I am a comparatively novice skier, having solely been on two ski journeys beforehand – however forward of my go to to St. Moritz, the popularity of the luxurious ski resort wasn’t misplaced on me. Its popularity preceded it, conjuring up phrases like opulence, glamour, and old-money stylish. I wasn’t certain what to anticipate.
However as I boarded the primary practice from Zurich airport to the principle practice station, I shortly realised I used to be in for a rare journey. I travelled all the journey to the mountains on the practice, beginning at Zurich primary station the place I boarded the practice to Chur, earlier than altering for the Bernina Categorical – one of many world’s most celebrated scenic railways.
The UNESCO-listed journey weaves via beautiful landscapes, charming valleys and majestic glaciers – alongside the way in which, I handed over 196 bridges and thru 55 tunnels, overlaying an 80-mile stretch of historical past and pure magnificence throughout the Albula and Bernina railway strains which run between Switzerland and Italy.
Three hours later, I reached my vacation spot. St. Moritz, which is thought for its glamorous previous, is experiencing a renaissance of types – drawing a youthful crowd wanting to discover its air of heritage and exclusivity. Surprisingly, solely a fraction of its guests come for snowboarding – a mere 40%, in truth. The remainder are right here for a lot of different points of interest – one such factor is the Solar Ice Pageant, now in its third yr, which transforms the city right into a hub of techno-loving fanatics, drawing a staggering 30,000 revellers from across the globe.
Then there’s the snow polo, which may very well be described as St. Moritz’s official sport. The usually grassy sport finds its frozen enviornment on this ultra-luxe Swiss ski city, the place the annual Snow Polo World Match, which takes place on frozen lake St.Moritz, is now a cornerstone of St. Moritz’s winter calendar.