Badrutt's Palace Hotel is the grand hotel of St. Moritz. For many couples it is the reason to come. It opened in 1896 above Lake St. Moritz and its turreted tower is still the symbol of the town. Caspar Badrutt built it from an older lakeside hotel and the family's influence still shapes the place. The hotel has around 155 rooms and suites, a wellness area with indoor and outdoor pools and a dining lineup that runs from a Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant to a 17th-century farmhouse turned restaurant.
It suits couples who want St. Moritz at full volume: polished service, dressed-up dinners and a lake view that is busy with skaters and racehorses in winter. Butler service comes with most suites. Ski days on Corviglia start at the hotel's own mountain club. Summer brings hiking, sailing and much lower crowds.
It is not a quiet retreat. The bars are lively in peak season and the dress code matters. Couples who want stillness should look at Sils Maria instead. Couples who want glamour done properly will find it here.
Highlights at a glance
- Opened in 1896, still family owned
- Lake views from the landmark tower
- Butler service in most suites
- La Coupole-Matsuhisa and Chesa Veglia
- Indoor and outdoor pools
Why Couples Love Badrutt's Palace
History and theatre, mostly. The hotel has been the social center of St. Moritz since the 1890s and still feels like it. The Grand Hall fills with afternoon tea and evening cocktails. Big windows look across the lake to the mountains. The service is old-school in the best way: staff remember names, preferences and the drink you ordered last night.
The Badrutt family helped invent winter tourism in St. Moritz. The hotel carries that pride. It is also one of the few grand hotels in the Alps that still feels independent rather than part of a chain.
For couples, the appeal is that everything is handled. Ski passes, sleigh rides, restaurant tables at busy times and tickets to the frozen-lake events are all arranged by the concierge. You spend your energy on the mountain and the evenings rather than on logistics.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The hotel has around 155 rooms and suites, with dozens of suites in the mix. Most suites include butler service, which is worth having on a honeymoon. Butlers unpack, arrange breakfast in the room and set up surprises with little notice.
The key choice is lake view or mountain side. Book lake view. Watching the light change over Lake St. Moritz and the peaks beyond is a big part of the stay. Rooms in the historic building have a classic look with heavy fabrics and period details. The Serlas Wing, which opened in 2025, adds a newer option for couples who prefer a more contemporary feel.
For a special trip, a junior suite with a lake view is the sweet spot. Larger tower suites and signature suites are spectacular but priced for celebrations with a big budget. Ask whether a room upgrade is possible when you mention your honeymoon.
Food, Drink and the Spa
In winter the hotel runs about 11 restaurants, two bars and a nightclub. In summer it scales back to around eight restaurants and one bar. Highlights include La Coupole-Matsuhisa, with Japanese-Peruvian cooking from Nobu Matsuhisa. Another is Chesa Veglia, a 17th-century Engadine farmhouse that has been part of the hotel since the 1930s. Chesa Veglia's wood-paneled rooms make one of the cosiest dinners in town.
On the mountain, the hotel owns the Paradiso Mountain Club & Restaurant on Corviglia, a long lunch with views down the valley.
Palace Wellness has an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, sauna, steam bath, whirlpool and massages. A swim after a cold ski day, with the mountains outside the glass, is one of the best hours in St. Moritz. Dress codes apply in some restaurants in the evening, so pack a jacket and something smart for both of you.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Winter is the famous season. Ski Corviglia from the hotel's mountain club, take a horse-drawn carriage through the Fex Valley or ride the Muottas Muragl funicular at sunset. In February, the White Turf horse races on the frozen lake are a spectacle worth timing a trip around.
Summer is quieter and arguably better for couples. Hike among the larch forests, swim in a mountain lake on a hot day or rent bikes along the lake chain to Sils Maria.
The Bernina Express is the classic day trip. It crosses the Alps to Tirano in Italy, past glaciers and over the curved Brusio viaduct. If one of you skis hard and the other prefers a slow morning, the hotel works well for both. The spa, the shops in the Palace Galerie and the lakeside promenade fill the day nicely.
Getting There
Most couples take the train. From Zurich Airport (ZRH), connect in Chur to the Rhaetian Railway line over the Albula Pass. The trip takes about three and a half hours. The last stretch, through tunnels and over high viaducts, is a sightseeing ride in itself. The hotel can collect you from St. Moritz station a few minutes away.
By car, the drive from Zurich takes around three hours over the Julier Pass, depending on conditions. Winter tires and patience are needed after snowfall.
Private aircraft use Engadin Airport (SMV) at Samedan, about 10 minutes away by car. Milan's airports are another option, about three to four hours by road over the Maloja Pass, which can be handy if you are combining the trip with the Italian lakes.
Is It Worth It?
If you want classic St. Moritz, yes. No other hotel delivers the town's history, glamour and service in one place quite like this. You will pay for it. Expect approximately $1,100 a night and up for two in an entry room, much more for lake-view suites and in peak winter weeks. Summer rates are usually gentler.
Couples who want a quieter, more natural stay should look at Sils Maria and the Hotel Waldhaus Sils, which suit hikers and readers. Those who want ski-in access and a little more calm might prefer Suvretta House just outside town. Badrutt's Palace is also seasonal, with a winter and a summer season and closed periods in between. Check the dates before you plan around it.
Insider tips
- Book a lake-view room; the mountain side misses the main event.
- Reserve Chesa Veglia and La Coupole early in peak season.
- Time a February trip for the White Turf races on the frozen lake.
- Check the hotel's seasonal opening dates before booking flights.
