How to Spend a Day in St. Moritz
The moment someone utters the name of St. Moritz, the famous Swiss town located in the heart of the Engadine, a well-defined kaleidoscope of images is likely to come to mind: snowy slopes, skiers and snowboarders, luxury hotels, and horses that gallop on the magnificent frozen lake that those living in the region's most beautiful homes see constantly.
However, this exclusive resort has been developing on a larger scale, departing from its origins as a modest village with an alpine economy. This is thanks to its thermal springs, which help to make the town just as ideal in the summer, something many people ahead of the curve began to notice in the first half of the 19th century.
On the penultimate weekend of August, L'Officiel Italia was lucky enough to spend some time in the Canton of Graubünden's gem on the occasion of Passione Engadina, an international meeting that highlights historic Italian cars.
The silence that usually reigns in St. Moritz momentarily disappeared amidst a rising roar of the Bel Paese-produced engines, with Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo in the lead.
Over 100 cars, all of which exhibit beauty now rare, engaged attending teams in tests of skill and regularity. The cars followed a travel route covering the most beautiful roads of the Engadine and the splendid contiguous valleys until reaching Tirano, where the event ended.
Though the event is over, there's still plenty to do in St. Moritz in the summertime. To make your travel plans easier, below is a timeline of the ideal day to spend in this summer paradise, where flawless Swiss hospitality, outdoor activities, nature, and luxury blend, skillfully creating a mix that is difficult to find elsewhere.
9 AM - Enjoy breakfast by Hauser
Starting your day well is half of the work. Here, the Hauser family - now in its fourth generation - is ready to welcome guests in a quiet and sunny outdoor space that overlooks the most famous roundabout in St. Moritz Dorf, next to the pedestrian area. Attached to the bar, don't miss the delicious bakery and pastry shop, with buttery croissants and screaming Sachertorte that will go well with your tea or coffee. Enough said!
10:30 AM - Head downhill on the Corviglia flow trails
Unlike those at many other results, most of the ski lifts at St. Moritz are active even during the hottest season. If you want speed and thrills along the slopes that in winter inflate the edges of your skis or your board, a downhill bike is all you need. Of course, for your safety, it is best to also have the proper equipment: a helmet, gloves, knee pads, and elbow pads are essential.
There are trails suitable for every biker, from the beginner to the professional, among dizzying descents, rocks, grazing cows, woods, streams, and wooden walkways that will make you feel like you're on a roller coaster.
You can rent your two-wheeler and the essential gear directly before departure from the Signalbahn. For everything else or for a professional bike, a stop at Nanuk Sport in the center will fill your needs to let it flow.
1 PM - Lunch at the Trutz
After two abundant hours of downhill, you probably will have wrists that will ask for mercy, a thirst that demands attention, and hunger like a wolf.
A stop at the Trutz, the five-star Suvretta House's Alpine lodge resting at an altitude of 2212 meters, will allow you to fill your needs for refreshment more than generously.
The goodies on the menu are so fabulous, you'll want to try them all: think avocado with crayfish, Swiss beef tartare on the tip of a knife, or chanterelle mushrooms with polenta. After eating the luxurious meal, lounge in the sunny environment for a bit and you will be in peak position once again. Eat well, be well.
3 PM - Sail and windsurf on the lakes, or take a dip in the pool and relax at the spa at the Ovaverva
After the postprandial idleness, it's time to go down to the valley. Waiting for you, on picture-perfect lakes, is the legendary Maloja wind, which allows for unparalleled sailing and windsurfing even in the height of summer when elsewhere there is absolute calm. At an altitude of 1800 meters with a gentle but consistent wind, conditions are ideal for cooling off in the crystal clear waters of the Upper Engadine basins: take your pick between the lakes of St. Moritz, Champfer, and Silvaplana. For those who prefer to dive in warmer temperatures, head to the newly constructed Ovaverva, which features a 25-meter covered pool, a diving pool, an outdoor pool with hydromassage, a Kneipp and Rosatsch bath, saunas, a Turkish bath, spa, and solarium. With all this, your afternoon will be full of sport, relaxation, and wellness. Enjoy the water.
