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St. Moritz: Winter playground of the rich and famous
St. Moritz, a gorgeous village nestled in the Engadin valley in the Swiss Alps, is a mere four-hour train ride from Zurich. Known to be the birthplace of winter tourism, it is now popularly referred to as the winter playground of the rich and famous. Top-class sporting events, designer shopping, excellent dining options, and the freshly powdered pistes make St. Moritz the preferred choice for the swish set.
This tiny village consists of St. Moritz Bad (pronounced bath), which is on the lower side, and expands into the region overlooking the stunning lake. St. Moritz Dorf (village) is on the higher side and has the main shopping street, restaurants, and the nightlife.
Stunning views of the surrounding mountains of St. Moritz on a nice and bright sunny day.
A view of the picturesque village of St. Moritz. The lower side of the village shown here is St. Moritz Bad, which overlooks the famous lake. On the other side is the busier St. Moritz Dorf, with restaurants and shopping.
Via Serlas—the popular street known for its high-end shopping. Several renowned stores and brands dot both sides of the street.
The adrenaline rush is kicking in and it's hard to contain my excitement! Bob sledding at the Olympia Bob Run is a popular sport in St. Moritz, which has the world's oldest and only natural bob-sleigh race track in the world.
Ready set go! The bob sled is pushed on to the track so it gathers some serious pace. At 130 km per hour, this is a ride of a lifetime.
The train makes its way up the Corviglia mountain in St. Moritz.
The luxurious Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski is housed in an iconic 1864 building and is the only five star ski in ski out hotel in St. Moritz. The hotel is also well known for its world class 2,800 sq m spa, as well as its top class dining including the Michelin starred Cà d'Oro.
Fresh powder on the outdoor patio of the Kulm Country club. The Winter Olympic Games of 1928 and 1948 were opened here. This was also the venue for the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2017.
The Segantini Museum is of great international importance and houses the most comprehensive collection of works from famed artist, Giovanni Segamtini—a great reviver of Alpine paintings in the 19th century and a major contributor to artistic works in the field of realistic symbolism.
Devil's Place, located in the Waldhaus Hotel, is a whisky lover's haven. With 2,500 whiskys, this bar is known to have the largest selection in the world and has also been featured in the Guinness World Records on several occasions for its outstanding whisky collection.
The RooBar at the family owned Hauser St. Moritz Hotel is located in the heart of St Moritz Dorf (village). This is a popular spot for après-ski, as numerous skiers prefer to hang out here for a drink and grab a bite after a fun outing on the slopes.
This natural ice rink is located just outside the Kulm Country Club, which was the venue for figure skating at the Winter Olympic Games in 1928 and 1948.
At 7,200 feet above sea level, the old-fashioned stone and timber Trutz Chalet offers lip-smacking fare for lunch, along with some of the best views of the Upper Engadine region.
Skiers relishing perfect weather conditions on the slopes.
The St Moritz Lake, 60 m deep, freezes over the winter and is the preferred venue for various sporting events, Some of the popular ones are 'Cricket on Ice', the Snow Polo World Cup as well as the International Concours of Elegance (ICE) where daring winter drivers convene and showcase the most beautiful cars in the world!
The author is an entrepreneur and founder of Plush Plaza, a lifestyle company. He is also a producer and host of Plush Places, an award-winning travel series. He can be reached on Instagram @rahul.jagtiani.