>>Destination OverviewLocation & MapAttractions & ActivitiesHotels
St. Moritz originally rose to importance because of its healing mineral springs and healthy climate, which have been appreciated for over 3,000 years. Already in the middle Ages, visitors came to St. Moritz to take the waters. Today, St. Moritz is one of the best-known and most prestigious ski resorts in the world, especially since having hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1928 and in 1948. The name "St. Moritz" stands for a chic, vibrant and elegant town, second home to the rich and famous, enjoying a special atmosphere and a dry, tingling champagne climate with 322 sunshine days yearly !
The assurance of snow and good weather, thanks to the height and southern aspect, provide ideal conditions for a long season and a unique wide range of winter sports opportunities offered to visitors. Skiing in St. Moritz is superb, with several different skiing areas available close by. St. Moritz offers numerous attractions throughout the winter - the quality, diversity and quantity of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world: the world's only Cresta Run, the world's first bobsled run, the tobogganing run on Muottas Muragl as well as horse and greyhound races, polo, cricket and curling tournaments on the frozen lake, ski jumping, the famous Engadin cross-country ski marathon with over 12,000 participants, the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival and the St. Moritz Music Festival "Snow & Symphony".
But also in summer St. Moritz offers plenty of outdoor and indoor activities, and recently had more visitors in summer than in winter. This world-renowned resort is resplendent in its picturesque surroundings on the edge of a pristine mountain lake. St. Moritz offers the appealing combination of an unspoiled natural environment, cultural activities, sports possibilities, attractive facilities, great shopping and a relaxing atmosphere. Fascinating walks - exhilarating hikes, mountain biking tours, golf, horse riding, windsurfing and sailing are some of the many activities which can be experienced. St. Moritz is also the starting point for some of the scenic trains of Switzerland such as the "Glacier Express" to Zermatt, or the "Bernina Express" to Lugano. more attractions and activities in St. Moritz and the Engadin Valley
Location:
St. Moritz is located in Graubunden, the south-eastern part of the Switzerland. At 1,856 m (6,088 ft) above sea level, the town lies on a sunny terrace in the heart of the Engadin Valley (the valley of the River Inn) and consists of the 3 districts St. Moritz Dorf ("village"), St. Moritz Bad ("bath"), and Champfèr. The community is influenced by three cultures: the Romansh-speaking population of the Engadin, the German-speaking majority, and the nearby Italians.
Distances to other popular Swiss Destinations:
Destination |
Distance |
Travel Time in Minutes |
km |
miles |
by Train |
by Car |
Zurich |
201 |
125 |
199 |
approx. 180 |
Bern |
319 |
198 |
265 |
approx. 240 |
Basel |
281 |
175 |
263 |
approx. 220 |
Geneva |
471 |
293 |
371 |
approx. 330 |
Lucerne |
223 |
139 |
261 |
approx. 190 |
Lugano |
176 |
109 |
221 |
approx. 160 |
Davos |
68 |
42 |
91 |
approx. 90 |
Interlaken |
290 |
180 |
318 |
approx. 225 |
Grindelwald |
306 |
190 |
391 |
approx. 255 |
Zermatt |
311 |
193 |
408 |
approx. 370 |
Getting to St. Moritz:
By Plane:
Zurich-Kloten is the nearest international airport (travel time by car and train approx. 3 - 3.5 hours); the Milano-Malpensa airport in Italy is also reached within aprrox. 3 hours by car, as is the Lugano-Agno airport (with some international flights). St. Moritz has its own little airport, the Engadin Airport located in Samedan - at 1,707 m (5,599 ft) above sea level the highest-elevated airport in Europe. Taxi flights connect to all major airports in Switzerland and surrounding countries.
By Train:
Most international trains connect to Zurich and on to Chur, where you need to change trains for St. Moritz. Chur - St. Moritz is a portion of the scenic train Glacier Express, which you might want to take when arriving from Zermatt, the Rhone Valley or the Lake Geneva region. When arriving from the south (Ticino and Italy) the fastest public transportation connection is by bus from Bellinzona via the San Bernardino and the Splugen Pass to Thusis from where you get on the Rhaetische Bahn railway to St. Moritz; another option is the scenic Bernina Pass route by bus from Lugano (or by train from Milano) to Tirano in Italy, and then by train via Poschiavo to St. Moritz; and finally, there also is the scenic "Palm Express" bus from Lugano via Chiavenna and the Maloja Pass to St. Moritz.
By Car:
Coming from any direction, in order to get to the Engadin Valley and St. Moritz, you will need to drive over a pass, or put your car on a car transporter train.... During winter time, some of the passes are closed, and others require 4x4 or special winter equipment - therefore, the car transporter train is recommended.
When coming from the north (e.g. Zurich) or west (e.g. Bern or Lucerne), get on Highway A13 direction Chur; then you have the following options:
- before getting to Chur, exit at Landquart and drive to Klosters to get on the Vereina Tunnel car transporter train to Sagliains / Zernez, or
- before getting to Chur, exit at Landquart and drive via Klosters to Davos from where you drive to St. Moritz via the Fluelapass and Zernez, or
- pass Chur and follow A13 direction San Bernardino, exit at Thusis from where you drive to Tiefencastel and via Savognin and the Julier Pass to Silvaplana near St. Moritz, or
- pass Chur and follow A13 direction San Bernardino, exit at Thusis from where you drive to Tiefencastel and via Filisur, Bergun and the Albula Pass to Samedan and St. Moritz.
When coming from the south (Ticino), your fastest drive is via the San Bernardino Pass to Thusis from where you have the options above; or you might consider the scenic drive via Chiavenna and the Maloja Pass (taking approx. 20 minutes more); when coming from Italy (Milano), via Chiavenna is the best option.
When coming from the east (Austria), get on Highway A12 in Austria direction Landeck, before getting to Landeck take exit 144 to Meran / St. Moritz and follow the B180 main road to Kaunertal, where you take B184 crossing into Switzerland; B184 becomes main road 27 which you follow all the way to St. Moritz.
>>St. Moritz Attractions & ActivitiesSt. Moritz Hotels