Where is Brigels, Switzerland?
Brigels ski resort is above the town of the same name in the Surselva region of canton Grisons (Graubünden) midway between Andermatt & the capital Chur.
The village of Brigels is only 48km (50min) west of Chur by road. Zurich is around 80km north and Milan is 140km south of the ski resort (as the crow flies!).
Travel to Brigels is convenient by train & bus from eastern Switzerland, Germany & Austria. In winter, road closures to the west require the use of trains if coming from the direction of Andermatt.
Brigels is also known as Breil. Both names can be used. The main lift base area is often referred to as Pendicularas.
Flights
Gateway international airports are Zurich & at a stretch, Milan Malpensa.
The Zurich airport has rail connections to Brigels via Tavanasa. Alternatively, numerous car rental options exist, but be wary of hefty security deposits if hiring a car in Switzerland.
Other airports that are can be linked to Brigels with a bit of effort are Milan Malpensa (MXP) (if driving!), Innsbruck (INN) (for UK & European origins) & Munich (MUC).
Search for a great deal on a flight to Zurich or other European airport here.
Airport & Hotel Transfers
The Powderhounds recommend taking the train & bus from the Zurich airport to Brigels as you can upgrade to the comfort of first class for most journeys & the train is met by a bus to the resort. However, if you cannot abide public transport, are in a larger group of 3+ people or just have the cash to splash, the quickest way to Brigels from the airports is a private transfer. Search & book your private transfer to Brigels.
Train & Bus Transport
Brigels is conveniently accessed via train services operated by the Rhaetian railway (RhB or Rhaetische) which includes some of the most scenic lines in the world. The Glacier Express between Zermatt, Andermatt & St Moritz runs through here. The exceptional Bernina Express into Italy (passing Diavolezza Lagalb on the way) is also part of the network.
The closest railway station to the village & ski resort is Tavanasa - Breil/Brigels, only 6km away by road. From Zurich airport, it is possible to travel to Brigels by train with 2 changes; one at Zurich Main and one at either Landquart or Chur. Travel time including the short bus trip to the village is around 3hr.
Trains from the west all travel via Brig, Andermatt & Disentis. Due to the nature of the journey, travel times tend to be quite long. If driving from the west, the car train is required from Andermatt. It can be a lengthy process so plan accordingly.
The PostAuto route 461 bus meets trains at Tavanasa station from either direction at regular intervals. Ask the helpful bus driver if not sure where to get off the bus!
If heading to the Waltensburg base, get off at the Ilanz train station & jump on the PostAuto route 424 bus. See the bus route map .
Search & book train tickets to Tavanasa. Buy a bus ticket to Brigels from the driver when boarding at Tavanasa.
Driving to Brigels
Unlike many ski resorts in Switzerland, the roads to Brigels are quite straight forward and shouldn't be too testing on the nerves. With the way west of Sedrun to Andermatt closed in winter to all cars, there are effectively only two roads leading to the resort in winter. From Italy or Switzerland, the major A13 road provides the best link to Brigels. From either direction, exit at Reichenau and drive west on route 19.
To add a bit of spice to your sauce, if driving a rental car to Brigels from Italy, an interesting option is to come via the minor road over the Lukmanier Pass (a.k.a. Passo del Lucomagno) to Disentis.
Sick of driving and coming from Geneva or further west? Load the car onto the train at Andermatt and enjoy the ride in the comfort of a rail carriage through to Disentis.
Car parking is available at both the Brigels & Waltensburg lift base areas. All parking near the ski area has been recently upgraded, but now costs!
For hints, tips & warnings about driving to Swiss ski resorts in winter, see our Travel in Switzerland page.
Car Rental & Hire
Travellers arriving from overseas into Milan, the most convenient location for picking up a rental car is at the Malpensa Airport Terminals 1 or 2. We do not recommend picking up a car in the city of Milan, as the traffic and navigation challenges are not worth the effort. Similarly, Zurich and Munich airports offer greater convenience and access than other locations. Renting cars in Switzerland can be an expensive exercise, particularly in relation to security deposits - check the fine print & compare prices between different companies.
Search & book rental cars.
Getting Around the Ski Resort
Free buses operate on two different routes around the village of Brigels to transport skiers from accommodation to the chairlift base. It is possible to walk or ski to everything as well!
Nearby Ski Resorts
Brigels is close to some of the largest & best known ski resorts in Switzerland including Andermatt Sedrun & Laax. Across the valley from Brigels is the local competition, the larger north facing Obersaxon Mundaun. The soon to be expanded Disentis 3000 ski resort is on the train line to the west.
From Chur, the wonderful ski resorts of Arosa, Lenzerheide, Davos Klosters & St Moritz are all close & will highlight the real strengths & weaknesses of lovely Brigels!
