Where is Chur, Switzerland?
Chur is a major transport hub for a host of amazing ski resorts in the Swiss canton of Grisons (Graubünden).
Chur is the capital city of Grisons in south east Switzerland. It is 100km south east of Zurich airport & 156km north of Milan, Italy. By road it takes approximately 1½hr (130km) to reach Chur from Zurich airport and slightly longer by train. The closest major ski resort is Arosa, which is connected to Chur by light rail.
The Swiss canton of Graubünden (or Grisons for us English speakers) makes up the south east quarter of the nation. Graubuenden extends from the headwaters of the Rhine River, across to the Austrian frontier in the east, Italy to the south & Liechtenstein to the north.
Flights to Chur
The gateway international airport for Chur is Zurich. The Zurich airport has rail connections to Chur by rail with one change required. 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 Chur without too much effort are Milan Malpensa (MXP) (if driving!), Innsbruck (for UK & European origins) & Munich.
To search for a great deal on a flight to Zurich or other European airport, use our preferred flight search engine.
Airport & Hotel Transfers
The Powderhounds recommend taking the train from the Zurich airport to Chur as you can upgrade to the comfort of first class for most journeys. 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 Chur from the airports is a private transfer. Search & book your private transfer to Chur or a nearby ski area.
Train, Tram & Bus Transport to Chur
Chur has a superbly integrated train, bus and tram (light rail) station at its centre, a short walk from the old town. Trains connect to anywhere in Switzerland & Austria with ease. See the eastern Swiss rail map here.
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 trains are part of the Rhaetian railway (RhB or Rhaetische) which includes some of the most scenic lines in the world. The train to St Moritz and beyond over the Bernina Pass to Italy is particularly special, not only for its scenery, but also the engineering feats. See the Chur rail network map here.
Postbus runs regular services on multitudes of routes in the area. The central bus station is fully covered and integrated above the railway station. Large signage with scheduling information makes any journey simple.
Anyone staying in the Chur Altstadt (old town) will enjoy the ease of utilising bus & light rail stops adjacent to the west gates of the city. The stops are on the Arosa, Laax & Lenzerheide ski resort lines.
Search & book bus & train tickets.
Driving to Chur
A major city like Chur is easy to reach via the excellent European motorway system. The E43/A13 runs right the city along the upper Rhine River valley. Zurich is less than 1½hr away.
Unlike much of Europe, Switzerland does not have pay as go road tolls on its highways. A once off annual fee of approximately 40CHF (2021 price) covers all the country. It can be purchased at major border crossings or ask your car rental provider if already in Switzerland.
Car Rental & Hire for Chur
All the major airports & cities have car hire available. The cheapest rates are at Zurich airport. One provider at Chur train station has high rental rates, but low security deposits. Two additional providers in downtown Chur have low rates but high security deposits. Go figure! Rates are slightly higher in Switzerland than other parts of Europe, but the security deposits can be excessive, so read the fine print before hiring any vehicles. Renting cars in Italy is cheaper!
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Nearby Ski Resorts
Chur links seamlessly to some of Switzerland’s biggest & best known ski resorts.
By train you can easily travel to Arosa, Davos Klosters & St Moritz. By bus direct to Laax and Lenzerheide.
A host of smaller ski resorts can also be reached by public transport including the local ski resorts of Hochwang and Tschiertschen, plus some further afield like Bivio , Brigels and Savognin.
Chur’s Rhaetian railway connects in the west with the Matterhorn Gotthard line at Disentis/Muster opening a world of ski by rail opportunity. Ski resorts at Disentis, Andermatt Sedrun, Aletsch Arena, Crans Montana & Zermatt are all directly accessible from the train. Go forth and explore!
