Chur Travel Guide

City City in Switzerland known for its landscapes

Set where several alpine valleys meet, Chur’s narrow streets and Roman-era walls funnel visitors to the Rhätische Bahn and mountain passes; sample Bündner dishes like capuns before catching scenic trains into the Alps.

Costs

$120-200 / day (mid-range)

Affordable compared to Swiss cities, but still pricier than many countries.

Safety

Very safe

Low crime, safe even at night.

Best Time

June-September and Dec-March

Summer hiking and winter ski season.

In This Guide

Why Visit Chur?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

35,373

Infrastructure & Convenience

Regional trains, clear signs, good English in services.

Popularity

Visited by hikers, skiers, and Glacier/Regional train enthusiasts.

Known For

Old town, Swiss Alps, Bernina and Rhaetian Railways, Rhine valley, mountain sports, museums, cathedral, alpine rail journeys

Chur claims to be Switzerland's oldest town, with continuous settlement evidence spanning over 5,000 years.

Why Visit Chur? #

Switzerland’s oldest town is a compact gateway to alpine landscapes and regional culture. Chur’s medieval Old Town links centuries of history with easy access to the Rhaetian Railway (the Bernina and Glacier Express), a draw for rail enthusiasts and mountain travelers. Sample Graubünden specialties like capuns and Bündnerfleisch, and soak up the restrained charm of narrow lanes, cathedral steps and local cafés.

Top Things to Do in Chur

All Attractions ›

Vaduz Castle

Hilltop castle and official residence of Liechtenstein's prince

Castle

Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein

Modern and contemporary art museum with minimalist architecture

Museum

Gutenberg Castle

Medieval hilltop castle overlooking Balzers village

Castle

Rheinpark Stadion

National stadium in Vaduz hosting football matches

Stadium

Vaduz Cathedral

Neo-Gothic cathedral and landmark parish church in Vaduz

Religious Site

Walensee

Deep alpine lake surrounded by steep Swiss cliffs

Lake

Grauspitz

Highest mountain of Liechtenstein on the Swiss border.

Mountain

Glacier Express

Scenic Swiss train linking Zermatt and St. Moritz

Road

Don't Miss

Chur Old Town (Altstadt) - Cobblestone streets lined with medieval buildings, cafés, and small artisan shops.
Chur Cathedral (St. Mary of the Assumption) - Romanesque cathedral with frescoes and panoramic city views from tower.
Kunstmuseum Graubünden - Cantonal art museum featuring Swiss painters and rotating contemporary exhibitions.
Brambrüesch mountain (cable car) - Short ride to Brambrüesch for hiking trails, alpine meadows, and ski slopes.

Hidden Gems

Rätisches Museum (Rhaetian Museum) - Regional museum with archaeological finds, traditional costumes, and Roman artifacts.
Bärenplatz market square - Small market square with weekly stalls, local produce, and people-watching cafés.
Brambrüesch alpine botanical garden - Brambrüesch Alpine botanical garden near cable car station with local alpine flora displays.

Day Trips

Bernina Express to Poschiavo and Tirano - Bernina Express to Poschiavo and Tirano through UNESCO-listed alpine route.
Arosa - Short regional train to Arosa for lakes, hiking trails, and mountain biking.

Best Time to Visit Chur #

Visit Chur in summer for hiking in the nearby Alps, or in winter to access excellent ski resorts. Spring offers pleasant weather and far fewer crowds.

Winter

December - February · -6-3°C (21-37°F)

Winters are cold and snowy, ideal for hitting nearby ski areas; expect crisp mountain air and festive village atmospheres around Christmas and Carnival.

Spring

March - May · 2-16°C (36-61°F)

Spring thaws the valleys-muddy trails early on but rewarding alpine blooms and quieter lifts, great for bargain accommodation and exploring old town streets.

Summer

June - August · 12-26°C (54-79°F)

Summer is pleasantly warm with long daylight for multi-day hikes, mountain biking, and lake excursions; locals come out, so book mountain transport in advance.

Best Time to Visit Chur #

Climate

Chur's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (977 mm/year).

