corvatsch Mittelstation Murtel (2,702 meters) before getting on another gondola that will bring you up Corvatsch Bergstation.
MUOTTAS MURAGL
Another popular mountain excursion is the Muottas Muragl at 2,455 meters above sea level. It is located on the southern slopes of the Blais da Muottas, a summit at the western end of the range descending from Piz Vadret.
These views are said to be the most beautiful in Engadin because you have the Engadin Valley – between the towns of Samedan, St. Moritz, and Pontresina – laid out before you. The panorama is indeed great, though I am not sure if it is the best. I liked the views from Piz Corvatsch even more. This, however, is one of the best spots to watch the sunset.
Besides a mountain restaurant, this is the perfect starting point for some hikes.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take the no. 1 bus from St. Moritz train station to Punt Muragl station, and from there, hop on the funicular, which will drop you off directly at the top.
CORVIGLIA
Engadin is all about great mountain excursions – like Corviglia at 2,489 meters above sea level. Corviglia is located on the eastern slopes of Piz Nair, overlooking St. Moritz. The view of the Upper Engadin lakes and the glaciated Bernina Massif is simply drop-dead gorgeous.
Actually, this is probably the best view I got from St. Moritz itself – and it is probably the easiest mountain trip since the station is located in the center of St. Moritz.
From there, continue your trip to Piz Nair. Just hop on the next gondola.
HOW TO GET THERE: From St. Moritz, take a funicular that takes you to Corviglia. The funicular station is located in the village center of St. Moritz. Get off at the bus stop marked “Schulplatz” and walk for 2 minutes – you cannot miss it.
PIZ NAIR
For one of the highest viewpoints (easily accessible via cable car/gondola), head to Piz Nair, which is at 3,057 meters. At the top of Piz Nair, you will also find a stately ibex, head bowed, overlooking the Upper Engadin at its feet.
I enjoyed wonderful views of Muottas Muragl mountain, the Piz Palü, the Bernina region, Corvatsch, and more. The views are splendid, but there are even better views elsewhere.
So, if you are short on time and can just pick one mountain excursion, I would honestly recommend going up Piz Corvatsch. If you can go on a few mountain peaks, Piz Nair is a great place to visit.
HOW TO GET THERE: In Corviglia, hop on a gondola and go up to Piz Nair.
DIAVOLEZZA
Another top mountain excursion is Diavolezza, which is a col and ski resort above Val Bernina. The col has an altitude of 2,958 meters and is located between Munt Pers and Piz Trovat. You can see the 4000-meter Piz Bernina and the impressive Piz Palü rise up before you, as well as the Pers Glacier and Morteratsch Glacier beneath your feet.
I visited several times – fall, winter, and summer – all trips were amazing. Also, this cable car operates while other cable cars are already closed in October.
On the way up, you have several stunning lakes below your feet – what a view! This is my second most favorite mountain excursion in the Engadine Valley.
Also, the virtual reality experience at the Valley station is free. You get some interesting background information on glaciers and more.
In summer, you can also book some time at the hot tub, which comes with a view of the glacier. Yes, the Swiss know how to make money. I was tempted for a minute to book it – but the lack of privacy and the price tag made me not do so. Either way, the views from Diavolezza are spectacular.
HOW TO GET THERE: Diavolezza is located a bit further from St. Moritz. Take a local train to Tirano and get out at Bernina Diavolezza (about 45 minutes). You will pass the Morteratsch Glacier and enjoy some amazing window views along the way. This route is also part of the famous Bernina Express.
WALKS IN ST. MORITZ – LAKE ST. MORITZ AND LAKE SILSER
Beautiful Engadin is made for long or short walks (we will talk about the hikes later). It’s perfect for easy, intermediate, or challenging walks or hikes. Choose some walks/hikes up in the mountains or just walk along the 4 lakes in St. Moritz.
Walking around three of the lakes – either St. Moritz Lake, Silser Lake, or Silvaplana Lake – is one of the easier walks, with basically no incline/decline. However, some parts of the lakes are not very pedestrian-friendly (like the southern shores of Lake Sils, for example, so you might want to take a bus one way).
The lakes here are some of the most beautiful in all of Switzerland – I compare them with Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in Interlaken.
MALOJA
Another beautiful, half-day trip to take from St. Moritz could be Maloja. Maloja lies at the western end of Lake Silvaplana and connects the Upper Engadin Lake District and the Graubünden’s southern valley of Bergell.
