Silvaplana-Surlej: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
Surlej is a district of the municipality of Silvaplana in the picturesque Upper Engadine lake district. Peaks over 3,000 meters high, such as Piz Julier, Piz Surlej, and Corvatsch, frame the holiday paradise. Surlej is located east of Lake Silvaplana. A popular hiking destination is Lake Lej Nair.
Table of contents
Silvaplana-Surlej - Must-see attractions
Lake Silvaplana
The Silvaplana Lake is named after the village of Silvaplana, which it borders. In summer, the Maloja wind provides extremely favorable conditions that wind and kite surfers take advantage of. Numerous hiking routes run around the lake. In winter, the local mountain Piz Corvatsch attracts visitors with 120 kilometers of slopes and the longest illuminated night descent in Switzerland. A network of trails totaling 200 km makes the area around Silvaplana Lake a true paradise for cross-country skiers.
Lake Sils
Lake Sils is particularly popular among windsurfers and hiking enthusiasts. When the Maloja wind blowing from the Maloja Pass stirs up the water surface, the conditions for windsurfing are ideal. In winter, the lake in Upper Engadine transforms into an ice paradise. The frozen surface becomes a hiking area or a natural ice rink. In Sils, you can visit the Friedrich Nietzsche House, where the German philosopher lived for a while. He called Lake Sils and its surrounding landscape "Perla perlissima."
Corvatsch
Experience a summer vacation in the beautiful Engadin in Switzerland and enjoy the untouched nature on the Corvatsch while hiking. Gourmets visit the highest whiskey distillery in the world and savor polenta with cheese and other delicacies at the summit restaurant. From Silvaplana and the Surlej district, winter sports enthusiasts are drawn to the 120 kilometers of slopes on the Corvatsch. The 9 km long, black Hahnensee run is a sporting challenge. It gets adventurous in the Corvatsch Park, where daredevils perform spectacular jumps.
Silvaplana
Silvaplana is one of those Alpine communities that are avoided by large crowds of visitors, but have gone down in history. Friedrich Nietzsche liked to stroll along the shore of Lake Silvaplana, where he found the inspiration for his main work "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." Hike around Lake Silvaplana and visit Crap da Sass Castle, or discover the mighty waterfall in Silvaplana-Surlej. In summer, the Maloja wind blows, creating ideal conditions for windsurfers. In winter, freeriders are drawn to the couloirs on Corvatsch.
Piz Corvatsch
A total of 120 kilometers of slopes are available in the Piz Corvatsch ski area. The Hahnensee run, also known as the King's run, is spectacular. It leads past the Hahnensee down to St. Moritz-Bad. The Piz Corvatsch is also a hiking paradise. On a hike along the Via Gastronomica, you can experience the Engadin region in its delightful variety. Popular stops include the ORMA distillery, the highest whisky distillery in the world, as well as the Restaurant 3303 at an altitude of 3,303 m.
St. Moritz
The idyllic village of St. Moritz is located in the Engadin in Switzerland. Tourists appreciate its modern alpine lifestyle, top-notch gastronomy, and full event calendar. Visit the Segantini Museum, the Leaning Tower (Mauritius Church), or shop on Via Serlas. In winter, race down over 350 kilometers of slopes, hike 150 km of winter trails, or explore the 200 km long network of cross-country ski trails with the family. In summer, in addition to hiking and mountain biking, golfing, climbing, sailing, and rowing are also on the agenda.
Silvaplana-Surlej - Secret spots
Nietzsche House
The German philosopher Nietzsche spent the summer months of the 1880s in the Engadine community of Sils Maria. In an unheated room on the first floor, he wrote many of his most significant works. In 1959, the Nietzsche House was converted into a museum that houses a library with several thousand volumes as well as furniture from Nietzsche's estate.
Crap da Sass Castle
Like a miniature knight's castle, Crap da Sass Castle rises on the shore of Lake Silvaplana in the municipality of Surlej in Upper Engadine. The picturesque little castle was built at the beginning of the 20th century and serves as a popular excursion destination. Since it is privately owned, the castle cannot be visited.
Reformed Church Sils-Maria
The Reformed Church of Sils-Maria is located not far from Silvaplana in one of the most beautiful places in the Engadin. It is one of the first Protestant churches in Graubünden. The bell installation, which Friedrich Nietzsche attended, took place in 1888. The church is used not only for services but also for other events.
Julier Pass
The 16 km long Julier Pass in the canton of Graubünden connects the places Silvaplana-Surlej in the south and Bivio in the north. The Engadine Alpine pass is known for its picturesque route with magnificent panoramas over the Corvatsch ski area and the Upper Engadine lake plateau. At the pass summit lies the small mountain lake Lej de las Culuonnas.
Silvaplana-Surlej - In 3 days
Day 1
About 2 km east of the center of Silvaplana and connected to the main town by a bridge, lies the small community of Surlej with 200 inhabitants. On the first day, you visit the Crap da Sass Castle. It appears medieval from the outside but dates back to the early 20th century when the romanticism of castles led to numerous new castle constructions. Unfortunately, the Art Nouveau furniture inside cannot be viewed, but you are rewarded with a view of Lake Silvaplana with the towering peaks of Piz Polaschin and Piz Albana. A typical Engadine house stands on Via Ruinas. The Chesa Lansel with a granary was built in the 14th century and is considered a national cultural heritage. With children, a walk to the Silva Parcours forest playground, located 800 m north, is recommended. For the parents, there is a picnic table. On the way back, make a detour to Lej Ovis-chel. The clear water of the pond is only knee-deep and invites you to splash around on warm days.
Day 2
Start a scenic tour to St. Moritz, 6 km away, by mountain bike or on foot. From Surlej, the route takes you along Lake Champfer. Then, follow the course of the Inn River to Lake St. Moritz. At the northwest shore, the Segantini Museum awaits you with artworks by the Alpine painter Giovanni Segantini. Learn more about the history and lifestyle of your holiday region at the nearby Engadine Museum, which also offers guided tours for children. From the viewpoint on the lakeshore, the distinctive bell tower of the Church of St. Charles Borromeo catches your eye. The stone building is designed in the Neo-Romanesque style. The exhibition at the Forum Paracelsus is also child-friendly, including a tasting of the healing water, valued since the Middle Ages, among others by Paracelsus. There is even a Bronze Age spring enclosure to admire. Before you head back, take a walk through the idyllic Lakeside Park at Lej Marsch.
Day 3
A simple hike, also manageable with children, takes you from the Surlej Bridge parking lot to the pretty waterfall in 1.5 km. A bench invites you to rest and enjoy the panorama of Lake Silvaplana. If you've always wanted to try windsurfing, you'll find everything you need at the surf school on the west shore of the lake. Thanks to the thermal Maloja wind blowing during the warm season, the waters of the Engadin are ideal windsurfing spots. Sailing and kitesurfing are also possible. Or you can plan a full-day hike from Surlej to Pontresina over the Fuorcla Surlej Pass, probably the most famous high-altitude trail in the Engadin. To shorten the tour, you can also reach the pass with the Piz Corvatsch cable car and continue from there to Pontresina or descend to Surlej. A mountain inn invites you to rest near the lake.