Gateway: Zurich – 3 1/2 train transfer.
The premier ski and social resort of eastern Switzerland, St. Moritz draws a lot of folks familiar with the art of conspicuous consumption; this is as close as you'll get to Hollywood in Switzerland. It's more distinctly Italian than French in its flavor. Although only one or two authentic buildings remain from the town's medieval origins, vast amounts of money have been spent installing folkloric fixtures, carved paneling, and accents of local granite in the public and private areas of most hotels.
Skiing in the region is divided into distinct areas, the most popular of which is Corviglia, on the mountains above St. Moritz. Adventurers seeking diversion farther afield head for the slopes above the satellite resort of Sils Maria (Corvatsch) and the slopes above the nearby village of Pontresina (Diavolezza). There are plenty of difficult slopes in the region if you seek them out, but intermediate-level skiers enjoy taking a cable car from St. Moritz-Dorf to the top of Piz Nair. From here, with only a couple of chairlift connections en route, you can ski a network of intermediate-level trails all the way back down to the resort's lake.
For more challengeing runs head across the valley. From the tiny resort of Surlej there is a cable car up the massive north face of Piz Corvatsch, 3303 m (10,837 ft) above sea level. From this famous viewpoint amidst the stunning scenery of the Bernina range its 5000 ft downhill skiing all the way back to St. Moirtz with only one chairlift connection en route. The sun-blessed St. Moritz is among the highest located resorts in the Alps and therefore boasts some of the best snow conditions in Switzerland.
