Chur Graubünden Switzerland
Chur is an important ski town for any Powderhound skiing the major resorts of south east Switzerland in the canton of Grisons (Graubuenden). With its beautiful old town, Chur (pronounced 'koor' or 'coire'), is a delightful place on any Swiss ski holiday - whether as a base for day trips to nearby resorts; as a staging point to continue travel elsewhere; or as a destination in its own right.
Reputed to be Switzerland's oldest city, Chur's proximity to a feast of ski resorts & travel connections are only one part of the equation. After dark, the old town of Chur has a seriously vibrant bar district that puts most Swiss ski resorts' après sessions to absolute shame. Poking around the laneways is great fun & having a rest day afterwards is a wonderful tonic for the next powder day.
Skiing & Snowboarding
Chur makes a great base for day trips to a number of stellar, large and small ski resorts. The larger ski resorts of Laax, Arosa & Lenzerheide are complemented by one local ski hill, Brambrueesch, plus two secret stash resorts Hochwang and Tschiertschen. Another Powderhounds favourite, Brigels, whilst not convenient for a day trip, is a short train and bus ride from Chur and well worth a visit for its sunny and fun slopes.
Numerous ski tour possibilities linking various ski resorts are in the area. From Chur, taking the bus to ski Tschiertschen first, freeride down to Lenzerheide and then journey across to Arosa for the train back to Chur. Another option is from Chur taking the lifts up to the top of the Brambrüesch ski area and skiing across to the Churwalden ski lift at Lenzerheide then taking the bus back to Chur. The area is full of lift assisted adventure.
In addition to the ski resorts close to Chur, the city's railway connections provide access to wonderful skiing and snowboarding locations in all directions. North via Landquart are Pizol and the larger Flumserberg above the beautiful Walensee. West via the Glacier Express train (or combination of other rail services) through Disentis, direct connections with ski resorts include Andermatt-Sedrun, Aletsch Arena, Crans Montana and ultimately one of Switzerland's best, Zermatt. South, the Bernina Express travels to sensational St Moritz and its three separate ski areas Corviglia, Corvatsch and Diavolezza-Lagalb, or you can go by road via Savognin and Bivio. East is expansive Davos Klosters and the smaller resorts of Gruesch and Zuoz with the middle sized Scuol rounding out the best of them.
For more information see the Chur ski resorts page or select from the menu or left column.
Snow & Weather
Chur is in a unique geographical location contributing to one of the mildest climates in Switzerland. At an elevation of only 600m, the valley around Chur receives relatively little snowfall and daytime average temperatures in winter are generally in the positive. Whilst the mountains surrounding the city are freezing and snowy, Chur can be comparatively pleasant. Note that the old town is in shadow through mid-winter for much of the day, making it feel colder than it otherwise might be!
Where is Chur Switzerland?
Chur is in the upper Rhine River valley canton of Grisons (or Graubünden) in south-east Switzerland, approximately 150km as the crow flies from Bern, Innsbruck & Milan.
As well as being the capital of the Graubuenden canton, Chur is the main transport hub in Grisons and has a superbly integrated train, bus & tram station at its centre, only a short walk from the old town. From Chur it is possible to travel to all major (and minor) ski resorts within a 60km radius by a combination of train or bus.
The international gateway airport for Chur is Zurich (ZCH), 130km to the north-west. Travel from Zurich airport to Chur takes around 1.5hr by road & 1.5 - 2hr by train. Search & book train tickets to Chur here.
If staying in the old town (recommended), convenient bus & tram stops for Laax, Arosa & Lenzerheide are adjacent to the west gates.
For more information see the Travel to Chur page.
Chur Accommodation
Most people travelling to legendary ski resorts like St Moritz, Davos Klosters, Arosa & Lenzerheide will pass through Chur. The temptation is to move straight onto a ski resort, but Chur makes an excellent stopover before & after a ski trip, or as a base to explore the region.
Accommodation in Chur is of two simple yet vastly different options. The first option is the modern like the shiny ABC Swiss Quality Hotel near the railway station in the 'new' town centre. The second (& better) option is several classic hotel & guesthouse offerings in the heart of the 'old' town (Altstadt). We have stayed at the basic, but excellent Hotel Franziskaner & thoroughly enjoyed it. Our recommendation is to stay in the Altstadt and enjoy its ancient ambiance in the daytime & its funky bars & nightlife after dark.
Search & book all Chur accommodation here.
Activities
The best part about having a range of small & large ski resorts near big cities is that they tend to provide a full range of non-ski activities to visitors. Sightseeing via the Brambrueesch cable car & gondola, or the train to Arosa, plus alpine dining in any number of ski resorts, is a simple pleasure. More active pursuits include a plethora of winter walking, snow shoeing & sledding trails at several ski resorts, plus ice skating, paragliding and cross-country skiing. One can even buckle up for high adventure on a ............ horse drawn sleigh ride at Arosa! Suffice to say there is plenty to do in the snow-covered mountains & valleys around Chur.