Fig.1. Pine forests of Pontresina
The sweet aroma of pine and larch is literally everywhere in the cozy resort of Pontresina. This municipality is located in the most elevated part of the Upper Engadine valley at some 6,000 feet above sea level. The municipality stretches over the whole slope and has become a widely popularity resort for mountain skiing, tourism and recreation.
Pontresina is sunny and calm with practically no wind, which helped preserve its 19th century architecture. Each new building erected here adjusts to the entourage, so that the resort can maintain its unique charm. This is a really small settlement, with no more than 2,000 permanent residents. Taxi services in Pontresina are not very popular, since you can get to all the key sights on your own. But as for the road to the place itself, there is no alternative to private or state-owned cabs.
We recommend to book a transfer to Pontresina in advance, due to the fact that people from all the nearby airports get to the resort primarily by taxi. And if you want to travel in comfort, you definitely need to take care of it in advance.
During the summer you can enjoy a walk on of many trails. Almost 350 miles of scenic routes provide spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and lead to a great number of sights:
Each trail leads to something special, and if you leave your map behind, you can make it a surprise trip.
Fig.2. Summer Pontresina
What to do in Pontresina in winter? Just look at mighty mountain peaks and glaciers for a hint. Ice-climbing, mountaineering, alpine skiing and snowshoeing - there is something here for everyone. The resort often attracts runners - there are several tracks for long-distance races. And those looking for romance will appreciate the horse-drawn sleighs. Rushing through the snow-covered pine forest brings nothing but raw positive emotions.