Three hours and a border separate Malpensa airport from Sankt Moritz. On paper it is a transfer; in practice, with the right car and the right driver, it is one of the most beautiful drives in Europe — and the easiest way to start a winter in the Engadine.

The route, briefly

From Malpensa we follow the A9 north past Lake Como, cross into Switzerland at Chiasso, then climb through the Italian-Swiss valleys to the Maloja Pass. The final descent into the Engadine — past frozen lakes and pine forest — is, frankly, why people fly into Milan instead of Zurich.

Timing it right

We aim to leave Malpensa within 45 minutes of your bags appearing. In winter, the Maloja Pass is sometimes closed for snow, and our drivers monitor it from the moment your flight takes off. If it closes mid-journey, we know the alternative routes — the Julier Pass via Tiefencastel — and we will have already taken it before you ask.

The right car for the mountains

We use S-Class or V-Class vehicles fitted with proper winter tyres and snow chains for this route — never an executive sedan on summer rubber. For groups arriving with skis, the V-Class is the only sensible choice: full standing room, climate zones, and a flat floor for boot bags.

Arriving at Badrutt's, Suvretta, or Kulm

Your driver knows each of the major hotels — where to drop, where to park, which doorman to ask for. By the time you step out of the car, your luggage is already on its way to your suite, and the hardest part of your week is over.