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Spending one day in St. Moritz allows you to immerse yourself in a world-renowned haven for winter sports and opulent travel experiences. Established in the mid-19th century, this Swiss settlement quickly gained popularity as winter tourism flourished. Its accessibility by train made it a favored destination among Europe’s elite, attracting high society from across the continent.
St. Moritz is located in the Engadin region of Graubünden, Switzerland. There are not many permanent settlements as high as St. Moritz on the continent. Its elevation is 1,560 meters (5,120 ft) above sea level, and it receives approximately 5 meters of snow each year.
St. Moritz is worth visiting both in summer and in winter. Visitors can hike, bike, picnic, ski, and enjoy many other activities. It is a fantastic destination known for its elegance, luxury, and breathtaking beauty.
For those who have only one day to spend in St. Moritz, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a 1-day itinerary or a list of things to do in St. Moritz, this article is for you. Here are a few ideas for how you can spend one day in St. Moritz.
St. Moritz One Day Itinerary: What can you do?
Let’s discuss it!
1. Enjoy a cozy breakfast as you begin your day
In case your hotel doesn’t offer a breakfast option, you can walk around St. Moritz to find a café. It is important to find a warm, cozy place to eat breakfast before heading out skiing or hiking.
You don’t have to go far in St. Moritz: there are plenty of cafes and restaurants that serve up hot coffee with delicious pastries. Some options are the following:
- Conditorei Hanselmann (Via Maistra 8) – Offering an outstanding breakfast selection, delectable desserts, and a prime location in the heart of St. Moritz, this establishment provides guests with remarkable views.
- Caffé Spettacolo (Plazza da la Staziun 8) – It is an easy-going coffee shop, conveniently located beside the train station and lake
- Hauser Confiserie (Via Traunter plazzas 7) – provides a brunch butler service to deliver brunch to your doorstep (St. Moritz, Silvaplana, Celerina). The deadline for placing orders is 8:00 PM one day before delivery. Otherwise, they also have a lot of options for takeaway. Note: as of December 2021, indoor dining is available only for dinner.
Whether or not you are into hiking or skiing, I still recommend that you start your day with a scenic cable car ride up to Corvatsch after having breakfast. It is one of the town’s most popular mountain resorts.
2. Ride the cable car up to Murtèl or Corvatsch
If you are traveling in the area, don’t miss out on one of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountain viewpoints. Corvatsch is a great place to visit year-round and offers many activities for children and adults alike.
In winter, you can enjoy a wonderful day of skiing or snowboarding. 350 kilometers of ski slopes await in Corvatsch, Furtschellas, and Corviglia.
In summer, you can enjoy the panoramic views around you while hiking. And even if you are not keen on any sports activities, there is a panoramic restaurant near the mountain station where you can enjoy a meal together with the fantastic views.
It doesn’t take long to get to Murtèl and Corvatsch from Surlej, but what an amazing view it offers! Once you reach the top, take your pick from skiing, hiking trails, or just relaxing with warm food in one of their cozy restaurants.
How to Get to Corvatsch
The cable car up to Corvatsch starts at Surlej. From Surlej, you take the gondola up to Murtèl. Now, you will have the option to go out of Murtèl or take the next ride up to Corvatsch.
Murtèl to Fuorcla Surlej
FromMurtèl, it is an easy one-hour walk to a fantastic viewpoint called Fuorcla Surlej. Some of the mountains that you can view from Fuorcla Surlej are the following: Piz Boval, Piz Morteratsch, Bernina Massif, Piz Roseg, Piz la Sella, and more.
If you would like to learn more about this beautiful viewpoint called Fuorcla Surlej, read our article: Fuorcla Surlej: One of Engadin’s Most Beautiful Viewpoints.
3. Stroll and Shop in St. Moritz Village
St. Moritz is a small, quaint town in Switzerland with many great restaurants and shops to explore.
If you are looking for a place to shop, stroll around St. Moritz village. There is something here for everyone! Whether you are in the mood to spend money or just window-shopping, this little village has it all.
You can find boutiques selling clothing and accessories, souvenir shops selling Swiss products like cuckoo clocks and chocolate bars, art galleries with paintings of landscapes from Switzerland’s famous mountains, and jewelry stores displaying necklaces made out of gold or silver that come in many different shapes and sizes. Most boutiques are either clothing or jewelry boutiques.
The two most important shopping streets in St. Moritz are Via Serlas and Via Maistra.
