St. Moritz Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING ST. MORITZ