Engadine
The Engadine is a fabulous area. Despite the worldwide fame of St. Moritz, many beautiful regions in the Engadine have an off-the-beaten-path feel. In many villages in the Engadine, tradition and a sense of timelessness remain strong, barely dented by tourism. The Engadine refers to the valley in eastern Switzerland, near the Austrian and Italian borders, running along the En River.
The En flows from the glacier-draped Bernina Mountains near St. Moritz and Pontresina (the Upper Engadine) through quiet, pastoral Lower Engadine villages like Guarda and Scuol, and in to Austria. In Austria, it’s known as the Inn river, from which Innsbruck derives its name. There are a couple of good destinations in the Engadine, but for overall charm, scenery and variety, I like Pontresina best.
Destinations
Glacier Express
An 8 hour journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz, this panoramic train isn’t fast, but it is direct, and is Switzerland’s most famous train journey.
Muottas Muragl
Muottas Muragl is an old funicular train just outside of Pontresina that offers some of the most incredible views of the region.
Pontresina
Pontresina is small and modest, yet alive and stylish without being overwhelming. It’s just a few miles from St. Moritz, and is set off the main highway so its main street remains calm and peaceful.
Tours & Other Resources
The Engadine region is the star of several tours. Engadine Dayhikes is a good introduction to the region. This tour lets you take your time on remote trails where you can enjoy wildlife and rugged mountain scenery in a quieter corner of Switzerland.
The Swiss Sampler is a buffet of Swiss experiences covering many parts of the country over the course of twelve days. At the heart of this tour, an all-day train journey takes you from Zermatt to the Engadine resort town of St. Moritz.
The Grand Tour includes the 8 hour Glacier Express train journey from Zermatt in the west all the way across Switzerland to St. Moritz and Pontresina in the east.