Luxury holiday to the Swiss Engadine by train staying in St Moritz for seven nights
This 7-night touring rail holiday begins by travelling to Switzerland by train from London to St Moritz in the Swiss Engadine, via Paris, Zurich, and Chur. Return flights from the UK with rail travel in Switzerland can also be arranged. Your destination is St Moritz, in the shadow of the Suvretta Mountain and on the shores of the startlingly beautiful Lake St Moritz. Use your time here to explore the surrounding mountain peaks on foot or by funicular, rack railway, or cable car, taking in the views across the Engadine Valleys, the castles perched on high rocks, and the small villages almost completely hidden by forested mountain slopes. St Moritz itself has always been a particularly popular Swiss winter destination, but its value extends into the summer months, as the snow thaws to reveal a network of hiking trails and transforms the town itself into a chic collection of boutique shops and cafes, and gourmet restaurants. One of the highlights of your stay here will be the fantastic rail journeys that sit just on your doorstep, be it the local services that meander through the valleys or the grand Bernina Express, one of the most iconic rail journeys in Europe.
Highlights
Zurich • Chur • St Moritz • Bernina Express
Day by day
Travel from London to St Moritz by rail on your first day; or fly into Zurich and travel the rest of the journey by rail. The Eurostar leaves early in the morning for Paris, where you change to a TGV train headed to Zurich. Here, change for Chur, and then join the Bernina railways line to St Moritz. Check into your resort hotel.
Spend seven nights enjoying the highlights of the Bernese Engadine, making the most of your eight-day rail pass to explore the surrounding villages, lakes and mountains, and taking a trip on the iconic Bernina Express. St Moritz is situated in the southeast of Switzerland, in the canton of the Grisons and the Engadine. At 1,822m above sea level, it is easy to see why St Moritz is popular in the winter; yet, this altitude also means excellent access to breath-taking vantage points and high-altitude rocky pathways, without compromising on proximity to three sublime lakes and a modern, chic town centre. Its population of only just over 5,000 people suggests the great extent to which St Moritz has retained its authentic Swiss character and peaceful atmosphere. Places of interest in the Engadine: • Via Serlas – the main shopping street in St Moritz • St Moritz’s leaning tower – a remnant from the Mauritius Church, which was built in the 1500s • Engadine Museum – insight into regional architecture as well as history • Segantini Musem – dedicated to a local artist • Piz Nair – standing at 3,057m above sea level, the summit offers fantastic views of the lakes and valleys; it can be accessed by a three hour hike or by funicular railway followed by cable car • Piz Corvatsch – accessible via cable car from Surlej • Celerina – home of the Cresta Run, and just a 30 minute walk from St Moritz; the bobsleigh run is the oldest in the world • Silvaplana – on a stretch of land that separates two lakes, Silvaplana is a hub for water sports • Sils – separated into two parts, ‘Baselgia’ and ‘Maria,’ Sils was a favourite of Friedrich Nietzsche (the Nietzsche Haus is open to the public) • Corviglia – a funicular railway will take you from St Moritz, through Chantarella, to Corviglia, where there are a number of gourmet restaurants and great access to the Piz Nair • Muottas Muragl – the site of the first funicular railway in the Engadine, built in 1905 • Zuoz – comprised of typically Engadine houses with sgraffito designs, with a very historic central square; the key to the town’s prison tower can be borrowed from the tourist office • Mustair – home of the 8th century Abbey of St John the Baptist, which holds unique Carolingian paintings • Guarda – very well preserved village with narrow cobbled streets, sgraffito houses, and fantastic views • Tarasp Castle – on the way to Scuol; it rises majestically on top of a rocky bluff in the very middle of a verdant valley. • Bernina Express – take a trip on the iconic Bernina Express, travelling north to Davos and Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, or south across the Italian border to the secluded small town of Tirano • Swiss National Park – 169sqkm of spectacular mountain and wooded scenery; perfect for observing animals and birdlife, including Ibexes and Marmots; visitors must stick to the paths at all times; the village of Zernez is know as the ‘Gateway to the Swiss National Park,’ and so makes an excellent starting point • Staz forest – romantic carriage rides take you through the forest and around the town Local sports suggestions: • Hiking and walking along the 120km of hiking trails • Tennis and Squash in St Moritz • Horse-riding in St Moritz • Water sports – windsurfing is best on windy Lake Silvaplana, but also available on Lake St Moritz • Inn Valley gorges – these winding waterways are perfect for rafting in the summer months • Golf – on the 18-hole course in Samedan • Fishing – permits available from the Hotel Eden • Ludains Ice Arena – this rink is open throughout the summer The abundance of available activities, from exploring picturesque villages to scenic walks and hiking, will ensure that each of your days in the Engadine is unique and memorable. This seven night rail holiday allows you to make the most of this variety and get to know the region in-depth.
