Escape to ST MORITZ

Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the ski resort of St Moritz is a winter playground – and not just for skiers

- Sarah Riches

A sense of anticipation hangs in the air as engines rev and rumble.

And then they're off. Vintage Bentleys, Ferraris and Aston Martins slide across the frozen lake, powder snow spraying in their wake. Spectators dressed to impress in mirrored sunglasses, furry ushanka hats and diamonds glinting in the winter sun erupt with applause.

The ICE classic car show (30th-31st January 2026) was launched in St Moritz in the Swiss Alps in 2019. 'The atmosphere makes you feel like you've stepped into a winter fairy tale,' says founder Marco Makaus. 'Drivers are filled with excitement, eager to experience the rare thrill of driving on a frozen lake against the breathtaking backdrop of the Engadin mountains.'

But it is a Swiss doctor known as Paracelsus who's credited for putting St Moritz on the map, after he experienced its mineral spring in 1535 and promoted its health benefits. More springs were discovered, and by the 1830s the village had become a fashionable summer resort. Kulm Hotel opened in 1856, and within a decade its owner had persuaded a handful of British tourists to visit in winter and St Moritz the ski resort was born.

The town hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and again 20 years later, and today it's also home to the annual Snow Polo World Cup (23th-25th January 2026) and White Turf horse race (8th, 15th and 22nd February 2026). Regardless of whether you visit for an event or to ski, shop and dine, St Moritz is magical in the snow.

Five must-dos

Take a village tour