St Moritz Day Trips: Top 5 Unforgettable Getaways

St Moritz, which is that famed Swiss resort town, which tends to be known for its glitz, glamour, and of course, seriously stunning Alpine views, is such a magnet for winter sports enthusiasts and pretty well-heeled travelers. You know, like your skiers, snowboarders, and those just looking to soak up the seriously luxurious atmosphere. Still, the area around St Moritz, it has rather a lot to offer if you are just looking to spread your wings a bit and maybe explore further afield, that’s right! Day trips opening up really interesting new adventures and fresh perspectives on the Swiss Alps.

1. Pontresina: A Charming Alpine Village

Just a pretty short hop from St Moritz, about 6 km away, is Pontresina, too it’s like a seriously picturesque village that might feel like a seriously gentler alternative to its very glitzy neighbor. You’ll discover that the pace of life, that, is just that bit slower here, and you will get such opportunities for proper outdoor pursuits. Pontresina that it is very much like a haven for hikers and nature lovers.

The village itself is, as a matter of fact, genuinely delightful, with its old Engadine houses, which have such sgraffito decorations. That is, this traditional technique which, naturally, involves scratching patterns directly into the plasterwork, giving each building that seriously unique character. Make sure that, obviously, you take a casual stroll around, stopping to appreciate these wonderful details and just maybe soaking in that pretty laid-back ambiance.

For those inclined to some walking, just possibly, there’s the Val Roseg. It’s arguably a bit stunningly gorgeous valley just a short drive or slightly longer walk from Pontresina. This valley, that has lush meadows, forests, and, obviously, views of the Roseg Glacier, providing fairly ample opportunities for some easy-to-moderate hikes. You can walk as far as the Hotel Roseg Gletscher, just to treat yourself to some very delicious lunch with those, just that bit wonderful, panoramic views.

Speaking of winter sports, very well, Pontresina holds its own. There is that chance to indulge in such activities as cross-country skiing and sledding, plus it’s generally much quieter here when compared to those very hectic slopes of St Moritz, very. So, you’re more likely to enjoy that peaceful, more relaxing day on the snow.

Read our full review: Pontresina Village Full Review and Details.

2. Sils Maria: Nietzsche’s Inspiration

About a mere 10 km southwest of St Moritz that’s right!, you will find the serene village of Sils Maria. This is that place, that you know, it just tends to be nestled on the shores of the beautiful Lake Sils. Beyond its natural beauty, this place has kind of a special, really cultural and philosophical appeal, because Friedrich Nietzsche spent pretty well summers here. Very well, he found heaps of inspiration in the calm, rather picturesque landscape.

Maybe consider just starting your trip by taking a gentle walk around Lake Sils. You know, like the walking trails, too it’s almost gently winding along the shoreline, so giving such pretty awesome views of the surrounding mountains and that crisp, Alpine air. Then, like your could just think about hiring a boat to do a peaceful trip on the lake. What a thought?! This could supply you with, you know, those seriously different perspectives of Sils Maria and it’s environs.

Very naturally, a key attraction that’s the Nietzsche House, the place which that very celebrated philosopher did, actually, reside during those summer months. You’ll come across very well curated exhibitions detailing his life and his works, offering this brilliant look at just how much the environment sort of inspired him.

The Fextal Valley, almost, just behind Sils Maria, it, really, offers seriously gorgeous hikes through, just, very green meadows and woodlands. It could be said to be that this car-free valley keeps all of that quiet and serenity that just possibly appealed to Nietzsche so deeply, still providing just such perfect conditions for a restorative walk.

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3. Diavolezza: A Glacier Adventure

For those just slightly seeking a, very well, an invigorating adventure with some serious panoramic views, perhaps Diavolezza it tends to be, clearly, an obvious choice. Roughly 20 km from St Moritz, is that, a cable car carries you to very well nearly 3,000 meters, or near to 10,000 feet, it is often revealing such seriously breath taking views of glaciers and those very majestic peaks.

The main attraction here is possibly, like, that pretty awesome views of the Bernina Massif, including the very well known Piz Bernina, you know the highest mountain within the Eastern Alps. It happens to be that there is that viewing platform there at the top so that everyone just soaks up that serious beauty, maybe having that perfect photograph.

During winter months, those snow activities that are usually readily available. Diavolezza it’s very well regarded as one of Switzerland’s genuinely top destinations when referring to off-piste skiing, clearly providing terrain which suits seriously advanced skiers. Even those with maybe less winter experience can potentially enjoy, obviously, the scenery, perhaps just opting for, probably, a guided glacier trek.

What happens is there’s that interesting place, it’s possibly almost what’s called the Berghaus Diavolezza, it that a place, just naturally, offering such food and lodging. Just you imagining waking up at that high altitude, with this unparalleled vista to welcome that brand new day! If you are one for just stargazing, arguably, it’s such an epic destination as there are very, very limited light-based disturbances up there.

Read our full review: Diavolezza Glacier Adventure Full Review and Details.

4. Bernina Pass: A Scenic Railway Experience

You know, you could try that, I mean, this incredible experience travelling over the Bernina Pass via the Bernina Express line. This has that World Heritage status, and basically is the highest railway that goes across the Alps. What’s even more great is that it will reward that passenger by showcasing, literally, some really outstanding panoramic views!

When leaving from St Moritz, what is naturally suggested is to board that very red Bernina Express. Arguably this would start by gliding through various different super alpine landscapes, those that, typically, have very well picturesques valleys, dramatic glaciers, and cute Alpine villages. Obviously, some of the main highlights include the Morteratsch Glacier, you know, which is obviously clearly visible from the train, that slightly iconic Brusio spiral viaduct. If you find the train is a bit slow and stopping far too often, naturally it’s going to take a car instead of relying on the transport method of the iron horse. The road is nearly as spectacular.

For, like your photography buffs, really it’s going to be almost heavenly, as these train carriages there will often have such extra large windows and you may also spot many seriously dedicated vantage points to ensure you get seriously brilliant photographs. You know, it might seem pretty cool to alight on those stop off locations and discover those, sometimes, nearby walking trails or, obviously, that scenic point where just could take some pictures to admire. Maybe try some selfies to add to your scrapbook? This way you will generally have just enough time for your very quick exploration.

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5. Bregaglia Valley: Italian Flair

Have you looked to add just some seriously distinct Mediterranean flavor to your Alpine getaway? Why not plan that very brief hop to that beautiful Bregaglia Valley, located just right over those southern slopes found by those Swiss Alps in Italy. This might actually only take about roughly that one hour drive found by St Moritz so it gives such access to pretty well those scenic attractions together with some charming communities within the very Italian ambience.

What will greet that visitor it just very nearly those granite peaks by way of that very famed Sciora group, offering some challenging hikes as you, sometimes, walk via woods and past lush meadows. There should definitely that reward that, like your effort with just those seriously sweeping panoramic view which kind of capture that essence to just those pretty rugged landscape.

The local region has various cool towns and villages but, arguably, they have this distinct type personality; perhaps think those about visiting those charming places with old stone buildings and somewhat meandering, kind of narrow streets. So the chance to just try eating on that pretty traditional grottos to seriously test their tasty specialities from the local region is worth doing.

Naturally you will see a slightly historically important locale as the pretty remote town has the distinction, by that artist, Giovanni Segantini of that region. Be sure you stop there and explore his very very interesting legacy.

Read our full review: Bregaglia Valley Trip Full Review and Details.