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustSeptember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

36°

Warmest Month

-29°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

49 Poor

Comfort

0°

Feels Like Cold

0°C

Temperature

-3° – 4°

89%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

57 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.2

UV Index

Low

8.9h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

47 Poor

Comfort

1°

Feels Like Cold

1°C

Temperature

-3° – 5°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

61 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.2h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

0° – 10°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

58 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

53 Acceptable

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

3° – 13°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

65 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.0

UV Index

High

13.4h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

8° – 18°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

82 mm

Rainfall

2.2 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

14.8h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (110 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 21°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

110 mm

Rainfall

2.1 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.7

UV Index

Very High

15.6h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (121 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Cool

18°C

Temperature

12° – 23°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

121 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.7

UV Index

Very High

15.2h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Cool

18°C

Temperature

12° – 23°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

116 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.4

UV Index

High

14.0h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 19°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

95 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.0

UV Index

Moderate

12.4h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (70 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cold

10°C

Temperature

5° – 14°

84%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

70 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.5

UV Index

Low

10.7h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

47 Poor

Comfort

4°

Feels Like Cold

4°C

Temperature

1° – 8°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

78 mm

Rainfall

1.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.3h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

47 Poor

Comfort

1°

Feels Like Cold

1°C

Temperature

-2° – 4°

88%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

64 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.5h daylight

How to Get to Chur

Chur is best reached by train from Zurich Airport-regular IC/IR services deliver you directly to Chur station. Chur is also the gateway to Rhaetian Railway scenic lines and local PostBus links into the mountains.

By Air

Zurich Airport (ZRH): Zurich Airport is Chur’s main international gateway. Frequent SBB trains run from the airport (Genève/Zurich networks) to Chur with a typical journey time of about 1h 45m-2h (often with a change at Zürich HB); fares generally fall in the CHF 25-50 range.

St. Gallen-Altenrhein / Innsbruck (limited): There are smaller regional airports (Altenrhein, Innsbruck) with seasonal services; these require onward rail/bus connections and are less convenient than Zurich for regular international travel.

By Train & Bus

Train: Chur railway station is a major hub for Swiss Federal Railways and Rhaetian Railway (RhB). InterCity/InterRegio services from Zurich run regularly (about 1h 45m-2h). The Rhaetian Railway provides local and scenic services (e.g., connections towards Davos, St. Moritz and the Bernina/Glacier Express routes).

Bus: PostBus (CarPostal) and regional bus services run from Chur to surrounding valleys and mountain resorts (e.g., Arosa, Lenzerheide). Travel times depend on destination; local buses are frequent for regional connections and ski-area transfers.

How to Get Around Chur #

Chur’s compact old town is very walkable; most sights and shops are within easy strolling distance. The town is also a regional rail hub (Rhaetian Railway and SBB) with frequent connections to the mountains and neighboring towns. Local buses and taxis cover the suburbs; a car helps for exploring the wider canton. Swiss regional fares apply-consider point‑to‑point tickets for short trips.

Where to Stay in Chur #

Budget

Old Town / Train Station - CHF 60-140/night

Simple, central options and a youth hostel are the main budget choices. Very limited hostel-style beds; small hotels offer value.

Youth Hostel Chur - Basic dorms and private rooms.
ABC Swiss Quality Hotel - Economical private rooms, central location.

Mid-Range

Old Town - CHF 120-220/night

Comfortable historic hotels near the pedestrian Old Town and station. Mid-range choices are compact but well-located for exploring.

Hotel Stern Chur - Historic rooms in the old town.
Romantik Hotel Molveno (regional) - Quiet, comfortable regional stay.

Luxury

Old Town / Central - CHF 200+/night

True luxury hotels are scarce in Chur; the top local properties offer the best rooms and service. For alpine resorts, consider Davos or St. Moritz.

ABC Swiss Quality Hotel (upper rooms) - Largest rooms in town, quiet stay.
Hotel Stern (premium rooms) - Refined atmosphere in historical building.

Where to Eat in Chur #

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Chur's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Regional

Pizza

Italian

Kebab

Burger

German

Thai

Asian

Pasta

International

Swiss

Local

Indian

Sandwich

Mediterranean

Fish

Grill

Jause

Salad

Cheese

Nightlife in Chur #

Chur has a modest nightlife-a mix of student‑friendly bars, cosy pubs and the casino. Live‑music nights and seasonal events pop up, but there isn’t a big late‑night club scene. Evenings are relaxed; expect locals at cafés and bars rather than busy nightclubs.

Casino Chur - Local casino offering gaming, drinks and occasional live entertainment.

Shopping in Chur #

Chur’s shopping is concentrated in the pedestrianised old town with independent shops, boutiques and everyday services. Weekly markets and small food stores are where locals shop. For larger department stores or specialised shopping you’d travel to larger cantonal centres, but Chur covers most daily needs.