Lady’s Guide to Things to Do in St Moritz in Winter

Today I want to bring you my guide to things to do in St Moritz in winter. While skiing is what most people come to the Swiss Alps for, there’s a lot going on here beyond the slopes.

Things to Do in St Moritz in Winter

I grew up skiing a lot. Not in terms of the number of trips I took, but in terms of how many runs I packed in.

My family was the type that hit the slopes the second they opened, stopped at noon to inhale lunch, and stayed on the mountain until ski patrol kicked us off. It was intense. A bit too intense.

So now that I’ve traveled to Switzerland, I plan to discover winter activities in St Moritz beyond skiing.

How to Get to St Moritz

In fact, just getting to St Moritz in the first place is an activity worth doing.

First I fly from London to Zurich. From Zurich, a railway runs to Chur, where the Bernina Express train winds its way up the Swiss Alps in what is the most scenic rail journey I’ve ever been on.

Ski in St Moritz

And now that I’m here, I really have to start with skiing. Because you can’t go to St Mortiz and not ski.

It’s one of the best places to ski in the world, and the sport is one of the main things to do in St Moritz in winter. That’s especially true when the snow is the best it’s ever been.

This winter has seen a record snowfall, and on my first morning in town I pick up my gear at my hotel—the five-star Kulm Hotel in St Moritz—and walk over to the funicular that leads to Corviglia.

At the top I’m met with a blizzard that rivals one I learned how to ski in at Badger Pass Ski Area in Yosemite National Park when I was three.

I’m a bit intimidated, but my guide from Swiss Tourism—my host for the trip—leads me down a couple of runs where I can experience the amazing snow conditions before lunch.

Have a Leisurely Lunch on the Ski Slopes

And what a lunch it is. Far from the greasy burgers I used to consume to the sound of my mother’s stopwatch while skiing in Lake Tahoe, this is a ski lunch as it should be.

El Paradiso restaurant sits right in the middle of the mountain, and all of St Moritz can be seen from its beautifully cozy dining room and wide terrace. It’s so popular it even has a private room in the back for celebrities and royalty.

I settle in for a hot chocolate in a pretty floral mug before enjoying a comforting consomme creatively served in a glass flask.

More food and drink follows, and by the time I get to dessert, I am convinced that having lunch here is one of the best things to do in St Moritz in winter.

Do the Olympia Bob Run in St Moritz

But there’s a lot more to do beyond skiing, and my hosts from the tourism board have packed my agenda to allow me to discover the fun that lies beyond the slopes.

On my second day in the Swiss Alps, I get to take a trip to the Olympia Bob Run, home to two winter Olympics and numerous world bobsled championships.

I’ve never been bobsledding before, and the thought of doing it on an Olympic track kind of terrifies me. Unfortunately, I also have a stubborn inability to say no to anything.

So I grab a helmet, take a deep breath, and channel Cool Runnings. 138kph (86mph) later, I’m flying down the world’s oldest and only natural bobsled run, experiencing 4Gs worth of force at every turn.

It’s a lot more fun than I anticipated, but when I finish I’m grateful for the glass of Prosecco that comes with my ticket. The Olympia Bob Run is certainly one of the most thrilling things to do in St Moritz in winter.

Take a Winter Hike on Muottas Muragl

That afternoon I ride a funicular up to the top of Muottas Muragl for a winter snow hike. The views are spectacular, and I feel like I’m walking on top of the world.

The snow-capped mountains, tree-lined lakes, and pretty alpine villages are a sight to behold, and all the while I can’t help but be happy I’m discovering things to do in St Moritz beyond skiing.

Go Tobogganing in St Moritz in Winter

Speaking of which, my way down the mountain is via toboggan.

The run takes the better part of an hour, and en route I’m spoiled by views of a pink sky and purple mountains. It’s ridiculously fun, and I can’t think of a better way to end my afternoon.

Have Dinner at at Local Restaurant

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. In the evening I head to a restaurant in St Moritz called La Baracca.

Off the beaten path both geographically and culturally, the small wooden dining room is buzzing with locals and in-the-know visitors enjoying excellent family-style food at long communal tables.

Far from the luxurious, ritzy air of the rest of St Moritz, La Baracca is all down-to-earth fun, not least at the end of the night when the whole place turns into an impromptu dance hall. It’s one of the most fun things to do in St Moritz in winter.

Take a Carriage Ride to Dinner in St Moritz

And speaking of fun evenings, the next night I’m whisked off on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow. It’s straight out of Narnia, only instead of Turkish Delight, I’m rewarded with a fondue dinner in the woods.

The Lej da Staz restaurant is the picture of alpine ambiance, with wooden everything and chairs with hearts cut out of the back. The food is warm and comforting, and the whole experience is otherworldly.

Get a Spa Treatment in St Moritz in Winter

Back at the Kulm Hotel, I experience one of the most indulgent things to do in St Moritz in winter.

The spa is both enormous and inviting, and I spend a whole afternoon gliding between the saunas, steam rooms, pools, and relaxation areas.

Sitting in a warm robe overlooking the snowy mountains is perfectly surreal, and I will take it over a grueling day of skiing anytime (sorry mom!).

Go Luxury Shopping in St Moritz

But skiing isn’t the only exhausting winter activity here. A day of luxury shopping in St Moritz can have the same effect.

The glitzy village is home to every luxury goods store imaginable, and as the road winds up the mountain from the lake to the Kulm Hotel, everything from Prada to Chanel sparkles in the winter sun.

Interspersed among the shops are cafes like the Confiserie Hanselmann, where Audrey Hepburn used to have her coffee in St Moritz, as well as stores like Glattfelder that sell caviar and fine teas.

Best Things to Do in St Moritz in Winter

Between the retail therapy and the winter activities, St Moritz has so much to do beyond skiing that I could let my family loose on the slopes from dawn until dusk and still pack in as much exercise and excitement each day as they do.

And maybe that’s just what I will do on my next family ski trip. There are still a lot more things to do in St Moritz in winter that I haven’t experienced, so I’ll need to come back again anyway. I can’t wait.

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