The bus (or car) ride from St. Moritz alone is worth it – you will pass all four lakes (St. Moritz, Champfer, Silvaplana, and Sils) with the Alps in the background. What a fantastic view!
Get out at Maloja Post station and walk towards the viewing point. It is an easy walk, and from there, you have an amazing panorama! I was the only person walking around, while there were many cars – that did not scare me though.
MORTERATSCH GLACIER
The Morteratsch Glacier is the third largest, and by volume, the most massive glacier in the eastern Alps. But most of all, it just looks amazing. Absolutely amazing!
Best of all: You can easily spot it. Whether you are in a car or on a train, the Morteratsch Glacier is so impressive that you will see it even from a distance. However, you can also get close to it and combine it with a beautiful walk (or let´s say an easy hike).
It is 50 minutes on foot from the railway station of Morteratsch, and it’s really a must-see in Engadin.
On your way, you’ll find 16 posts that will give you information about the receding glacier and the mystical lifeforms left in its wake.
HOW TO GET THERE: Morteratsch Glacier is not directly in St. Moritz, but you can get there by a local train and get off at Morteratsch train station. If you want to enjoy the glacier from the train, then stay on the train and ride for one more stop. I always sit on the right side and choose a compartment where I can open the windows – so I can amazing photos from the train.
CASCADA DA BERNINA
When at the Mortaratsch Glacier, make sure to also do a quick and easy walk to the Cascada da Bernina which is a waterfall from the mountain stream “Ova da Bernina” which plunges over two hundred meters in altitude down to the valley.
HOW TO GET THERE: The access to the waterfall is located between the Morteratsch railway station and the car park. The path then leads up to several waterfall platforms. The hike takes about 10-15 minutes (one way) and includes some uphill walking (about 90 meters) over 600 meters.
It is one of the wonderful easy walks that I truly enjoyed.
BERNINA EXPRESS
The Bernina Express is a train connecting Chur in Switzerland to Poschiavo in Switzerland and Tirano in Italy by crossing the Swiss Engadin Alps. For most of its journey, the train also runs along the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina landscapes.
You can start the trip in St. Moritz. And what should I say? Oh my! Oh my. I have done this ride probably 10 times and oh my! This is beyond awesome. You will pass so many amazing places along the journey – from Lago Blanco and Bernina Ospizio to Alp Grüm, Poschiavo, and the Morteratsch Glacier.
You do not have to take the official “Bernina Express,” but instead take the local trains that have the same route.
TIP: Take the train from St.Moritz to Tiefencastel (one of the most amazing parts of the train ride, where you also cross the Landwasser Viaduct Bridge), and then change trains and head back to Pontresina and continue your journey towards Tirano.
If you do not want to spend much time on the train, I suggest only going to Alp Grüm (and do not go all the way to Italy) before returning “home.” Find my review of the Bernina Express here.
Free with a Swiss Travel Pass
WATERSPORTS
If you visit St. Moritz, one of the first things you might notice is the many, many, many wind and kite surfers on Lake St.Moritz, and even more so on Lake Silvaplana.
This view is spectacular. With the colorful boats and kites, it is so interesting to watch the people enjoying the windy conditions (normally after 10-11 am each day in the summer months) and doing watersports.
Known as “the famous Maloja wind,” this is the place to go for watersport lovers. Even if you are not into wind or kite-surfing, you can do SUP, kayaking, or just take a dip. Though I have not done any water sports on these lakes, I can tell that the lakes in Upper Engadin are a dream come true for water sports lovers.
6-LAKE-HIKE – WASSERWEG
You have a couple of 5-lake or 6-lake hikes throughout Switzerland, so it does not come as a surprise that St.Moritz has its own version of a 6-lake hike (also known as the Wasserweg).
It is a beautiful hike that does include some uphill walking (from Furtschellas station at 2313 to Lejin Megnetit at about 2600 meters), but it is an overall easy hike that is a 6-km-long loop and should take about 3 hours without any breaks.
The small alpine lakes look pretty with the stunning scenery in the background – perfect for families and anyone who likes mountain lakes that come without too much effort.
HOW TO GET THERE: Go to Furtschellas cable car station and go up to Furtschellas La Chüdera.
ALP DA COVLAC AND LÄGH DA CAVLOC
A popular mountain lake, especially amongst locals, is tucked away behind Majola. Lake Cavloc (or Lägh da Cavloc) at 1907 meters is only reachable after an easy hike, which includes some uphill walking.
