Our last stop on our European winter vacation was St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps. This beautifully chic mountain town is often frequented by the rich and famous because of it's fantastic ski mountain and high end shopping. St. Moritz is one of the most glamorous destinations in the Swiss Alps. It snowed the entire time we were here and village was completely covered in a thick blanket of snow. We were lucky to see visit during this storm because as soon as the sun popped out we were able to go ski and there is nothing better than a blue bird day with fresh powder, especially in the Swiss Alps!
Getting There
The Glacier Express
The best way to arrive in St. Moritz is on the Glacier Express. One of the most scenic train rides in the world; the Glacier Express takes you on a journey across the entire country of Switzerland. Our journey began in Zermatt and then we climbed up steep mountains, went along frozen rivers, through massive tunnels, and over bridges in this beautiful little train. The scenery was incredible and it was one of our favorite experiences of the trip.
The train cars in First Class on the Glacier Express had floor to ceiling glass windows which allowed for panoramic viewing throughout the trip. It was definitely worth the money to upgrade. It was an exceptionally snowy day when we rode on the Glacier Express an the views were even more stunning.
To Do
Explore the town, mountains and lake
Situated on the shores of Lake St. Moritz and beneath a world class ski resort and mountain. St. Moritz is the ultimate winter vacation destination. With designer shopping, elegant spas, world renowned hotels this is where the rich come to play. If you can, visit during the holidays when the town is lit by hundreds of lights and covered in snow.
The frozen lake covered in snow with the towering mountains above the town.
The town lit up for the holidays
The old town of St. Moriz.
Hit the Slopes
With a massive ski area that connects multiple mountains and towns with lifts and finiculars the skiing in St. Moritz is world renowned. It's one of the #1 best skiing destinations for the international jet setter. The lift to the main ski area is literally steps from downtown so don't be surprised to see people walking around town in ski boots and designer ski suits. Oh and did we mention furs, lots of furs.
Go see the Blobsled and Cresta Runs
St. Moritz has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and had world-renowned bobsled and cresta runs. You can visit the bobsled and cresta runs easily from downtown. There were teams practicing on both courses when we visited and we got to see them whizzing around the corners of ice at top speeds of 80mph!
The Leaning Tower of St. Moritz
The Leaning Tower of St. Moritz was built in the 12th century as part of the St. Mauritius Church and is one of the most famous landmarks in St. Moritz.
To Stay
Badrutt's Palace
This historic luxury hotel is the definition of elegance. With stunning lake views, multiple fine dining restaurants, a nightclub and the famous Polo Bar, Badrutt's Palace is the place to be and be seen. The towers, turrets, and butlers make you feel like royalty staying in a castle. If you are looking for a glamorous alpine getaway Badrutt's Palace is one of the best in the world.
Air BnB
Instead of staying in one of the fancy hotels in St. Moritz we opted for a much more affordable AirBnB. It had a fantastic location right downtown and had 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, balcony with a great view of the mountains and lake, and a wood burning fire place. We were also able to walk to rent our ski gear and to the ski lift which was great. We loved this place and would definitely recommend it for a larger group, especially if you are looking to ski. Click HERE to see our AirBnB.
To Eat
On the mountain
Some of the best dining in St. Moritz can be found up the chair lifts in the mountain. These ski-in ski-out restaurants and hotels serve amazing food with unbeatable views. We ate at Hotel Salasatrain and dined on slow roasted lamb and homemade pastas. Some other mid-mountain restaurants worth checking out are Chamanna Bergrestaurnt and the Panarama Restaurant.
La Stalla
One of the best restaurants in town is La Stalla. It has a warm and cozy atmosphere with a comforting menu. The serve traditional Swiss fondue and cheesy pasta made inside a wheel of Parmesan. We indulged and got the fondue with truffle and it was the best fondue we had the whole trip.
Chesa Veglia
One of the oldest restaurants in St. Moritz is Chesa Veglia. This St. Moritz institution has three restaurants and two bars. At Chesa Veglia they have been able to preserve an immaculate old school style of service. The menu was classic and definitely impressive. We saw a man order black truffle to be shaved tableside onto his dish. They used a scale to measure the cost of the shavings and afterwards placed the rare and expensive black truffle back under it's glass dome.
Laderach
The most famous chocolate shop in St. Moritz. Swiss chocolate at it's finest. Everything we tried here was divine. We even bought some to bring home as presents to our family and friends.
We had the most fabulous time visiting St. Moritz with Angela's family. Skiing in the Swiss Alps was a bucket list experience and we are so thankful we were able to spend this Christmas holiday in Europe with our family.
