# Engadine

The upper Inn valley in Graubünden, with lakes at around 1,800 m, houses decorated with sgraffito and Romansh as its own language. The Bernina Railway, a World Heritage Site, links it with Italy.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/switzerland/graubunden/engadine · Revisado: 2026-11-13

## Getting there from Spain

Fly to Zurich and continue by train via Chur to St. Moritz: the last stretch is the Albula line, the one with the Landwasser Viaduct, so the journey is already an excursion. Another option is to fly to Milan and enter via Tirano on the Bernina train. By car you arrive over the Julier Pass or through the Vereina tunnel, with a car-carrying shuttle train.

## Getting around without a car

The villages of the Upper Engadine (St. Moritz, Pontresina, Samedan, Celerina, Sils) are linked by train and bus, and the cable car stations are right beside the line. With the Swiss Travel Pass the train is included, but note: it is not accepted at Diavolezza, and at Muottas Muragl neither the Half Fare Card nor the GA are valid. In summer, many hotels and apartments in the Upper Engadine include the lifts free from the second night: ask when you book.

## Crowds and what to book

What fills up is the Bernina Express in summer: book in good time or take the same journey on the regional train. The rest is bought on the spot. Out of season, from mid-October to December and in April and May, many lifts and hotels close.

## Where to eat

Restaurant Morteratsch, Graubünden cooking beside the Bernina station and at the foot of the glacier

Hanselmann, the café and pastry shop from 1894 on St. Moritz's main street

Panoramarestaurant Muottas Muragl, dinner at 2,456 m above the lakes, reached only by funicular

## Where to stay

Hotel Saratz Pontresina, a four-star superior hotel for families, next to Pontresina station

Pontresina Youth Hostel, opposite the station, breakfast included

Hotel Waldhaus Sils, the grand hotel from 1908 above Sils Maria, with a spa

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Alps
- Cerca: Lake Como (a 70.6 km · Italy), Lake Garda (a 115.4 km · Italy)

## Qué hacer
- **The Bernina Line from St. Moritz to Tirano, by Bernina Express or Regional Train** (2 h 15 · All ages · Desde 35 € per person, one way in second class): The Bernina line has been a World Heritage Site since 2008 and is the most spectacular train ride in the Engadine. The regional train, the one the Italians call the Trenino Rosso, runs the same route several times a day, stops at every station and lets you get off to walk.
What it is
The Bernina line links St. Moritz with Tirano, in Italy's Valtellina, over 60.7 km of narrow-gauge track. It climbs to the Ospizio Bernina, at 2,253 m, and drops to Tirano's 429 m without a cogwheel, with gradients of up to 7%: it is the highest adhesion railway in the Alps. In a couple of hours you go from glaciers to chestnut trees and vineyards.
Since 7 July 2008 it has been a World Heritage Site together with the Albula line. It is operated by the Rhätische Bahn with two kinds of train on the same track: the panoramic Bernina Express and the regional train.
What you see from the window

The Bernina valley and Morteratsch: after Pontresina, the train passes the mouth of the Morteratsch valley, where the glacier trail begins, and the Diavolezza station.
Ospizio Bernina and Lago Bianco: the highest point, among lakes and glaciers, in an almost treeless landscape.
Alp Grüm (2,091 m): the station perched above the Poschiavo valley, with the Palü glacier opposite.
The descent to Poschiavo: tight curves and loops that drop more than a thousand metres from Alp Grüm to Poschiavo.
The Brusio circular viaduct: 143 m of stone in a spiral, where the track makes a full turn over itself to lose height.
Tirano: the train crosses the main street and stops beside the Italian station.

Bernina Express or regional
The route is the same. The Bernina Express has panoramic carriages with windows up to the roof, fewer stops and a compulsory reservation of CHF 32 per person, children included. The regional train runs more often, stops at every station, has windows that open for photos and its reservation, at CHF 5, is optional. The ticket from St. Moritz to Tirano costs CHF 35 in second class one way and CHF 70 return; the Swiss Travel Pass covers it on both trains.
- **Morteratsch Glacier Trail from the Station** (1 h 50 · 5.8 km · Families · Independent · free): What it is
The Morteratsch Glacier Trail is an easy walk along the floor of the Morteratsch valley, near Pontresina, from the railway station to the glacier tongue. What makes it different is what it tells you along the way: along the route, 16 information points mark where the ice reached in different years. When the Bernina railway opened, in the early 20th century, the glacier was a few hundred metres from the station; since then it has retreated about 2.5 km.
You literally walk over the ground the glacier covered a few decades ago, and see with your own eyes what melting means.
The route step by step

Start at Morteratsch station: the Rhätische Bahn trains on the Bernina line stop at the mouth of the valley. At the mouth of the valley is the Restaurant Morteratsch.
The valley floor: a wide path climbs gently between larches and pines, following the stream. You pass the panels with the dates.
The moraine: the forest opens out and the terrain turns to stone and gravel, left behind by the ice as it withdrew.
The glacier tongue: you reach the ice front, with Piz Bernina and Piz Palü at the head of the valley.
Return: back the same way to the station.

