Before you go

Your trip to Chur.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Chur – Grisões Destination St. Moritz and the Engadina Capital

How to get there

Aeroporto de Zurique (Flughafen Zürich) (ZRH) Kloten · 120 km
Estação de Chur (Bahnhof Chur) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before buying. Zurich Airport is about 120 km away, with trains to Chur station taking around 1h30, generally with a change at Zurich main station. From Zurich, direct trains take about 1h15. Chur is the departure point for Ferrovia Rética trains to St. Moritz, Davos, Arosa and Disentis, for the Bernina Express to Tirano and for the Glacier Express to Zermatt. By car, via the A13 motorway.

How many days

One day is enough for the old town, the cathedral, the church of São Martinho and one of the museums. With two days you can take the cable car to Brambrüesch or visit the Rhine Gorge, the Ruinaulta. Many people spend a night in Chur before boarding the Bernina Express or the Glacier Express the next morning.

When to go

June to September is the hiking season on Brambrüesch and in the Ruinaulta, with long daylight hours. December to March is the snow season in the surrounding mountains, and the cable car serves skiers. The old town can be visited year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The old town is pedestrian, the station is about a 10-minute walk, and the trains and buses of dos Grisões reach almost everywhere, including the Ruinaulta and the ski resorts. A car only helps if you plan to combine several valleys in one day.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Chur

Morning
Cathedral and Museu Rético
Climb up to the bishop’s quarter, the Hof, and enter the cathedral with its large carved Gothic high altar. Then go down to the Museu Rético next door for the history of dos Grisões.
Afternoon
Old town and São Martinho
Walk through the old town: the church of São Martinho with stained glass by Augusto Giacometti, Praça Arcas with the colorful houses over the Plessur River, and the Obertor gate. Stop at a café in one of the squares.
Late afternoon
Museu de Arte dos Grisões
Near the station, visit the Museu de Arte dos Grisões, in Villa Planta and in the new building beside it, with works by the Giacometti family and by Segantini.
Evening
Dinner in the old town
Restaurants and taverns in the old town serve dos Grisões dishes, such as capuns — dough rolls wrapped in chard leaves — and barley prepared in the Grisões style.

2 days in Chur

Day 1

Morning
Cathedral and Museu Rético
Cathedral, bishop’s quarter and Museu Rético.
Afternoon
Old town
São Martinho, Praça Arcas, Obertor and the pedestrian streets.
Late afternoon
Museu de Arte dos Grisões
Giacometti, Segantini and Alpine art.
Evening
Dinner in the old town
Dos Grisões cuisine in the town’s taverns.

Day 2

Morning
Rhine Gorge
Take a train and bus to Flims and walk to the Il Spir viewpoint overlooking the Ruinaulta, the Rhine Gorge with its pale cliffs. In summer you can descend to the river via trails.
Afternoon
Brambrüesch
Back in Chur, take the cable car from the center to Brambrüesch, at about 1,600 meters, for a hike with views over the Rhine valley.
Late afternoon
Descent and Plessur
Descend by cable car and walk along the bank of the Plessur River back to the old town.
Evening
Old town
Dinner and a walk around the illuminated squares.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Zurich to Chur?

By train, in about 1h15, with direct trains from Zurich main station. From the airport, about 1h30, usually with one change.

What language is spoken in Chur?

German, in the Swiss dialect. The canton dos Grisões is the only canton in Switzerland with three official languages: German, romanche and Italian.

Does the Bernina Express depart from Chur?

Yes. Chur is one of the departure points for the Bernina Express, which runs via St. Moritz and the Bernina Pass to Tirano in Italy. The Glacier Express also passes through Chur on its way to Zermatt.

Is it worth staying overnight in Chur?

Yes, for those who want to catch an early panoramic train and explore the old town, the cathedral and the museums the evening before.

Do you need a car in Chur?

No. The center is pedestrian and the trains and buses of dos Grisões take you to the valleys, the Ruinaulta and the ski resorts.

Back to Chur