Slow Suggestions
Small ideas for enjoying the Engadin a little differently.
Sometimes it isn't the destination that makes a journey memorable, but a small gesture along the way.
Returning to the same place. Sitting on a bench. Leaving the car behind for a day. Putting your feet in a mountain stream.
These are simple invitations to experience the Engadin a little differently.
Choose a bench
Let the landscape come to you.
There are benches all over the Engadin. Some face a lake, others overlook a forest, a valley or the mountains. Many have been placed exactly where people naturally feel like stopping for a while.
If a bench invites you to sit down, do it. There is no need to read, take photographs or do anything in particular. Simply stay there and let the landscape come to you, little by little.
If you like, try a small exercise. Imagine that you have to describe this place to someone you care about who has never been to the Engadin. Don't just tell them what you see. Think about how you would describe the light, the wind, the sounds, the water or the way this place makes you feel.
You may discover that, in trying to describe it, you begin to notice it more deeply yourself.
Step into a grand hotel
Discover another side of the Engadin.
You don't have to be staying at a five-star hotel to enjoy it. Many of the historic grand hotels of St. Moritz and the Engadin warmly welcome visitors who simply want to enjoy a coffee, an aperitif or a quiet afternoon in their elegant lounges.
It's a different way of getting to know the valley. For more than 150 years, these hotels have welcomed travellers from around the world and helped shape St. Moritz into the international destination it is today.
Take a seat, order something and simply enjoy the atmosphere. This, too, is part of the Engadin.
Put your feet in the water
Feel where it comes from.
Water is everywhere in the Engadin. It flows through mountain streams, fills the lakes and accompanies many of the valley's walks.
If you have the opportunity during your stay, stop for a few minutes by a lake or a stream and simply put your feet in the water. It will probably be very cold. That's perfectly normal. Much of the water that flows through this valley begins its journey higher up, fed by glaciers and melting snow.
For a moment, think about the journey that water has made before reaching you. It's a simple experience, but one that is difficult to forget.
Return to the same place
Discover that it is never quite the same.
If, during your stay, you find a place that truly speaks to you, go back. It might be a lake, a forest, a trail or simply a bench. Visit it at a different time of day. Early in the morning, when the air is still cool. Or at sunset, when the light grows warmer and the mountains begin to change colour.
Perhaps you'll find the lake stirred by the wind, the forest illuminated in a different way, or a silence you hadn't noticed the day before.
The place will be the same. And yet, somehow, it will have changed. Or perhaps you will have changed a little too.
Enjoy a barbecue outdoors
A very Swiss way to experience nature.
Throughout the Engadin you'll find public barbecue areas with grills, tables and benches. Some overlook the lakes, while others are tucked away in forests or beside mountain streams.
These places are loved by local people. On sunny days it's common to see families and groups of friends arrive with a backpack, light a fire and spend a few relaxed hours outdoors.
If you'd like to try it yourself, all you need is something to cook from one of the local supermarkets and a place that inspires you. It's more than just lunch. It's a simple and authentic way of experiencing the mountains.
Leave the car behind
Discover the valley one step at a time.
The Engadin is one of those places where the car is not always the best choice. Buses and trains make it easy to reach villages, lakes and the starting points of many walks and hikes. In summer, cycling is another wonderful way to explore the valley, following bike paths through forests, meadows and along the lakeshores.
For at least one day, try leaving the car where it is. Take a train without worrying about parking, get off in a village you hadn't planned to visit, or rent a bicycle and let the landscape set the pace of your day.
Often, it isn't only the way you travel that changes. It's the way you begin to see what surrounds you.
Continue Exploring
There are many more ways to discover the Engadin.
Staying in St. Moritz?
If you're looking for a quiet holiday apartment in the heart of the Upper Engadin, discover Chesa Altrova.