Beautiful Alpine lake scenery, fantastic restaurants, a vibrant culture – what more could you want from a destination? The climate of St Moritz is legendary, and the sun shines for 322 days a year on average.
The birthplace of winter tourism, St Moritz still holds a reputation as one of the world's greatest destinations for snowsports of all kinds.
St Moritz was originally a spa town. Its therapeutic waters have been attracting visitors for thousands of years, but the stunning natural surroundings – and then the development of world-class skiing and snowboarding facilities kept people coming back.
Over 150 years ago in 1864, St Moritz became the world's first destination for winter tourism when an enterprising hotelier challenged his summer guests to return later in the year, promising to reimburse their travel costs if they did not find the town just as enchanting in the winter. Not long afterward, the first Swiss tourist office opened in St Moritz, and a whole new industry was born.
In 1884, the Cresta Run was developed in the town by Major Bulpett, the man who would eventually found the St Moritz Tobogganing Club, which helped establish the idea of winter sports for the first time
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As St Moritz's fame grew, it was selected as the venue for the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, and over the years it has hosted a number of international skiing and bobsled championships.
Winter is when St Moritz truly comes to life. Downhill and Nordic skiing, bobsleigh runs, the historic Cresta Run and curling tournaments are just a few of the sports enjoyed here. Add to this regular music festival and some of the finest restaurants in Switzerland, and it’s easy to understand why St Moritz has been synonymous with high-quality leisure for generations.