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Lake St. Moritz with the Engadine mountains

Switzerland · Corviglia · Corvatsch · Diavolezza

Where to stay in St. Moritz without paying luxury prices

Choosing where to stay in St. Moritz and the Upper Engadine: Dorf, Bad, Celerina, Samedan or Pontresina, when to go and how to spend far less.

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Photo: Isiwal · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Where to stay in St. Moritz & Upper Engadine by budget

The scores you will see come from guests who booked and stayed there. We take you to a search that is already sorted and filtered by a minimum rating, so you compare with real data.

Tight budget

Samedan or Pontresina

a self-catering apartment

Much lower prices than St. Moritz, minutes from the slopes by train or bus.

Cheapest with good ratings
Best balance
Mid-range

Celerina or St. Moritz Bad

an apartment or Engadine house

Close to Corviglia and the lake, at better value than the centre.

Best value
Treat yourself

St. Moritz Dorf

a chalet or hotel with a lake view

The full St. Moritz experience: the Corviglia funicular and the lake below you.

Top rated by guests
  • Reviews from guests who actually stayed
  • No extra cost for booking through us
  • Book and pay on the official platform

Why St. Moritz

St. Moritz is one of the most famous names in skiing: twice an Olympic host, sunshine almost guaranteed and the Upper Engadine, a high valley of lakes and mountains that is just as special in summer. It is also known as one of the most expensive places in the Alps.

The good news: you do not need to sleep in St. Moritz to enjoy it. The neighbouring villages of Celerina, Samedan and Pontresina are minutes away, share the same slopes and are far more reasonably priced.

Choosing by type of trip

  • Skiing with everything at hand: St. Moritz Dorf, by the Corviglia funicular.
  • Family: an apartment in St. Moritz Bad or Celerina.
  • Tighter budget: an apartment in Samedan or Pontresina.
  • Hiking and nature: Pontresina, at the foot of the Morteratsch.

When to go

Jan❄
Feb❄
Mar❄
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec❄
  • Good time to save
  • Peak season: pricier and busier
  • ❄ Usual snow season
  • A guide only: varies each year.

Winter (December to April)

Sunshine, dry snow and three big ski areas: Corviglia, Corvatsch and Diavolezza. Christmas, New Year and February are the priciest weeks of the year; January after Epiphany and March usually offer better prices with the same snow.

Summer (June to September)

Engadine lakes, hiking, cycling and the Bernina Express. Much more affordable than winter, with June and September especially quiet.

Between seasons (April–June and October–November)

Many hotels, restaurants and lifts close for a few weeks. Check what is open before booking.

Getting there

  • By train from Zurich via Chur in about three and a half hours. The Rhaetian Railway ride through the Alps is part of the trip.
  • The Glacier Express arrives from Zermatt, and the Bernina Express from Tirano in Italy.
  • By car over the Julier Pass or through the Vereina car-train tunnel; use winter tyres in winter.
  • Within the Upper Engadine, buses and trains link every village with the ski areas.

Which area to choose

St. Moritz Dorf

Best for: the classic St. Moritz, skiing straight from the centre

  • ≈ 10 min on foot to St. Moritz station

The hillside centre with luxury shops, historic hotels and the funicular up to Corviglia. The most expensive and most convenient area.

St. Moritz Bad

Best for: families and longer stays in an apartment

  • ≈ 15 min on foot to St. Moritz Dorf (Corviglia funicular)
  • ≈ 7 min by car to Corvatsch (Surlej)

The lower part of town by the lake, with more apartments and slightly lower prices than Dorf. Close to the road to Corvatsch.

Celerina and Samedan

Best for: good value without giving up Corviglia

  • ≈ 4 min by car to St. Moritz station
  • ≈ 8 min by car to St. Moritz station

Engadine villages a few minutes away, with traditional painted houses. Celerina links into the Corviglia slopes; Samedan is the valley transport hub.

Pontresina

Best for: hikers, families and anyone who prefers a mountain village

  • ≈ 9 min by car to St. Moritz station
  • ≈ 10 min by car to Diavolezza

A quiet village at the foot of the Morteratsch Glacier, close to Diavolezza and Lagalb, with more affordable places to stay than St. Moritz.

Approximate times without traffic or snow, calculated with OpenStreetMap routing.

Where to stay

Chalets and Engadine houses

Luxury chalets in St. Moritz and stone Engadine houses with painted facades in Celerina, Samedan or Pontresina.

Chalets in St. MoritzHouses in Pontresina

Apartments

The best way to manage St. Moritz prices: your own kitchen and more space, especially in Bad, Celerina and Samedan.

Apartments in St. MoritzApartments in Samedan

Village houses in the Engadine

Whole houses in villages such as Sils, Silvaplana or Zuoz, for groups after peace and scenery.

Houses in the Upper Engadine

On a budget

St. Moritz without luxury prices

St. Moritz is famous as a playground for the very rich, but the Upper Engadine has villages, apartments and seasons that make it far more reachable.

  1. 1Stay in Samedan, Pontresina or Celerina instead of the centre: same snow, much lower prices.
  2. 2Avoid Christmas, New Year and February. January after Epiphany and March are better value.
  3. 3Book a self-catering apartment and shop at the supermarket; eating out is the big expense in St. Moritz.
  4. 4Ask when booking whether the stay includes or discounts the ski pass: the Upper Engadine runs offers like this in some seasons.
  5. 5If you combine several scenic trains, compare the Swiss Half Fare Card with single tickets.
  6. 6In summer St. Moritz costs far less than in winter, and the lakes are at their best.
Best-value stays in SamedanBest-value apartments in Pontresina

FAQ

Where to stay in St. Moritz & Upper Engadine on a tight budget?

In Samedan or Pontresina: a self-catering apartment. Much lower prices than St. Moritz, minutes from the slopes by train or bus.

Where to stay in St. Moritz & Upper Engadine on a mid-range budget?

In Celerina or St. Moritz Bad: an apartment or Engadine house. Close to Corviglia and the lake, at better value than the centre.

Where to stay in St. Moritz & Upper Engadine for a treat?

In St. Moritz Dorf: a chalet or hotel with a lake view. The full St. Moritz experience: the Corviglia funicular and the lake below you.

Where to stay in St. Moritz without spending so much?

In Samedan, Pontresina or Celerina: villages minutes away with lower prices and good transport to the slopes.

When is the best time to visit St. Moritz?

For skiing, January after Epiphany and March combine good snow with better prices. In summer, June and September are quiet and cheaper.

How many ski areas does St. Moritz have?

The main ones are Corviglia above the town, Corvatsch from Surlej and Silvaplana, and Diavolezza and Lagalb on the Bernina Pass.

Can I get there by train?

Yes. Trains run from Zurich via Chur, plus the Glacier Express from Zermatt and the Bernina Express from Tirano.

St. Moritz & Upper Engadine

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