St Moritz was the first all-round winter-sports resort in the world and, over 150 years since its birth as a tourist destination in 1864, still boasts a myriad of on and off-snow activities from skating and bobsleigh to ice cricket.
It is also the world capital of winter glamour, attracting a clientele with the kind of stratospheric income only otherwise found in the famed hangouts of the rich and richer – Courchevel, Megève or Vail. Walking down the St Moritz streets in high season, it might seem that Prada, Moncler and Bogner are the sole manufacturers of ski wear and that mink fur coats are mandatory.
However, there’s more to St Moritz than bling. Its position at 1,856m in the Engadin Valley in the south of Switzerland, close to the frontier with Italy, gives it a rare combination of snow and sun reliability. Plus, with 88 pistes over four separate sectors, and a high point of 3,305m, its ski area is both extensive and snow sure. It especially suits intermediates.
Stay on track with the essential facts from the resort below, and scroll down for our insider guide to a day on the pistes, expert ratings and advice. For further St Moritz inspiration, see our guides to the resort’s best accommodation, restaurants and après ski.
