Verbier or St Moritz – Where to Go on Vacation?

If you’re a fan of snow and winter, you probably love to spend your winter holidays on a mountain. While there are many countries with mountains that see a lot of snow, most people agree that none of them can compare to Switzerland.

This beautiful country is a hotspot for world-famous ski resorts where people from all over the world come to rest and unwind. There are many resorts to choose from, but if you only accept the best, you probably already have two places on your radar – Verbier ski resort or St. Moritz ski resort.

Which of those two should you choose for your vacation?

St. Moritz town

St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine in Switzerland, and it’s in a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. As for where St. Moritz is exactly, it’s located 203km to the south of Zurich by road and 125km to the southwest of Milan, Italy.

St. Moritz has two gateway international airports, Zurich (ZRH) and Milan Malpensa (MXP), both of which are connected to the town by train. Those who can’t or simply don’t want to take public transportation for whatever reason can take a private transfer from Zurich airport.

If you’re thinking about driving to the town, that probably isn’t a good idea, since it’s surrounded by high mountains on three sides. The easiest road to access St. Moritz by car is via the Inn River valley from Landeck or Innsbruck in Austria, for which the drive time is less than 3 hours.

If you choose to spend your vacation at a St. Moritz ski resort, you need to see some of the town’s main sights. This includes things such as the famous bobsled run which is an all-natural venue, the Segantini Museum, and the glacier landscape.

Verbier town

Verbier is a party town located right in the center of one of Europe’s biggest and best ski areas, Switzerland’s 4 valleys. If you know how to get to Verbier, it’s rather easy to reach.

The town was established in 1937 and to this day it has some of the most amazing architectural wonders that are the perfect mix of wood and slate.

You can find dozens of ski hotels and chalets which are part of the reason why Verbier is considered an ideal vacation spot. However, we also need to mention the legendary bars and night scene in Verbier that give the town the reputation of the best après ski place in the world.

The town has a plethora of snowy pistes ideal for all ski levels as well as 35 lifts that take vacationers to the local slopes. The entire ski area tots up to 410 km of slopes, including the iconic Mont Fort glacier that stands at 330m and is considered to be one of the best off-piste descents in the world.

Verbier caters to both celebrities and regular people, welcoming anyone who is looking to have an unforgettable vacation. A lot of people describe the town as a place that needs to be seen, no matter the season.

St. Moritz ski area

Those who want to spend their winter holiday at the St Moritz ski resort can choose between three separate ski areas, all of which offer completely different experiences. They’re also all connected by bus and/or train, but unfortunately, there aren’t any piste trail links or lifts that create a link between them.

These three ski areas at St. Moritz ski resort are:

• Corviglia
• Corvatsch
• Diavolezza Lagalb

Corviglia is a sunny and warm piste located directly above St. Moritz and it can be accessed by four different points in the valley. The south-facing slopes are a total of 155 km long and are ideal for long lunches and fast turns. Those who prefer off-piste skiing can choose between expert-only chutes and wide-open alpine bowls.

Corvatsch is a north-facing piste that’s 3303m high and includes a total of 120km of piste and a glacier. Unlike Corviglia, this piste is shaded and colder, but it has much more terrain diversity. It also has amazing snow quality and incredible views.

Diavolezza Lagalb offers on and off-piste skiing in a very beautiful setting. Those who want to experience the beauty this area has to offer can spend the night on top of Diavolezza and go skiing first thing in the morning after the sun rises over the peaks and glaciers.

Lagalb is opposite to Diavolezza, while it provides a similar skiing experience, it’s much quieter than other ski areas. While none of the areas are particularly busy at any time, Lagalb is certainly the place to be if you’re looking for somewhere where you can ski in peace and quiet.

And finally, Diavolezza and Lagalb have their own strain station and are linked by connecting trains, so it’s easy to reach this area.

Verbier ski area

Verbier is well-known all around the world for its off-piste routes, but its well-groomed slopes are also worth admiring. And thanks to the reliable weather in Verbier, you can certainly expect snow.

Verbier has some of the most challenging slopes in the Alps and mainly attracts intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers, but there is something for people of all skill levels. And with 37 local pistes covering 100km, a fun time is guaranteed.

For those who aren’t too comfortable on skis yet and might need a guide to skiing in Verbier, there are three areas that have very gentle slopes such as Les Moulins, which also comes with a children’s area. There’s also Les Esserts that has a 120m magic carpet.

If you’re a bit more confident, you can visit Le Rouge which is a favorite among families due to the gentle slopes of La Chaux, beautiful scenery, and multiple nearby restaurants.

However, it’s the expert and most confident skiers who can have the most fun in the Verbier ski area. A range of slopes that also include some red runs will give even the most advanced skiers a challenge they will enjoy such as the one from La Chaux and down to La Tzoumaz.

Fans of steep slopes will adore Col de Chassoure, and if you want to explore the famous Verbier off-piste runs, you can check out the ones around Mont Gelé.

And finally, while Verbier is best known for skiing, snowboarders are also attracted to this place because it’s the host of the Freeride World Tour. Intermediate and advanced borders can enjoy extreme snowboarding on and off pistes, as well as steeps and rock drops of various sizes.

If you’re a freestyle snowboarder, you need to visit the Swatch Snowpark at La Chaux that comes equipped with kickers, boxes, rails, a big airbag, and a post-boarding relaxation zone.

Après-ski Verbier

For some people, the main reason to visit Verbier is its amazing ski areas, but for others, it’s the famous après-ski that promises unforgettable parties. Whether you want to pop by the lively Pub Mont Fort for a drink or visit Cordee de Alpes for swanky cocktails, the après-ski in Verbier won’t disappoint you.

One of the most famous spots is definitely Farinet, which is considered to be one of the best après ski bars in the world that are positioned right over the main square. For those that are looking for a place where they can enjoy a nice supper and go dancing right after, the Etoile Rouge supper club is the place to be.

If you’re after some of the best meals this resort has to offer and enjoy the best cuisines in Verbier, we suggest La Vache, where you can enjoy a gourmet meal while taking in a stunning view of the Alps.

Après-ski St. Moritz

Just like with Verbier, at least half of the people who choose to spend their vacation at the St Moritz ski resort do so because of the exquisite après-ski.

For an unforgettable meal, visit the restaurant El Paradiso located on the Suvretta side of Corviglia and start your après-ski with style by enjoying a serving of fondue and oysters. If you’re looking for something less upscale, Alpine Hutte offers hot food, fresh beer, and a gorgeous view of the mountain.

If you want to spend a sophisticated evening, grab a drink at the Renaissance Bar located in one of St. Moritz’s most iconic hotels, Badrutt’s Palace. For something a bit more different, consider visiting La Barraca, a restaurant located in an old construction trailer.

And finally, if you want to spend the night dancing till dawn, we highly recommend the Dracula Club, which is located in a chalet above the bobsled course. All of these activities can even be enjoyed without skiing if you ever plan a St. Moritz summer vacation.

Verbier or St. Moritz – which is better?

Many people debate between booking a vacation in Verbier and visiting the St. Moritz ski resort, which is reasonable considering both of these places have a lot to offer. But since you have to make a decision, our personal recommendation is Verbier for many reasons.

Verbier offers more skiing opportunities for people of all skill levels, has a much richer town history, and even a more interesting après-ski. While we won’t deny that St. Moritz ski resort is a fascinating vacation spot, when it comes down to which one is better, Verbier will always come out on top.

If you want to see it for yourself, the first thing you should do is book your accommodation in Verbier. We offer amazing, high-end apparments and houses for rent and are willing to answer any questions you may have.