36 Things to Do in Chur 2025

11 Highlights in Chur

• The old town, with its winding streets, is car-free and boasts a Mediterranean charm with numerous restaurants, bars, and boutiques.
• The main street runs from Kornplatz through Untere Gasse to Welschdörfli.
• Chur has a vibrant music, art, and theater scene that attracts international artists.
• The spectacular Rhine Gorge of Ruinaulta, with its roaring river, steep white cliffs, and expansive forests, begins 10 km west of Chur.
• The wild Albulatal south of Chur is a popular spot for cycling or rafting.
• At least 86 hiking trails start in and around Chur.
• The Rhaetian Railway departs from Chur to Arosa, Landquart, or Domat / Disentis.
• With 20 km of wide slopes and 5 lifts, the Brambrüesch/Dreibündenstein ski area near Chur offers excellent conditions for winter sports enthusiasts.
• The sledding path to Känzeli is 6 km long.
• Hiking and snowshoeing routes lead to Pradaschier or over Dreibündenstein to Feldis.
• Chur and its surrounding villages have numerous historical churches worth visiting.

Chur is the oldest city in Switzerland. It was founded by the Romans as Curia Raetorum on a site that was previously settled by Celts. Chur is known as a hub for the Rhaetian Railway and for its particularly charming and car-free old town.

Chur is located in the Grisons Alps in the broad valley of the Alpine Rhine on the eastern side of the river. From here, you have quick access to numerous sports activities, both adventurous and relaxing.

You can reach the mountains directly from the city center. The aerial cable cars take visitors in just a few minutes to the local mountain, Brambrüesch (1600 m a.s.l.). Chur is the capital of the canton of Graubünden.

Sights in Chur

The area around Chur has been inhabited for over 5000 years. In some places, even much older evidence of our ancestors has been found. The beautiful old town of Chur may not be that old, but it's definitely worth a visit.

Old Town Chur

The houses in the old town date back to the 12th to 18th centuries. The central Chur Post Square leads over Poststrasse to the old town. The town hall there was built in the 15th century. From Post Square, the old town extends further to the Bishop's Castle and the Plessur River.

The St. Luzius Church was built on top of a Carolingian three-apsidal hall church from the 8th century. The St. Stephen Church stands on the remnants of an early Christian burial site from the 6th century. In the old town, you'll find many guild and residential houses from the 16th to 18th centuries.

It is considered one of the most beautiful old towns in Switzerland. One very positive aspect is that Chur's old town is almost entirely car-free. Additionally, red signs guide you to the most beautiful sights. If you prefer a professional city tour through Chur, you'll find a wide selection available.

Episcopal Castle

The castle was built in 1732/33 on a hill in the Hof district above the old town. The listed building with its inner courtyard is still used today as the official residence of the bishop of the diocese of Chur. Rich stucco decorations adorn the facade of the castle

Directly after the consecration of the cathedral opposite, the construction of an episcopal castle began as early as 1272. The present building is the result of a redesign during the Baroque period

The former canons' houses adjoin the castle in the direction of the old town.

Cathedral of St. Mary's Assumption

Opposite the Episcopal Castle stands the mighty Cathedral of St. Mary's Assumption, also above the Old Town. It was built in the period from 1150 to 1272 on the ruins of a predecessor cathedral. The first cathedral dates back to around 450. Due to the long construction period, the cathedral contains elements of Romanesque, late Romanesque and Gothic styles.

Inside, the magnificent high altar and beautiful frescoes in the side aisles are especially worth seeing. The ceiling paintings were created in the Baroque period of the 17th century. The four apostle columns, two guardian lions at the choir entrance and the lion rider in the pre-crypt are among the special medieval masterpieces from the time around 1220.

From the outside, the cathedral looks rather plain.

Culture in Chur

In Chur there are very many meeting places and venues for culture. The theater of Chur is the largest in the whole canton.

Localities for musical concerts in Chur

• the workshop
• the Palazzo
• the Quadro22
• the Palazzo Bowling & Music
• the Stadthalle
• the Kulturhaus
• Toms Beer Box
• the Rockpalast Concerts from the hard rock and heavy metal scene are regularly held in Chur.

