Kulm Hotel St. Moritz

There are other luxury hotels in St. Moritz, but the Kulm can credibly claim to be the original. It was the first, at any rate, dating back to 1856, and if certain others are perhaps more recognizable, it’s nothing to do with the merits of the place. This is as fine an Alpine five-star gets: have a look at the view from the balcony over the lake and tell us if you don’t agree.

While many a classic grand hotel has undergone a character-sapping renovation, the Kulm remains, aesthetically at least, exactly as it was: from the iconic exterior profiles of the four charmingly mismatched buildings, to the imposing colonnaded lobby with its grand marble staircase, to the bedrooms themselves, with their rich floral-print fabrics and finely carved pine woodworking. Beneath the surface, however, the rooms have kept pace with the times, right down to the wi-fi and the heated towel racks.

Obviously St. Moritz has a lot to recommend it as a ski town, and in winter this place is a paradise. Modern resorts run all four seasons now though, and the Kulm is no different. if it’s not the ski slopes, it’s the lake, the golf courses and the alpine trails — and neither the Kulm’s spa and wellness center nor its handful of upscale restaurants depend on any particular weather.

Please note: Kulm Hotel St. Moritz is a seasonal hotel, open for winter from the beginning of December until the beginning of April. In summer, the hotel is open from mid-June until the beginning of September.