On your eighth day, board a morning train from St Moritz back to Chur and Zurich where you board the high-speed TGV to Paris. Board the Eurostar here, arriving in London in the early evening.
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,250 per person based on two people sharing a double room and including for second class rail travel. First class and standard premier supplement from £580 per person.
Holiday Code CHBR15
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury holiday to the Swiss Engadine by train staying in St Moritz for seven nights
Travel from London to St Moritz by rail on your first day; or fly into Zurich and travel the rest of the journey by rail. The Eurostar leaves early in the morning for Paris, where you change to a TGV train headed to Zurich. Here, change for Chur, and then join the Bernina railways line to St Moritz. Check into your resort hotel.
Spend seven nights enjoying the highlights of the Bernese Engadine, making the most of your eight-day rail pass to explore the surrounding villages, lakes and mountains, and taking a trip on the iconic Bernina Express. St Moritz is situated in the southeast of Switzerland, in the canton of the Grisons and the Engadine. At 1,822m above sea level, it is easy to see why St Moritz is popular in the winter; yet, this altitude also means excellent access to breath-taking vantage points and high-altitude rocky pathways, without compromising on proximity to three sublime lakes and a modern, chic town centre. Its population of only just over 5,000 people suggests the great extent to which St Moritz has retained its authentic Swiss character and peaceful atmosphere. Places of interest in the Engadine: • Via Serlas – the main shopping street in St Moritz • St Moritz’s leaning tower – a remnant from the Mauritius Church, which was built in the 1500s • Engadine Museum – insight into regional architecture as well as history • Segantini Musem – dedicated to a local artist • Piz Nair – standing at 3,057m above sea level, the summit offers fantastic views of the lakes and valleys; it can be accessed by a three hour hike or by funicular railway followed by cable car • Piz Corvatsch – accessible via cable car from Surlej • Celerina – home of the Cresta Run, and just a 30 minute walk from St Moritz; the bobsleigh run is the oldest in the world • Silvaplana – on a stretch of land that separates two lakes, Silvaplana is a hub for water sports • Sils – separated into two parts, ‘Baselgia’ and ‘Maria,’ Sils was a favourite of Friedrich Nietzsche (the Nietzsche Haus is open to the public) • Corviglia – a funicular railway will take you from St Moritz, through Chantarella, to Corviglia, where there are a number of gourmet restaurants and great access to the Piz Nair • Muottas Muragl – the site of the first funicular railway in the Engadine, built in 1905 • Zuoz – comprised of typically Engadine houses with sgraffito designs, with a very historic central square; the key to the town’s prison tower can be borrowed from the tourist office • Mustair – home of the 8th century Abbey of St John the Baptist, which holds unique Carolingian paintings • Guarda – very well preserved village with narrow cobbled streets, sgraffito houses, and fantastic views • Tarasp Castle – on the way to Scuol; it rises majestically on top of a rocky bluff in the very middle of a verdant valley. • Bernina Express – take a trip on the iconic Bernina Express, travelling north to Davos and Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, or south across the Italian border to the secluded small town of Tirano • Swiss National Park – 169sqkm of spectacular mountain and wooded scenery; perfect for observing animals and birdlife, including Ibexes and Marmots; visitors must stick to the paths at all times; the village of Zernez is know as the ‘Gateway to the Swiss National Park,’ and so makes an excellent starting point • Staz forest – romantic carriage rides take you through the forest and around the town Local sports suggestions: • Hiking and walking along the 120km of hiking trails • Tennis and Squash in St Moritz • Horse-riding in St Moritz • Water sports – windsurfing is best on windy Lake Silvaplana, but also available on Lake St Moritz • Inn Valley gorges – these winding waterways are perfect for rafting in the summer months • Golf – on the 18-hole course in Samedan • Fishing – permits available from the Hotel Eden • Ludains Ice Arena – this rink is open throughout the summer The abundance of available activities, from exploring picturesque villages to scenic walks and hiking, will ensure that each of your days in the Engadine is unique and memorable. This seven night rail holiday allows you to make the most of this variety and get to know the region in-depth.