5 PM - Have tea at Badrutt's Palace
St. Moritz would not be St. Moritz without Badrutt's Palace. This sumptuous five-star hotel in the elite town's center has been open since 1896. Its structure resembles a fairytale castle, and its tallest tower is clearly visible from any corner of the area. Here, you can still breathe the aura of high-profile visitors past like Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, Brigitte Bardot, Coco Chanel, Charlie Chaplin, and Alfred Hitchcock. The British director stopped at the Palace 34 times, even spending his honeymoon there, and the idea for the film The Birds came to him during one such stay. The lobby is also open to the public, so this means even if you are not spending your St. Moritz nights in the luxurious palace, you can treat yourself to an unforgettable tea by sitting on the leather armchairs surrounded by furniture from the past, in an atmosphere that would be an understatement to define as unique. This is tea with a view like no other.
5:45 PM - Shopping in the downtown streets
The town of St. Moritz is small, and its center even more so, but the high fashion boutiques are certainly not lacking. Take an alphabetical journey from the A of Armani to the Z of Zegna, passing through the G of Gucci and the P of Prada, and you have an all-inclusive luxe shopping spree ahead of you.
Of course, there is no lack of jewelers, watchmakers, optical and photography shops.
If you want to buy something (or maybe it would be more correct to say anything), Via Maistra and its neighboring streets will be able to fulfill shopping addicts' every wish, even the most unthinkable, without you having to walk far at all.
7 PM - Aperitifs at the Balthazar
After spending an hour dropping the vacation money you saved up on some beautiful new items, you will certainly require a moment of reflection and relaxation. The spot of the moment for an aperitif is certainly the ultra-hyped Balthazar, worth discovering not only for its excellent cocktails but also for its warm and inviting spaces, characterized by quiet and emotional atmospheres.
The interiors feature design by Baxter's style office, under the direction of Stefano Guidotti.
The time is not right for coffee, we know, but take note in case you want to come back: the espresso here is considered by many to be the best in the area, made with a mixture that solely exists in this place and comes to be using the chic spot's very special coffee machine.
8 PM - Dinner at the Chesa Veglia
Here we are: after a busy day, it's dinner time, and as you can imagine, the culinary offering in St. Moritz is plentiful. Nevertheless, a stop here is a must.
La Chesa Veglia is an authentic Engadine farmhouse located just above the Palace Hotel, to which it belongs. Within its stone walls, there is a pizzeria, a typical Swiss stübe, and the most refined Grill Chadafö.
The various menus also offer pizza (which you can top with white truffle if you so desire) and pasta, but above all has Swiss and international cuisine, as well as classic French haute cuisine dishes.
10 PM - Drink at the QN Bar
This unique venue is one of three bars you can find within the Hotel Schweizerhof. If the lively Stübli is most often animated by live music and the Muli is its polar opposite, the QN strikes the perfect balance: dark wood interiors, great atmosphere, well-mixed drinks by courteous bartenders, and incredibly prepared to give visitors an ideal experience. The feeling in the air is that of a club where you find yourself among friends and acquaintances, an intimacy and a location that will surprise you considering you are in the center of one of the favorite destinations for the world's jet-set.
Overnight- Enjoy a stay at the Suvretta House
More secluded than other hotels of its caliber, the Suvretta House lies peacefully nestled among the most magnificent woods and villas that this Swiss town is able to offer.
When you arrive, you will receive a personal welcome from general managers Peter & Esther He, who are always together, and the mountain residence will offer a room tailored to your every need. The elegant building dates back to 1911 and was commissioned by the Swiss hotel pioneer Anton Bon.
Today, owned by the Candrian-Bon family, it boasts 181 rooms, including junior suites and one-and-one-night suites, an area dedicated to wellness, and a 1700-square-meter spa with a swimming pool and attached tennis courts. You will be a sleeping beauty in this oasis of timeless rest and relaxation.
