World’s First Glamorous Winter Resort - St Moritz

People were first drawn to St. Moritz for its mineral springs and the first guesthouse opened in 1832. By 1859 the town had already become a fashionable summer retreat. Then came the bet that changed everything: in 1864, innkeeper Johannes Badrutt challenged his British guests to return in winter. If they didn’t enjoy themselves, he promised to pay their stay. They came—and they loved it. From that wager, winter tourism was born.

Innovation followed quickly. The Kulm Hotel, opened in 1856, installed Switzerland’s first electric lights in 1878. The town saw Europe’s first curling tournament in 1880, the first bob run in 1890, and Switzerland’s first ski school in 1929. St. Moritz later hosted the Winter Olympics in both 1928 and 1948, forever securing its place as the cradle of Alpine winter sports.

My visit here was in September, and there’s a quiet kind of magic to St. Moritz in fall—a sense that the town is exhaling after the bustle of summer, pausing just before snow transforms it again into a winter wonderland. Workers move through the streets preparing for the season ahead, polishing signs, repainting shutters, tidying terraces. It’s a slower rhythm, one that lets you notice the small things: flower boxes spilling their last geraniums of the season, a hidden fountain murmuring in a courtyard, the faint scent of pine resin drifting through the crisp mountain air.

Today, the resort remains synonymous with sophistication—drawing royalty, celebrities, and the world’s elite. Yet beyond the glamour of horse-drawn races on the frozen lake and the thrill of the natural-ice bobsled run, St. Moritz still retains its soul: a blend of Engadin nature, deep-rooted tradition, and quiet luxury.

This is what caught my eye - I hope you enjoy!

The stone towers of Badrutt’s Palace Hotel.

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The Hotel Steffani was built in 1869 and the athletes for the 1928 Winter Olympics stayed here. Saint Moritz also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1948, further cementing its status as a premier winter resort.

The Berry Museum is housed in the century-old Villa Arona, and is dedicated to the doctor and painter Robert Berry II.

Walking around here is a mix of mountain stillness and cosmopolitan sparkle.

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The sun shines here about 300 days a year, unfortunately during our visit it was one of the 65 days the sun did not shine.

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Looking across Lake St Moritz

September in St. Moritz feels like a secret. Summer crowds have drifted away, the winter glitter hasn’t yet arrived, and what’s left is a gentler, more introspective version of the town—still elegant, still pristine, but softer around the edges.

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The Catholic Church of St Charles Borromeo, built between 1886 and 1889, is known for its distinctive bell tower

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Night lights on Lake St Moritz

Opened in 1894, Conditorei Hanselmann, a historic cafe and bakery building has a notable of sgraffito on its facade. This is a technique where layers of plaster are scratched away to create a design.

Opened in 1894, Conditorei Hanselmann is a historic cafe and bakery, housed in a beautiful building adorned with intricate sgraffito on its façade — a decorative technique in which layers of plaster are carefully scratched away to reveal contrasting colors and create detailed designs.

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The Art Boutique Hotel Monopol with art installation of humans climbing the facade.

Drinks on the rooftop of the Art Boutique Hotel Monopol at Sky Bar offers an awesome view of sweeping vistas over the rooftops of the valley, down toward Lake St. Moritz, and out to the surrounding Alpine peaks.

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The view with the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in the distance.

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Badrutt’s Palace Hotel completed in 1896, is known for its ornate, carved wooden facade.

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The Bylandt Memorial Fountain is a memorial to Count Jules de Bylandt, who died in 1907 while on the Cresta Run.

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The St. Moritz Library is housed in a former school building.

The longest escalator in Switzerland, the three-level Serletta ride is lined with posters and visual displays along the way that showcase the winter-sports heritage of St. Moritz.

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The ‘Cresta Rider’ is a life-sized sculpture by British sculptuor David Wynne commissioned by the St Moritz Tobogganing Club to commemorate the club’s centenary.

The Leaning Tower of St Moritz is a remnant of the former St Mauritius Church, which was demolished in 1893.

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The tower leans at an angle of about 5.5 degrees, which is slightly more than the Leanng Tower of Pisa.

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The Church of St Maurice was built in 1867

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A bust of Johannes Barrett, pioneer of winter tourism here in St Moritz.

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The Kulm Country Club is part of the legendary Kulm Hotel, which first opened in 1856 and played a pioneering role in establishing St. Moritz as a world-class resort. The hotel is also credited with introducing Switzerland’s first electric lights, installed in its Grand Restaurant in 1878.

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What you should know:

• Credit/debit cards are widely accepted.

• Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) are very common.

• Locals are generally friendly but reserved – polite and helpful.

• The two main official languages are Finnish and Swedish, but many people do speak English.

• The currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF).

• Parking can sometime be difficult at times in certain neighborhoods.

• Walking or biking is a great way to get around the city.

• You will need a valid passport and a power convertor if you are coming from the US.

• There are many restaurant and food options.

• Tipping is not expected but some people do round up.

For more information: Saint Moritz, Switzerland

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