Chur Travel Forum

I have few questions:
1- Is there 4 OR 5 stars hotel at Chur?
2- How would the weather be in September?
3- Is the "Galcier Telecabin" depart from this city (Chur)?

Perhaps I am coming from Milano in Sept 20, so I woudl like to choose a Swiss city to enjoy the telecabins and the countryside villages.

If you want to see an Swiss Alpine village, I definitively recommend you to go to Zermatt. The scenery is the most impressive that I've ever seen on the Alps with the Matterhorn, the glaciers and many others 4000m summits. Plenty of modern cable cars, Sunegga Alpine metro, Gornergrat cogwhell train are open all year round, you could reach easily the most interisting places of this site. Zermatt is a Alpine car-free resort so it is very relaxing to stroll around on foot. The 5 stars are numerous and have an excellent reputation (Seiler hotels). Access from Milano is easy by train thanks to the Cisalpino to Brig (1h50 journey) and the scenic train Glacier Express to Zermatt (1h15 journey).

Other Alpine alternative: Aletsch glacier the longest glacier in the Alps is also well worth to a visit, accessible by train and cable car to Riederalp or Bettmeralp (45min journey from Brig), these two resorts are also car-free.

Enjoy your Alpine experience.

Thank you for your guidance and valuable information.

I think it is possible to get Galceir trains from both Zermatt and Chur. For me to choose to stay in a city, I like the vehicle-free village, but I want a village that it has its own population. Does Zermatt have only people coming from outside? OR it has its own population?

The local population in Zermatt is 5'625 inhabitants (2004), the most famous families are Seiler and Julen, the local roots are very strong and majority of locals are in Zermatt since ages. Most of hotels, restaurants are managed only by locals. Of course this place is very popular and tourists represent an average of 16'000 visitors with seasonal peaks at 30'000.

I have just got back from a 2-weeks' holiday in a village near Chur, and I must say Chur was a pleasant surprise. I knew it was the capital of the canton, but it is never mentioned as a touristic attraction, however the old downtown is very picturesque, with many historical buildings, and lively with bars and restaurants where the people are for the most part locals.
It is a good basis for train trips like the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express.
There are not many hotels, since it is not a touristy place, and only one of them is 4-stars, the ABC Hotel. The website is www.hotelabc.ch

I really thank all of you for your valuable information. Most probably if I succeed to travel this year to this area, I will stay at Chur (as center point) and then get daily round trips, and stay every night at Chur.

Chur to Zermatt takes over 7 hours by Glacier Express.It would be better to stay in Zermatt a couple of days so that you can experience this wonderful place. There are mountain trains and cable cars and the scenery is spectacular. No cars are permitted in Zermatt.Then return to Chur by train.
We have just booked our next trip for June 2007 as follows..
Fly to Zurich (from England)
Train to Chur,overnight in Chur.
Glacier Express to Zermatt for 5 days
Train to Geneva,overnight in Geneva.
Fly home to England.
We visited Zermatt in June 2006 and loved it.