Location
Wildly romantic, in a sunny position protected from the wind, Pontresina is in a tributary valley at 1,805 meters above sea level. It is very close to the Bernina range, with two of the best known peaks of the Engadine region: the Piz Palü and the Piz Bernina. The latter, at a height of 4,049m, is the highest mountain of the eastern alps. Up here, you are predestined to find peace and quiet but, equally, action and entertainment. In this respect, the historic mountaineer's destination will work its charms immediately on arrival, with its appealing, traditional Engadiner architecture and the elegance of its grand hotels of the Belle Epoque taking you back to an age in which everything was still all right with the world.
Public transport connections
Pontresina can be reached from Chur within 2 hours by the Rhätische Bahn local rail service.
Schools
The range of schooling available comprises kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. The nearest Gymnasiums (selective, college preparatory schools) include the Academia Engiadina in Samedan and the Lyceum Alpinum in Zuoz.
Sports and leisure activities
Winter
There are 350km of panoramic pistes here in three of the most legendary Swiss ski regions: Diavolezza, Corviglia, and Corvatsch. This is a winter paradise at a height of between 1800 and 3303m that beckons the freerider and the ski-touring enthusiast alike with the freedom to test their limits. The surrounding frozen waterfalls and lakes, nature's ice rinks, are tempting destinations for snow-kiters, ice-climbers and runners, and curling and ice-hockey players. Beyond that, there are plenty of other things to enjoy, such as the cross-country circuits, snow-shoe tours, the Muottas Muragl toboggan run, winter walking trails, winter mountain hikes, spa baths, horse-drawn sledges, or simply time to chill out on a sun terrace. Pontresina winters have something to offer for everyone.
Summer
Take your pick and crampons and scale up the peak to a height of 4000m, explore over 580km of hiking routes in the natural surroundings, or discover in excess of 400km of bike trails. Whatever your choice, the imposing glacial topography, romantic mountain tarns, fragrant alpine meadows, and impressive colonies of ibex are just a small selection of what awaits you in Pontresina. But there plenty of other options such as Nordic walking, fixed rope climbs, zip-wire parks, spa pools, concerts, golf, inline skating, tennis, kite or windsurfing, river-rafting, or horse-riding to tempt you out into the great outdoors.
Shopping
Pontresina has a Coop, with everything you need on a day-to-day basis, but there are also specialist cheese shops, bakeries and chocolatiers with a selection of delicacies.
Restaurants and hotels
Various restaurants in Pontresina, with their snugly traditional dining rooms panelled in local pine, include a Gault-Millau rated one, as well as others offering fine Mediterranean and international cuisine or local specialities from the Grisons and the Engadine.
Sightseeing
The Swiss National Park, the Bernina range with its glaciers, the alpine dairy and cheesemaker, Museum Alpin, the church of St. Mary, the pentagonal Spaniola watchtower, the Bernina Express route – a UNESCO world heritage site
Prime locations
Il Truoch, Via da la Botta, Chinun, Mengliots
Market report 2021
www.gemeinde-pontresina.ch, www.pontresina.ch
