On 5 October 2026, I left Zürich at 11:31 and travelled directly to Chur. The journey took about one hour and 20 minutes, cost nothing extra with my continuous Interrail pass, and did not require a reservation. The next morning, I left my hostel at 08:40 to catch the Bernina Express.
I had read that Chur was a good place to stop before the Bernina Express, but I knew little else about it. I expected a practical overnight stay. Instead, I arrived wondering why I had not given Switzerland’s oldest city more time.
My overnight stop in Chur at a glance
- Dates: 5–6 October 2026, before taking the Bernina Express.
- Train: direct from Zürich at 11:31, taking approximately one hour and 20 minutes.
- Interrail: the train was covered by my continuous pass and required no reservation.
- Best train-view tip: sit on the left from Zürich for the strongest Walensee views.
- Accommodation: one night in a four-bed dorm at Bogentrakt Hostel for SEK 573 (about €51).
- Mountain trip: a discounted CHF 16 (about €17.18) return journey via Känzeli to Brambrüesch.
- Walking: approximately 13,000 steps across the day.
- Verdict: arrive early and stay one night—it is a far better stop than simply waiting for the next train.
The scenic train from Zürich to Chur
The journey became memorable well before Chur. The train passes Lake Zürich and then Walensee, where steep mountains rise almost directly from the water. The official rail-tour description also singles out Walensee and its surrounding peaks as highlights of the route. See the official route description.
There was enough space for my backpack and the direct journey was easy. If scenery matters to you, board early enough to claim a left-side seat rather than assuming the train will remain empty.
My first impression of Chur
I reached Chur at approximately 12:51. Mountains appeared behind ordinary city streets almost as soon as I left the station, and the setting surprised me immediately. The walk to my hostel took around 15 minutes. It was manageable with my backpack, and because the city was so attractive, checking in already felt like sightseeing.
That first impression never changed. Chur felt calm, safe, cultured, and full of friendly people. I only passed through parts of the Old Town rather than exploring it properly, which became my main disappointment with the stay.
Bogentrakt Hostel: sleeping in a former prison
My accommodation provided the second surprise. Bogentrakt Hostel occupies part of Sennhof, a former prison that the hostel describes as having once been Switzerland’s “toughest prison.” I had booked without knowing that history. From outside, the complex looked more like a castle to me; learning what it had actually been made the stay even more interesting. Read the hostel’s story.
I paid SEK 573 (about €51) through Booking.com for one bed in a four-person dorm. Only one other person shared the room that night. The pod-style bed was comfortable, the curtain provided good privacy, bed linen was included, and the hostel remained quiet until I went to sleep around midnight. I woke at 08:00 after a peaceful night.
The dorm, toilets and shared showers were all very clean. Showering had to be done elsewhere in the hostel rather than inside the dorm. A towel, soap and shampoo were not included; the hostel offered paid alternatives, but I already carried my own. I also used my own padlock for the wooden locker, which was large enough for my backpack.
What the room lacked in extras, the shared spaces helped make up for. There was a guest kitchen, a community room and a coworking area. I cooked oats and eggs, worked from the coworking space, and found the Wi-Fi reliable. Breakfast could be purchased separately, but I used my own food instead.
SEK 573 still felt expensive for a hostel where the price basically covered the bed and linen, but it felt reasonable by Swiss standards. Considering the cleanliness, privacy, kitchen, workspace, location and Guest Card, I would rate the value 9.5/10. I would happily stay again and recommend Bogentrakt to travellers looking for a clean, quiet and unusual place to spend the night before the Bernina Express. I paid for the stay myself; the following Booking.com link is an affiliate link, which means Railey may earn a commission at no additional cost to you: view Bogentrakt Hostel on Booking.com.
The Chur Guest Card made the overnight stay more valuable
At check-in, I received a digital Chur Guest Card on my phone. Overnight guests at participating accommodation receive it from their first night. The current benefits include public transport in Zone 150, one admission to a Chur indoor or outdoor swimming pool, selected museum admission, and a 50% pedestrian discount on the Brambrüesch cableways. Check the current Chur Guest Card benefits.
I did not have time to use the free buses or swimming admission, but I immediately used the mountain-railway discount. For travellers staying only one night, the card is worth checking before paying separately for anything in the city.
My rushed cable-car trip to Brambrüesch
Chur’s mountain railway links the city with Brambrüesch in two sections. First, a large aerial cable car travels from Chur to the intermediate Känzeli station at 1,179 metres. From there, smaller four-person gondolas continue to the Brambrüesch plateau at 1,605 metres. The normal 2026 return fare for both sections was CHF 32, while the Guest Card reduced my ticket to CHF 16 (about €17.18). See the official 2026 cableway fares.
