The best hotels in St Moritz

St. Moritz Dorf (the upper village) has the best location for ski access and the designer shops (Valentino, Bulgari, Cartier are all here). Bad (the lower area by the lake) is 1km downhill and about 25% cheaper. Silvaplana, 3km south, has even better value -- Corvatsch Hotel at $150-220/night gives Engadine valley views.

December to April for skiing. January and February have the best snow and also the highest prices ($200-400+/night at quality hotels). The White Turf horse racing on frozen Lake St. Moritz runs in February -- a unique spectacle. Summer (July to September) has excellent hiking with prices 30-40% lower than winter peak.

This is Switzerland's most expensive resort. Budget options start at $45/night (Youth Hostel St. Moritz). Mid-range is $130-210/night. Luxury hotels (Badrutt's Palace, Kulm Hotel, Carlton) start at $500/night. A coffee costs 6-8 CHF ($7-9). A restaurant dinner is 40-80 CHF ($44-88) per person at mid-range.

For skiing, Zermatt (Matterhorn views) and Verbier (more challenging terrain) are often preferred. St. Moritz wins for the luxury resort experience, the Corviglia views, and the Engadine valley setting in summer. If skiing is the main goal and budget matters, Saas-Fee and Andermatt offer better value.

The Glacier Express train from Zermatt (8 hours, 360 CHF) or the Bernina Express from Lugano (4 hours, 180 CHF) are the most scenic routes. From Zurich by train via Chur takes 3.5 hours. There is no direct motorway -- road access requires driving through the Maloja or Julier Pass (closed in heavy snow).

Corviglia is the main ski mountain above St. Moritz, accessed by the funicular from the Dorf. 350km of marked runs across the Engadin ski area. The Marguns sector is best for beginners. The Hahnensee black run is the most challenging. Day ski passes cost 72-82 CHF in high season. The Marmite restaurant at the top has Michelin-starred views.

Yes. Hiking in the Engadine valley is outstanding -- the path from St. Moritz to Maloja along the lake chain takes half a day and is flat. Mountain biking, sailing on Lake Silvaplana (consistent wind), and kite surfing are the summer activities. Hotel prices drop significantly. The Segantini Museum (90 CHF) is worth it for the Alps light painting collection.

White Turf is horse racing on frozen Lake St. Moritz in February -- one of Europe's most unusual sporting events. Three Sundays in February, tickets from 30-200 CHF. The lake ice at 3-4 meters thick easily supports the horses. Combine with the Cresta toboggan run (members only for the run itself but spectators can watch) for the quintessential St. Moritz winter day.

Youth Hostel St. Moritz at $45-85/night is the best budget option -- clean, well-located, and has the Hostel bar which is genuinely social. Hotel Laudinella starts at $75/night for a double and is the best value mid-range with an indoor pool. Both are within 500 meters of the Dorf center.

Skip the hotels on the main road between Dorf and Bad -- the location is neither one thing nor the other and you pay Dorf prices for Bad convenience. The tourist restaurants on Via dal Bagn near the Via Serlas designer strip charge 3x for mediocre food. Eat at Hauser Hotel's cafe for good value lunches.

Silvaplana is 3km south and has good lake views, excellent kite surfing on Lake Silvaplana (consistent thermal winds), and hotels at 30-40% less than St. Moritz Dorf. Corvatsch ski area access is directly from Silvaplana. Worth considering if you want the Engadine experience without full St. Moritz prices.

Sils Maria is 8km south of St. Moritz in the valley -- a quiet village where philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche spent his summers. Hotel Waldhaus Sils is a landmark grand hotel at $200-320/night. No ski lifts directly from the village, but the Furtschellas gondola is nearby. Best for summer hikers and those seeking a calmer Engadine base.