Which area of St. Moritz is best for families?

St. Moritz Bad (the lakeshore) is the easiest family base: spa-goers, families, and anyone wanting the lake without the hillside bustle.

Where should you stay in St. Moritz for a quieter trip?

Pontresina is the calmest pick: hikers and couples who want Engadine beauty at a saner price and pace.

How many nights do you need in St. Moritz?

We'd plan for 3–4 nights, long enough to settle in, do the signature excursions without rushing, and keep an easy pace.

Do you need a car in St. Moritz?

No, St. Moritz is train-friendly and walkable, so most visitors base themselves centrally and travel by rail and lift.

Where to Stay

Where to stay in St. Moritz

St. Moritz splits in two: St. Moritz Dorf, the glossy resort centre stacked above the lake with the grand hotels, boutiques, and the funicular up to Corviglia; and St. Moritz Bad, the lower, calmer spa quarter on the lakeshore. For genuine quiet and value, the neighbouring Engadine villages, Pontresina, Celerina, and Sils, sit minutes away on the same valley with their own charm.

🇨🇭 Swiss AlpsEngadine, GraubündenCar-free OK

Price level

$$$$$

Getting there

Train-friendly

Ideal stay

3–4 nights

Best months

January, February, July

The lay of the land

Best areas to stay in St. Moritz

Where to base yourself, and who each area suits best.

First-timersSt. Moritz DorfFamiliesSt. Moritz BadCouples & calmPontresinaBest valueSt. Moritz BadSkiersSt. Moritz Dorf

St. Moritz Dorf (the centre)

The glamorous heart on the hillside above the lake: grand hotels, designer shops, the Corviglia funicular, and the scene. Polished and pricey.

Best for: Travelers who came for the glamour, the shopping, and ski-in access to Corviglia.

St. Moritz Bad (the lakeshore)

The lower spa district on the flat by the lake, calmer and a touch better value, with the cross-country trails and the lakeside path on the doorstep.

Best for: Spa-goers, families, and anyone wanting the lake without the hillside bustle.

Pontresina

A handsome, quieter village a few minutes south at the foot of the Bernina massif, with grand-hotel grandeur and superb hiking, minus St. Moritz's flash.

Best for: Hikers and couples who want Engadine beauty at a saner price and pace.

Celerina & Sils Maria

Small, characterful Engadine villages a short drive or train ride along the lakes, with painted Engadine houses and real calm.

Best for: Quiet-seekers and romantics (Sils was Nietzsche's summer); value over scene.

By budget

What each price tier buys you

A quick sense of what to expect, and what to spend, across the range in St. Moritz.

Budget

Genuine budget is scarce in St. Moritz itself; the honest value play is a B&B or three-star in Pontresina, Celerina, or Samedan, all minutes away by train or car.

Our picks

Hauser Hotel St. Moritz A fourth-generation family house on the Dorf square whose own confectionery bakes Engadiner Nusstorte; the characterful floor here.Check rates
Hotel Reine Victoria An Art Nouveau grande dame of 1875 with its own chandeliered theatre hall, at gentler Bad-side prices near the Signal lift.Check rates

Mid-range

Comfortable four-stars and characterful Engadine hotels exist, more of them in Bad and the neighbouring villages than along the Dorf's grand-hotel row.

Our picks

Hotel Steffani Family-run since 1869 with pool, spa and three restaurants steps from the Corviglia funicular; the right-for-most classic.Check rates
Hotel Schweizerhof St. Moritz A 120-year Dorf institution with many lake-facing rooms; its own bars run lively, so light sleepers ask for a higher floor.Check rates

Luxury

This is grand-hotel country: storied five-stars on the hillside with lake views, spas, and Michelin tables, at full Engadine prices.

Our picks

Badrutt's Palace Hotel The 1896 icon and the town's social center, six restaurants under that turreted skyline; seasonal, closing the shoulder months.Check rates
Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski The 1864 Bad-side grand dame with one of the Alps' biggest spas and true ski-in access to Corviglia.Check rates

Compare hotels in St. Moritz

Live prices and availability for your dates.

Booking tips for St. Moritz

Decide between the scene (Dorf) and calm-plus-value (Bad, Pontresina, Celerina); the train and Engadine bus link them all, so you lose nothing by basing a few minutes out.
A lake-facing room is the splurge that defines the place; ask specifically, as many rooms face the hillside or the road.
Winter (the season and its events) and high summer both sell out and price up; the Engadine shoulder weeks are calmer and cheaper.

Good to know

Where to stay in St. Moritz, your questions

The practical questions travelers ask most when choosing a base here.

Where is the best area to stay in St. Moritz?: St. Moritz Dorf (the centre) is the easiest first base: it suits travelers who came for the glamour, the shopping, and ski-in access to Corviglia. St. Moritz Bad (the lakeshore) is the main alternative if you want something different.
Which area of St. Moritz is best for families?: St. Moritz Bad (the lakeshore) is the easiest family base: spa-goers, families, and anyone wanting the lake without the hillside bustle.
Where should you stay in St. Moritz for a quieter trip?: Pontresina is the calmest pick: hikers and couples who want Engadine beauty at a saner price and pace.
How many nights do you need in St. Moritz?: We'd plan for 3–4 nights, long enough to settle in, do the signature excursions without rushing, and keep an easy pace.
Is St. Moritz expensive to stay in?: St. Moritz is expensive compared with other Alpine bases. Comfortable four-stars and characterful Engadine hotels exist, more of them in Bad and the neighbouring villages than along the Dorf's grand-hotel row.
Do you need a car in St. Moritz?: No, St. Moritz is train-friendly and walkable, so most visitors base themselves centrally and travel by rail and lift.

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Read the full St. Moritz guide Where to Stay in the Jungfrau Region: 4 Villages, One Answer The Swiss Alps All Alps base towns

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