Theater in Chur

• the Theater Chur,
• the Klibühni and
• the Postremise They all offer a varied program. The Theater Chur in Zeughausstrasse 6 is the largest theater in Graubünden. The season at this theater lasts from September to June. International choreographers and directors are increasingly staying here. In addition to drama, music and dance theater, there is also puppet theater here. Youth theater and amateur theater are especially encouraged. The Klibühni is located in the old town of Chur at Kirchgasse 14. It is an association with about 700 members. Here you will discover children's theater, various guest performances, co-productions and in-house productions. The Postremise is located at Engadinstrasse 43. Built in the mid-19th century as a riding hall and playhouse, it was soon converted into a transportation hub for horse-drawn carriages. Today it is used by an association for cultural events. You can also take part in a guided tour of the Theaterleben in Chur. You will get a look behind the scenes of the theater in Chur since the 16th century until today.

Chur Museums

If you love museums, Chur has plenty to offer. Here are some of the key museums:

• Bündner Kunstmuseum: This museum, located in the historic Villa Planta and a modern extension, showcases paintings by various Bündner artists from the 18th to the 20th century. The collection primarily features works from Bündner artists such as Angelika Kauffmann, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and the Giacometti family.
• Bündner Naturmuseum: The museum began with collections from renowned Bündner naturalists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it presents not only animals and plants but also fossils and minerals from Graubünden.
• Museum of Prehistory: You can find this museum at Tittwiesenstrasse 100. It covers the formation of the Earth up to the Roman era. In this educational museum, you can experience and understand history through all your senses. The museum is primarily aimed at school classes, but it's available to all interested parties by appointment.

• Winemaking Museum Torculum: It shows the action and work inside and outside the torkel (wine press). The main attraction is a powerful tree press. The exhibition goes into the 2000-year history of viticulture in Chur.
• Domschatzmuseum: Since 2020 the cathedral treasure is shown in the Chur Cathedral Treasure Museum of the Episcopal Castle. Here you will also find a mural made in 1543 from the old building with 35 death dance pictures. The Cathedral Treasury Museum is of national importance and attracts visitors from all over Switzerland. Guided tours must be arranged in advance.
• Rhaetian Museum: You will find the Rhaetian Museum in the old town of Chur in a baroque patrician house of the 17th century. It shows objects from prehistoric and early times to the present and is affectionately called "the memory of Graubünden". Special activities are offered for children. For example, they playfully experience which school utensils were used by children in the Middle Ages
• You can visit the Roman settlement Curia Raetorum in the Welschdörfli in the southern part of the old town. You can get the key for the protective fence at the Rhaetian Museum. fee 3 CHF and deposit 50 CHF

• Sewing Machine Museum: Showcasing sewing machines from the period between 1871 and 1940. Located in a zoo and leisure park, it also features a restaurant.
• Emsorama: This science museum presents technical phenomena and puzzles. The public tour at Emsorama (held once a month) is free.

Art is highly valued in Chur. While these two locations aren’t museums, they offer collections for the public:

• Würth Art and Culture Forum: The Würth Forum is an exhibition space for art in the Lacuna neighborhood. It includes around 18,000 exhibits (sculptures, paintings, and graphics). The changing exhibitions are complemented by a sculpture park.

• Fundaziun Capauliana: This collection comprises Grison images and art-historical documents located at Rheinfelsstrasse 1. About 28,000 items include original paintings, graphics, postcards, maps, posters, and photographs spanning five centuries.

Other sights in Chur

Some sights are respected as components of the total of 24 national cultural assets in Chur

These include, for example:

• Fontanapark: a city park in Chur, which was already created in 1729 as a baroque garden, including Fontana statue. Benedikt Fontana was a hero of the Calven battle of 1499. Especially interesting is a contained sequoia tree
• Altes Gebäu (today courthouse): located at the Fontanapark patrician house, built in the 18th century
• City Hall Chur: a late Gothic listed building from the 16th c. Post office building on the Postplatz, built in 1904 in Renaissance style
• Marsöl: This row of houses is located above the old town and is a listed building. They were an exclave of the court. Here there used to be stables and prebend properties belonging to the members of the Chur cathedral chapter.
• Oberer Spaniöl: a house built in 1645 opposite the Marsöl
• SAND small power station: A 130 year old water wheel shows the power generation of bygone times. It is the last of about 30 waterworks along the mill streams at that time.
• Small power station CADA: The small power station produced electricity for the pasta factory CADA from 1906 to 1997. It is now in operation only for demonstration purposes.
• 27 bridges alone lead over the Plessur before it flows into the Rhine northwest of Chur

Excursion destinations Chur

Around Chur there are many popular destinations for excursions. Due to the location in the Rhine valley, you can easily reach the neighboring villages in the valley. You also have the choice to look for a nearby destination in the mountains. The mountain railroad to the Brambrüesch starts in the middle of the city of Chur.

