Description
St Moritz is one of the oldest winter sport’s centres in the world, being founded over 150 years ago. Even now they have retained one of the widest ranges of sports both on and off the slopes. Throughout this time the resort has accrued a reputation for glam and celebrity. For many it epitomises winter spectacle and glamour with many infamous bars and restaurants dotted around the resort. But there is so much more to the resort than jewels, money and designer ski gear.
The resort is famous for being centred on the picturesque frozen lake. This is also the setting for numerous winter activities such as skating and curling. As well as the more unusual winter cricket and ice polo matches. Another renowned aspect of the resort is the bob run, the last remaining natural bob course in the world. The Cresta run part of the course is the original home to the Skeleton sport. Even today it is a men’s only course with no woman being allowed to compete on it.
The resort is steeped in history, welcoming many famous faces such as Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Bridget Bardot, Alfred Hitchcock and even Lenin. Many of the buildings date back to the 1800s so the architecture is very classic and traditional Alpine resort. The resort was also host to the Olympics in 1928 and 1948 so there are lots of memorabilia dotted around the villages to commemorate these occasions. The resort was even awarded at UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.St Moritz made history here too by being the only resort in the world to have held the Olympics and have the UNESCO accolade.
This is not the only first that St Moritz has to its name. It was the location of the first electric light, the first ski school and Switzerland’s first electric tram. The village first found fame over 3000 years ago due to its natural mineral springs. These still remain an important part of the culture of St Moritz with lots of spas throughout the villages. The resort also found fame in Hollywood when it was featured in the James Bond blockbuster, The Spy Who Loved Me.
The resort is made up of 3 main villages, St Moritz Bad, St Moritz Dorf and Celerina. The main villages centre on the St Moritz Lake offering breath-taking views of the landscape and the surrounding mountains which encircle the village. The villages sit at a height of 1856m with skiing from 1800m to 3305m. The ski area is made up of 4 distinctive ski sections, these are accessed by either ski lifts or an efficient ski bus from the villages. Across the Engadin region there are 350km of skiing including 2 glaciers which is all serviced by 54 lifts.
The resort is uniquely blessed with a natural climate offering an amazing snow fall from October all the way through to June. In addition to this is the average of 322 days of sun across the Engadin valley. This does make a nicer environment to learn and ski in but it will still be chilly in the winter months despite the sunshine, so you will still need those thermals! The resort also has an extensive network of over 127 snow canons to ensure that they can make the most of the snow and ensure that it stays as long as possible on the more frequented runs.
Getting There
Unless you have booked a package holiday where the travel in all sorted for you, you may want to consider how you are going to get to and from the resort. Not all resorts are as blessed as St Moritz is for transport links. Although not all of them are accessible for everyone, there are still a substantial amount of travel options.
Fly
The most common way to get to resort is to fly. There are four local airports to St Moritz:
Engadin/ Samedan- 7km- 10minutes
Zurich- 200km- 3hrs
Milan Malpensa- 251km- 3hrs
Geneva- 478km- 5hrs
In case you don’t have your own plane so cannot charter a flight from the UK directly to Engadin airport, there are local flights from Zurich, Milan, Geneva and Munich to Engadin. Geneva has the largest range of flights from UK airports and is used to catering for skiers and snowboarders, as it serves most of the French Alpine resorts. However both Milan Malpensa and Zurich are large international hubs so will also provide lots of options in terms of timings and departure airports. They are also much closer to St Moritz.
Transfers from the airport
There are several companies who offer shared and private transfers to get you from the airport to the resort. It is worth checking transfer arrangements before booking your flights especially if you want a shared transfer as these are less regular and you don’t want to be waiting around for hours at the airport.
Which transfer company you use will depend on your group size, flight times and budget. Our recommended transfer companies include:
Ski Lifts have been awarded the world’s best ski transfer operator in the world ski awards. They provide private and shared transfers from Geneva, Zurich and Milan Malpensa.
Sun Transfers offer shared and private transfers from Milan Malpensa, Zurich and Geneva to St Moritz. They tend to have very few shared transfers going every week so it is important to contact them directly and check what time it is running and then arrange your flight around this.
Alps2Alps provide private and shared transfers from Geneva, Zurich and Milan Malpensa Airports to St Moritz. As with Sun Transfers they do not operate shared transfers every week.
By Train
St Moritz has its own train station in the resort itself so there is no need to arrange onward travel up to the resort if you are considering taking the train. The town centre is located about a 5 minute walk from the railway station but if you are staying a bit further afield in Celerina or St Moritz Bad, there are frequent buses between all the villages and the train station.
St Moritz is the final destination for two world famous train routes; the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. The Bernina Express has many different stop offs so you can collect the train from any of them if you do not wish to the whole route from Italy to Switzerland. The Glacier Express runs from Zermatt to St Moritz and it is also possible to board at any of the points on the journey just to do a small stretch. Both of these train routes have a reputation for class and elegance, something that is synonymous with St Moritz. It was when UNESCO bestowed the World Heritage Award on the Rhaetian Railways’ Albula and the Bernina Express train line, that St Moritz made history, being the only place to have held the UNESCO accolade and have held the Olympic Games.
From some airports such as Zurich it is easier and more efficient to take the train to Chur and then switch to the well-known Rhaetian Railway. The Rhaetian Railway earned its fame for magnificent views as it passes through the snow-capped mountains of Eastern Switzerland. The train journey from Zurich to St Moritz takes 3.5hrs and costs approximately 40CHFs.
