Chur Transportation

If you are planning to explore the Graubünden (Andermatt, Chur, Bad Ragaz, Davos, St Moritz, Klosters, Bernina Pass, Tirano,...), the REGIONAL PASS GRAUBUEDEN is a real good value for your excursions by postautobus, trains, cogwheel trains or cable cars...

***GRAUBÜNDEN SUMMER HOLIDAY PASS, 01 MAY - 31 OCTOBER
Pass validity 7 days (CHF 120/EUR 79)or 14 days (CHF 150/EUR 99) offer:
- 2 or 4 days unlimited travel by Rhaetian Railways and PostAuto Graubünden
- the remaining validity period 50% reduction
- mountain transport system during the validity period 50% reduction

***GRAUBÜNDEN WINTER HOLIDAYS PASS, 01 NOVEMBER - 30 APRIL
Rhaetian Railway inclusive: Valid within 7 days (CHF 90/EUR 59) for unlimited travel on two days of your choice and for travel to half price on 5 further days
Determined Mountain Railway inclusive: One free up and downhill trip (limited opening hours in November)
Post bus and Engadine bus inclusive: travel to half price on all days

Reduction available with Swiss Pass, Swiss Card, 1/2-Abo, GA, STT

Do not forget free travel for children:
With the Swiss Railways Junior Card children under the age of 16 travel free of charge if accompanied by one or both parents.
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Examples of savings with REGIOPASS on excursion from Chur (return):

- CHF 0 Train/Bus to Lugano (instead of CHF 148)
- CHF 0 Bernina Express Train to Tirano (instead of CHF 110)
- CHF 0 Train/Bus to Bellinzona (instead of CHF 94)
- CHF 0 Train to Scuol (instead of CHF 80.40)
- CHF 0 Train to St Moritz (instead of CHF 76)
- CHF 0 Train to Disentis (instead of CHF 52)

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Getting by car to Chur is very easy because it is situated directely on the highway with direct connections to all major cities in Switzerland. For all of the highways in Switzerland you need to have a sticker on your windscreen, it will cost you 40 sfr (=ca. 25 euros) for the whole year and even when you go there only one time you have to buy such a sticker / vignette for the whole year !
The old town of Chur is off-limits for car-trafic except for some local trafic, but you will find good parking-areas at many places there and can walk from there to see the interesting buildings of Chur.

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Take the Rhätische Bahn
its a UNESCO World heritage for the unique way to build a trainline through the mountains including a giant system of viaducts and tunnels that go in large loops through tunnels in order to gain hight.
The Bernina Express starts in Chur and takes you through a wonderful mountain-scenery to St.Moritz and finally to Tirano in the italian alps.
They offer panorama-wagons with extra windows on the ceiling and if you plan to take such a train, its always best to reserve in advance ! AND there are ordinary trains as well and you wont need to reserve, but might choose the perfect time weather-wise, while a reservation is fixed in advance and maybe you have the expensive panorama-wagon then and just a fog-panorama...
Take a look at my last photo: this is a special panorama-wagon that is even totally open on top. It is used for the distance from St. Moritz to Tirano and might be great fun in summer !

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We travelled to Chur by train, from Zurich. Train travel in Switzerland is easy. Trains are clean and run on time. Stations are well signposted and fellow travellers are considerate. The trains we travelled on all had luggage areas and toilets. It is a stress-free way to get around the country.

Being on the train is also a great way to do some sight seeing on route. Some of the rail lines travel through the most gorgeous mountain scenery. One day we travelled on the Glacier Express, on a 6 hour journey from Chur to Zermatt. The train travels through valleys, up mountains, past lakes and glaciers.

The only confusing thing connected to train travel in Switzerland is deciding what type of ticket or rail pass to buy. Sure you can buy tickets from place to place as you go, but there are various passes that may work our more economical depending on your itinerary and rail usage.

I spent some time before our trip calculating out the cost of buying various tickets versus rail passes, and in our case determined that a Swiss Pass offered the best value. The Swiss Pass is valid on almost all trains (supplement was required to use the Glacier Express), on buses, ferries, and we got 50% off the cost of cable cars and mountain transport in Zermatt.

You can investigate Rail Passes here

Train timetables and routing here

The Glacier Express is one of Switzerland's most famous train excursions. It has been operating since 1930 and is a 7½-hour trip between Zermatt and St. Moritz. The 169 miles of narrow-gauge track are punctuated by 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. Trains reach a peak elevation of 6,670 feet and traverse the 9.5-mile Furka Tunnel, which takes a shortcut beneath the Alps between Andermatt and Brig. The scenery is incredible - mountanis of course, farms and wildflowers of every color. The cost is about $150 1st class and $100 2nd. For an additional fee you can have lunch in a car with panorama windows beside and overhead. The food was excellent.