- Some popular shops to be found on Via Serlas are Asprey London, Bvlgari, Cartier, Giorgio Armani, Gübelin, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Rossignol, and Miu Miu.
- Some popular shops to be found on Via Maistra are Bally, Bogner, Bucherer, Cashmere House Lamm, Etro, KJUS, Prada, and Moncler.
4. Discover Serene Waters near St. Moritz
Walk around Lake St. Moritz
There are several lakes in this area, but Lake St. Moritz is the closest (Romansh: Lej da San Murezzan). Visitors enjoy it both in winter when it freezes over and in summer when it offers many water activities. You might enjoy a leisurely walk around Lake St. Moritz any time of the year. There is also a good bathing lake nearby called Lake Staz if you wish to take a bath in summer.
If you would like to learn more about walking around the lake of St. Moritz, check out our article here: Relaxing Walk Around Lake St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Bathe in Lake Staz (Summer)
The highest swimming beach in Europe is the picturesque Lake Staz (Lej da Staz).
If you love to swim, Lake Staz(Lej da Staz) is one of the best places in St. Moritz for summertime fun! There are plenty of people who come here to cool off and relax by the lake on hot days. It’s a beautiful spot with crystal-clear water. The lake is a small one close to St. Moritz. Because it is smaller than Lake St. Moritz, it gets warmer more quickly than other bigger alpine lakes in the area. The result is a refreshing summer dip once you are there.
Surfing in Lake Silvaplana
Near St. Moritz, around 5 kilometers away, is Lake Silvaplana. Also called Lej da Silvaplauna in Romansh, Lake Silvaplana differs from Lake St. Moritz in that it is known for its strong and constant winds. This makes it perfect for exciting water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. These activities are among the most enjoyable things to do in the region for those who are sporty or adventurous.
In case you want to enjoy water activities on Lake Silvaplana, you can contact the following schools:
- Swiss Kitesurf Silvaplana (Sportzentrum Mulets, 7513 Silvaplana) for kitesurfing, wing foiling, and snow kiting
- Windsurfing Silvaplana (Stradun Chantunel 4 7513 Silvaplana) for windsurfing, stand-up paddling, canoeing, and pump foiling
Indoor Swimming in Ovaverva (Winter)
Winters in St. Moritz can get really cold, with temperatures reaching -12°C to -16°C. If you’re looking for an escape from the cold this winter, head to Ovaverva Pool and Spa and enjoy a swim in the warm pools (5 in total!) surrounded by snow-covered mountains. They have slides for those who want to enjoy it. They have huge glass windows so that you will be able to soak up the beauty of the Engadin region.
You can also enjoy other activities like hiking, biking, picnicking, or simply taking in the scenery in this wonderful area. If you’re looking for an awesome day out with your family or friends then look no further than Lake Staz.
5. Wander through St. Moritz Village
After a long day out enjoying the viewpoint of St. Moritz, some warm meals, and a swim, why not head out around the lake for a short stroll or in the village? Take some time to leisurely wander around and soak up the charm and atmosphere that St. Moritz offers.
There are many interesting sights in the village. Some of the things to do or places to see in St. Moritz village are:
- Badrutt’s Palace and Badrutt’s Bronze Bust – One of St. Moritz’s famous icons, Johannes Badrutt, accounted for the town’s success as a winter tourism destination
- Chesa Veglia – Old farmhouse from 1658
- Olympia Bob Run – a 1,722-meter-long ice channel from St. Moritz to Celerina that is still regularly used for world competitions. It is the only natural ice bobsleigh track in the world.
- Leaning Tower of St. Moritz – a 12th-century leaning tower located at Via Maistra 29
- Mauritius Fountain – fountain constructed in 1910 by Wilhelm Schwerzmann to honor the benefactress Baroness von Goldschmidt-Rothschild
- Segantini Museum – a pavilion and memorial site for the artist Giovanni Segantini
- Olympic Stone – All winners of the two Olympic games in 1928 and 1948 have been immortalized in the Olympic Stone on Plazza Paracelsus
If you find yourself with some extra time after exploring St. Moritz, there are two nearby destinations you can consider extending your walk to Celerina and Champfèr. Both offer beautiful surroundings and opportunities to further immerse yourself in the alpine charm of the region.
6. Venture towards Celerina or Champfèr
Celerina
In addition to exploring St. Moritz village, you have the option to take leisurely walks in two different directions. To the northeast lies the charming town of Celerina, which is within walking distance from St. Moritz. As you stroll towards Celerina, you can enjoy the picturesque surroundings and immerse yourself in the serene alpine atmosphere.
