Zurich to St. Moritz
Zurich to St. Moritz, in one sitting.
Zurich to St. Moritz is the long one. Two hundred kilometres, the better part of three hours, and a final climb over a pass or through a car train depending on the season. Done in a private car it is a scenic afternoon; done with luggage and two train changes it is a day.
At a glance
- Distance
- About 200 km by road from Zurich Airport
- Driving time
- Roughly 2 hours 45 minutes in clear conditions
- Route
- A3 and A13 to Chur, then the Julier pass road
- Winter
- Route chosen on the day, depending on pass conditions
- Also serves
- Silvaplana, Pontresina, Celerina and the Engadin valley
The journey
The drive follows the same start as Davos (the A3 past the Walensee and the A13 to Chur), then continues up the Hinterrhein and over the Julier pass into the Engadin. From Zurich Airport it is about 200 km and typically around two and three-quarter hours.
The Julier is normally kept open through the winter, but conditions decide the day. If it is closed or the weather is bad, the alternative is the Vereina car train from Klosters, which adds time but is reliable. We make that call on the morning and tell you which way we are going.
Breaking up the drive
Three hours is long enough that most people want a stop, and there are good places to take one. Chur is roughly the halfway point and the last easy service area before the climb.
Say when you book whether you would like a planned stop. It costs nothing and makes the second half considerably more pleasant, particularly with children.
Pickup and drop-off
The usual pattern is airport arrivals to a hotel in St. Moritz Dorf or Bad, but the Engadin is a valley of villages and they are all straightforward from the same road.
- Zurich Airport arrivals, with the flight tracked
- A Zurich city hotel or private address
- St. Moritz Dorf and St. Moritz Bad
- Celerina, Pontresina, Silvaplana, Sils and Samedan
- The return transfer back to the airport
Luggage and winter equipment
An Engadin trip tends to mean a lot of luggage: skis, boots, boards, and the kind of suitcase a week in St. Moritz encourages. It goes behind the passengers rather than around them.
Send us the numbers when you book (passengers, ski bags, cases) and we will confirm before you rely on it.
Getting the timing right
For a departure from St. Moritz, work backwards generously. Three hours of driving plus airport time means an early start, and a pass road is not the place to be making it up.
We will suggest a pickup time from your flight and explain how we got to it, so you can add a margin if you would rather.
Questions
Common questions
How long is the transfer from Zurich Airport to St. Moritz?
About 200 km and roughly two and three-quarter hours in clear conditions. Winter weather, pass closures or a car-train crossing can add to that, and we plan for it.
Do you drive over the Julier pass in winter?
When it is open and the conditions are sensible, yes. If it is not, we use the Vereina car train from Klosters instead. We decide on the morning and tell you which route we are taking.
Can you collect us straight from a long-haul flight?
Yes. Send the flight number, we track the landing and meet you in arrivals, and you can sleep for most of the drive.
Do you serve the rest of the Engadin?
Yes: Celerina, Pontresina, Silvaplana, Sils and Samedan are all on the same run and no more difficult than St. Moritz itself.
How much does the transfer cost?
We quote it individually from the exact addresses, the date and the number of passengers, and you have the price before you book. Message us and we will come back with a figure.
Tell us the journey
Send us the pickup point, the destination and the date on WhatsApp at +41 77 259 19 78. A real person reads every message and replies with a price before anything is confirmed.
Message us