Horsing around in St Moritz
White Turf St. Moritz
swiss-image.ch/Photo Andy Mettler
St. Moritz is where Switzerland’s luxury winter tourism was born way back in 1864, and since then, this spa resort town has been home to all sorts of winter sporting events. There are 350 kilometres of ski pistes, including the Corviglia, which boasts the steepest start slope in Switzerland. You can also go cross-country skiing, hiking or tobogganing. Plan your visit around one of the sporting events like White Turf St. Moritz (Feb 6-20, 2022, Sundays), where thoroughbred horses from all over Europe race on the frozen expanse of Lake St. Moritz. The event also has a fantastic fringe programme featuring live music, food and shopping.
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
Stay at: Opened in 1896, the family-owned Badrutt’s Palace Hotel has a legendary reputation. Each of the 156 rooms and suites is uniquely designed and comes with sweeping views of the lake or the charming village centre. Unwind at the Palace Wellness spa with massages and beauty services, a fully-equipped fitness centre and an indoor infinity swimming pool that sits in the shadow of the Engadine mountain.
The thrilling slopes of Zermatt
Home of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is perfect for some high-adrenaline ski adventures. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise has Europe’s longest piste, running from Klein Matterhorn to the village of Zermatt. If you’re up for a challenge, sign up for the Matterhorn Ski Safari that covers over 10,000 metres of altitude in a day. The rules are simple: you don’t use a lift or a cable car more than once and you don’t ski the same piste twice. Start at the Rothorn and use the Skiguide Zermatt app to keep a record of the lifts and trains you’ve used.
Mont Cervin Palace
Stay at: The old-world charm of Mont Cervin Palace makes it the perfect place for your stay, complete with a horse-drawn carriage pick-up from the train station. This traditional alpine hotel features cosy rooms and suites with views of the Matterhorn or snow-capped Swiss Alps. After a long day of skiing, its swimming pool and spa are ideal for relaxation and tranquillity.
Glacier fun at Engelberg-Titlis
The largest winter holiday destination in central Switzerland, Engelberg-Titlis is the ultimate place for mountain experiences like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, hiking and snowshoe tours. The impressive Mount Titlis, which sits at an elevation of 3,238 metres, can be accessed by the world’s first revolving cable car. Get breathtaking 360º views of the Engelberg valley from the summit, then make your way to Titlis Glacier Park for some exhilarating snow activities. Whiz down the snow toy run on a sit-ski, snake gliss or minibobs and let the magic carpet conveyor belt bring you back to the top. Or try snowtubing, which will see you hurtling down the piste on a rubber tyre.
Kempinski Palace Engelberg
Reinhard Westphal
Stay at: The recently opened Kempinski Palace Engelberg sits at the foot of Titlis, housed in a historic 1904 building fitted with contemporary rooms and suites. Don’t miss the rooftop spa which has an inviting relaxation room with a fireplace, Finnish and bio saunas, soothing steam baths, an ice fountain, a state-of-the-art fitness room and an impressive infinity pool with panoramic views of the mountain landscape.
Therapeutic spa at Interlaken
If you need to recuperate after all that winter fun and adventure, head to Interlaken where the stately Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa will pamper you to the hilt. Situated at the feet of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the sprawling Belle Epoque hotel dates back to 1856 and has retained its grandeur with gilded mirrors, stucco detailing and sparkling crystal. Most of its 200+ rooms and suites were renovated in 2019-2020 and combine historic architecture with modern amenities.
St. Moritz Aussicht auf Berglandschaft vom BalkonReto Guntli
Stay at: The highlight of the hotel is the 5,500 sqmt Spa Nescens. Its elegant interiors are reminiscent of the 1940s boudoir style that contrast beautifully with the rugged mountainscape visible from the brine pool. Book a signature massage or choose from a range of figure-shaping treatments, scrubs and wraps. The spa also has a sauna area, relaxation rooms, a fully-equipped gym and a salon.
Retail therapy in Zurich
You would be remiss if you left Switzerland without a spot of luxury shopping. Zurich is a shopper’s paradise, and the 1.4 km Bahnhofstrasse stretching from the main railway station to the lake is its most famous shopping street. Here, you will find everything from international brands and boutiques to Zurich specialties. It’s also a great place to buy a Swiss brand watch—Tissot, Bucherer, Audemars Piguet and many others have their boutiques here. Head to the Old Town for unique handcrafted accessories at Marktlücke, exquisite fabrics at Jakob Schlaepfer, traditional Swiss handicrafts at Schweizer Heimatwerk and artisanal chocolate from Max Chocolatier. For some trendy and creative offerings, hop on a tram to Im Viadukt in Zurich-West. Under the arches of a defunct 19th-century railway viaduct, you will find indie designer fashion and homeware, plus several restaurants and the excellent Markthalle for regional Swiss food products.
Storchen Zurich
Stay at: Make the most of your shopping trip in Zurich by halting at a city centre hotel. We recommend Storchen Zurich, just a few yards from Bahnhofstrasse. This intimate boutique hotel is a 650-year-old historic house with 64 newly redesigned rooms and suites that look out over the river Limmat, the picturesque old town or Lake Zurich.
5 essentials for a stylish winter getaway
When holidaying at a destination that is as beautiful as Switzerland, it only makes sense that your travel wardrobe reflects your surroundings. Below, Vogue‘s fashion stylist Naheed Driver, lists five items you can splurge on to look the part.
Source: https://t24hs.com