According to Engadin St. Moritz Tourismus it is 2.9 km and about 50 minutes to the glacier, with 130 m of ascent. Out and back, about 5.8 km and a little under two hours with stops.
When to go
In summer and autumn, when the path is free of snow. In autumn the larches turn golden and the valley is at its best. In summer, an alpine cheese dairy operates at the Morteratsch farm and can be visited.
In winter the valley stays open: the glacier path can be walked from the station over the snow, and there is a cross-country ski trail from Pontresina. The valley is also the end of the longest glacier ski descent in Switzerland, which comes down from the Diavolezza.
With children, pushchairs and dogs
It is an ideal outing with small children: short, almost flat and with a story that explains itself. For families, Pontresina recommends the children's booklet "Sabis grosser Traum", which accompanies the route. The path is wide; you can manage with a pushchair, although the last stretch over the moraine is loose stone. Dogs are welcome, on a lead.
Eating and drinking
The Restaurant Morteratsch, at the mouth of the valley, serves mostly home cooking. Beside the Morteratsch campsite is the Restaurant Aratsch. Carry water in summer: there is almost no shade in the upper part.
Getting there
By train, the Bernina line stops at Morteratsch, a few minutes from Pontresina. It is the most convenient way to get there. By car, the station is beside the Bernina Pass road.
Other routes from here
If you want more, the path to the Chamanna da Boval, a mountain hut with a terrace, leaves from the valley, for a day excursion. And very close to the station, a short trail leads to the Bernina waterfall (Cascada da Bernina).
- **The Albula Line and the Landwasser Viaduct: the Glacier Express Stretch on a Regional Train** (2 h · All ages): The full Glacier Express, from St. Moritz to Zermatt, is a whole day sitting down. If it's the spectacular part you want, do the Albula on a regional train and save yourself the day.
What it is
The Albula line is the Rhätische Bahn section between Thusis and St. Moritz: 61.7 km of narrow-gauge track that crosses the Albula Pass with a chain of spiral tunnels, stone viaducts and tight curves, with no cogwheel and gradients of up to 35 per thousand. Its highest point, at 1,821 m, lies inside the Albula tunnel, almost 5.9 km long. Since 7 July 2008 it has been a World Heritage Site together with the Bernina line, as an example of how a mountain railway blends into the landscape.
For you it means you can do the most spectacular stretch of the Glacier Express route on a regional train, with an ordinary ticket, and get off wherever you like.
What you see from the window

The Albula tunnel, between Spinas and Preda, beneath the pass.
The spiral tunnels between Preda and Bergün: the train loops inside the mountain and comes out again above itself to lose height. From the window you see the same Bergün bell tower appear at different heights and from different sides.
Bergün, a village of painted Engadine houses, with the Bahnmuseum Albula, the line's railway museum, beside the station.
The Landwasser Viaduct, just before Filisur: 142 m long and 65 m high, on a curve, with the last arch resting on the rock wall, where the track goes straight into a tunnel.

Tickets
On the regional train any ordinary Rhätische Bahn ticket is valid, and the Swiss Travel Pass covers it entirely; no reservation is needed. On the Glacier Express, the ticket is also covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, but the seat reservation, at CHF 54, is compulsory for any stretch.
On foot beside the track
Between Preda and Bergün runs the Bahnhistorischer Lehrpfad, a railway trail with panels that follows the track and the points from which you can see the spiral tunnels from outside. It is a good way to combine the journey with a downhill walk: get off at Preda, walk to Bergün and carry on on the next train.
With children and when to go
It is a journey that works at any age: children press against the window in the spiral tunnels, trying to guess where the train will come out. All year round: in summer with green meadows, in autumn with yellow larches and in winter with snow, when the Bergün valley looks whitest. On foggy days in the valley bottom, though, you miss a lot.
Round off the day with the other World Heritage train, the Bernina line, which leaves from the same St. Moritz station for Italy.
- **Muottas Muragl Funicular and the Panoramic Trail to Alp Languard** (4 h · All ages · Desde 42.5 € adult, return): What it is
Muottas Muragl is a natural balcony over the Upper Engadine, at 2,456 m, reached by a funicular that has been running for over a century. From the terrace at the top you take in the whole valley at a glance: Samedan and Celerina below, St. Moritz and the chain of Engadine lakes as far as Maloja. And all without walking.
At the top there is a mountain hotel with a panoramic restaurant, a terrace and the start of several trails with views, among them the panoramic trail that leads to Alp Languard, above Pontresina.
The funicular
It leaves from the valley station at Punt Muragl, between Samedan and Pontresina, and takes about 10 minutes to climb. In the summer season it runs with departures every 30 minutes, at quarter past and quarter to the hour, the first at 7:45. Times can change without notice: check the day's timetable on its website.
Season

