Tag: self-driving holiday

We stepped off the Glacier Express in St Moritz. A resort town known for its glitz and glamour, we were here to see the other side of the town. Read about why you must see the breathtaking beauty of St Moritz.

Why you should visit St Moritz

St Moritz is best known for skiing and other winter alpine sports. What most people don’t realise is how picturesque it is in the summer months, with a variety of scenic trails to hike when the weather is warmer.

Our time in St Moritz was during the summer, when the temperature was more conducive to seeing the town surrounded by mountain peaks, lush and green, without the snow.

Our favourite things to do in St Moritz

Meander through the St Moritz-Dorf town centre

St Moritz-Dorf is the historic main town centre, which sits above the lake and is accessible by escalator from the train station. The compact town centre is easily walkable, but be prepared for a few steep streets, especially after you emerge from the escalator.

The Leaning Tower of St Moritz

The Leaning Tower, a 12th-century church tower, is one of St. Moritz’s historical landmarks. Over time, soil erosion has caused the tower to lean. The Tower was part of the St Mauritius Church, which was demolished in the late 19th century.

Hotel Kulm

Visit the original alpine playground, the five-star Hotel Kulm. The hotel opened in 1856 and has played a central part in the introduction of alpine winter tourism to Moritz. It’s one of Switzerland’s most famous hotels, hosting an array of celebrities over the years.

The hotel sits in a prime position perched over Lake St Moritz.

Treat yourself at Hanselmanns Konditorei

Step inside this elegant coffeehouse to sample its exquisite baked goods and delicious coffee. Purchase the legendary Engadine nut cake or chocolates to take home as gifts. It’s located in the main square.

Take a peek at Lake St Moritz

Wandering around the town, you’ll find lots of opportunities to take a peek at Lake St Moritz and the scenery below the town from improvised balconies

Stroll around Lake St Moritz

For an easy walk with views to St Moritz and the Alps, the 4.4km trail leading around Lake St Moritz is the place to go. From the train station, follow the “Seerundweg” signs that lead you around the lake.

In the summer, you’ll find sailboats and paddleboarders enjoying the vivid blue waters, while in the winter, the lake freezes over. If you happen to be in St Moritz in early February, you’ll be fortunate to experience a unique annual event: the White Turf Horse Races.

Over three consecutive Sundays, thoroughbred horses thunder across the frozen lake in a competition with both their daring jockeys and the horses trying to maintain balance and speed.

If you’re visiting in the summer, take a look through the binoculars at the viewpoint at the town end to see St Moritz Lake as it is in the winter.

Walk to Lake Staz

If you want to extend your walk around Lake St Moritz, take a detour to Lake Staz. Once again, the route is well signposted at Lake St Moritz. Follow the “Lej de Staz” signs.

A combination of gravel and paved paths takes you through a forest, before emerging in front of this beautiful lake surrounded by the Stazerwald Forest. In the summer, you’ll find holidaymakers swimming or gathering at the picnic area or the hotel/restaurant at the edge of the lake.

Continue the loop around the lake back onto the path into the forest before rejoining the walk around St Moritz Lake.

You’ll find that Lake Staz is smaller and more intimate than some of the other lake walks around St Moritz.

Other things to do in St Moritz

• Hike around Lake Silvaplana (located 6km southwest of St Moritz). Popular for kite and windsurfing.
  
• Take an early morning walk around Lake Sils (located 10km from St Moritz). Popular for water sports.
  
• Hike or cycle some of the numerous mountain trails close to the town.
• Take the cable car up to Piz Nair or the funicular to Muottas Muragi to admire the views.
  
• Visit the Segantini Museum to see the masterpieces of Italian artist Giovanni Segantini, who spent the last years of his life in the Engadine. The artist who painted the region’s alpine scenery was so loved that this museum was constructed in his honour.

Where we stayed

St Moritz town centre lives up to its reputation of being a glamorous town at any time of the year. You’ll find the town dotted with high-end hotels, but there are also a variety of more budget-friendly hotels, chalets and apartments throughout the town.

We booked an apartment in the heart of the town. As with most accommodation in alpine resort towns, our apartment was compact but functional.

Where we dined

After the indulgent seven-course meal during our journey on the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz, we decided to have a light meal at our apartment on our first evening. The Co-op supermarket in the old town offers plenty of choices.

The next evening, we booked a table at La Stalla. Located a stone’s throw from our apartment, the restaurant serves Swiss and Engadine specialities and the best pizza in town! The alpine decor provides a warm surrounding to relax over a hearty meal.

Our conclusion – Why you must see the breathtaking beauty of St Moritz

St Moritz town centre was smaller than we expected and easy to navigate around. We visited during the summer, so there were fewer visitors than in the winter months when winter sports enthusiasts flock to the town.

With fewer visitors in town, we were able to experience St Moritz more like a local and chat with the townsfolk. An interesting fact: they told us that over the last couple of years, the Winter Turf Race has had to be cancelled because the lake doesn’t freeze over as it used to: A beloved tradition endangered by warming conditions.

Above all, it was the stunning natural scenery that we most appreciated.