I bought the complete return ticket but had miscalculated how much time remained. With only about an hour until the final descent at 16:30, I still took both sections and reached Brambrüesch. I made it to the top, but the late start meant that I could only look around briefly before travelling back down.
The large cabin between Chur and Känzeli was shared with other passengers. At Känzeli, I transferred to the smaller four-person gondola for the second section and had one of those cabins to myself. I reached Brambrüesch and walked around briefly at the top. Visibility was good, and the best part was watching the city shrink below me as I gained height.
Shorts and a hoodie were comfortable in the city. It became noticeably colder higher up, but only for a short period. My large backpack remained locked inside the hostel dorm while I took the cable car.
A short walk through Chur
After returning, I wandered rather than following a planned sightseeing route. I encountered the Plessur river, passed through parts of the Old Town, and kept noticing how calm the city felt beneath the mountains. I covered around 13,000 steps during the day but still felt that I had barely begun exploring.
One of the most distinctive moments was seeing a red Rhätische Bahn train travelling directly along the street. I had watched videos of it before, but seeing the Chur–Arosa line behaving almost like a tram was still unexpectedly cool. RhB describes how the line crosses Chur like a street railway before climbing above the Plessur toward Arosa. Read the Rhätische Bahn description of the Chur–Arosa line.
What my overnight stop in Chur cost
My two main expenses were the hostel and cableway. The direct train was already covered by my Interrail pass, walking cost nothing, and the Guest Card included benefits I did not have time to use. I have excluded food from this breakdown.
- Direct Zürich–Chur train: no additional cost with my continuous Interrail pass.
- Bogentrakt Hostel four-bed dorm: SEK 573 (about €50.92).
- Discounted Chur–Känzeli–Brambrüesch return ticket: CHF 16 (about €17.18).
- Approximate combined accommodation and cableway cost: €68.10.
- Old Town walking, public transport and swimming benefit: no additional cost, although I did not use the bus or pool.
The conversions use the ECB reference rates for 5 October 2026, when €1 equalled SEK 11.2525 and CHF 0.9311. They are included for comparison and may not match the rate or fees charged by a bank. See the official historical exchange rates.
Is one night in Chur worthwhile before the Bernina Express?
Yes. Chur is a practical starting point for the Bernina Express, but treating it only as a place to sleep would miss what made my visit worthwhile. The Zürich–Chur train is already scenic, the mountains transform the city’s atmosphere, the Guest Card adds genuine value, and even a short cable-car trip gives you a different view of the valley.
My mistake was arriving around lunchtime and then misjudging the cableway schedule. I still liked the stop enormously and reached Brambrüesch, but I wanted more time both at the top and in the Old Town. My recommendation is to arrive early in the morning, stay one night, and take the Bernina Express the following day. That keeps the itinerary efficient without reducing Chur to a railway platform.
Chur before the Bernina Express FAQ
Should you stay in Chur before the Bernina Express?
I recommend it. Staying overnight removes the pressure of reaching the Bernina Express from another city that morning and gives you time to experience Chur. Arrive early enough for the Old Town and enough time at Brambrüesch rather than copying my rushed afternoon.
Which side should you sit on from Zürich to Chur?
Sit on the left in the direction of travel for the best Walensee views based on my journey. I sat on the right because the left-side seats were already occupied, so boarding early enough to choose a seat is worthwhile.
Does Interrail cover the Zürich–Chur train?
My direct Zürich–Chur service was covered by my continuous Interrail pass and required no reservation. Travellers using a Flexi Pass should remember that the journey normally requires an activated travel day.
Is Bogentrakt Hostel worth it?
It was worth it for me. The hostel was clean, quiet and unusual, with comfortable pod beds, useful shared spaces and a valuable Guest Card. Towels and toiletries were not included in my dorm rate, so bring your own if you want to avoid paying extra.
How far is Bogentrakt Hostel from Chur station?
The walk took me approximately 15 minutes with a large backpack. I found it straightforward, and the route through the attractive centre made the distance feel easy.
Is the Chur Guest Card useful for one night?
Yes. I received it digitally after checking in and immediately used its 50% Brambrüesch discount. It also included local public transport and one swimming-pool admission, although my short stay left no time to use either benefit.
This was the seventh update from My 3-Month Interrail Journey Across Europe. Read about my six-night stay around Zürich, take my Lucerne day trip with Interrail, or start planning your own route with Railey. My next journey was the Bernina Express from Chur.