Summer 2026: 6 June to 25 October.
Autumn special: 26 October to 1 November 2026, weather permitting, with ascents from 9:15 to 16:45. The funicular runs but the hotel and restaurant are closed.
Winter 2026/27: the hotel opens from 19 December 2026 to 4 April 2027, and the funicular runs during the winter season.

Tickets and prices
In summer, the return ticket costs CHF 42.50 for adults, CHF 28.30 for ages 13 to 17 and CHF 14.20 for ages 6 to 12. From 18:00 there is an evening ascent for CHF 18. For families, the first child pays, the second gets a 30% discount and from the third on they travel free. It does not accept the Half Fare Card or the GA travelcard.
The panoramic trail to Alp Languard
This is the path that makes this mountain famous: about 7 km, almost level, along the high hillside, from Muottas Muragl to Alp Languard, with the valley and the lakes below. Halfway there is a mountain restaurant. Allow about 2 hours 30 minutes. From Alp Languard you go down to Pontresina by chairlift or on foot, and in Pontresina you take the train back to Punt Muragl, which is one stop away.
If you want something shorter, the Philosophenweg, the philosophers' path, is a 2.7 km circuit near the top station. Engadin St. Moritz Tourismus gives it as 1 h 30 and medium difficulty.
Getting there
By train, the Rhätische Bahn stops at Punt Muragl, beside the funicular station. From St. Moritz and from Pontresina it is a short ride. By car, there is free parking at the valley station, at Punt Muragl 1, Samedan.
With children
It works very well with small children: they like the funicular, there is room at the top and the terrace has views that impress without effort. The panoramic trail is almost level, although 2 hours 30 minutes is a lot for the youngest; for them, a there-and-back stretch is better.
When to go
In summer, with clear skies in the morning. In autumn, from late September, the larches in the valley turn golden. At sunset the light over the lakes is at its best, and the evening ticket makes it cheap.
- **Diavolezza Cable Car, Facing Piz Palü and Piz Bernina** (3 h · All ages; dogs free · Desde 44 € adult, return): What it is
The Diavolezza is a high-mountain viewpoint above the Bernina Pass, in the Upper Engadine. A cable car climbs from the valley station, beside the road and the Bernina railway line, to the Berghaus Diavolezza, at almost 3,000 m. From the terrace you have in front of you one of the most complete glacier panoramas in the Alps: Piz Bernina, the only 4,000-metre peak in the Eastern Alps, Piz Palü with its three buttresses, and the Pers and Morteratsch glaciers, which join at your feet.
It is one of the easiest ways to see a great glacier from above without walking: you step out of the cable car and you are already at the viewpoint.
What you see and do at the top

The viewpoint and the Berghaus terrace, with the Bernina and the Palü opposite.
The Berghaus Diavolezza: a mountain restaurant and hotel, with Valtellina cooking such as pizzoccheri, and an outdoor hot tub facing the glaciers.
The Sass Queder barbecue area, at 3,066 m, a little higher up.
Guided excursions: the Glacier Experience Trail, a glacier crossing with the Bergsteigerschule Pontresina, the village's mountain guides' school. Do not go onto the glacier on your own.
Two via ferratas on Piz Trovat, for those with experience and equipment.

