Winter: Top Skiing

The Engadin's ski areas are spread out, but each has its own unique characteristics and draws different types of skiers. The one closest to St. Moritz Town is Corviglia, which also has some of the best on-mountain dining. Here are the ones to know.

1. Most Glamorous: Corviglia / Piz Nair

This area that rises directly above St. Moritz town offers some of the only ski in/ski out options in the Engadin Valley. Particularly the Suvretta House is well-located with its own private lift and ski school. Corviglia/Piz Nair is one of the region's largest ski areas with some of the most acclaimed on-mountain dining.

• Nearby Town: St. Moritz
• Highest Point: 3,057m (10,030 feet)
• Slopes: 100 km of groomed slopes
• Specialties: Early access (two of the lifts open at 7:45am for those in pursuit of undisturbed powder); World Cup-quality downhill runs; gorgeous views; slope-side dining
• Restaurants: 15 mountain restaurants, including glitzy Paradiso, sceny Alpina and local favorite Trutz Hütte.

Thrill seekers and snowboarders love the Corvatsch area, which has the highest mountain station anywhere in the eastern Alps. Furtschellas is more leisurely and often less crowded than Corvatsch.

• Nearby Town: Silvaplana & Sils
• Highest Point: 3,303 meter (10,800 feet)
• Slopes: 120 km groomed slopes
• Specialty: Switzerland's longest illuminated piste for nighttime skiing; a lofty panoramic restaurant at the top of the Corvatsch; large snow park, including a half pipe for snowboarders.
• Restaurants: 10 mountain restaurants, including recommended Kuhstall
• Indagare Tip: Fex Tal can be reached from the top station of Furtschellas via Alp Munt or Marmoré.

This smaller mountain, near the quaint town of Zuoz, is know for its fabulous ski school and beginner terrain (though there are some devilish difficult trails as well).

• Nearby Town: Zuoz
• Height: 2,465 meter (8,088 feet)
• Slopes: 10 pistes
• Specialty: The excellent ski school and kid-friendly extras like a toboggan run and the Kinderland Fun Park.
• Restaurants: The Pizzet Hütte is a casual, self-serve restaurant run by an Italian family, which is mobbed during lunch.

The landscapes of the Bernina Massif frame this ski area, which is smaller than Corvatsch and Corviglia but has some challenging terrain.

• Nearby Town: Pontresina (a ten-minute drive)
• Height: 3,066 m (10,059 feet)
• Slopes: 11 pistes, 5 ski lifts
• Specialty: The longest downhill glacier run from Diavolezza to Morteratsch;
• Restaurants: 4 restaurants.