On your eighth day, board a morning train from St Moritz back to Chur and Zurich where you board the high-speed TGV to Paris. Board the Eurostar here, arriving in London in the early evening.
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,250 per person based on two people sharing a double room and including for second class rail travel. First class and standard premier supplement from £580 per person.
Holiday Code CHBR15
Our prices include
● Rail travel London to Switzerland via Paris in standard class (first class can be booked at a supplement) return OR scheduled return flights from the UK to Zurich
● 6-day flex Swiss rail pass
● 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Comfort Corviglia double room at the Hotel Schweizerhof, St Moritz
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Swiss Francs 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in Paris
● Travel by air from UK to Switzerland
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury holiday to the Swiss Engadine by train staying in St Moritz for seven nights
Hotel Schweizerhof St Moritz is a 4-star boutique hotel in a beautiful location on the mountain slopes, and is an excellent base for enjoying the scenery of Grisons and the Engadine. It offers stunning views, gourmet dining and exceptional service.
Comfort Corviglia double room
Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains is a 5-star luxury spa hotel in a beautiful Alpine location. Offering fine dining, extensive spa facilities and impeccably grand accommodation, it is an excellent spot to recuperate after a day on the slopes.
Resort room
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,250 per person based on two people sharing a double room and including for second class rail travel. First class and standard premier supplement from £580 per person.
Holiday Code CHBR15
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury holiday to the Swiss Engadine by train staying in St Moritz for seven nights
About Grisons and the Engadine
Dotted with National Parks, Grisons and the Engadine are best known for the dramatic Alpine scenery and the major winter sports resorts; yet, in the spring, summer, and autumn months, the region has far more to offer. Historic towns, scenic lakes and glaciers, and chic villages packed with gourmet restaurants and boutique shops come into their own in the sunshine. The Ela Park, through which the world-famous Glacier Express and Bernina Express run, stretches between Chur and St Moritz. Passing through here by car or rail will introduce you to miles-upon-miles of quintessentially Swiss landscape: lush, natural fields are interspersed with evergreen forests, clusters of rustic wooden houses, and jagged mountain peaks such as the Lenzerhorn, Piz Vadret, Piz Platta, as well as Piz Bernina in the distance. Visitors to this region in the summer have these sublime panoramas as their object. The Engadine is known for its sporting possibilities. Hiking and walking trails take you up to the most sought-after and secluded vantage points, and the extensive network of cycling paths offer endless destinations; one route even leads to Budapest.
Highlights of Grisons and the Engadine
Between the peaks, valleys, and lakes of Grisons and the Engadine, towns and villages with hidden cultural treasures abound. Some of the oldest settlements in Switzerland are located here, still with the same medieval atmosphere. One of the most iconic images associated with Grisons is Tarasp Castle, built in the 11th century, perched on its hundred-metre-high rock in the centre of its surrounding valley. To see more of traditional Engadine style, visit the ancient villages of Guarda, Ftan, and Sent. The village of Zernez is known as the ‘Gateway to the Swiss National Park,' which also extends south into Italy. The Inn Valley is the perfect place to admire your surroundings. 60km of hiking trails wind their way across the landscape between Maloja and Scuol, believed to be the most rewarding trails in Switzerland because of the high-altitude views. Between the months of May and September, the Inn Valley gorges are ideal for rafting, as their calm turquoise waters bustle white. The Bains Engadine in Scuol were the first Roman-Irish baths in Switzerland, now providing saunas and pools with a very impressive backdrop.