At the valley station there is an interactive exhibition on glacier melt and the effects of climate change in the high mountains, worth seeing before or after you go up.
Seasons and opening times
The cable car runs in summer and winter. In autumn 2026, the cable car and the Berghaus are open every day until 15 November. The ski season runs from mid-October to early May; in autumn you can ski on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Between seasons there are closures for maintenance: check the dates and timetable on the Corvatsch Diavolezza Lagalb website.
Tickets and prices
In summer, the return ticket costs CHF 44 for adults, CHF 29.50 for young people and CHF 14.50 for children. With a meal at the Berghaus, CHF 57. It accepts the Half Fare Card and the GA travelcard, but not the Swiss Travel Pass. Dogs travel free.
Getting there
By train, the Rhätische Bahn's Bernina line stops at Bernina Diavolezza station, beside the cable car, a few minutes from Pontresina. From St. Moritz it is a short ride on the train towards Tirano, the same one as the Bernina line. By car, the valley station is on the Bernina Pass road, with parking.
How long
Half a day: the cable car ride up, one or two hours at the top with lunch on the terrace and the valley exhibition. More if you take a guided glacier excursion.
With children and the altitude
It is an easy outing with children: it is all cable car and terrace. At almost 3,000 m the air is cold and the sun is strong, even in August: bring a coat, sunglasses and sun cream, for them too. If anyone feels dizzy or gets a headache, go down.
Combine it
From below you see the result of the melt: a couple of stations further down, at Morteratsch, the Morteratsch glacier trail begins, which reaches the glacier tongue on foot. Together they make a good day: the glacier from above in the morning and from below in the afternoon.
- **Val Trupchun, in the Swiss National Park, from S-chanf** (4 h · 14 km · Families who walk and teenagers · Independent · free; guided excursion on Thursdays): What it is
The Val Trupchun is a side valley of the Swiss National Park, the oldest nature park in the Alps, entered from S-chanf, in the Upper Engadine. It is one of the best places in the park to see wildlife: chamois and red deer on the slopes, marmots beside the path and, at the head of the valley, groups of ibex on the scree. There is no hunting here, no logging, and the animals are used to seeing people on the trail, so they let you watch them from a distance.
The route step by step

Start at the Prasüras car park (1,677 m), on the edge of S-chanf. You can drive this far; beyond this point traffic is forbidden.
The valley floor: the path climbs beside the river, through forest, past the Varusch area. You soon enter the national park.
The head of the valley: the forest opens into meadows and stony slopes. Here you start to see animals: stop and look with binoculars.
Alp Trupchun (2,042 m): the rest area, with drinking-water fountains, in a bowl of mountains. It is the best spot to look for ibex and deer.
Return: along the same valley or along the other bank of the river back to Prasüras.

The round trip from S-chanf is about 14 km, with around 500 m of ascent and about 4 hours' walking, not counting stops, which here are long. It is a mountain path with no technical difficulty, well marked with the park's signs. For stronger walkers, route 02 continues to the Fuorcla Trupchun, the pass at the head of the valley.
Park rules
The Swiss National Park is a strict nature reserve, with strict rules: you may not leave the marked paths, bring dogs, even on a lead, pick plants or stones, light fires or camp. Cycling on the trail is not allowed either. The park rangers make sure the rules are kept.
Season and guided excursions
The walking season runs from June to October, depending on the snow. In 2026 the park organised guided excursions to the Val Trupchun on Thursdays, from 18 June to 22 October, with advance booking. They are a good way to learn where and how to look.
Late September is the rutting season, when the stags bellow on the slopes: it is the busiest time of year in the valley.
Getting there
By car to the Prasüras car park, in S-chanf; check on arrival whether it is paid. By public transport, the little Express Parc Naziunel train and the Engadin Bus buses reach Prasüras from S-chanf; check their timetable, which is separate. S-chanf is reached by the Rhätische Bahn train through the Engadine.
Water, food and what to bring
Bring food: if the alp hut is closed there is nowhere to buy anything. At Alp Trupchun there are drinking-water fountains, but carry your own water. Binoculars are essential; a spotting scope, if you have one. Mountain footwear and warm clothing: at 2,000 m the weather changes quickly.
With children
For children who can walk well for a few hours, it is the Engadine outing they will enjoy most: seeing real ibex and marmots. For the youngest, the first stretch along the valley floor is already interesting. If it rains or fog closes in, the animals hide and it is best to turn back.

## Dónde comer
- **Restaurant Morteratsch** (Restaurant, Pontresina, €€). Qué pedir: at lunchtime, the gratinéed capuns or the pizzoccheri; if there are several of you, the Graubünden platter of cured meats and cheese to share, and a slice of the house walnut tart with coffee.
- **Hanselmann** (Café, St. Moritz, €€). Qué pedir: a coffee with a slice of Engadiner Nusstorte, the house walnut and caramel tart; for the road, Birnbrot, the pear bread of Graubünden.
- **Panoramarestaurant Muottas Muragl** (Restaurant, Samedan, €€€). Qué pedir: at lunchtime, the Valtellina pizzoccheri or the rösti with egg and bacon, and the Engadiner Nusstorte for dessert; for dinner, book a window table at sunset.

