St. Moritz (Switzerland) is a popular ski resort located on the shores of the lake of the same name. A small town with a population of just over 5 thousand people is considered one of the oldest and most respectable resorts in the world. St. Moritz is located in a picturesque valley surrounded by alpine mountains, which form vast areas for skiing. This resort in Switzerland enjoys a pleasant climate – here the sun shines for more than 320 days a year.
St. Moritz is visited by world stars of show business, politicians and representatives of royal families. The resort has a high price level, but this does not stop lovers of luxurious relaxation. About 1.5 million tourists arrive in St. Moritz every year.
Winter holidays in St. Moritz
According to the photo of St. Moritz, it is noticeable that it is conditionally divided into three sectors: Corvilla, Corvach, Devilozza. In the vicinity of the resort about 350 kilometers of ski slopes of varying degrees of difficulty:
- blue – 123 km
- reds – 87 km
- Blacks – 140 km
Altitude difference: from 1800 to 3300 m.
The area is geared for advanced skiers. The station of the same name is located at an altitude of 2486 meters above sea level. Professionals will appreciate the virgin slopes located under the stations of Suvretta and Marguns, which are directly adjacent to Corviglia. These areas are considered one of the most picturesque places for skiing in the world.
Korvach is characterized by long trails that ski lovers with experience will appreciate. To get to this area, you must use a bus or your own vehicle. Mount Korvach has a diverse relief, here you can find both quiet slopes for beginners and very difficult slopes.
The mountain is located half an hour from the resort, in this area there are few prepared tracks, which makes it a popular place among freeriders. The Devil’s slopes lie under the peaks of Bernin and Palu peaks, whose heights are 4049 and 3905 meters, respectively.
St. Moritz is a ski resort that has extremely difficult areas that are accessible only to experienced skiers. For example, the eight-kilometer Hahnensee highway in the area of Devils.
In St. Moritz are also available for skiing:
- Luge track 157 meters high and more than a kilometer long.
- The 1.6-kilometer Olimpia Bob Run bobsleigh track is unique in its natural glaciation. Many international competitions are held here, including the World Cup in this sport. Interestingly, the speed of descent on the track is approximately 150 kilometers per hour.
- Unique Free Fall Downhill Track. She was involved in the 44th (and 5th in a row in St. Moritz) World Ski Championship in 2017. The launch site has a slope of 100%, it can be accelerated to 140 kilometers per hour in 5 seconds.
The resort of St. Moritz serves 60 lifts, the elevation varies between 1800 – 3300 meters. Ski pass prices depend on ski areas, there is a preferential youth and children’s rate, and there are also discounts in low season. You can purchase a common subscription, which is allowed to ride in all areas of the resort. The price of a standard adult ticket for the season 2018/2019 for a full day depends on the date:
- in the regions of Corvilla and Corvach – from 43 Swiss francs;
- in the area of Devils – from 37 francs;
- general subscription (All regions included) – 82 francs.
An interactive track map is available on the official website www.stmoritz.ch.
You can find out ski pass prices for specific days and purchase them online here: https://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/winter/en/snow-deal/.
St. Moritz is a Swiss ski resort that focuses on experienced and confident skiers, but in this town you can find a descent for any level of training. We advise you to refine the marking of specific tracks on the spot, in addition, pay attention to the weather, which can greatly complicate the descent. The slopes of the resort are available for skiing in late October – early November. At the same time, tourists will find something to do in St. Moritz in the summer.
You will be interested! Another popular ski resort in Switzerland is Crans-Montana. You can learn more about it on this page .
Summer Holidays in St. Moritz
As you can see from the photo, St. Moritz is hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails, modern cycle tracks, four golf courses against the backdrop of the Alps. The city is also a balneological resort. Here you can improve your well-being and health with the help of healing thermal springs. Tourists are offered all kinds of spa treatments: mud wraps, outdoor pools, mineral baths.
Various sports competitions and social events are constantly held in St. Moritz. At the beginning of spring, a gastronomic gourmet festival is held at this ski resort in Switzerland, which gathers gourmets and the best chefs from around the world. Shopping lovers will enjoy walking through local boutiques; the main streets of the resort have shops of famous brands: Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and others.
