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Snow Polo, I.C.E., White Turf. Three events on the frozen lake.

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Madriche · Guides · Alpine

The St Moritz Guide

January and February in the Engadin. Three events on a frozen lake.

Where

St Moritz, Engadin, Switzerland

When

January — February

Read

10 min read

8 Chapters

AllMonaco GPRoyal AscotIbiza SummerSt TropezFIFA World CupVenice Film FestivalArt Basel MiamiCourchevelSt Moritz
The St Moritz Guide

The Week

St Moritz in January and February is not a ski resort that happens to have events. It is one of the great winter social seasons in the world, built around a frozen lake that hosts three events in four weeks that exist nowhere else on earth. The skiing is exceptional. The reason to come in January or February specifically is the lake.

Zurich, Then the Engadin

Ch. 01The Arrival

Zurich, Then the Engadin

Fly into Zurich. From there, St Moritz is reached either by the Glacier Express — a four-hour scenic rail journey through the Alps that is worth doing once — or by private transfer in around two and a half hours via the A13. Engadin Airport in Samedan is seven kilometres from St Moritz and handles private aviation directly, which removes Zurich entirely. In January and February, book transfers well in advance. The road from Chur narrows considerably in winter and the village fills completely during event weekends.

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Private Transfer · Zurich to St Moritz

Zurich Airport to St Moritz · 2.5 hours

From CHF 450 one way

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Ch. 02The Stay

Badrutt's Palace

There is one hotel in St Moritz. Badrutt's Palace has sat above the lake since 1896 and has not meaningfully changed what it does or who it does it for. The tower suite looks directly over the frozen lake and the event infrastructure that goes up each January. The King's Club in the basement is the only nightlife in St Moritz that matters. Book both the room and a King's Club table in September for January or February stays — neither will be available closer to the dates.

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Badrutt's Palace Hotel

Via Serlas 27 · St Moritz · Switzerland

From CHF 1,200 per night in season

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Badrutt's Palace
Snow Polo World Cup

Ch. 03The Lake · January

Snow Polo World Cup

The world's only high-goal polo tournament on snow has been held on the frozen lake since 1985. January 22–24, 2027. Four teams, three days, the lake as the pitch. The crowd that attends is specific — polo families, a Central European and South American contingent, and the St Moritz regulars who treat it as the opening act of the winter season. It is less formal than White Turf and considerably more accessible. The VIP tent on the lakeside is where the serious watching happens.

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Snow Polo World Cup · VIP Hospitality

Frozen Lake St Moritz · January 22–24, 2027

VIP packages from CHF 800pp

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Ch. 04The Lake · Late January

I.C.E. St Moritz

The International Concours of Elegance takes fifty of the rarest cars on earth and drives them on the frozen lake. Two days, late January. Lancia Stratos, Ferrari 750 Monza, Talbot-Lago Teardrop, McLaren F1 GTR — the selection changes each year and is decided by an international jury. The event is part concours, part cultural festival: the Engadin Art Talks and the St Moritz Art Film Festival run alongside it. Standing on the frozen surface of the lake while a 1937 Talbot-Lago accelerates past you is not something that has a direct comparison. Exact 2027 dates to be announced.

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The I.C.E. St Moritz

Frozen Lake St Moritz · Late January 2027

Tickets from CHF 120 · VIP preview from CHF 500

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I.C.E. St Moritz
White Turf

Ch. 05The Lake · February

White Turf

Three Sundays in February — February 7, 14, and 21 in 2027. International thoroughbred racing and skijoring on the frozen lake since 1907. Skijoring is the event: riderless horses pulling skiers at 50 kilometres per hour across a 2,700-metre course. It exists nowhere else in the world at this level. The grandstand and hospitality tents go up on the lake surface. The crowd is 35,000 on each Sunday. Book the VIP enclosure in October for any of the three dates — the February 21 final day is the one to prioritise.

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White Turf · VIP Enclosure

Frozen Lake St Moritz · Feb 7, 14, 21 · 2027

VIP packages from CHF 350pp per day

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Ch. 06The Mountain

Corviglia

The skiing above St Moritz is accessed via the funicular from the village centre to Corviglia at 2,486 metres. From there the Marguns and Signal runs connect to 87 kilometres of marked pistes. Mathis Food Affairs at the top of Corviglia is the lunch reservation — a mountain restaurant that operates at a standard most city restaurants do not reach. Book the table before you book the lift pass.

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Mathis Food Affairs

Corviglia · 2,486m · St Moritz

Lunch from CHF 80pp

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Corviglia
Chesa Veglia

Ch. 07The Dinner

Chesa Veglia

Chesa Veglia is a 17th-century Engadin farmhouse in the centre of St Moritz that Badrutt's Palace has operated as a restaurant since 1938. Three rooms, three different kitchens: the Patrizier Stuben for Swiss cuisine, the Pizzeria for wood-fired Neapolitan, and the Chadafö grills. The building is the oldest in St Moritz. Book through Badrutt's directly regardless of whether you are staying there.

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Chesa Veglia

Via Veglia 2 · St Moritz · Switzerland

Dinner from CHF 90pp

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Ch. 08The Night

King's Club

King's Club is in the basement of Badrutt's Palace and has been the only room in St Moritz since 1969. It opens at midnight and the crowd arrives accordingly. The DJ programme during event weekends in January and February is the best it gets all season. Non-hotel guests can reserve a table but the allocation is limited and goes in October alongside the hotel rooms. There is no alternative worth considering.

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King's Club · Badrutt's Palace

Via Serlas 27 · St Moritz · Switzerland

Table reservations from CHF 300 minimum

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King's Club

End of the Guide

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