## Car-free: The Engadine by train and bus, without a car
The Upper Engadine can be explored entirely without a car. The Rhaetian Railway train links St. Moritz, Celerina, Samedan, Punt Muragl, Pontresina and the Bernina stations, and buses reach Sils and Maloja. The cable cars and the funicular leave next to the track. The budget is set by the accommodation and the ascents: in summer, from the second night, many places to stay include transport and lifts.
Presupuesto orientativo: 120–450 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Hotel Saratz Pontresina** (Hotel): A hotel from 1865 made for families
The Saratz is one of the hotels with the most history in Pontresina: it opened in 1865 as a guesthouse and by 1875 was already a hotel. The Saratz family, who give it its name, are considered the founders of the village as a summer resort. Today it is four-star superior, with 92 rooms and 184 beds, and mixes an Art Nouveau wing, the Chesa Nouva, with renovated areas. It is at the entrance to the village, on the Via da la Staziun, facing the Val Roseg and its glacier.
What sets it apart is that it is designed for travelling with children. It is a member of Swiss Family Hotels, has a supervised children's club from age 3, a corner for over-9s, and a cot, bath, bottle warmer and children's bathrobe in the room, and a paid babysitter at CHF 35 an hour. In winter 2026-27, from 18 December to 14 March, there is supervised play from 15:00 to 20:00, and dinner with the instructors for CHF 30 per child if you ask a day in advance.
Rooms, pools and park
There are nine categories, from simple rooms to junior suites with parquet in the historic wing, with views of the Val Roseg or the village. The family rooms in the Chesa Nouva measure 42 m², with a sitting area, bedroom and two entrances. All have a bath or shower, wifi, Nespresso and minibar included. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00.
The hotel has an indoor pool at 30 °C with a jacuzzi, a hammam in the vaulted cellar, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and a gym. Outside, a 35,000 m² park with the outdoor Bagnera pool, 10 × 20 m and at 27 °C, the highest and largest in the Upper Engadine according to the house, open from late June to September if the weather allows; there are also tennis, minigolf, a trampoline, a tipi and a playground. For dinner there is the Art Nouveau Jugendstil dining room, with half board of three or five courses, and the more informal Pitschna Scena, with a terrace.
Arriving without a car and what is included
The hotel picks you up free at Pontresina station from 8:00 to 21:00 if you let them know. In summer, from the second night, Engadine public transport (train from Maloja to Cinuos-chel and as far as Alp Grüm, bus and PostAuto) and the summer lifts are included. In winter it offers a lift pass at CHF 55 per person per day. If you arrive by car, outdoor or garage parking costs CHF 18 a night and there are paid electric chargers. From here Morteratsch station and the glacier trail are two stops away.
- **Pontresina Youth Hostel (Jugendherberge Pontresina)** (Hostel): The hostel
Pontresina Youth Hostel belongs to the Swiss Youth Hostels network and is run by its own association. It is on the Via da la Staziun, right opposite Pontresina station, at 1,800 m: you step off the train and cross the road. Instead of stars it carries the "Hostel" label from HotellerieSuisse, and has the ibex fairstay sustainability label at its platinum level. It is the place in the Upper Engadine to spend little without giving up sleeping by the train.
It runs seasonally. In 2026 it is closed until 27 November; it opens in winter until 4 April 2027 and in summer from 29 May to 24 October 2027.
Rooms and meals
