Corvatsch: the must-knows

  • Corvatsch is one of the best viewpoints to see all of the Upper Engadine and many more mountain peaks of Graubünden.
  • If you’re traveling on a budget, buy a ticket to mid-station Murtèl: views are rewarding there as well.
  • If you’re a whisky lover, make sure to visit the Restaurant 3033 at the top, or book a guided tour in the distillery.
  • For hiking enthusiasts we recommend the trails from Murtèl to Furtschellas, and from Murtèl to Pontresina via the Roseg Valley.
Min. time required: 2:00
Season: early January to late April, late June to mid October and late November to late December
Recommended season: early January to late April, late June to mid October and late November to late December
Max. altitude: 3303 m (10837 ft)

What is Corvatsch? Copy link to clipboard

Corvatsch is a viewpoint at 3033 m altitude in the Upper Engadine (south-east Switzerland). It can be reached by cable car from the village Surlej. A one-way trip to the top takes about 50 minutes from St. Moritz.

The platform and restaurant at the top offer wide views over the lakes and mountains of the canton Graubünden. Corvatsch is part of a large skiing area in winter. In summer you'll find numerous hiking options from mid-station Murtèl.

Ticket prices and reservations Copy link to clipboard

Standard tickets to Murtèl and Corvatsch

A return ride Surlej-Corvatsch costs CHF 64 per person in the 2024 summer season. Ski passes for the winter season are more expensive: around CHF 75 to CHF 80 per day. The daily rates are lower if you get a pass for multiple days.

Several Swiss national and regional rail passes provide discounts. See our Engadine travel guide for even more options that include Corvatsch.

Where to buy your Corvatsch tickets

Tickets can be bought at the valley station in Surlej and mid-station Murtèl, or online.

Reservations

You don't need reservations for the trip to Murtèl and Corvatsch.

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Rail pass discounts for Corvatsch Copy link to clipboard

The below rail passes grant discounts on standard tickets to Murtèl and Corvatsch. Some also include free traveling to Surlej.

PassDiscount
Day Pass Discount 50%:
  • Surlej to Mount Corvatsch (cableway)
graubündenPASS No discount:
  • Surlej to Mount Corvatsch (cableway)
Swiss Half Fare Card Discount 50%:
  • Surlej to Mount Corvatsch (cableway)
Swiss Travel Pass Discount 50%:
  • Surlej to Mount Corvatsch (cableway)
Swiss Travel Pass Flex Discount 50%:
  • Surlej to Mount Corvatsch (cableway)

How to get to Corvatsch: directions and map Copy link to clipboard

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How does the timetable work?

The cable car departs from the village of Surlej near St. Moritz. Surlej can be reached by bus or car. A single trip from St. Moritz to the top takes 50 minutes.

From St. Moritz or another town to Surlej

From St. Moritz or any other nearby town, you'll first take a bus (or car) to Surlej. This takes about 25 minutes from St. Moritz.

From Surlej to Murtèl and Corvatsch

You'll switch to the cable car in Surlej. It will go up to Murtèl, where you need to change to another cable car to the Corvatsch top station. Regular cableway tickets allow you to get off at Murtèl and proceed with your trip later.

Map: bus route St. Moritz-Surlej and cableway route Surlej-Murtèl-Corvatsch

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Map

Operation dates, schedules and timetable Copy link to clipboard

Operation dates 2024

The cable cars to Murtèl and Corvatsch operate from 25 November 2023 to 28 April 2024. There's a maintenance break from late April to late June.

The summer operation season lasts from 22 June to 18 October 2024. This is followed by another maintenance break until mid- to late November.

