Lake St. Moritz
Monastery Alpine lake in St. Moritz hosting winter events
Above the town of St. Moritz in Grisons, Lake St. Moritz sits below alpine slopes where seasonal regattas, winter ice events and lakeside promenades draw visitors for boating, walking and hotel terraces.
Lake St. Moritz is a small alpine lake in the Engadin valley, adjacent to the spa and resort town of St. Moritz in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The lake and its shoreline are integral to the town’s tourist facilities and events calendar.
The frozen lake surface is used in winter for high-profile sport and social events and as a groomed flat area for seasonal activities; in summer the waters and surrounding promenades are used for walks and leisure. Hotels and promenades line parts of the shore and there are short lakeside walking routes.
The lake sits within the urban area of St. Moritz, surrounded by alpine slopes and resort infrastructure; the town itself is the nearest centre for accommodation and visitor services, and the lake is easily reached on foot from the town’s hotels and public spaces.
- Winter events: In winter the lake regularly freezes and is used as a temporary surface for organised events such as horse racing, polo and other ice-sports during scheduled festivals.
How to Get to Lake St. Moritz #
From St. Moritz town center the lake is a 10-15 minute walk (follow Via Serlas/Promenade). By rail, St. Moritz Bahnhof is the nearest major stop on the Rhaetian Railway; taxis and local buses serve the lakeside. Driving: follow Kantonsstrasse through St. Moritz and look for signs to the Promenade/Seepromenade.
Tips for Visiting Lake St. Moritz #
- If visiting in February, check the White Turf horse-racing schedule (three Sundays in February) - the lake turns into a racetrack and the atmosphere is one-of-a-kind.
- Approach the lake from the east side for the best view of the frozen surface and the town silhouette; park-and-walk from St. Moritz Bahnhof is 10-15 minutes.
- In summer, look for the marks of long-booted fishermen on the south shore; they still use the same piers that mattered in the 19th century.
Best Time to Visit Lake St. Moritz #
Best visited in winter for the arresting spectacle of events on the frozen surface, summer for calm water and walking.
Weather & Climate near Lake St. Moritz #
Lake St. Moritz's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -14°C to 17°C. Moderate rainfall (825 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -2°C and lows of -14°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -14°C. The driest month with just 29 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -9°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (100 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (105 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of -3°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -12°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
