Day 1 in St. Moritz
Welcome to the chic and famous St.
Moritz! Upon arrival, make
your transfer to your destination, arrive at your hotel, check in and do not
give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.
Head into town for a bite to eat. A great
spot for you to do this is the historic Hanselmann café and bakery, located right in St. Moritz`s
main square next to the St. Mauritius Fountain. Make sure to try the Engadin
Walnut tart, the ultimate guilty pleasure! A specialty filled with
cream, caramel and chunky walnuts.
Afterward, spend some time exploring the
entire town on foot (it doesn`t take too long due to its small size). Stop in
the traditional Engadin house,
the museum houses more than 4,000 items illustrating local life from the 13th
through the 19th centuries. It is best known for its early house
interiors, but along with the furnished rooms, it includes embroidery,
costumes, household utensils and farm tools related to alpine living.
Enjoy some shopping in St. Mortiz. Known as the `Beverly Hills of
the Swiss Alps`, Via Serlas is St. Mortiz`s answer to
Zurich`s Bahnhofstrasse and Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. Just on a much smaller
scale. From Jimmy Choo and Gucci to Louis Vuitton, all of fashion`s top
international names can be found along this chic shopping boulevard. You`ll
also find more major labels and boutiques in the village center.
Make sure to wander your way over to the Lake St. Moritz lookout,
where you can watch kite surfers skim across the glistening lake (though it`s
usually frozen December to May) or just enjoy the sun setting behind the
mountains.
For dinner, you have plenty of options, as
the town is known as a hub for high-end restaurants as well as some favorite
smaller hot spots. Enjoy a relaxing meal before heading back to your hotel for
a restful night sleep.
Day 2 in St. Moritz
Wake up early today to enjoy some of the outdoor sports
of the area. Skiing is the main winter attraction, but if you`re not
ready to tackle peaks, St. Moritz has a few great skiing schools where teachers
will help you get started. In the summer, low-mountain hiking and/or snowshoeing
is the way to go. There are also plenty of trails for mountain-biking in the
area.
If the weather allows for mountain-biking, we
recommend a ride down the local mountain Corviglia Flow Trail, a veritable mountain bike paradise
boasting some of the most breathtaking panoramic views. The trail includes
banked curves, corrugations and jumps. This is the most famous trail and also
the most suitable for less experienced riders.
When you`re ready for lunch, make sure to be
at the mountaintop. Piz Nair is a mountain of the Albula
Alps that overlooks St. Moritz. The peak is easily accessible from the village
with a funicular and a cable car. There are many restaurants on this mountain,
but the highest place to eat is the Restaurant Piz Nair at
10,029 ft high, it boasts breathtaking views from all directions.
In the afternoon, make your way
to the Segantini Museum. It`s a celebration of turn-of-the-century painter
Giovanni Segantini. The last five years of his life, Segantini lived and worked
in the Engadin, creating epic monumental paintings of summer and winter landscapes.
If you hiked Muottas Muragl, you likely saw his point of
view. After your museum visit, take advantage of Kempinski The
Spa for its selection of
treatments and amenities such as the large sunlit indoor swimming pool,
women-only area (with chromotherapy), saunas and gym.
In the evening, try your luck
at the St. Moritz Casino.
American roulette, black jack, ultimate Texas hold`em, slot machines, they
have it all. Afterward, enjoy a drop of whisky at the Hotel Waldhaus am See where
you`ll find the world`s most extensive whisky bar. Called Devil`s Place, this in-house
bar stocks over 2,000 types of whisky. The remarkable collection has made it
into the Guinness Book of World Records on various occasions.
Day 3 in St. Moritz
If you`re here in the summer months, start off
your last day in St. Mortiz at Lake
Staz. The Engadin is blessed with sunny skies almost all year
round, so that even the mountain lakes heat up in summer. Lake Staz is one of
the Engadin`s best lakes for swimming. The fen meadows and red banks give it a
very special character. Take an early morning invigorating dip, or take time
for yoga to charge up with new energy and inspiration.
In the summer, the Lakes in and around St. Moritz
offer a plethora of activity such as rowing, sailing boats, fishing, paddle
boarding and more. Make sure you get out there early. A beautiful time is to
watch the first rays of sunshine beat off the water`s surface while most people
are still just waking up, it`s magical!
If you`re here in the winter, we recommend a bobsled ride on the Olympia bob run St. Moritz-Celerina,
the only natural ice bobsled track in the world that was created in 1904.
Bobsled taxi rides are offered daily following training sessions and/or races. An
experienced bobsled pilot will drive the slightly modified four-person racing
bobsled, while another professional keeps their hand on the brake at all times.
The run is just over a mile long and takes about 75 seconds to complete
reaching speeds of over 80 mph.
No matter what time of year you are visiting,
a great way to spend some time is on the Bernina Express. A spectacular journey will take you
across the Bernina pass, through the romantic wilderness of Alpine valleys,
past glaciers and mountain peaks, through Puschlav and all the way to Tirano in
Italy. Unsurprisingly, the Rhaetian
Railway`s route was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008!
For some nighttime fun, go dancing at the Dracula Club. The
Dracula Club is a secret tip in St. Moritz. Gunter Sachs opened this world
famous club in 1974, and founded its reputation for the most exclusive parties.
Everyone talks about this club, but hardly anyone knows much about it. Then as
now, the doors of this private club only open for members and their friends -
and in summer for those attending the Festival da Jazz. So if you don`t have friends in high
places, make sure you buy tickets to the Jazz Festival!
Alternatively, spend your last night enjoying some night skiing. In the winter,
you can go skiing every Friday night until 2 am on Switzerland`s longest
illuminated ski run (2.6 miles). Then, once your skies are off, you can put on
your dancing shoes and hit up the legendary
Hossa Bar.
Additional Days in St. Moritz
Should you be able to spend additional days in
St Moritz we recommend you check out the Badrutt`s Palace Hotel
for high tea. This historic hotel is the most famous hotel
in the Alps and an icon of St. Moritz`s luxurious five-star accommodations. The
grandeur lobby is open to visitors and perfect for an afternoon tea experience.
Try the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz and Suvretta House
lobbies too.
For the more courageous men and women out
there, check out the Cresta Run in St. Moritz. This is forerunner to skeleton racing practiced
since 1884 in the ice channel between St. Moritz and Celerina. Originally this
was only available for men, but now they allow women to use the track on
certain days, overturning a ruling of almost 90 years` standing. You have to
register in advance at the Cresta Run office, and beginners are required to
complete a training course.
Another great option is a train trip on the famous
Glacier Express that goes from St. Mortiz to Zermatt. This is an
8-hour trip, crossing 291 bridges through 91 tunnels and over the 2033 m.a.s.l.
Oberalp pass. It is known as the `World`s slowest fast train` and a perfect way
to see the best of Switzerland.
Or just sit back and do nothing for a
change. Spend the day just savoring the comforts of your hotel and treat
yourself to breakfast in bed, enjoying the views, and simply taking it all in.
Your Last Day in St. Moritz
Depart your hotel for the train station or airport where you will head home or make your way to more Switzerland adventures. Savor the memories of a very special time in St. Moritz.