Hotel Steffani

Hiking in winter

by german_eagle

Not really a surprise that the Engadine offers a lot of groomed hiking paths in winter as well, eh?

All in all, there are about 150 km groomed for hikers in winter. Not only on the valley floor, you can also use cable cars and hike at higher altitude! e.g. at Muottas Muragl (7 km, Philosopher's path), Diavolezza (alt. 3000 m) or in the Corviglia - Suvretta region above St. Moritz. And the highlight are of course the hikes into the side valleys Fex and Roseg.

A map is available at the tourist offices. Hiking shoes, sun screen, layers, walking sticks are helpful.

Soglio

by german_eagle

Only about one hour by bus away from St. Moritz you find one of the most romantic places in the Alps: the picturesque small village Soglio in the Bregaglia valley.

My advice is to take the bus from St. Moritz to Stampa (994 m) and hike to Soglio. The path leads you though the nice hamlet Coltura. A steep part follows (I call it "staircase to heaven":-)) and then you will surprisingly see the gorgeous mountains on the other side of the valley - and the quaint village Soglio (1097 m).

Stroll along the narrow cobbled streets, feel the atmosphere of past timesand don't miss the cemetery. Have lunch or at least a coffee in the beautiful garden of Palazzo Salis (Hotel and restaurant).

The Swiss Bubble

by Scarlie

" The Village "

I was curious to see this world-famous resort. I wasn't sure what to expect; I thought it's got to be really fantastic to deserve the reputation. Oh, how wrong!

The place was sort of an anti-climax. It's nothing more than an overgrown village, turned into an ambitious resort. The nature is nice but not the most spectacular Switzerland has to offer.

It was off-season and fairly quiet, but I think I prefer it that way -- the very thought of at least two people from every room in town trampling around in full ski gear is just too much to bear.

" So now what!?"

Being a weekend and off-season, the choice was really between walking and ... walking. (I'm not counting the Irish pub but you may prefer it over the lake as the place to drown your sorrows).

A walk up the slopes and to Celerina offer nice views as a consolation. A walk around the lake (down at the flat) can be a good excercise, even if the view is somewhat spoiled by the 12 construction cranes visible from every turn. A walk in town will reveal an architecture quite different from the rest of Switzerland, with a lot of Italian, and even Etruscan, influences.

" The Upper Engadine"

Moving away from St Moritz, you have three Alpine passes (Julier, Maloja & Bernina) which offer much better vistas and more opportunities to explore nature. Coming up the Julier and down the Maloja were the most memorable parts of being to St Moritz.