It has 29 rooms and 119 beds: 4-bed single-sex rooms and mixed 6-bed rooms, family rooms with a double bed and a bunk, and doubles or twins, also for single use. All have a washbasin and bed linen is included. Three of the family rooms are barrier-free accessible, although not all their beds are. A towel costs CHF 3 in the dormitories and is included in the doubles and family rooms.
The buffet breakfast, from 7:00 to 9:30, is included. Dinner is served from 18:00 to 19:30, with salad or soup, a main course and dessert, and you must sign up before 10:00: CHF 19.50 for adults, CHF 14.50 for ages 6 to 12 and CHF 8.50 for ages 2 to 5. You can order a picnic bag from CHF 10 for your day out. There is a bar with coffee and cake from 11:30 to 16:30, a kiosk, a fireplace, a sunny terrace and, in winter, a Stübli with a menu.
For families, cyclists and cross-country skiers
In front of the house there is a pump track, a football pitch, beach volleyball and table tennis, and inside, a play corner, cot, high chair and changing table. In summer, bike trails lead off in all directions and there is a lockable bike room; in winter, the cross-country track passes the door and there is a ski room, a waxing room and a cross-country shop and school in the same house. In summer, from two nights, the lifts are included; in winter, Sleep & Ski gets you the pass at CHF 47 per day. On foot you have the entrance to the Val Roseg and a supermarket about ten minutes away. If you arrive by car, outdoor parking costs CHF 10 and has to be requested.
- **Hotel Waldhaus Sils** (Spa hotel): A family hotel since 1908
The Waldhaus, the "house in the woods", is the grand hotel of Sils Maria, in the Upper Engadine, about 10 km south-west of St. Moritz. It stands on a wooded rise above the village, with Lake Silvaplana to the east, Lake Sils and Maloja to the west and the entrance to the Val Fex to the south. It was opened on 15 June 1908 by Josef Giger and Amalia Giger-Nigg, who had previously managed grand hotels for others, and it has not changed hands since: today it is run by Claudio and Patrick Dietrich, the fifth generation, without partners or outside managers. The family invests in the building every year, but has decided not to extend it.
It belongs to Swiss Historic Hotels and Historic Hotels of Europe. It is not a new design hotel: it is a period hotel with a lobby, lounges, reading room, smoking room and bar, where many guests have returned every summer since childhood, and where music and culture are programmed through its foundation, created in 2015.
Rooms, spa and children
It has 140 rooms and suites, each different, from practical to luxurious, from historic to modern. As a century ago, rooms can be joined together for families.
The spa covers 1,500 m² over three floors: a 20 m indoor pool, a children's pool, an outdoor jacuzzi, saunas, relaxation baths of Swiss stone pine and larch, hot stones, a relaxation room, a Kneipp circuit and six treatment rooms, also for children and teenagers. If you are not staying there, you can book a day ticket for the pool or spa. Guests have a free gym.
For children there is a supervised club for ages 3 to 12, open until 21:00 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, a children's cinema every day and a weekly party. In summer, the playground and minigolf are free for guests, and there are two outdoor tennis courts and one indoor. In winter, resident children up to 12 ski free. The main restaurant is called GIGERs, after the founders.
Getting there and when it opens
It opens seasonally: it is closed between seasons and returns on 11 December 2026, until 4 April 2027. Without a car, take the train to St. Moritz: the hotel's chauffeur picks you up free if you tell them the time. From Sils start the flat walks along the lakeshore and the climb to the Val Fex.