Tamins and Reichenau

About 10 km west of Chur you will come across Tamins. The village counts as a gateway to the fascinating world of the Rhine Gorge in the Ruinaulta. The villages of Tamins and Reichenau are located at the confluence of the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers. Here is also the station Reichenau-Tamins of the Rhaetian Railway. At this station the railroad lines to the Surselva valley and to the central Grisons separate.

Reichenau Castle, which belongs to the municipality of Tamins, can be reached via the Emser Bridge. It dates back to the 17th century and is now used as a winery. Visits to the castle are combined with wine tastings.

Church of S. Gieri

Via the A13 highway south of Chur you reach the village of Rhäzüns. Here you will find a very interesting church, which used to serve as a parish church for the villages of Bonaduz and Rhäzüns. It dates back to the 10th century. The church is easily recognizable because it stands on a wooded hill between Rhäzüns and Bonaduz. It is a high plateau on the steep bank of the Hinterrhein. You can reach the church from Rhäzüns in about ten minutes on foot.

The walls are made of quarry stone masonry, roughly plastered. The corners are reinforced with tuff stones. The magnificent paintings inside were created from the middle of the 14th century, when a new choir was also built. They depict, for example, the legend of St. George, a dragon fight and scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

According to a legend, the church was built on this spot in thanksgiving. Exactly here, in the 4th century, St. George is said to have been on the run. He had crossed the Rhine with a mighty leap of his horse

Rheinschlucht

The Rheinschlucht was formed by a massive rockslide around 9,500 years ago. Initially, a dammed lake about 25 km long was created from the debris. Over time, the river cut through the rubble and flowed away. Thus, the Rheinschlucht was born. Just 20 km southwest of Chur, the Rheinschlucht begins. Here, you'll find orchids and rare animals. Hiking, biking, paddling, and rafting are popular activities here.

A particularly beautiful hiking trail runs between the train stations Valendas and Versam-Safien. From there, you have a great view of the Rheinschlucht.

Local mountain Brambrüesch

Brambrüesch is a terrace on the mountainside above Chur. It lies at 1600 meters above sea level and is reached by two cable cars. The Chur-Dreibündenstein aerial tramway first goes to the Känzeli middle station. From there, a four-person gondola lift goes up to Brambrüesch.

Other Chur excursion destinations

The castles from the Middle Ages are only ruins, but still worth seeing. Pleasant hikes lead to the excursion destinations and are combined with a beautiful view.

• Castle Haldenstein: A Renaissance castle from the 16th century with public castle garden
• Castle Haldenstein (rock castle), Castle Grottenstein (cave castle) and Castle Lichtenstein (rock castle): all three castles are only in ruins and are located in the area of the Haldenstein district
• Castle Ober Ruchenberg: the ruins of the high castle (1058 m above sea level) can be reached from Chur via a hiking trail in 1.5 hours. The castle dates back to the 13th/14th century.
• Mittenberg with the St. Luzikapelle: An alp and a Maiensäss, which is the annual destination of the Chur Maiensässfahrt. Here is also the pretty St. Luzikapelle from the 17th century. The chapel can be reached from Chur in 45 m by foot.
• Viamala, the gorge created by the glacier between Thusis and Andeer is up to 300 m deep and spectacular to look at. Via the A13 you can reach it from Chur in less than half an hour by car. Two bridges of an old mule track built by the Romans are still easily recognizable today. open: April to end of October

Swiss Activities Tips for Chur

Roman Finds

In Welschdörfli, a part of the southern old town, you can check out the Roman settlement Curia Raetorum. For safety reasons, the site is located within a locked protective fence. You can get a key at the Rhaetian Museum at Hofstrasse 1 (Phone +41 81 254 16 40) or in the railway underpass at Chur Tourism (Phone +41 81 252 18 18). The fee is 3 CHF. You’ll get back the deposit (50 CHF) when you return the key.

