Things to Do in St. Moritz: Lakes, Old Town & Day Trips
We had always associated St. Moritz with luxury, incredibly expensive hotels and stores that are definitely not for every budget. But beyond that reputation, St. Moritz is a beautiful Alpine town with a gorgeous lake, charming streets and several historic corners that are well worth exploring.
We stopped in St. Moritz during a trip through the Engadin Valley before continuing toward Pontresina and Morteratsch Glacier.
In this guide, we share the best things to do in St. Moritz if you only have a few hours in town. At the end, you’ll also find ideas for hikes, viewpoints and day trips if you have more time to explore the area.
St. Moritz Lake
St. Moritz Lake has everything you would expect from a classic Swiss postcard. The path along part of the shore is wide and easy to walk, making it perfect for a relaxing stroll with views of the water and surrounding mountains.
If you visit St. Moritz in winter, the landscape changes completely. The lake usually freezes and becomes covered in snow and, when ice conditions allow, winter hiking routes are prepared across some of the frozen lakes in the Engadin Valley. It is a pretty unusual experience to see people walking across them while knowing that beneath all that snow and ice is the lake itself.
From the shore, the views toward the town and the mountains of the Engadin Valley are incredibly photogenic. The combination of the lake, traditional Alpine architecture, mountains and light, especially around sunset, makes this one of our favorite stops in St. Moritz.
Time needed: around 30 to 45 minutes is enough to walk part of the lake, take some photos and enjoy the scenery.
💡 Tip: dress warmly if you visit during winter.
Explore St. Moritz Old Town
From the lake, you can walk uphill toward the historic center of St. Moritz. Here you’ll find narrow streets and traditional Swiss architecture mixed with much more modern details.
Keep an eye out for small churches, old house facades, balconies, wooden doors and narrow streets. There are plenty of small corners worth stopping to photograph and, despite the glamorous reputation of St. Moritz, parts of the center still have the atmosphere of a traditional Alpine town.
One of the most famous landmarks in St. Moritz is the Leaning Tower. This 12th century landmark was once part of St. Mauritius Church, which was demolished in 1893. The tower was preserved and still stands in the historic center today. It is 33 meters tall and leans about 5.5 degrees from the vertical axis.
There is also a modern church dedicated to St. Mauritius. If you’re already walking around town, it is worth stopping to see it, especially because its architectural style is completely different.
From some of the streets you can see the surrounding mountains and, if you look downhill, the lake. It creates some of the most beautiful views in town.
Discover the luxury side of St. Moritz
Of course, St. Moritz also has its elegant and glamorous side. Part of the town’s character comes from its aristocratic past and long history as a luxury destination.
One of the best examples is Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, which looks almost like an Alpine castle. The hotel opened in 1896 and has more than 150 rooms and suites, many with views of the lake or the Alps. It also has restaurants, a spa and elegant lounges. It has become one of the icons of St. Moritz and still retains much of its historic character.
Even if you’re not planning to stay there, it is worth walking past the hotel to admire the facade and see the contrast between traditional Alpine scenery and the exclusive side of St. Moritz.
Another example is Via Serlas, the town’s main luxury shopping area, filled with designer stores and boutiques. Even if you’re not shopping, it can be fun to walk around, look at the storefronts and see how such different worlds coexist in one small Alpine town.
💡 Tip: if you like chocolate, stop at Läderach. When we visited, they had a few chocolates available to sample for free 😉.
More things to do in St. Moritz if you have extra time
If you have more than a few hours, St. Moritz and the surrounding area offer some fantastic mountain experiences, hiking trails and beautiful landscapes. These are a few of our favorites.
Muottas Muragl: one of the best viewpoints in the Engadin Valley
A funicular takes you up to this viewpoint at 2,454 meters, or about 8,050 feet, above sea level. From the top you’ll have panoramic views over the Engadin Valley, which in our opinion is one of the most beautiful valleys in Switzerland.
There are also hiking trails starting at the top with incredible views of the lakes and surrounding mountains.
Corviglia and Piz Nair
If you want to head straight into the mountains, Corviglia and Piz Nair are great options. Corviglia gives you access to hiking trails during summer and ski slopes during winter. The views over St. Moritz, the valley and the surrounding Alpine peaks are spectacular.
Lake Staz
Lake Staz is smaller and much quieter than St. Moritz Lake. Surrounded by forest, it is a great option if you’re looking for nature, peaceful scenery and beautiful photography spots away from the center. It is perfect if you have a free afternoon.
Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils
Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils have a wilder and less urban setting than St. Moritz Lake. If you’re visiting the area for nature and photography, this part of the valley is definitely worth exploring too.
Ride the Bernina Line by train
The Bernina Line connects St. Moritz with Pontresina and continues toward Morteratsch, the Bernina Pass and eventually Tirano in Italy. It is one of the most spectacular railway routes in Switzerland.
You don’t have to ride the entire route or necessarily book the panoramic Bernina Express to enjoy this part of the railway. Regular Rhaetian Railway trains also travel along the line, making it easy to ride from St. Moritz to places such as Pontresina or Morteratsch while enjoying the scenery along the way.
Practical tips for visiting St. Moritz
- How much time do you need in St. Moritz? If you only want to explore the town and lake, 2 or 3 hours should be enough for a relaxed visit. We recommend at least one full day if you also want to visit some of the viewpoints or nearby lakes. If you’re planning to include hikes or several day trips, 2 or 3 days is a better option.
- Where to park in St. Moritz: there are usually several parking areas near the lake, but we recommend arriving early. We parked here.
- Best time to visit St. Moritz: summer is ideal for hiking, enjoying the lakes and taking advantage of the longer daylight hours. Winter is a great choice if you’re looking for snow, winter sports or simply a completely different Alpine landscape. If you can visit around Christmas, the combination of snow, lights and decorations creates a beautiful atmosphere.
- What to wear: this part of Switzerland can get very cold during winter, so a good insulated jacket is important. Pay special attention to your footwear as well, since some paths and streets can be covered in snow or ice. The boots we use are the Mammut Nova IV Mid GTX, also available in a men’s version, and Rubén uses the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid, which is also available in a women’s version. Even in summer, we recommend bringing an extra layer because temperatures can drop quickly at this altitude.
A fun fact about St. Moritz: Romansh
One of the languages spoken in this region is Romansh, Switzerland’s fourth national language alongside German, French and Italian. Romansh is a Romance language with Latin roots, and today around 0.5% of the Swiss population lists it as one of their main languages.
We had a funny experience with it while visiting a store. We felt like we could almost understand what the employees were saying, but we couldn’t identify the language. Then we realized it might be Romansh, which we had heard about before.
Because of its Latin roots, some words and sounds can feel surprisingly familiar if you speak another Romance language, such as Spanish. When we asked, the man working at the store confirmed that they were speaking Romansh and told us a few stories about the different languages and dialects found across Switzerland.
Romansh is mainly spoken in the canton of Graubünden and has an especially strong presence in some parts of the Engadin Valley. Although only a small percentage of Switzerland’s population speaks it as a main language, it remains an important part of the country’s cultural heritage and you’ll often see it on signs and place names throughout the region.
Best day trips from St. Moritz
If you’re visiting St. Moritz, there are several nearby places that are well worth adding to your itinerary. Three of our favorites are Pontresina, Morteratsch Glacier and Celerina. They are all easy to reach and are perfect additions to a trip through the Engadin Valley.
Pontresina
Pontresina is one of the prettiest Alpine towns in the valley. It is much quieter than St. Moritz and offers a huge variety of mountain activities.
During winter, one of the most interesting experiences is ice climbing on the frozen waterfalls near town. We tried it ourselves and loved it. It was original, fun and professionally guided, and it is definitely one of those experiences we won’t forget.
Morteratsch Glacier
Just a short trip from St. Moritz, you’ll find Morteratsch Glacier, one of the most impressive and accessible glaciers in this part of Switzerland.
The usual trail from Morteratsch is around 6 kilometers, or 3.7 miles, round trip and takes about 2 hours. There isn’t much elevation gain, and along the way you’ll find signs and markers showing where the glacier once reached and explaining how far it has retreated over the years.
One of the things that stayed with us most was seeing just how quickly the landscape is changing. The markers along the trail make the retreat of the glacier surprisingly easy to visualize.
Celerina
Very close to St. Moritz is Celerina, a lesser known but beautiful village. It is perfect for a quiet walk between traditional houses and for visiting the small Romanesque Church of San Gian.
The church sits on a hill surrounded by meadows and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in this part of the valley. It is also a beautiful place for photography.
These are some of our favorite day trips from St. Moritz if you want to combine your visit with more nature, mountain scenery and a little adventure.
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That’s it for our guide to the best things to do in St. Moritz. We have many more guides to help you explore Switzerland, as well as plenty of inspiration for other destinations. We’ve also started sharing more about our life in California and our adventures on this side of the Atlantic.
See you on the road!