Once you reach the lake, you will quickly see why it is such a popular place – it is a perfect bathing lake (though the water is not really that warm) and you have the option to enjoy some time at the lake, including having a picnic, BBQ, or doing another hike around the lake.
You also have a restaurant at the lake (bring cash, they do not accept credit cards), which comes with great views.
The hike is scenic and worth your effort, so go for it!
HOW TO GET THERE: Take the bus to Majola Post (1815 meters above sea level) and then start your walk towards Lägh da Cavloc.
HIKE FROM MURTEL – FUORCLA SURLEJ – VAL ROSEG – PONTRESINA
It is time to talk about one of my all-time favorite hikes – from Corvatsch Mittelstation (Murtel) to Fuorcla Surlej, and then to Val Roseg, and from there to Pontresina.
This A to B hike is for the books – you have one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland, the mighty Roseg Glacier, and more. No, this hike will not disappoint.
The hike starts at Murtel Mittelstation (which you can combine with a trip to Piz Corvatch) and includes first some uphill walking (from 2698 meters to 2753 meters). This part of the hike could take between 30-60 minutes.
There you have this gorgeous, gorgeous lake – my tip is to just enjoy the views and rest here. If you have all day for this hike, then take a rest and have your picnic here because this place is magical. In the busy summer months, there should be a hut that is open, but it was closed when I visited so do not take my word for it.
After spending some time at Fuorcla Surlej, it is a steep downhill walk to Val Roseg. Yes, it is a steep hike and it takes a couple of hours but there is no cable car/gondola, so the hike it is. The views are impressive and I really loved the hike because of the panorama – though the steep downhill hike was not my favorite part.
At Rosegg Valley is a restaurant where I recommend taking a break. It might be crowded but the views from the restaurants are also top.
Then, depending on the time of the day and your fitness level, you can walk closer to Roseg Lake and Roseg Glacier, which takes about 1 hour (one way). I really wanted to do but keep in mind that you still have to walk to Pontresina (carriages rides are offered but that was not an option for me for ethical reasons).
It is another 6-kilometer long, beautiful walk to Pontresina (1774 meters above sea level) – but there is not much up or downhill hiking included, so it is really nice and relaxing!
HOW TO GET THERE: Start your hike at Corvatsch Mittelstation – the hike ends in Pontresina. If you prefer uphill hiking, then do the hike the other way around.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR ST. MORITZ, ENGADINE VALLEY
- St. Moritz is the capital of the Engadin Valley – located in Graubünden (Grison), the biggest canton (state) in Switzerland.
- It lies at about 1800 meters above sea level. In summer, this means the climate is more pleasant than in many other Swiss destinations. When it gets hot, St. Moritz is the place to be. And if it is not hot, St.Moritz is still the place to be.
SEASONS
When is the summer season and when is the winter season in St.Moritz? Well, St. Moritz has two main seasons: the winter season and then the other months.
The winter season in St. Moritz is long. Due to its high elevation, heavy snowfalls can occur in early November, but most ski lifts operate from the end of November until the end of April.
Many of the activities mentioned here can be done in the winter season as well. However, I recommend checking out my St. Moriz winter guide if you visit during those months.
I suggest visiting from late June to mid-October – before and after, many cable cars/funiculars do not operate because they take a break before/after the winter season. If you could choose the month of your visit, I suggest coming here in October. Fall foliage is next level in St. Moritz because of the many larches – it actually is one of the best places to visit in the fall.
BERGBAHNEN INKLUSIVE – TICKET
If you stay at least two nights at one of the participating hotels, you get a pass called the “Bergbahnen Inklusive.” This means that you can use local buses and trains in the region + get free use of the 13 cable cars/funiculars – without any extra costs. Yes, without extra costs.
Switzerland is expensive (here are some tips on how to save money in Switzerland), and St. Moritz is super expensive – this pass allows you to save money because most activities will be free then. So, if you are considering staying one night, reconsider and make it two nights so you get that pass.
As not all hotels take part in the program, I will only recommend some hotels later where you can get these passes if you stay 2+ nights.
HOW TO GET TO ST. MORITZ
Even though St. Moritz is a high-altitude village, it is easily accessible via car, train, or even bus.
CAN I GET TO ST. MORITZ BY TRAIN?
The good news is: Yes, you can easily get to St.Moritz, actually it is a fantastic way to get to St. Moritz. On your way, you will get an idea of what all the fuss is about when you see this winter wonderland.
