The Tower Rooms at Badrutt's Palace

The tower that defines the St. Moritz Dorf skyline belongs to Badrutt's Palace Hotel, an address that opened in 1896 and stands at the top of the Via Serlas. This is the hotel people often picture when they speak of staying in St. Moritz, and for good reason: its position over the lake is central to the town's image. When booking here, the specific request to make is for a room that faces the water. These are the rooms that offer the vista across the frozen lake, a scene that in deep winter can carry horse racing and polo ponies.

St. Moritz itself divides into two distinct areas. The Dorf, where Badrutt's Palace Hotel sits, is the historic centre on the hillside, a compact grid of shops and grand hotels. It is where the evening crowd gathers and where the funicular up to the Corviglia slopes begins. Down by the water, a fifteen to twenty minute walk or short bus ride away, lies the Bad. This area grew up around the mineral springs and offers a quieter base, closer to the cross-country trails and often less expensive. The choice of which half of town suits a trip is the first decision to make, even before considering a specific hotel.

The idea of winter tourism in the Engadin, a pleasure rather than an ordeal, traces its origins to 1856, when Johannes Badrutt took on a guesthouse at the Kulm Hotel. That family wager is often told as the start of Alpine winter holidays. A stay at Badrutt's Palace Hotel, particularly in a lake-facing room, connects one directly to this long history. It is about waking to that particular expanse of ice and mountain, the one people envision when they think of St. Moritz. The Carlton Hotel St. Moritz, also in the Dorf, offers a quieter alternative while still providing water views.

What drives the price in St. Moritz, beyond the room itself, is the season and how you book. The grand hotels commonly run on half-board in winter, so dinner may be built into the rate; checking this before booking is advisable if you prefer to eat out. The busiest and most expensive weeks are Christmas and New Year, and the middle of February, when events out on the lake, like the Snow Polo World Cup and White Turf horse races, draw crowds. For the same snow and sun without the crush, the weeks in the middle of January are quieter, and often come with a lower rate. Spring skiing in March to early April also offers longer, warmer days and softer snow, noticeably quieter than peak season.

So, when considering a stay at Badrutt's Palace Hotel, make the specific request for a room that faces the lake. This is the view that defines the experience, connecting directly to the winter landscape and the town’s long history on the water. Confirm your dates to avoid the between-seasons months, roughly November and the stretch from late April into May, when many hotels and lifts close. For peak periods, book early, as several grand hotels close entirely outside the winter and summer seasons.