Silvaplana - Surlej ski resort guide Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do in Surlej
Overview
Ski holidays in Silvaplana - not many people have heard of this tiny resort tucked away in the Engadin Valley but then mention that it shares the same ski area as St Moritz and ears start to prick up!
Whilst St Moritz is known for it's luxury hotels, sophisticated cuisine and jetset lifestyle, Silvaplana - Surlej is known as a very warm and welcoming family friendly ski resort whilst providing accesss to some of the best skiing in Switzerland.
Apres Ski
Traditional and very welcoming is how we would describe the apres-ski scene in Silvaplana and Surlej. There are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from serving up local Ticino dishes. For a more chic evening experience, the bars and clubs in St Moritz are the place to head to - the Stübli bar in the Schweizerhof hotel is a lively apres-ski venue.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1815m |
| Top lift | 3303m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 350 |
| Longest run | 4 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 150 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 1 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed & Fun |
Silvaplana ski area guide
Blessed with an average of 322 days of sun a year, Silvaplana - Surlej is part of the largest ski area in Switzerland which is spread over several areas including Zuoz, Diavolezza-Bernina, Muttas Muragl and Corviglia-Piz Nair.
The ski area is vast with some 350km of pistes catering for complete beginners to experts and given the scale of the terrain, lift queues are rare. Ski touring is popular with some classic routes such as the Albula to Davos. As always, venturing off-piste is better and safer with a local guide.
Beginners
Around 10% of the ski area is geared for beginners which is actually quite a lot given the number of pistes. The two main beginner areas are in Salastrains and Corviglia.
Intermediate
St Moritz is tailor made for the intermediate skier and boarders with miles of piste and off-piste to cruise around on.
Advanced
The local ski area of Corvatsch is mostly north-facing and consequently home to the best snow and the most challenging pistes in the valley. Plus, advanced skiers and boarders will love the off-piste skiing here together with the fantastic touring opportunities in the back-country.
Snow boarding
For intermediates and advanced boarders, there is almost too much choice with so much off-piste for surfing. There is also one terrain park near Marguns and a halfpipe above Signal.
Things to see & do
- Tobogganing
- Snow kite-surfing
- Bobsleigh
- Sleigh riding
- Snow shoeing
- Paragliding
Cross Country
With 150km of cross-country trails, you are not going to get bored. This sport is very big in Engadin - the Ski Marathon is held every March with around 12000 people taking part.
Featured ski chalets
The chalets and apartments in Silvaplana and Surlej tend to be significantly cheaper than St Moritz whithout compromising on services and quality. Being compact villages, many of the holiday rentals are well positioned so that the ski lifts in the Corvatsch area and the local amenities are within walking distance.
See all rentals
Our view on Silvaplana - Surlej
These beautiful traditional villages offer everything you could wish for on a family ski holiday without breaking the bank.
With access to one of the largest ski areas in Switzerland, Silvaplana and Surlej are a good value alternatives to the chic and cosmopolitan resort of St Moritz.
Similar resorts to Silvaplana - Surlej include La Tania in the 3 Valleys, France and Fugen in Austria's Ziller Valley.