Champfèr
On the other hand, if you head southwest from St. Moritz, you will find yourself on a path leading to the enchanting neighborhood of Champfèr. This scenic route takes you through captivating landscapes, alongside the River Inn, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Next to Champfèr is Silvaplana.
Both walks provide an opportunity to further explore the natural beauty and tranquility of the St. Moritz region. Whether you choose to walk to Celerina or Champfèr, you will be rewarded with picturesque landscapes.
Hotels in St. Moritz
St. Moritz has an abundance of elegant, luxury hotels that cater to the most discerning travelers. These 5-star hotels offer top-notch amenities such as spas, gourmet restaurants, and concierge services.
Listed below are some of our hotel recommendations for your stay in St. Moritz:
- Kulm Hotel St. Moritz (5-star) – Due to the pioneering efforts of hotel founder Johannes Badrutt, St. Moritz became a winter sports mecca. This makes the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz a special part of the city’s history. There are 5 restaurants, a spa with a pool, a whirlpool, a children’s pool, an open-air pool, and more at this elegant hotel. Also nearby, the hotel has its 9-hole golf course with pitching, chipping, and putting areas. During the winter months, guests can skate and curl at the hotel.
- Badrutt’s Palace (5-star) – There are six restaurants, an indoor pool, a spa, and fitness center, valet parking, a tennis court or ice skating rink (depending on the season), and a free shuttle service to the train station at this elegant 5-star hotel in St.Moritz. Badrutt’s Palace is a member of Leading Hotels of the World, Swiss Deluxe Hotels, and Swiss Historic Hotels.
- Suvretta House (5-star) – Skiers will love this exclusive ski-in/ski-out hotel in Suvretta-Corviglia. There’s a regular shuttle service that takes you to other ski resorts and St. Moritz. They have a huge indoor pool, a fully-equipped gym, a sauna, gourmet specialties, and a kids’ restaurant.
- Hotel Steffani (4-star) – This well-priced hotel has 3 restaurants, 3 bars, a nightclub, and a spa area with an indoor pool. Just 300 meters from Corviglia ski area, it’s in the heart of St. Moritz.
- Hotel Waldhaus am See (3-star) – The Waldhaus am See is one of the leading 3-star hotels in Switzerland. A few steps from the train station, it features a breathtaking view of the Engadin Valley and is situated on the banks of St. Moritz Lake. With over 2,500 different kinds of whiskey, the hotel has the largest whiskey bar in the world.
- St. Moritz Youth Hostel (Hostel) – An affordable option is to stay at a hostel in St. Moritz where you’ll get everything you need – free breakfast, linen, security lockers, hot showers, microwave, a play area, and free wifi.
Summary: 1 Day in St. Moritz, Switzerland
Before ending your day in St. Moritz, you have several choices for a sumptuous dinner. Restaurants like Balthazar Fish & Co, Ristorante Peppino’s, La Scarpetta, and Engiadina are just some of the highly-rated choices for you.
As you can see, you will not run out of options on what to do in St. Moritz in one day. In fact, you can stretch St. Moritz One Day Itinerary offered here easily to another 1 or 2 more days. And if you would like to find more ideas on what to do in the Engadin region, check out our related articles below.
What I would personally recommend after exploring St. Moritz is also visiting Fuorcla Surlej, Alp Grüm, and Ospizio Bernina. There is also a beautiful peninsula nearby called Chastè.
The entire region around St. Moritz is gorgeous. I highly recommend spending at least a day, if not a week there. We have been there more than a dozen times as you can see from the pictures above and we still haven’t seen everything. Enjoy!
Related Posts
- Zurich to St. Moritz Train: All You Need To Know
- Relaxing Walk Around Lake St. Moritz, Switzerland
- Segantini Museum: Stunning Alpine Visions Come to Life
- 8 Best Day Trips from St. Moritz
- Best St. Moritz Alternatives to Choose From
- Fuorcla Surlej: One of Engadin’s Most Beautiful Viewpoints
- The Wonderful Lure Of Engadine’s Chastè Peninsula
- Why We Love Hiking Around Ospizio Bernina
- Bernina Express Route: Chur to Tirano Train
- How to Get To Bernina Express From Zurich
- Experience Alp Grüm At Least Once In Your Lifetime
- Discovering Celerina, an Engadin Gem
- Enjoy a Relaxing Getaway in Bever, Engadine
Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.