As its name implies, St. Moritz is pure glamour. It’s a fact that if there was a Guinness World Record for the most outwardly glamorous people, St. Moritz would unquestionably be crowned. St. Moritz is the playground of the rich, richer and richest. It’s the supermodel of ski destinations with its own natural beauty and that of the international crowd who descend upon this Swiss town. Celebrities, magnates, royalty and oligarchs populate St. Moritz during ski season so you’ll likely see more fur per square meter than in any other location in the world.

So stunning is the scene that it will stop you in your tracks. However, it’s the insider tips to this ski town, that will get you seated next to royals on — and off — the chairlift. At Galavante, we’re the Working Jet Set, but this is one of those times that our working pays off for what is a lifetime experience.

Skiing or Relaxing

St. Moritz is a weekend where you can tear up the slopes or never touch the slopes at all, spending your days at the spa, shops and gorgeous hotels. The king is Badrutt’s , known simply as The Palace, the reason for which becomes clear as you drive up the glitzy Via Serlas. The Palace is a splendid luxury hotel catering to nearly every one of your needs. With comfortable rooms, world-class restaurants and a relaxing spa, you’ll have a hard time scaling the mountain, skis in tote. Not to worry, the Palace even has a luxury solution to schlepping — your very own coach to the ski lift, fully equipped with a tin full of homemade chocolates.

Exploring the Town

After settling in to your Palace suite, enjoy a welcome drink on your private balcony overlooking St. Moritz’s frozen lake. Then make your way down to the shore for a stroll around its perimeter. Back in the village, stop for a coffee and cake at Hanselmann’s — an old-style bakery serving the traditional Engadiner Nusstorte, a tart of caramel-walnut perfection. The shopping and gallery hopping in the village is high-class with prices to match. Nonetheless, exploring the town is a worthy adventure.

Dining in St. Moritz

Dinners here are a gorgeous affair where the champagne and wine are overflowing, confirming that the night is still young. For your first evening, try one of the three restaurants at Chesa Veglia, one of the oldest farmhouses in St. Moritz. The Pizzeria serves original Italian pizzas and pasta. The grill room Chadafö has a decadent Chateaubriand. The Patrizier-Stuben prepares wonderful Swiss and Italian fare including the traditional Pizzocheri, a buckwheat pasta dish baked with vegetables and cheese. Take an after dinner drink at the Polo Bar in the Chesa and then, for a relaxed evening of cocktails and live music, walk over to the Piano Bar at the Schweizerhof Hotel.

Morning Routine

Awaken to the sun shining through your balcony doors and spend a leisurely morning with the requisite breakfast of coffee, newspaper and a buffet full of fresh breads, meats, cheeses, eggs and fruit. Don’t be surprised if your favorite oligarch strolls in with his mini-dress clad girlfriend. Note: she is not wearing her outfit from the evening before. After breakfast, put on your ski gear and head up the mountain to Corviglia, the closest ski station to the village. Spend the afternoon en piste and stop for lunch at el Paradiso, a mountain-top restaurant with great views of the surrounding peaks and local glitterati. Go ahead and try the boeuf bourguignon or fondue with white truffles but be sure to leave room for dessert or stay long enough to make it an afternoon snack.

Later, soothe your sore muscles with a sauna and steam bath in the Palace’s newly renovated spa and relax as the sun sets by the pool. This is the calm before the storm. Ski-town nightlife in St. Moritz is unrivaled, from the notorious King’s Club to our favorite, Dracula, owned by International PLAYBOY — love that — Gunter Sachs. Playboy is the only distinction you can give to someone who married and divorced Bridget Bardot. Dracula, a private club/grill restaurant, is the best and only way to end your second day in St. Moritz.

Non-Ski Activities

The following day for non-skiers in the crowd, one of our favorite Galavante treks is hiking or snowshoeing the surrounding trails, coupled with lunch at one of St. Moritz’ famous Berg restaurants. For a leisurely walk on flat ground with or without your cross-country skis, we recommend the Bellavista and Hotel-Restaurant Lej da Staz. For a more intense hike uphill, Kuhstall and one of the Mathis Food Restaurants at the Corviglia ski station will certainly be a good way to reward yourself. If your partner or friends can’t stop themselves from clamping on their skis, these restaurants are also located en piste.

Après-Ski Options

For après-ski, retire to Hatecke, a café serving the best, dried local meat or the lobby of the Palace, which has a relaxed atmosphere and numerous backgammon sets. Before dinner, have a drink at the Renaissance Bar and then hop a taxi to La Barraca, a hip, no-frills restaurant serving family-style local food. The King’s Club below the Palace is also one of St. Moritz’s most visited nightclubs. After dinner you can catch some disco beats by singer Stacey King.

Depending on when you visit St. Moritz, there are several annual events worth attending each year. The most prominent is the St. Moritz Polo World Cup held in late January when four teams battle for the coveted trophy on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz. In the three weekends post-polo, White Turf equestrian racing takes its place on the ice. Both events boost the town’s already convivial spirit and take the glitz and glamour up a notch.

No matter when you visit this sunny paradise, make sure you don’t forget a pair of oversized Chanel sunglasses, because as long as you look the part, you’ll also be treated as a VIP. St. Moritz is living out the Jet Set fantasy, even if just for a weekend.

Final Tips:

• Transportation: Taxis are a reliable form of transportation. However, in Switzerland they can often be quadruple the price of other major cities.
• Airport Transfer: Zurich or Milan Linate International Airports are the closest commercial airports to St. Moritz. From both Zurich and Milan a train takes roughly 3 hours to St. Moritz station. For access by private jet or helicopter, the Engadine has an airport located near St. Moritz in Samedan. https://www.engadin-airport.ch
• Ski Rental: If you are staying at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, ski and snowshoe rentals (including boots) are available in the hotel’s ski shop. Various other ski shops in the village also have high-quality equipment available to rent.
• Shopping: Probably the most uniquely curated selection of avant-garde designer clothing and accessories is at Trois Pomme, Switzerland’s chain of boutiques carrying virtually all high-end designers. In St. Moritz village, there are several outlets for men and women. St. Moritz village is also peppered with designer shops from Gucci to Chanel.
  There are a few good galleries in St. Moritz including Galerie Gmurzynska located directly across from the Palace, the gallery Botero and sculptor David Smith, and Galerie Karsten Greve which also has a lovely selection of modern and contemporary works. Our favorite artist on show was Louise Bourgeois.
• Sightseeing: If you haven’t had enough of the snow-covered mountain views and bon vivants, check out the Chesa Futura, a small apartment building located over the edge of a slope, looking down over the village. This modern building was designed by Norman Foster and remains a discussion point amongst the new and old establishment in St. Moritz. The Swiss National Park is also a one-hour drive from St. Moritz. It is certainly worth the trip with park-quality trails winding over every mountain and valley.