If you are planning to go from the UK by train to St Moritz, there are no direct trains so the journey can be a little tricky, involving at least 3 changes and taking 10hrs57mins. The easiest journey involves the Eurostar from London or Ashford to Paris, a train from Paris to Zurich, Zurich to Landquart and finally Landquart to St Moritz. Tickets go on sale up to 3 months before the date of travel, it is advisable to keep an eye out for any deals and book as soon as possible to save money on this hefty trip.
By Car
If you do want to travel by car then there are multiple mountain passes via Chur Thusis-Tiefencastel, the Julier Pass or the Alubura Pass leading into St Moritz from all directions. These passes can be treacherous for drivers in the winter and passage is forbidden without snow tyres and snow chains on the vehicle. If the weather does get too bad then the passes will be closed and the train is the only option. Alternatively there is the car train from Davos and get on the Vereina Tunnel Car Transporter Train.
Unlike driving to the French Alps, it is a much longer journey to get to Switzerland. The total time is approximately 12hrs and 57minues from London. If you are coming from the UK, you can either travel via the channel tunnel or take the ferry. The euro tunnel departs approximately every 15 minutes from Folkestone and takes 35 minutes. Prices start from £90 each way. You can book your crossing online at - https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/home/. The ferry runs from Dover to Calais with P&O ferries - http://www.poferries.com/en/portal. The Dover to Calais service operates up to 23 times each day and takes 90 minutes.
On arrival in France remember to drive on the right hand side of the road. It is important to note that there are several tolls on route through to St Moritz, the prices depend on which section of road you use and will be located on the passenger side of the vehicle.
European travel/vehicle requirements are very strict and on-spot fines can be issued if you don’t have: headlight converters, GB sticker, warning triangle, spare bulbs, high viz vests for each passenger in the car and breathalysers.
In certain weather conditions, the roads may become snowy and icy and although local municipalities are very good and keeping the roads clear, it can be dangerous so it is important to take extra care and attention when driving. It is a legal requirement in France to carry snow chains in your vehicle or police will refuse you access to certain roads. When driving in these conditions, slow down when you encounter any snow, use high gears to avoid wheel spin, and keep moving when driving up an incline on snow.
It can be useful to have a car whilst you’re in resort if your accommodation is far from the centre and slopes. However parking is both limited and expensive in the centre of the villages. There is also a very efficient bus system that operates between all the different ski areas and villages in the St Moritz area.
When to Go
St Moritz is famed for its natural climate with a high altitude and 2 glaciers providing snow from November into June. This is combined with an average of 322 days of sunshine every year makes it an ideal attraction for the entire winter season.
St Moritz has a world class reputation but this does carry a hefty price tag and get busy especially around peak dates of Christmas, New Year, Half Term and Easter. However, if you do want to enjoy the ski area but are after a bit more peace and quiet then you can travel to the other ski centres in the Engadin area.
Where to Stay
The resort of St Moritz is split into 3 separate villages located around and near to the lake. All 3 of the villages are linked by ski lifts into the heart of the ski area, Corviglia at 2486m.
Dorf is located directly on the lake shore, ‘dorf’ is the word for village. This is one of the more glamorous villages with lots of luxury hotels, high end shops, restaurants and bars. It is also the location of possibly one of the most famous hotels in the Alps the Badrutt’s Palace. It is serviced by the Chantarella funicular which whisks guests up to the Corvaglia ski area.
St Moritz Bad is located slightly further away, at a 4 minute drive from the Lake edge. It is a quieter village but is still buzzing with restaurants, accommodation and activities to keep its visitors busy. The Signalbahn gondola is located here which takes visitors up into the ski area above.
Celerina is located on the opposite side of Dorf than St Moritz Bad. Located 3km away from the lake edge. The village has quite a few high end properties but also a quieter atmosphere. There are strong Italian influences here which has earned it the nickname of ‘Piccolo Milano.’
Getting around
St Moritz is made up of 3 compact villages that are connected by bus but also are easy to walk between taking a maximum of 30 minutes to walk between them. Getting around is not difficult, but here are a few ideas to help you get your bearings once you arrive. It is important to remember that a lot of the hotels offer a shuttle bus service around the resort. These tend to be used mostly for getting to and from the ski lifts.
Bus Routes
St Moritz operates 7 different local bus routes linking all the different villages to the various ski areas. If you would like to have a look at the route map and a glance at the timetables, then these can be accessed at (https://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/winter/en/services/oeffentlicherverkehr/busfahrplan/). If you are looking to go skiing in one of the other areas then this ski bus is the easiest way to do it. The price of the bus is included if you purchase a multiple day lift pass ticket. If you are a pedestrian or do not have this type of lift pass ticket there will be a small cost.
Ski Lifts
The Engadin area is serviced by 58 ski lifts including a T-bars, drag lifts, chair lifts, funiculars and gondolas. The major ski lifts heading up from the villages go into the Corvaglia ski area. These are the Signalbahn gondola from St Moritz Bad and the Chantarella funicular from St Moritz Dorf.
Taxi
There are a number of taxi companies in operation in the St Moritz area. It is advisable to book in advance as not all taxis companies work every night. If you are unsure then it is worthwhile asking at your hotel reception desk or restaurant maître’d and they will able to help you.
On Foot
This is the most common way of getting around the villages as they are not very big and easy to navigate. The roads and pavements can be icy so it is best to wear sturdy footwear and purchase some ice-grips for the soles of your shoes if you are concerned.