The mountain above St Moritz, but St Moritz is the reason to come. This is where alpine tourism was invented and the town still trades on it, with grand hotels, designer shops, a frozen lake that hosts horse racing and polo in winter, and a clientele that dresses for dinner.

The skiing is sunny, wide and mostly intermediate, with long descents and reliable Engadine sunshine. Corviglia is reached by funicular from the middle of town, and several more areas share the same pass, so a week gives real variety. If St Moritz prices are beyond you, stay in Pontresina or Celerina instead. Same pass, same sun, and a fraction of the cost. And if you want the stories rather than the skiing, the Cresta Run and the Olympic bobsleigh are both here and both take beginners under supervision.