Where the peaks meet a century of glamour in St. Moritz

The Kulm Hotel St. Moritz sits at the very origin point of Alpine tourism, a storied grand hotel perched above the town with sweeping views across Lake St. Moritz and the Engadin valley. Opened in 1856, it was here that hotelier Johannes Badrutt famously wagered with his British summer guests that winter in the Alps could be just as enchanting, a bet that effectively invented the concept of the winter resort holiday. The building carries that history in its bones, its palatial facade and generous public spaces reflecting an era when hotels were designed as destinations unto themselves. Yet the interiors have been thoughtfully renewed across generations, balancing original architectural grandeur with contemporary comfort in a way that feels neither museum-like nor generic.

The hotel's 164 rooms and suites range from classic Alpine elegance to expansive residences, many offering balconies that frame the lake and surrounding peaks. Dining is a defining element of time spent here. The Sunny Bar, an institution in St. Moritz, draws both hotel guests and locals with its convivial energy and legendary pizzoccheri. The Grand Restaurant delivers refined evening dining in a setting of quiet formality, while the Pizzeria anchors more relaxed meals. For something lighter, the Chesa al Parc offers Swiss specialties in a charming standalone chalet on the grounds, and in winter, the hotel's K by Tim Raue brings the celebrated Berlin chef's bold Asian-inspired cuisine to the mountains. Across these outlets, the Kulm covers a rare range, from casual to exceptional, without ever losing its sense of place.

The Kulm Spa spans some 2,000 square metres and includes an indoor pool, saunas, steam baths, treatment rooms, and a fitness centre, all designed to restore after days spent in the mountain air. In winter, the hotel provides direct access to the Corviglia ski area, and its proximity to the legendary Cresta Run and the Olympia Bob Run adds a layer of sporting heritage that few hotels anywhere can claim. Summer shifts the rhythm toward hiking, cycling, sailing on the lake, and simply absorbing the clarity of the high-altitude light. The hotel's own park and gardens offer a rare sense of space and privacy within the town itself, a generous buffer of green between the building and the bustle below.

St. Moritz has long occupied a singular position in the Alpine imagination, a place where sport, society, and natural beauty intersect at nearly 1,800 metres. The Kulm Hotel sits at the heart of that story, not as a relic of the past but as a living institution that continues to shape the character of the town. Mornings here begin with that particular silence of high mountains, the lake still and silver below your window. Evenings settle into the warmth of wood-panelled rooms and the quiet satisfaction of a place that has been welcoming guests for well over a century and still understands exactly how it should feel.