Things to do in Pontresina: summer and winter tips

The mountaineering village of the Engadin

Pontresina lies at around 1800 m at the entrance to the Bernina valley, a quarter of an hour by train from Bever. The village has about 2000 inhabitants, a promenade with little traffic, Via Maistra, and a long history as a starting point for summits and glaciers: the Pontresina Mountain Guides Association was founded in 1871 and is one of the oldest in the Alps. Many who come here today want exactly that – to get close to the big mountains without being mountaineers themselves.

From Bever, the regional train runs hourly and direct in 14 to 15 minutes to Pontresina, stopping at Punt Muragl, the valley station of Muottas Muragl. The station lies a little below the village; you walk 10 to 15 minutes uphill to the centre or take the bus. The horse-drawn omnibus and the paths into Val Roseg and to Lake Staz also start at the station.

Summer: glaciers, valleys, ibex

Morteratsch glacier trail. From Morteratsch station (one stop after Pontresina), an educational trail with 16 stops leads to the glacier snout, around 6 km there and back, a good two hours, and even suitable for pushchairs. Most striking are the markers along the path: they show where the glacier tongue stood in individual years. Since measurements began in 1878, the Morteratsch Glacier has retreated by around three kilometres; in the 2023/24 measurement year it was 53 metres. There is a stamp booklet for children along the trail. Open from June to October.

Val Roseg. A long, flat valley, around 7 km from the station to the Hotel Roseg Gletscher, just under two hours on foot. If you prefer to ride, take the horse-drawn omnibus: in summer, usually from mid-June to mid-October, several times a day from Pontresina station, a ride of around 70 minutes; children pay less. Current times and prices: Hotel Roseg Gletscher. At the end, the hotel’s famous dessert buffet awaits. Walk there, ride back – that is what many people do.

Diavolezza. The cable car takes you from 2096 to 2978 m, with views of Piz Palü, Bernina and the Pers Glacier. The valley station has its own railway station. Children travel at much lower fares, dogs free; current prices and operating hours: Corvatsch-Diavolezza. If you want more: the guided glacier hike from the Diavolezza across the Pers and Morteratsch glaciers to Morteratsch takes around six hours, from age 8 (June to October).

Alp Languard and the ibex. The chairlift runs straight from the village up to 2325 m (in summer usually from early June to late October; current prices: Engadin St. Moritz Mountains). Around 1800 ibex live on the Languard and on Piz Albris. A hiking trail continues to the Paradis hut in the heart of ibex territory. Little known: Switzerland’s ibex are descended from animals smuggled into Switzerland at the beginning of the 20th century from the royal hunting grounds at Gran Paradiso in Italy.

Muottas Muragl. The funicular from 1907 starts at Punt Muragl, on the way from Bever to Pontresina, and in summer usually runs until late October, until late in the evening. At the top begins the path to the Segantini hut (just under two hours), where the painter Giovanni Segantini died in 1899.

Lej da Staz. The moorland lake in the Staz forest lies around 3 km from Pontresina station, warms up to about 20 °C in summer and has a restaurant on its shore.

In the village: frescoes, tower and museum

• Sta. Maria church: The small church on the edge of the village holds frescoes from the 13th century and a cycle from 1495; during restoration a Mary Magdalene cycle of 18 pictures came to light. Open in summer on weekday afternoons, with free guided tours; current times from Pontresina Tourism.
• Tuor Spagnola: A pentagonal tower from around 1200, whose pointed edge faces uphill – as protection against avalanches.
• Museum Alpin: Founded in 1971 by the Mountain Guides Association, in an Engadin house from 1716. Fauna, flora, geology and the pioneering days of mountaineering, plus special exhibitions. Children and families pay less; opening hours and admission: Pontresina Tourism.
• Bellavita leisure pool & spa: 25 m pool, 75 m slide, heated outdoor pool with a view of the Roseg Glacier. Children pay less, and the spa costs extra; opening hours and prices: Bellavita. The best plan for a rainy day.
• Kino Rex: around 200 seats in the old schoolhouse, at least one film every day.
• Bäckerei Kochendörfer: since 1896, specialities Engadin cake and nut tart.

Winter in Pontresina

• Cross-country skiing: The trails usually open at the end of November with the Cuntschett beginners’ loop (3.3 km); others lead into Val Roseg and to Morteratsch.
• Eisplatz Roseg: Natural ice usually from mid-December, open during the day and on some evenings. Skates are free, and there is curling too.
• Winter walking and snowshoeing: around 150 km of winter paths; snowshoe trails in Morteratsch, Plauns and Alp Bondo. More in the article Winter walking and snowshoeing from Bever.
• Ibex without the effort: In winter the animals come lower. You reach the Crast’Ota sun terrace in around 30 minutes via the Ibex Promenade (1 km, seven information boards, starting at Sta. Maria). The municipality provides deckchairs and blankets free of charge, and from February to April there are regular free guided tours. Tuberculosis patients used to convalesce here.
• Skiing: Diavolezza and Lagalb lie on the railway line; the Languard ski lift is ideal for children. More on ski passes in the article Engadin ski pass.
• Val Roseg in winter: The Hotel Roseg Gletscher is usually open in winter from early December to early April (current dates); horse-drawn sleighs leave from Pontresina.

The legend of Morteratsch

The glacier’s name is said to go back to a legend about Aratsch and Annetta – a love that ended tragically. The cry “Mort Aratsch!”, dead Aratsch, is said to have echoed across the ice, and as long as it rang out, the glacier grew. Today the ice is silent, and the glacier is shrinking.

A day in Pontresina from Bever

1. Morning: Train from Bever (hourly), change in Pontresina for Morteratsch, glacier trail up to the ice.
2. Midday: Back to Pontresina, lunch on Via Maistra.
3. Afternoon: Horse-drawn omnibus or hike into Val Roseg, cake at the Hotel Roseg Gletscher – or, if it rains, off to the Bellavita.
4. Evening: Back to Bever in 15 minutes.

You will find a comparison of the villages as a base in the article Bever, St. Moritz or Pontresina, and for St. Moritz the article St. Moritz: what to see and do.

More inspiration in the Journal – or view the holiday apartments and check availability.