Top 10 Ski Resorts in The Engadin
The Engadin valley in Switzerland's canton of Graubünden sits at around 1,800 metres above sea level for much of its length — higher than most Alpine resort villages — giving it a snow climate of particular quality. The air is dry and cold, the light famously clear, and the snowfall predominantly light and powdery rather than the wet Atlantic snow that plagues lower-lying resorts. The valley runs roughly 90 kilometres from the Maloja pass in the west to Martinsbruck in the east, with the ski areas concentrated around St Moritz in the upper Engadin (Oberengadin). The Romansh-speaking culture, the international reputation of St Moritz, and the Rhaetian Railway winding through the valley on its UNESCO-listed route all contribute to an experience that is singular in the Alps. The skiing itself varies from world-class to village-scale, always framed by a landscape of lake, larch forest and high alpine terrain that is among the most beautiful in Switzerland.
1. St Moritz, Graubünden
St Moritz is among the most internationally recognised names in skiing, a status it has maintained since the resort became fashionable in the late 19th century and hosted the Winter Olympics twice (1928, 1948). The ski area divides across four main sectors: Corviglia, Corvatsch, Diavolezza-Lagalb and Zuoz, not all ski-connected. Corviglia (2,486 m) above the town is the most used, with an efficient gondola from St Moritz Bad and a mix of intermediate and challenging terrain including the Hahnensee and the Nair red runs. The skiing here is pleasant but not exceptional by international standards. What St Moritz offers is the complete package: the best mountain restaurant programme in the Engadin, a town with genuine cultural infrastructure, and access to the excellent terrain of Corvatsch and Diavolezza as day trips. Nearest airport is Samedan (helicopter connections) or Zürich (3 hours by Rhaetian Railway).
2. Corvatsch, Graubünden
Corvatsch rises to 3,303 metres above Silvaplana on the western shore of Lake Silvaplana, making it one of the highest lift-served points in the Alps. The ski area covers around 70 kilometres of piste on both north and south-facing aspects, with genuine variety from the summit snow fields to the long valley runs above Surlej. The top station at 3,303 metres gives access to the Haschel and Gianda Magliasina faces — consistently excellent snow given the altitude and northern exposure. The Corvatsch glacier terrain on the summit plateau is among the most reliable in Switzerland for early and late season skiing. In clear weather the view from the summit takes in the Inn valley below Maloja and ranges south to the Bernina massif. Corvatsch is technically separate from Corviglia but shares the Engadin ski pass.
3. Corviglia, Graubünden
Corviglia is the dominant ski area directly above St Moritz town, reached by funicular from St Moritz Dorf or gondola from St Moritz Bad. The summit station at 2,486 metres on Piz Nair accesses an area of around 80 kilometres of piste on predominantly sunny south-facing slopes. The terrain is well-suited to confident intermediates: the Signal and Marguns sectors are long and varied, with several challenging sections near the Munt da San Murezzan bowl. Corviglia hosted the 2017 Alpine Ski World Championships, and the Celerina downhill course — dropping to the valley at 1,720 metres — is one of the more demanding on-mountain runs available to recreational skiers. The mountain restaurants, including Mathis Food Affairs at the summit, are among the best in Switzerland for quality and views.
4. Diavolezza, Graubünden
Diavolezza at 3,092 metres is one of the great viewpoints of the Bernina massif, providing a direct prospect of the Piz Bernina (4,049 m), Piz Palü and Bellavista glaciers. The ski area is modest in extent — around 10 kilometres of piste — but the terrain quality is excellent. The summit cable car accesses a high plateau with easy-intermediate glacier skiing and the famous off-piste Diavolezza descent to Morteratsch, a 12-kilometre route through the glacier landscape requiring a guide for first-timers. The Lagalb ski area across the Bernina pass road adds further challenging terrain with steep north-facing runs. Diavolezza is at its finest in early season when the glacier is in best condition and the Bernina peaks carry fresh snow.
