What it's like to vacation in St. Moritz, the hidden gem in the Swiss Alps where celebrities, billionaires, and royalty go to ski
St. Moritz is located in Switzerland's Engadin Valley, a high Alpine valley region in the Swiss Alps.
St. Moritz's history dates back to 1864, when the first winter tourists stayed from Christmas through Easter.
Source: Free Press Journal
In 1928, it hosted the first official Winter Olympics and again in 1948. Women dressed in silk, sequins, and fur; men dressed in three-piece suits, according to Vogue. The event secured its status as a luxury winter tourism destination.
Source: Vogue
It was also the first place in the Alps to host a golf tournament and had one of the first running ski lifts in Switzerland.
Source: St. Moritz
With such a history, it makes sense that St. Moritz has popularized many winter sports. It's home to the Snow Polo World Cup and White Turf St. Moritz, which involves thoroughbred racing.
Source: Vanity Fair, Maxim
St. Moritz has even served as a location for two James Bond films, "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "A View to Kill."
Source: CNN
The resort has evolved into an exclusive place for the one percent. "Compared to other high-end Alpine resorts like Courchevel, Verbier, or Zermatt, it's far more discreet," Oliver Corkehill, CEO of travel-planning firm Leo Trippi, told Town & Country.
Source: Maxim, Town & Country
Celebrities and billionaires have been flocking to St. Moritz for decades. Claudia Schiffer, Liz Hurley, Kate Moss, and Robert De Niro have all been spotted there.
Source: Maxim, Travel Squire
Even royals vacation in St. Moritz, including the Swedish royal family, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, and Willem-Alexander and Maxima of The Netherlands.
Source: Town & Country
Some visitors fly into Samedan/Engadin airport in their private jets. Those who don't have their own jets can fly in via PrivateFly for about $9,500. The closest airport for those looking to fly commercial is in Zurich, about a 2.5-hour drive away.
Source: Town & Country, CNN
In addition to world-class skiing, St. Moritz is also home to five-star luxury hotels, like the Carlton Hotel, which chauffeurs guests from the train station via Bentley and has a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Source: Town & Country
There's also a Michelin-starred restaurant in Badrutt's Palace, where Alfred Hitchcock spent his honeymoon. Notably, it's home to some legendary New Year's parties.
Source: Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Maxim
Celebrities and Swedish royalty have also stayed at the Suvretta House Hotel, which throws glamorous ballroom parties.
Source: Town & Country, Vanity Fair
There's also Kulm Hotel, where concierges organize private moonlight ski sessions. Its spa recently underwent a $10 million renovation and includes a Finnish sauna and saltwater grotto.
Source: Town & Country
That's not to mention Chesa el Toula, where you can get a 9,000-square-foot Engadin villa for prices starting around $75,000 and reaching all the way up to $180,000.
Source: Town & Country
St. Moritz is a gourmet heaven. Visitors can find even more Michelin-starred restaurants outside hotels, including Talvo by Dalsass and Cá d'Oro.
Source: Maxim
By day, visitors hit the slopes at Corviglia, which offers 218 miles of ski runs, as well as winter sports like sledding and skijoring — an activity in which horses race across a frozen lake or field with a skier in tow.
The men's downhill race course, which has the steepest start gate in the world, is located here. The nearly vertical drop has skiers skiing up to 90 mph within six seconds, according to CNN.
Source: CNN
St. Moritz is also home to Cresta Run, a famous bobsled run and the only one in the world made of natural ice.
Source: Maxim
For those interested in more leisurely activities, Via Serlas is a shopping drag home to luxury brands including Versace, Cartier, and Gucci.
Source: Vogue
At night, the glitterati hits up the celebrity-studded King's Club, the Studio 54 of the Swiss Alps, or Devil's Place, a bar that reportedly has the world's largest whiskey collection.
Source: Town & Country
But a night out isn't complete without a visit to Casino St. Moritz in the Kempinski Grand Hotel, the place to be for high-rollers.
Source: Town & Country
With such a wide range of winter activities and luxury accommodations, it's no surprise St. Moritz is so popular amongst the world's most elite travelers.
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