## By plane: Fly to Zurich and take the train to the Engadine
The Engadine has no scheduled flights from Spain. The practical thing is to fly to Zurich, which has direct flights from several Spanish cities, and continue by train: from the airport to Zurich HB and from there to St. Moritz via Chur and the Albula line, about three and a quarter hours, or via Landquart and the Vereina tunnel. The other gateway is Milan: from the airport you take the train to Tirano and go up on the Bernina line.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Hotel Saratz Pontresina** (Hotel): A hotel from 1865 made for families
The Saratz is one of the hotels with the most history in Pontresina: it opened in 1865 as a guesthouse and by 1875 was already a hotel. The Saratz family, who give it its name, are considered the founders of the village as a summer resort. Today it is four-star superior, with 92 rooms and 184 beds, and mixes an Art Nouveau wing, the Chesa Nouva, with renovated areas. It is at the entrance to the village, on the Via da la Staziun, facing the Val Roseg and its glacier.
What sets it apart is that it is designed for travelling with children. It is a member of Swiss Family Hotels, has a supervised children's club from age 3, a corner for over-9s, and a cot, bath, bottle warmer and children's bathrobe in the room, and a paid babysitter at CHF 35 an hour. In winter 2026-27, from 18 December to 14 March, there is supervised play from 15:00 to 20:00, and dinner with the instructors for CHF 30 per child if you ask a day in advance.
Rooms, pools and park
There are nine categories, from simple rooms to junior suites with parquet in the historic wing, with views of the Val Roseg or the village. The family rooms in the Chesa Nouva measure 42 m², with a sitting area, bedroom and two entrances. All have a bath or shower, wifi, Nespresso and minibar included. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00.
The hotel has an indoor pool at 30 °C with a jacuzzi, a hammam in the vaulted cellar, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and a gym. Outside, a 35,000 m² park with the outdoor Bagnera pool, 10 × 20 m and at 27 °C, the highest and largest in the Upper Engadine according to the house, open from late June to September if the weather allows; there are also tennis, minigolf, a trampoline, a tipi and a playground. For dinner there is the Art Nouveau Jugendstil dining room, with half board of three or five courses, and the more informal Pitschna Scena, with a terrace.
Arriving without a car and what is included
The hotel picks you up free at Pontresina station from 8:00 to 21:00 if you let them know. In summer, from the second night, Engadine public transport (train from Maloja to Cinuos-chel and as far as Alp Grüm, bus and PostAuto) and the summer lifts are included. In winter it offers a lift pass at CHF 55 per person per day. If you arrive by car, outdoor or garage parking costs CHF 18 a night and there are paid electric chargers. From here Morteratsch station and the glacier trail are two stops away.
- **Pontresina Youth Hostel (Jugendherberge Pontresina)** (Hostel): The hostel
Pontresina Youth Hostel belongs to the Swiss Youth Hostels network and is run by its own association. It is on the Via da la Staziun, right opposite Pontresina station, at 1,800 m: you step off the train and cross the road. Instead of stars it carries the "Hostel" label from HotellerieSuisse, and has the ibex fairstay sustainability label at its platinum level. It is the place in the Upper Engadine to spend little without giving up sleeping by the train.
It runs seasonally. In 2026 it is closed until 27 November; it opens in winter until 4 April 2027 and in summer from 29 May to 24 October 2027.
Rooms and meals
It has 29 rooms and 119 beds: 4-bed single-sex rooms and mixed 6-bed rooms, family rooms with a double bed and a bunk, and doubles or twins, also for single use. All have a washbasin and bed linen is included. Three of the family rooms are barrier-free accessible, although not all their beds are. A towel costs CHF 3 in the dormitories and is included in the doubles and family rooms.
The buffet breakfast, from 7:00 to 9:30, is included. Dinner is served from 18:00 to 19:30, with salad or soup, a main course and dessert, and you must sign up before 10:00: CHF 19.50 for adults, CHF 14.50 for ages 6 to 12 and CHF 8.50 for ages 2 to 5. You can order a picnic bag from CHF 10 for your day out. There is a bar with coffee and cake from 11:30 to 16:30, a kiosk, a fireplace, a sunny terrace and, in winter, a Stübli with a menu.
For families, cyclists and cross-country skiers
In front of the house there is a pump track, a football pitch, beach volleyball and table tennis, and inside, a play corner, cot, high chair and changing table. In summer, bike trails lead off in all directions and there is a lockable bike room; in winter, the cross-country track passes the door and there is a ski room, a waxing room and a cross-country shop and school in the same house. In summer, from two nights, the lifts are included; in winter, Sleep & Ski gets you the pass at CHF 47 per day. On foot you have the entrance to the Val Roseg and a supermarket about ten minutes away. If you arrive by car, outdoor parking costs CHF 10 and has to be requested.
- **Hotel Waldhaus Sils** (Spa hotel): A family hotel since 1908
The Waldhaus, the "house in the woods", is the grand hotel of Sils Maria, in the Upper Engadine, about 10 km south-west of St. Moritz. It stands on a wooded rise above the village, with Lake Silvaplana to the east, Lake Sils and Maloja to the west and the entrance to the Val Fex to the south. It was opened on 15 June 1908 by Josef Giger and Amalia Giger-Nigg, who had previously managed grand hotels for others, and it has not changed hands since: today it is run by Claudio and Patrick Dietrich, the fifth generation, without partners or outside managers. The family invests in the building every year, but has decided not to extend it.
It belongs to Swiss Historic Hotels and Historic Hotels of Europe. It is not a new design hotel: it is a period hotel with a lobby, lounges, reading room, smoking room and bar, where many guests have returned every summer since childhood, and where music and culture are programmed through its foundation, created in 2015.
Rooms, spa and children
It has 140 rooms and suites, each different, from practical to luxurious, from historic to modern. As a century ago, rooms can be joined together for families.
The spa covers 1,500 m² over three floors: a 20 m indoor pool, a children's pool, an outdoor jacuzzi, saunas, relaxation baths of Swiss stone pine and larch, hot stones, a relaxation room, a Kneipp circuit and six treatment rooms, also for children and teenagers. If you are not staying there, you can book a day ticket for the pool or spa. Guests have a free gym.
For children there is a supervised club for ages 3 to 12, open until 21:00 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, a children's cinema every day and a weekly party. In summer, the playground and minigolf are free for guests, and there are two outdoor tennis courts and one indoor. In winter, resident children up to 12 ski free. The main restaurant is called GIGERs, after the founders.
Getting there and when it opens
It opens seasonally: it is closed between seasons and returns on 11 December 2026, until 4 April 2027. Without a car, take the train to St. Moritz: the hotel's chauffeur picks you up free if you tell them the time. From Sils start the flat walks along the lakeshore and the climb to the Val Fex.