Tourists who visit the resort recommend to go on an excursion “Glacial Express”. Traveling by train passes at an altitude of more than 2000 meters through numerous tunnels and mountain passes, meadows and streams. A sightseeing trip along the scenic route through Davos, Brig and other mountain settlements of Switzerland takes about 8 hours.
See also: Engelberg – what can a ski resort offer in the center of Switzerland .
Attractions St. Moritz
If you are lucky enough to get to St. Moritz, a must-see attraction is Mount Muottas-Mural. At the top there is an observation deck with a breathtaking view of three lakes, alpine peaks and the whole town.
Guests of the resort should also get to Mount Devils, which offers amazing panoramic views of the Bernina massif. Tourists are attracted not only by the impressive snowy landscape, but also by the longest glacial descent in Switzerland, which starts at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level.
We also recommend reaching the peak of Piz Noir, located at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. To do this, you need to use two funiculars that take tourists to Corvilla, and then continue on a small lift. The trip will not leave indifferent even the most experienced tourist – from the top a breathtaking view opens up. From the slopes of Piz-Noire you can walk down through the Suvretta Valley along a scenic route.
Connoisseurs of Nietzsche’s creativity can visit the suburban area of Sils Maria, where the summer house of the German philosopher is located. It was here that the great thinker wrote the book “So Said Zarathustra.” The museum exhibits Nietzsche’s personal belongings and manuscripts.
Another attraction of this ski resort is the 33-meter leaning tower. It surprises with its slope, which actually exceeds the slope of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The building, built in the 16th century, is one of the oldest buildings in the region and a real symbol of the city.
If you do not know what to see in St. Moritz, we recommend visiting the museum of the 19th-century artist Giovanni Segantini. The Italian captured the mountain landscapes of Switzerland on his canvases. The cozy museum is located in the building of the medieval tower, many tourists take photos against the background of its walls.
An obligatory place to visit is the Olympic bobsleigh track, which is open from late December to early March. Riding at a breakneck speed of 130 kilometers per hour along the world’s only natural ice track is an unforgettable pleasure. An important condition for the trip is the absence of heart disease in the bean passenger.
Perhaps you are interested in: How much does a vacation in Zermatt cost – an overview of resort prices .
Resort Hotels
The resort of St. Moritz has the best and most expensive hotels in Switzerland. However, in the city you can find more affordable housing options. For example, a special offer from Hotel Europa St. Moritz during the high season is 118 Swiss francs per room. The average cost of living in a three-star hotel costs about 240 CHF per day.
In the resort of St. Moritz in Switzerland there are many five-star hotels. The most fashionable of them is considered Badrutt’s Palace, in which world stars of the first magnitude often settle. Institutions at the lower level also offer excellent service, and often have their own beauty salons, spas and restaurants on their premises.
Tourists note ! To be in the luxurious wellness center of one of the 5 * hotels, it is not necessary to book a room, just purchase a one-time subscription. Many hotels in St. Moritz offer good discounts on ski pass for accommodation in their room for more than 2 nights.
How to get to the city
The airport closest to St. Moritz is located in Zurich, 220 kilometers from the resort.
The fastest way to get to your destination is by high-speed train from Zurich to the city of Chur, and then transfer to the train next to St. Moritz. In time, the entire journey with transfers takes about 3-4 hours. The fare in a class 2 carriage is 38-40 CHF. You can view the train timetable and buy a ticket on the website www.sbb.ch.
If you decide to stay in Zurich, find out what is worth seeing in the city in one day.
You can get to the resort from the airport by regular buses, not only from the largest Swiss city, but also from Milan, Munich or Basel.
The most profitable route to St. Moritz from anywhere in Switzerland can be built through the Swiss Travel System service – online.fahrplan.zvv.ch.
If you get to the town late in the evening or at night, you can only get to the hotel by taxi. Therefore, plan ahead how to get to St. Moritz, so that you do not have to overpay for an individual transfer. From the station to the numerous hotels of the resort special buses deliver. St. Moritz is located on the side of the first platform. On the other hand there is a lake, it is easy to get to it through the underpass.
St. Moritz (Switzerland) is a unique place where comfortable conditions are created for skiers and outdoor enthusiasts. At the same time, the resort with picturesque mountain peaks and clear lakes is one of the most beautiful in the world.