- St. Moritz is the starting/endpoint on the Glacier Express and can also be added to the Bernina Express train route – so you can combine a trip with a train ride.
- The train station is very small and located next to St. Moritz Lake. Instead of regular taxis, which you normally see all over Switzerland, black Mercedes are lined up, waiting for customers.
- The village of St. Moritz is located further uphill, so if you have heavy luggage, you might want to take a taxi or bus.
- There are also hotels in the lower part of the village – check out where exactly you are staying beforehand.
CAN I GET TO ST. MORITZ CAR?
You can also get to St. Moritz by car. Just be aware that depending on where you are coming from, you may have to drive through some mountain passes. If the mountain passes are open in the winter, they are cleared. However, not everyone is confident driving in Switzerland in winter – especially not in the mountains.
- Also, if you get to St. Moritz, make sure to book a hotel with available parking.
- And while I have not spent much time in the village center of St. Moritz, I have seen the police several times fining people for illegal parking.
HOW TO GET AROUND
St. Moritz village is quite small so you can walk to many places. But if you want to visit the lower part of St. Moritz (St. Moritz Bad) or venture out to some of the mountain peaks, I recommend using public transportation.
- There are buses between St. Moritz Village, St. Moritz Bad, and all other villages in the area. You also have trains that get you comfortably to several attractions in the area. So, you will be fine with getting around just via public transportation.
- Driving is another alternative. The roads and streets are in good condition and cleared. Keep in mind that parking can be tricky in some busy areas, though.
- Getting around via taxi or helicopter is also quite popular, though way more expensive – especially the latter.
A Swiss Travel Pass might be the perfect choice if you do not want to stay for 2 nights in St.Moritz or travel around Switzerland for longer. This pass has been my favorite option for most of my travels in Switzerland. What is a Swiss Travel Pass?
- A Swiss Travel Pass allows you to use trains and buses without any extra costs – this includes the Bernina Express as well. While the St.Moritz guest card only gets you to the Alp Grüm station, this pass gets you all the way to Tirano. There is only a reservation fee for several panorama trains (though you can avoid it by taking local trains).
- You can also do most boat cruises without additional costs. Great, if you also plan to visit places like Interlaken and Lake Thun or Lake Lucerne for example.
- It also gives you a 50% discount on most mountain rides (you will not get a discount on most cable car rides in Engadine Valley though).
- Some museums are free to visit with the Swiss Travel Pass.
- The initial prices for a Swiss Travel Pass are quite high – but it pays for itself if you get around via public transportation and are active in Switzerland for more than three or four days. So, check out prices for boats and trains and then calculate if it is a good option for you.
- For me, it usually makes sense as I am very active and use public transportation/mountain rides often (even if I road trip Switzerland).
- Check out prices for a Swiss Travel Pass here.
WHERE TO STAY
There is no shortage of luxury hotels in St. Moritz but I have also listed some more affordable accommodations for your trip. All three of the hotels offer the “Bergbahnen Inklusive” ticket, which means free train and bus rides in the area, plus free usage of cable cars/funiculars.
- LUXURY: This luxury hotel has everything you are looking for when booking a 5-star hotel in St. Moritz. From an extensive spa area to a lounge and bar area, luxurious hotel rooms and suites, and more. Check out prices here.
- MID-RANGE: Hotel Corvatsch is a 3-star hotel located in the lower part of St. Moritz. and only a 3-minute walk from the lake and the Signal Cable Car. Here are prices and availabilities.
- BUDGET: The St. Moritz Youth Hostel is situated at the edge of the forest in the lower part of St. Moritz. During the day, there is a bus that gets you to the St. Moritz train station. The rooms all have shared bathrooms, and breakfast is always included – you cannot find a better deal in all of St. Moritz. Check out rates here.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON TOP ACTIVITIES IN ST. MORITZ
St. Moritz is, without a doubt, a top destination in Switzerland. Though I have been to Switzerland many times, I always – more or less – avoided St. Moritz, but when I stayed there for a few days, I was smitten. Not only smitten, but in love – I truly enjoyed my trip to St. Moritz and Engadin, and have visited several times within the last 12 months.
And I will revisit because it is worth it and there is so much to do in St. Moritz.
Hopefully, this post has helped you to find out more about things to do in St. Moritz and Upper Engadin – whenever you visit ENJOY!