## As a family: A valley you travel by train

The Upper Engadine lets you mix ages: the little ones enjoy the train and the flat walks, the older ones go up the Diavolezza or walk in the National Park.

### What works best
The Bernina line to Tirano, on the regional train

The Morteratsch glacier on foot and the Diavolezza by cable car, on the same day

The Val Trupchun to see ibex, if everyone can walk four hours

### Where to sleep
St. Moritz or Pontresina, beside the train

Accommodation with lifts included from the second night

### Where to eat
Supermarkets in St. Moritz and Pontresina

Mountain restaurants at Muottas Muragl and the Diavolezza

### Bear in mind
The Diavolezza and Muottas Muragl have a family fare: the third child free

In the National Park you cannot leave the path or bring a dog

To go down to Tirano, bring ID documents for everyone

### Qué hacer as a family
- The Bernina Line from St. Moritz to Tirano, by Bernina Express or Regional Train
- Morteratsch Glacier Trail from the Station
- The Albula Line and the Landwasser Viaduct: the Glacier Express Stretch on a Regional Train
- Muottas Muragl Funicular and the Panoramic Trail to Alp Languard
- Diavolezza Cable Car, Facing Piz Palü and Piz Bernina
- Val Trupchun, in the Swiss National Park, from S-chanf

## With teenagers: Viaducts, glaciers and wildlife

For teenagers, the best of the Engadine is the big stuff: a train that loops over itself, a cable car at almost 3,000 m facing Piz Bernina and a valley where you can see ibex.

### What works best
The Landwasser Viaduct and the spiral tunnels of the Albula

The Diavolezza, with Piz Palü and the glaciers in front of you

The Val Trupchun in the Swiss National Park

### Where to sleep
St. Moritz or Pontresina, to get around on their own by train

Zuoz or S-chanf, close to the National Park

### Where to eat
Food and water for the whole Val Trupchun route

A pizzeria in Tirano, on the day of the Bernina

### Bear in mind
Under-16s travel free on the Rhätische Bahn with a Junior Card if a parent is travelling

The Val Trupchun is 14 km: wear mountain footwear

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- The Bernina Line from St. Moritz to Tirano, by Bernina Express or Regional Train
- The Albula Line and the Landwasser Viaduct: the Glacier Express Stretch on a Regional Train
- Diavolezza Cable Car, Facing Piz Palü and Piz Bernina
- Val Trupchun, in the Swiss National Park, from S-chanf

## With young children: Red trains and glaciers you can walk to

With small children, the Engadine works because of the train: getting on the red Bernina train is already the plan, and many excursions start from the same station.

### What works best
The Bernina regional train to Alp Grüm, with a stop and back

The Morteratsch glacier trail, flat and 50 minutes to the ice

The Muottas Muragl funicular, with a discount for the second child and free from the third

### Where to sleep
Pontresina, with a Bernina station and departures to Morteratsch and the Diavolezza

Apartments that include the summer lifts from the second night

### Where to eat
A picnic beside the glacier or on the terrace at Muottas Muragl

Bakeries in the valley for the train sandwich

### Bear in mind
The Morteratsch trail is a dirt track: with a pushchair, a big-wheeled one is better

At 2,000 m it gets cold quickly once the sun goes down

### Qué hacer with young children
- The Bernina Line from St. Moritz to Tirano, by Bernina Express or Regional Train
- Morteratsch Glacier Trail from the Station
- The Albula Line and the Landwasser Viaduct: the Glacier Express Stretch on a Regional Train
- Muottas Muragl Funicular and the Panoramic Trail to Alp Languard

## Consejos

### The regional, not the panoramic
The Bernina and Albula lines can be travelled on the regional train over the same track, with no supplement and with windows that open on the Bernina line.

### Lifts included
If you sleep two nights or more in a participating property, the summer cable cars of the Upper Engadine are free.

### Combine train and walking
Get off at Morteratsch for the glacier or at Alp Grüm for the Palü, and continue on the next train.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Bernina Express or regional train?
The same route. The Bernina Express has panoramic carriages and a compulsory reservation of CHF 32 from St. Moritz; the regional runs more often and its reservation is optional, at CHF 5.

### Is the Swiss Travel Pass valid?
For the Rhätische Bahn trains, yes. It is not accepted at Diavolezza, and at Muottas Muragl neither are the Swiss discount cards.

### Where should you stay?
St. Moritz or Pontresina to be close to the trains and cable cars. Sils and Maloja, quieter, beside the lakes.

### Can you go with small children?
Yes. The Morteratsch glacier trail is flat and the cable cars have family discounts.

### When is it least crowded?
In June and September, with everything open and fewer visitors than in July and August.