Children's Theater Zapperlot

From September to June, your kids can take theater courses at Scalettastrasse 145. Alternatively, they can participate in various events at the children's theater Zapperlot. It’s located in the family center Planaterra in Chur. With circus weekends, theater workshops, pranks, or fools and jesters, the operators of the children's theater always come up with something new.

Giant Sequoia

Have you ever seen a giant sequoia? Giant sequoias are largely protected from forest fires by their bark. In Fontanapark, you'll find a magnificent specimen. Giant sequoias are primarily native to the Sierra Nevada (California) and can grow up to about 45 m high in Europe.

Church of S. Gieri

This church is located between the villages of Bonaduz and Rhäzüns. The medieval church features very impressive paintings and frescoes on the ceilings and walls of the Georgskirche. It’s definitely worth a visit.

Activities and Experiences Around Chur

The variety of excursion destinations invites you to experience them through hiking and mountain trekking. E-bike rides are also extremely popular in this area.

The most common activities around Chur include:

• Hiking and Mountain Hiking
• Mountain biking and E-biking
• Via ferrata and bouldering
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Snowshoe Hiking

Hiking and Mountain Hiking Around Chur

In addition to short and long hikes, you can find a moor course on Brambrüesch. The wooden walkways allow you to stroll easily over the flat moor. The moor is located south of the mountain railway station. The biotope is situated in the Riedboden area.

Day hikes can take you from Brambrüesch to Pradaschier. From there, you can take the chairlift down to Churwalden. Then, you can return to Chur by postbus.

Other hikes can take you to Dreibündenstein (2156 m above sea level) or further to Feldis. The Dreibündenstein is not a mountain peak but indicates a triple border point. This is where the borders of the former Free State of the Three Alliances met, which included the Gotteshausbund, the Zehngerichtebund, and the Upper or Grey Alliance.

Bike and e-bike tours around Chur

The mountain pass (Kunkelspass) above Tamins and Vättis is popular with mountain bikers.

For somewhat more leisurely tours by e-bike or bicycle, the Rhine Valley is quite suitable. You could, for example, take a self-guided e-bike tour through the Chur Rhine Valley incl. lunch. Lunch is reserved in three restaurants that are on your way.

A similar bike tour takes you through vineyard landscapes in Trimmis and Zizers. The culinary bike tour from Chur also has five villages and a castle along the way.

Via ferrata and bouldering in Chur

Just 4 km north of Chur you will find the Haldenstein climbing garden. It is easily accessible and also designed to be child-friendly. The climbing garden has been around since the 1950s and was redesigned around 2013.

The via ferrata Pinut is located about 22 km west of Chur. From Fidaz near Flims, you walk for about an hour. The effort is worth it just for the great view from the metal stairs of the via ferrata.

All year round and in any weather you can climb in the city of Chur in the climbing center Ap'n Daun and in the bouldering hall Quadrel.

Skiing and Snowboarding around Chur

The ski area Brambrüesch/Dreibündenstein is not snow-covered. It is located at an altitude between 1,170 and 2,176 m above sea level and can be directly reached from the center of Chur. Starting in 2025, a new 10-person gondola lift is planned to operate between Chur and Brambrüesch. The new middle station will be built in Fülian.

Brambrüesch Cable Cars (m above sea level)

Name	Capacity (people)	Lift type	Time (min)	Valley station height (m above sea level)	Mountain station height (m above sea level)
Chur - Känzeli	45	Cable car	2	594	1,188
Känzeli - Brambrüesch	4	Gondola	6:20	1,190	1,597
Brambrüesch - Hühnerköpfli	1	Ski T-bar lift	11	1,611	1,950
Hühnerköpfli - Furggabüel	2	Chairlift	8:10	1,951	2,176

Brambrüesch also has a 100 m long kids' lift.

Snowshoe Hiking Above Chur

The area between Brambrüesch and the surrounding mountain peaks is great for snowshoeing starting from Chur. The trail to Pradaschier is particularly popular. From there, you can take a cable car down and return to Chur by post bus.

