Chur (Grisons-Graubuenden)

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Ski the Swiss canton of Graubueden (Grisons) from the city of Chur.
Ski the Swiss canton of Graubueden (Grisons) from the city of Chur.
Chur old town.
Chur old town.
The station at Chur has integrated train and bus services to all ski resorts.
The station at Chur has integrated train and bus services to all ski resorts.
Arosa is just one ski resort close to Chur.
Arosa is just one ski resort close to Chur.
Laax ski resort, with its high glacier, is a short bus trip from Chur.
Laax ski resort, with its high glacier, is a short bus trip from Chur.
The fabulous gondola at Churwalden gives easy access to Lenzerheide ski resort.
The fabulous gondola at Churwalden gives easy access to Lenzerheide ski resort.
Arosa ski resort
Arosa ski resort's pretty, rolling terrain iis heaven for intermediate skiers.
The skiing behemoth of Laax has some very distinctive features!
The skiing behemoth of Laax has some very distinctive features!
Lenzerheide ski resort has the Chur
Lenzerheide ski resort has the Chur's best all round terrain.
Chur is reputed to be Switzerland
Chur is reputed to be Switzerland's oldest city.
The old town of Chur is fun at night with a host of bars and restaurants.
The old town of Chur is fun at night with a host of bars and restaurants.
The train to Arosa ski resort (& Hochwang), runs through the middle of Chur
The train to Arosa ski resort (& Hochwang), runs through the middle of Chur
Rhaetian railway stations are all cute along the Arosa train line.
Rhaetian railway stations are all cute along the Arosa train line.
Winter walking trails are everywhere in the mountains around Chur.
Winter walking trails are everywhere in the mountains around Chur.
Enjoy historic mountain huts at all the Chur ski resorts.
Enjoy historic mountain huts at all the Chur ski resorts.
The link between Arosa and Lenzerheide opens up huge ski options.
The link between Arosa and Lenzerheide opens up huge ski options.
Sunny Arosa ski resort near Chur.
Sunny Arosa ski resort near Chur.
Après ski around Chur is better than most places in Switzerland.
Après ski around Chur is better than most places in Switzerland.
Laax is a ski resort near Chur with oodles of modern lifts & great terrain.
Laax is a ski resort near Chur with oodles of modern lifts & great terrain.
Ski in the Swiss canton of Graubunden and stay in Chur.
Ski in the Swiss canton of Graubunden and stay in Chur.

Chur (Grisons-Graubuenden)

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Chur (Grisons)

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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.

Tours in or near Chur

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Davos Mountains Experience
MULTI-DAY PRIVATE GUIDING & INSTRUCTION
6 Days Skiing or Snowboarding
Ability: Beginner to Expert
Enjoy six 6 days of exclusive skiing or snowboarding with a private guide in the incredibly diverse Davos Klosters ski areas of Parsenn, Jakobshorn, Madrisa, Rinerhorn & more. Private groups of up to 5 people apply for your best dates & duration ....
Price p/p From price based on per person in a private group of 4 people on a 6-day tour.
Base/invoice currency is in CHF inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 610
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Four Resorts Tour
MULTI-DAY PRIVATE GUIDING & INSTRUCTION
4 Days Skiing or Snowboarding
Ability: Beginner to Expert
Experience a 4-day grand tour of the Davos Klosters mountains exploring Parsenn, Jakobshorn, Rinerhorn & Madrisa with a private ski or snowboard guide/instructor. Private groups of up to 5 people apply for your best dates & duration ...
Price p/p From price based on per person in a private group of 4 people on a 4-day tour.
Base/invoice currency is in CHF inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 412
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See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Chur (Grisons) here

Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area Tours

Off-piste with The Snow Experience Davos
PRIVATE OFF-PISTE INSTRUCTION & GUIDING
1 Day Skiing or Snowboarding
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Be guided by a local ski or snowboard instructor into the best off-piste terrain at Davos-Klosters, all the while improving your technique and gaining confidence to explore bigger terrain & deeper snow. Private solos & groups apply for your best dates & duration ....
Price p/p From price based on per person in a private group of 4 people on a 1-day off-piste ski or snowboard day.
Base/invoice currency is in CHF inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 130
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Ride & Learn in the Alps
GUIDED OFF-PISTE SKIING & LEARNING
4 Days | 4 Nights | 4 Days Skiing
Ability: Intermediate to Advanced
The Ride & Learn tour is an 'active learning' powder-chaser trip where the location in the Alps is dictated by the best powder conditions at the time. Options include Livigno, Santa Caterina Italy, Graubuenden Switzerland or Montafon Austria. Ride amazing off-piste snow & do it safely over a long weekend ...
Price p/p Base/invoice currency is EUR, per person on a 4 day tour (2024 rates), minimum 5 guests on tour
Price includes all taxes
*displayed price may vary slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations
USD 562
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The Snow Experience Davos Ski & Snowboard Lessons
PRIVATE SKI & SNOWBOARD LESSONS
1 Day Skiing or Snowboarding
Ability: Beginner to Expert
Expert instructors & guides provide a fully flexible & personalized service with affordable private lessons for beginner, intermediate or advanced skiers & snowboarders at Davos. Improve your technique & have more fun on the slopes. Solos, couples & groups apply for your best location, dates & duration ....
Price p/p From price based on per person in a group of 5 people on a 1-day ski or snowboard private lesson.
Base/invoice currency is in CHF inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 84
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See all Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area tours that visit Chur (Grisons) here
200