Cultural highlights of Grisons and the Engadine
The three main towns of interest are Chur, Davos, and St Moritz. Chur is the oldest city in Switzerland, affectionately named the ‘Alpine City.’ Twisting streets and historic buildings, restaurants, bars, museums, galleries, boutiques, and a pedestrianised Old Town mean the city is abounding in charming character. A farmer's market is held in the main square of the Old Town every Saturday morning between the months of May and October. High above the town stands the Bishop's Palace. Fortified walls surround the central courtyard, which holds the Cathedral of the Assumption, dating back over 800 years. Chur is also home to the region's three largest museums. Explore its history in the Rhaetian Museum, the works of prestigious local artists at the Museum of Fine Art, and the flora, wildlife, and geological history at the Graubunden Natural History Museum. The two most popular mountain peaks in the area around Chur are the Branbruesch and the Dreibundenstein, both accessible by cable car and hiking routes. Chur has the highest concentration of restaurants and bars in Switzerland, making it an excellent destination for gastronomists and those who enjoy sampling a range of delicacies in a new restaurant each night. The highest ‘town’ in the Alps, at 1560m above sea level, is Davos, another popular destination with winter sports enthusiasts. In the summer, however, the snow melts to reveal over 700km of hiking paths. These can be accessed via cable cars up to the Jakobshorn (2590m), the Weissflujoch (2844m), and the Rinerhorn (2490m). Horse-drawn carriages take you along the narrower valleys of Sertig, Dischma, and Fluela. At Davos Lake, visitors can take a refreshing swim or enjoy the sports available at the sailing and surfing area. Alternatively, visit the Zugenschlucht gorge to follow the geology trail, the rocky path of the river, or to visit the mining museum. For something even more unusual, spend an hour at the Monstein Brewery, the highest brewery in Europe, and the first in Switzerland to be opened for tastings and tours. St Moritz is perhaps the best-loved Alpine winter destination in Switzerland, and possibly Europe. At 1822m above sea level, visitors are welcomed first by views across the Upper Engadine Valley. The local peaks, including the Piz Corvatsch, Chantarella, and Corviglia can be reached via mountainside railway, and from Corviglia, you can take a cable car up to Suvretta's most famous viewing point. Though St Moritz is not a waterside village, the nearby Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana are perfect for water sports, particularly the latter, which is known for being windy. The village of St Moritz itself is smattered with quaint cafes and stunning buildings with peaked roofs, and the central churches provide beautiful destinations after a morning of exploration on foot. Just outside St Moritz is Celerina, home to the Cresta Run, one of the area's most famous attributes. Celerina is also the first stop on the Glacier Express route from St Moritz to Zermatt: a journey of viaducts, steep inclines, spiralling declines, and some of Switzerland's most famous mountains.
Festivals in Grisons and the Engadine
In Switzerland there is only one nationally celebrated day, the Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation on the 1st August, aside from Christmas, advent and New Year. Apart from these, festivals and holidays are determined by the canton and the town. The residents of Grisons see in the first day of March with Chalanda Marz, in which bells are rung to chase out the winter. In Disentis on July 11th, a religious procession takes place to honour Saint Placidus. In Pontresina, St Moritz, and across the canton, the BSI Engadine Festival brings the region to life with performances of classical music in August. The most unusual of the major festivals in Grisons and the Engadine may well be in Chur, at the Chur City Festival and Alpine Beard Festival in August. In the autumn, Chur Theatre performs a diverse international theatre and dance programme, and in August every two years open-air opera is performed at the Haldenstein Castle.
Gastronomy in Grisons and the Engadine
As Grisons is still comprised of three language areas (Italian, German, and Romansh), the cuisine remains eclectic and varied. Many ingredients, prominent in the Alpine terrain are recombined in new ways to create different, flavoursome dishes. Three popular dishes in particular are maluns, capuns, and pizokels. Maluns are made from boiled potatoes, which are then grated, rolled in flour, and then roasted in butter. Often eaten by farmers for breakfast, maluns are also popular snacks to accompany a cup of coffee or served with Alpine cheese at dinner. Capuns come in a range of varieties, but are always wrapped in savoy cabbage leaves, spinach leaves, or Swiss chard. Inside, they have some combination of dough, meat, fish, and vegetables. Pizokels are baked dishes of special dough and vegetables topped with cheese.
