Essentials
- City
- St. Moritz, Engadin, Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland
- Population
- Approximately 4,900 (swells to 25,000 in peak March season)
- Internet Speed
- Solid 100-500 Mbps via Swisscom and local fiber networks; very reliable
- Currency & Banking
- Swiss Franc (CHF); 1 CHF ≈ 1.13 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality mountain spring water at every tap
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J (3-pin) is standard; Type C (2-pin) also fits
- SIM Card
- Swisscom (best coverage), Salt, or Sunrise; approx. 49 CHF for unlimited monthly prepaid
- Banking for Expats
- UBS, Credit Suisse (UBS Group), and Graubündner Kantonalbank (GKB); Revolut/Neon widely used
- Accommodation
- Luxury hotels (Badrutt's Palace), serviced apartments (Chesa Veglia), and high-end Airbnbs
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile payments (TWINT) are accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local agencies like Interhome; expect 200-500 CHF per night in March
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel by Randolins (approx. 60-80 CHF/night) or Youth Hostel St. Moritz (approx. 75 CHF/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- St. Moritz Dorf for shopping and social scene; St. Moritz Bad for spa and lake access
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Celerina (5 mins away) for lower prices and quiet, or St. Moritz Bad for accessibility
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Office St. Moritz (Via Maistra 7); day pass approx. 45 CHF
- Best Cafe for Work
- Hanselmann (Via Maistra 8) - historic, good Wi-Fi, though busy at lunch
- Networking Events
- St. Moritz Business Club meetups and events held during the Snow Polo World Cup
- Social Events for Expats
- Apres-ski mixers at Rooftop Bar (Hauser Hotel) or local Rotary Club meetings
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber; use local Taxi St. Moritz (+41 81 833 40 40); very expensive (25+ CHF for short trips)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Ski Service Corvatsch for e-bikes in shoulder season; mostly ski rentals in March
- Best Beach Nearby
- Silvaplana Lake (kite-surfing beach), 10 mins away; strictly for summer swimming
- Top Regional Airline
- Swiss International Air Lines (via Zurich or Geneva)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Emirates, British Airways (via Zurich Airport)
- Highway Access
- Route 27; Julier Pass and Maloja Pass connect to Italy and Chur
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- St. Moritz Railway Station (Rhätische Bahn terminal for Glacier Express)
- Public Transport Passes
- Engadin Card (often included in hotel stays) or GA Travelcard/Half-Fare Travelcard
- Regional Travel
- Bernina Express to Tirano (Italy) or SBB trains to Zurich (3 hours)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Klinik Gut (Via Arlas 2) - specialized in sports medicine and orthopedics
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- OVAVERVA Pool, Spa & Sports Center (Via Mezdi 17)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Indu Fit (St. Moritz Bad); day pass approx. 30 CHF
- Laundry Services
- Textilreinigung St. Moritz (Via dal Bagn 13)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Smood.ch is the primary operator in the Engadin valley
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Engadiner Nusstorte (walnut tart) at Conditorei Hanselmann
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Hauser Restaurant (Via Traunter Plazzas 7) - excellent plant-based local options
- Best Dessert Spots
- Confiserie Sprüngli (pop-up) or Cafe Bellevue
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Denner (Via d'Aguas) or Aldi in nearby Samedan for lower prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Galaxus.ch, Amazon.de (with customs fees), or Digitec.ch
- Grocery Delivery
- Coop.ch or Migros Online (LeShop)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Via Maistra 'Triangle'; includes Dracula Club and King's Social House
- Local Brewery
- Engadiner Bier (Brewed in nearby Pontresina)
- Wine Bars
- Pavarotti & Friends (Via Maistra 10)
- Street Food Stalls
- Bustelli's Grill (sausages) near the lake during events
- Popular International Cuisine
- Dal Mulin (Alpine-Modern fusion) or Bobby's Pub (Burgers)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Leaning Tower (St. Maurituis), Segantini Museum
- Museums & Art Venues
- Berry Museum (housed in the 100-year-old Villa Arona)
- Historical Sites
- Chesa Veglia - a 17th-century farmhouse turned into a restaurant hub
- Religious Sites
- Regina Pacis Catholic Church (stunning architecture and views)
- Annual Events
- White Turf (Horse racing on the frozen lake) in February/March
- Cultural Districts
- St. Moritz Dorf (The luxury/historic center)
- Theater Venues
- La Coupole (Badrutt's Palace events space)
- Local Markets
- Weekly farmers market in Samedan (Wednesdays)
- Music Scene
- St. Moritz Jazz Festival (summer) and hotel lounges with live pianists
- Street Art
- Limited; focus is on high-end galleries like Hauser & Wirth
- Cooking Classes
- Culinary workshops at Badrutt's Palace (seasonal)
- Art Galleries
- Andrea Caratsch Gallery, Vito Schnabel Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Kulm Hotel (Site of the birth of winter tourism in 1864)
- Local Heritage
- Romansh culture and language (though German is dominant)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bernina Pass and the Morteratsch Glacier
- National Parks Nearby
- Swiss National Park (Zernez), approx. 40 mins by train
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lake St. Moritz circular walk (approx. 1 hour)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Muottas Muragl (accessible via funicular) for the best valley views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Stazerwald (forest between St. Moritz and Pontresina)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ pits at Lake Statz (Lej da Staz)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Die Post (Swiss Post) - Main branch at Via Maistra 37
- Tech Repair Services
- DataQuest in Chur (nearest Apple authorized repair), or local IT shops in Samedan
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at OVAVERVA sports center
- Language Classes
- Academia Engiadina in Samedan (German and Romansh courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliotheca Engiadinaisa (Sils Maria) - highly scenic and quiet
- Community Centers
- Ludoteca St. Moritz (community and games center)
- Gaming Lounges
- Not present; local hotels offer private cinema rooms
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino St. Moritz (Via Mezdi 29)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 18,000-25,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 800,000+ CHF)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 12,000-15,000 CHF per m² in Samedan (e.g., 40 m² = 520,000 CHF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 19,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,140,000 CHF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 13,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 780,000 CHF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 20,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,600,000 CHF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 14,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,120,000 CHF)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 14.5% (Combined Federal, Cantonal, and Communal in St. Moritz)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 35% (refundable or partially reducible via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents; possibility of 'Lump Sum' taxation for wealthy expats
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 25-30% effective rate (Cantonal/Federal combined)
- VAT
- 8.1% (Standard rate in Switzerland)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Switzerland does not have traditional CFC rules, but 'place of effective management' applies
- Property Tax
- Yes, Canton Graubünden levies a real estate tax (approx. 0.1% to 0.2%)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Handänderungssteuer (Transfer tax) is approx. 2% in Graubünden
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Generally high, but 'Flat-fee' (Lump sum) tax is available for non-employed residents with high net worth