How to plan your trip with the Swiss timetable

You can find all connections to Corvatsch in the Swiss timetable. Use these names:

  • "Corvatsch" for the top station
  • "Murtèl" for the mid-station
  • "Surlej, Corvatschbahn" for the bus stop close to the cable car valley station in Surlej
  • "Silvaplana Surlej (Corvatsch)" for the cable car valley station
  • "St. Moritz" for the rail and bus station of St. Moritz

Best months for Corvatsch Copy link to clipboard

The best seasons for a trip to Corvatsch are early January to late April, late June to mid October and late November to late December:

  • Late December to early March is best for a winter experience.
  • April and late June provide a beautiful contrast between snowy mountain peaks and the green Engadine valley. There's usually a maintenance break from late April to mid-June.
  • July-September is best for a summer trip with lots of hiking options, especially from mid-station Murtèl.
  • Early and mid-October allow you to see the onset of autumn colors in the Engadine conifers.

Weather tips and forecasts Copy link to clipboard

Check the weather forecast, as you can't enjoy the beautiful panorama if the Corvatsch top station is covered by clouds. Have a look at webcams too: especially in autumn, low clouds or fog can block the views down in the Engadine Valley, while skies are clear at higher altitudes.

At the top, expect temperatures well below freezing point in winter and between 0 and 10°C in summer.

If you plan hiking trips from Murtèl, make sure weather forecasts are stable and favorable. Rain, fog, snow or thunderstorms can cause dangerous circumstances.

Corvatsch forecast for the next 5 days

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What to expect from a trip to Corvatsch and Murtèl

The views from the top

The top station is located about 1000 m north of and 150 m beneath the actual peak of the Corvatsch. From the observation platform at 3303 m, you will have a great view of snow-capped peaks. The nearby Corvatsch is very prominent, and Piz Bernina is the highest (4049 m) mountain in sight.

In the North-East you can see the lakes of the Upper Engadine deep down in the valley, and the many mountains of the canton of Graubünden.

Restaurants and whisky distillery

Dining with grand mountain views is possible in “Restaurant 3033”. Many meals include polenta: boiled cornmeal that’s often used in Engadine cuisine.

Corvatsch is also home to the world’s highest single-malt whisky distillery. The ORMA whiskey is served in the restaurant. Guided tours in the distillery can be booked in advance.

A self-service restaurant and a small bistro are available at mid-station Murtèl in winter.

Summer activities at Corvatsch

In summer you’ll mainly visit Corvatsch for its wide mountain panoramas. Murtèl is excellent for hikers in summer, with trails to Pontresina via the Roseg Valley and the panoramic trail to Furtschellas for example. But even without such activities, a trip to the Corvatsch is worth it just for the views.

Winter activities at Corvatsch

Corvatsch and Murtèl form one of the main skiing areas of the Upper Engadine. There are ski runs all the way to the valley floor. On Friday nights, skiing after dusk is possible at the illuminated ski run from Murtèl to Surlej. Even if you don’t ski or snowboard yourself, it’s fun to see others practicing these typically Swiss winter sports.

As the slopes are pretty steep, you won’t find many groomed winter hiking trails directly from the top station. But there are plenty of options near Surlej in the valley.

Corvatsch FAQ

  1. How long does the trip to Corvatsch take?

    An average trip to Corvatsch just to watch the views takes about two hours. This includes one hour at the top and the traveling time from and to Surlej in the valley. Count on 3 to 4 hours for a return trip from St. Moritz.

    If you plan to hike from Murtèl, you’ll probably spend an entire day on this excursion.

  2. Which clothes to wear to Corvatsch?

    There can be snow on the top of Corvatsch. This can occasionally even happen in summer. Even without snow, it will be much colder than in the Engadine Valley.

    Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures during your mountain excursion. Take along sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. Make sure you have appropriate clothing when getting up to Corvatsch in winter.

    If you’ll be hiking in summer, solid shoes and other hiking gear are a must.

  3. Should I worry about altitude sickness?

    The station at the Corvatsch is located at an altitude of 3303 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually, it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while.

    Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health: before visiting areas over 2500 m, you should consult your doctor.

    In most cases staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem though.

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.