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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.