Other Activities in and around Chur

You won't get bored in Chur during any season. The 6 km long sledding run leads from the mountain station Brambrüesch down to the middle station Känzeli.

• Trail Running
• Winter Hiking
• Sledding and Night Sledding (Saturdays until 10:00 PM)
• Ice Skating and Ice Hockey
• Summer Tobogganing in Pradaschier (3 km long)
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Fun Train Rides
• Swimming
• Golf in Chur's Old Town
• Wellness
• Fitness
• Escape Game
• Canyoning
• Rafting

Events in Chur

Colorful markets regularly decorate the old town of Chur. On Saturdays, the weekly market (farmers' market) takes place in the mornings during the summer months. On the Arcas, the Gänggelimarkt (flea market) is held on the first Saturday of every month, and the traditional Christmas market is also held every year in the old town.

The most popular event location in Chur is the Loucy - Bar Club Eventhall.

The most popular events in the calendar:

• May/June Maiensässfahrt: The Chur school youth goes on a day trip to a Maiensäss (alp with stables and huts) of Chur's local mountain
• June Buskers Chur: 2 days of street art in the old town of Chur with musicians and artists from all over the world
• June Garden Festival at Haldenstein Castle
• August Chur Festival: summer festival with entertainment in various squares of the city
• August Haldenstein Castle Opera: An opera is performed every year on the stage in the courtyard of the castle.
• September Schlagerparade: The big Schlagerparade takes place with parade and nostalgic roller skating parade.
• September street food Festival: The diverse offer invites you to a culinary trip around the world.
• October Big Air Festival Chur: The international elite of freeskiers and free airboarders meet here at the end of October for a big event.
• November Long Saturday: The culture houses in Chur open from 12:00 to 24:00 and offer dance, theater, concerts, exhibitions or readings.

Arrival to Chur

Chur is a central transportation hub in southeastern Switzerland. Apart from the SBB and RhB trains and countless Postbus lines, long-distance buses such as FlixBus and IC Bus travel to Chur.

by car

By car, you can reach Chur from the north and south via the A3 and A13 freeways. From Munich and Milan you can reach Chur in about three hours.

by public transport

National and international trains terminate here. From Zurich, trains run every half hour to Chur and take between 75 and 90 minutes. From St. Gallen, you can also reach Chur every hour without changing trains within about 80 minutes.

In the arrival hall in Chur numerous post bus lines start and end in all directions. From Chur you can travel directly to Lenzerheide, Tschiertschen, Flims and many other remote places in the canton of Graubünden.

Hotels in Chur

Chur has 14 hotels to offer. You will not find luxurious hotels here, these are rather in Arosa

Hotel ABC

The four-star hotel is centrally located and has modern facilities. Besides a fitness room, you also have a spa lounge with steam bath and sauna. Dogs are allowed.

Suitable for: Travelers with a medium budget

Franziskaner Hotel am Ochsenplatz

The small hotel has 28 rooms and a world famous restaurant (Arvenstube).It is located a few minutes walk from the train station in the middle of the old town.

Suitable for: City travelers with lower budget and lovers of good regional food

Ibis Hotel

The Ibis Hotel offers simple rooms with private shower at a moderate price. Its pyramid shape makes it easily recognizable from a distance. It is located near the A13 freeway at exit no. 17 Chur-Süd.

Suitable for: Uncomplicated car travelers with low budget

Restaurants in Chur

In Chur you will find 130 restaurants with regional specialties and international cuisine.

Zollhaus Bündner Stube

The Bündner Stube is one of three restaurants in the Zollhaus. It offers a rustic ambience from more than 400 years of tradition. Whether it's beef fillet prepared in a variety of ways or meat fondue for two, the menu primarily offers fine Swiss cuisine.

Suitable for: higher price range, also gluten-free

Felsenbar in the Welschdörfli in Chur

On the first floor of the bar and event location, those who love nightlife with hot music and cool drinks meet from Wednesday to Sunday. Until the early morning, the DJ plays the music of today and yesterday

Suitable for: mixed groups and night owls

Valentinos

The simple Lebanese restaurant Valentinos offers oriental dishes in the Untere Gasse of Chur's old town. Among them are dishes with ostrich meat as well as vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Suitable for: low price range, also vegan