Discover one of the most popular hiking destinations in Switzerland by heading to Pontresina. Located in the Engadine region, this cute mountain village is your stepping stone to glaciers, high-altitude lakes, conifer forests and ibex colonies.
Join a village tour from the Tourist Information Center, on Wednesday afternoons, from June to October. Hear the stories behind the village’s “Sgraffito” murals in the Engadine style and the 12th-century frescoes in the Santa Maria Burial Church.
The village’s mountain and valley trails suit just about everyone. In spring, take a guided tour into the Val Languard to spot ibex, marmots and deer in the wild. Alternatively, take the chairlift up Alp Languard at 7,650feet (2,332 meters) and visit the Ibex Gallery on the summit, then follow the trail down to look for mountain mammals independently.
Hike through the Roseg Valley and up Muottas Muragl for stunning views of the Upper Engadine lakes and Piz Bernina. Experienced climbers can scale the 13,284-feet (4,049-meter) high Piz Bernina peak.
The first snowfall is the signal for a range of new thrilling options. Rent a fatbike, go cross-country skiing or grab your skis or snowboard to rush down the slopes of the Diavolezza, Corviglia, and Corvatsch ski resorts. See the Roseg, Tschierva, Sella and Pers Glaciers and don’t miss the Morteratsch, the third-longest glacier in the eastern Alps.
Pontresina itself is known for its highly traditional festivals. Cheer on local couples in decorated horse-drawn sleighs during the “Schlitteda" on the second Sunday in January. On March 1, witness the colorful “Chalandamarz” tradition whereby local boys dressed in blue-and-red outfits walk from their houses with cowbells and cracking whips to chase out the winter spirits. At Easter, roll boiled eggs down the Crast’Ota hill for a fun custom called “eiertrölen.”
Getting to Pontresina is easy because the Samedan Airport and St. Moritz are just a short drive away. If you come here just for the day, consider taking the train, because various hiking trails start from the railway station. In winter, arrange for a traditional sled to await you for a tour of Stazerwald and the Roseg Valley. A Swiss experience simply doesn’t get more romantic than that.
