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Chur

Chur (Romansh: Cuira) is the oldest city in Switzerland, with over 5'000 years of continuous settlement, and serves as the capital of Graubunden -- the country's largest and most mountainous canton. It is the starting point for the Glacier Express to Zermatt and the Bernina Express to Tirano, and its car-free Old Town, with a 12th-century cathedral and lively cafe culture, makes it far more than a transit stop. Zurich to Chur takes just 1 hour 15 minutes by direct train.

Chur (Romansh: Cuira) is the oldest city in Switzerland, with over 5'000 years of continuous settlement, and serves as the capital of Graubunden -- the country's largest and most mountainous canton. It is the starting point for the Glacier Express to Zermatt and the Bernina Express to Tirano, and its car-free Old Town, with a 12th-century cathedral and lively cafe culture, makes it far more than a transit stop. Zurich to Chur takes just 1 hour 15 minutes by direct train.

En bref : Coire (Chur en allemand) est la plus ancienne ville de Suisse, avec des traces d'habitation remontant a 11'000 ans. Capitale du canton des Grisons, cette ville compacte et pietoniere possede une vieille ville medievale magnifique, une cathedrale romane du XIIe siecle et sert de point de depart pour les lignes ferroviaires panoramiques du Bernina Express et du Glacier Express. A seulement 1h15 de Zurich en train IC.

En bref
Region Grisons (Graubunden)
Canton Grisons
Altitude 585 m
Population 38'000
Langue Allemand ; romanche et italien dans le canton
Acces Zurich : 1h 15min (IC) / Saint-Moritz : 2h (RhB) / Davos : 1h 30min
Swiss Travel Pass Entierement valable
Duree de sejour 1 jour ou 1 a 2 nuits
GPS 46.8499, 9.5329

Les 5 incontournables

1. Decouvrir la vieille ville pietonne

La vieille ville de Coire est l'une des mieux preservees de Suisse, avec des ruelles medievales, des facades peintes et des places animees. L'Arcas, la Poststrasse et l'Obere Gasse forment un circuit pietonnnier agreable. Gratuit. Prevoyez 1 a 2 heures.

2. Visiter la cathedrale de Coire

La cathedrale de l'Assomption (Kathedrale St. Maria Himmelfahrt), construite entre 1150 et 1272, est un chef-d'oeuvre d'architecture romane. Son tresor contient des objets liturgiques carolingiens et medievaux. Entree gratuite, tresor CHF 6.

3. Prendre le Bernina Express ou le Glacier Express

Coire est le point de depart (ou d'arrivee) du Bernina Express vers Tirano (Italie) via Saint-Moritz, et du Glacier Express vers Zermatt. Ces deux lignes figurent parmi les plus belles au monde. La ligne de la Rhatische Bahn (RhB) vers l'Albula et la Bernina est inscrite au patrimoine mondial UNESCO.

4. Visiter le Musee d'art des Grisons (Bundner Kunstmuseum)

Le musee, agrandi en 2016 par une extension de Peter Zumthor, presente l'art des Grisons des XVIIIe siecle a nos jours, avec des oeuvres d'Angelika Kauffmann, Giovanni Segantini et Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Entree : CHF 15. GPS : 46.8523, 9.5307.

5. Excursion au Brambruesch

Le telecabine du Brambruesch, accessible directement depuis le centre-ville (depart pres de la gare), monte a 1'600 m pour des randonnees, du VTT et des pistes de luge d'ete. Aller-retour : CHF 28.

Hebergement

Hotel Prix/nuit (DZ) Notes
Romantik Hotel Stern CHF 200--350 Le plus ancien hotel de Suisse (depuis 1677)
Hotel Drei Konige CHF 150--250 Central, cuisine gastronomique
JUFA Hotel Chur CHF 100--160 Familial, moderne, prix doux

Source : ch.tours | Derniere mise a jour : mars 2026

Planifier

Itinéraires dans null

Plans de voyage sur plusieurs jours pour profiter au maximum de votre visite.

1
Jour 1
moderate

10-Day Complete Switzerland — The Ultimate Itinerary

2
Jour 2
moderate

10-Day Grand Tour of Switzerland — The Complete Circle

3
Jour 3
moderate

3-Day Bern & Region Explorer — Capital, Cheese Country & Alpine Lakes

Questions fréquentes

Tout ce que vous devez savoir pour visiter Chur.

### Is Chur worth visiting?

Yes, Chur is worth visiting both as a destination in its own right and as a gateway to Graubunden. Its car-free Old Town is one of the most appealing in Switzerland, with a 5'000-year history, excellent restaurants serving Bundner cuisine, and a lively local atmosphere. Most visitors are pleasantly surprised to find such a charming small city -- it is far more than just a railway junction.

How many days do you need in Chur?

One full day covers the Old Town, cathedral, and a museum. Two days allow you to add a Brambruesch hike or cable car ride and a day trip to the Rhine Gorge or Arosa. Many visitors use Chur as a one-night stopover before or after a Glacier Express or Bernina Express journey, which is an excellent strategy.

How do you get to Chur from Zurich?

Take a direct IC train from Zurich HB. The journey takes 1 hour 15 minutes, with trains running every 30 minutes. A second-class ticket costs CHF 42 (free with Swiss Travel Pass). No changes needed. Sit on the right side for lake views along Walensee.

What is the best time to visit Chur?

May to October for warm weather, outdoor dining, and hiking. Late November to late December for the atmospheric Christmas market. Chur works year-round as a railway gateway -- the Glacier Express and Bernina Express run in all seasons.

Is the Swiss Travel Pass valid for Chur?

Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass covers all trains to Chur, local buses, most Rhaetian Railway routes in Graubunden, and museum entries. It also covers regular (non-panoramic) trains on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express routes -- only the panoramic car supplements are extra.

Is Chur really the oldest city in Switzerland?

Yes, archaeological evidence shows continuous human settlement on the Chur hilltop (Hof area, where the cathedral now stands) dating to approximately 3'000 BC. Roman-era Curia Raetorum was established as an administrative center, and the Bishop of Chur's diocese dates to around 451 AD. This makes Chur the oldest continuously inhabited city in Switzerland.

Can you visit Chur as a day trip from Zurich?

Yes, Chur is an easy day trip from Zurich. With trains taking just 1 hour 15 minutes each way, departing Zurich at 08:00 gives you arrival by 09:15 and a full day in the Old Town. Last trains back to Zurich run until approximately 22:00. This leaves 8--10 hours for sightseeing, dining, and even a Brambruesch cable car ride.

What trains depart from Chur?

Chur is a major railway junction. SBB intercity trains connect to Zurich, Bern, Basel, and beyond. The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) operates from Chur to St. Moritz (Albula line, UNESCO), Davos, Arosa, Disentis, and ultimately Tirano (Bernina Express). The Glacier Express departs daily from Chur toward Zermatt. Chur is one of the most important railway hubs in Switzerland.

Tags hiking skiing swiss-travel-pass budget family trains lakes mountains food winter summer