5. Zuoz, Graubünden
Zuoz is one of the best-preserved Engadin villages, its painted Renaissance houses and the Planta family's tower constituting a masterpiece of 17th-century domestic architecture. The skiing above Zuoz is small by any standard — a gondola and a handful of runs on the Pizzet hillside reaching around 2,200 metres — but it serves as an honest local ski area for what is primarily a village destination. The real value of Zuoz in ski terms is its position on the Engadin ski bus circuit, which gives access to the full range of Oberengadin areas on a combined pass. For architecture, gastronomy and the Rhaetian Railway, Zuoz has no peer in the valley.
6. Samedan / Celerina, Graubünden
Celerina sits just below St Moritz at 1,720 metres and provides the lower terminus of the Corviglia funicular and the Cresta run — the oldest natural ice bobsled track in the world, in operation since 1884 and available to ride for members and their guests during the winter season. The skiing above Celerina connects with the Corviglia network and includes several long valley runs that return to the village. Celerina is significantly more affordable than St Moritz proper, with the same ski pass access and a shorter walk to the slopes. The village has its own authentic charm — the leaning Romanesque church tower is a photographic constant.
7. Pontresina, Graubünden
Pontresina at 1,805 metres is the base for Diavolezza and Lagalb as well as the Languard cross-country skiing network above the village. The Nordic skiing at Pontresina is exceptional: 220 kilometres of maintained trails through the Engadin valley, making it one of the premier cross-country skiing destinations in Europe and home of the Engadin Skimarathon, a 42-kilometre mass-participation event held annually since 1969. For downhill skiers Pontresina provides convenient access to Diavolezza (10 minutes by ski bus) and a quieter, less expensive alternative to St Moritz accommodation.
8. Maloja and the Upper Inn Valley, Graubünden
Maloja at 1,815 metres marks the west end of the Engadin valley and is technically a pass rather than a resort, but the surrounding terrain provides exceptional ski touring and Nordic opportunities. The Maloja pass road descends precipitously into the Italian lakes district on its south side; the plateau on the Engadin side provides miles of cross-country track through a landscape of frozen lakes and larch forest. The Forno glacier above Maloja is accessible to experienced ski tourers, offering a route into the Italian Bregaglia valley. The tiny hamlet is better known for Paul Klee, who spent significant time here, than for skiing, but the winter landscape that inspired him remains intact.
9. Müstair Valley / Val Müstair, Graubünden
The Val Müstair in the far eastern Engadin is separated from the main valley by the Ofenpass and shares its southern border with Italy's Stelvio National Park. The small ski area on Minschuns above Tschierv provides modest downhill terrain, but the valley's real winter value is Nordic and touring. The Romansh culture here is particularly pure — the Benedictine convent at Müstair is another UNESCO site. Access from St Moritz requires crossing the Ofenpass (closed in severe weather) or a long detour via Zernez and the Vinschgau; the isolation is the point.
10. Engadin Skimarathon Course, Graubünden
The 42-kilometre cross-country course from Maloja to S-chanf is the longest sporting event in Switzerland and one of the great mass-participation ski events in the world, regularly attracting over 12,000 starters. For the rest of the winter it forms the backbone of the Engadin Nordic trail network — a continuous groomed track through the valley's landscape of frozen lakes, village meadows and larch forest. The classic and skating tracks run parallel throughout, and the light on the Engadin lakes in January and February, with the Bernina massif framing the south horizon, provides a backdrop without equivalent in Nordic skiing.
Planning Your Engadin Trip
The Engadin ski season runs from late November to late April at altitude; the glacier terrain at Corvatsch and Diavolezza opens earlier and closes later. St Moritz is served by the Rhaetian Railway from Chur (2 hours) and the Glacier Express from Zermatt (via Andermatt, approximately 7 hours). Zürich airport is 3 hours by train. The Engadin Top Ski pass covers Corviglia, Corvatsch, Diavolezza and Lagalb on a single ticket; day passes for individual areas are also available. Accommodation ranges from the grand palace hotels of St Moritz to very affordable options in Celerina, Pontresina and Zuoz. Cross-country skiing is included in the Engadin regional pass. Open the map to explore all ski areas across the upper and lower Engadin and plan your connections.