The Rhaetian Railway: Chur to Arosa Line
Before you even arrive in Arosa, the Rhaetian Railway from Chur serves up one of the most dramatic train rides in Switzerland — a 25-kilometre climb through 41 tunnels and 30 viaducts that gains over 1,000 metres of elevation in under an hour. Sit on the right-hand side heading up; the valley drops away in a way that makes your stomach flip.
Engineering Theatre in the Alps
The line, operated by the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhaetian Railway, is a masterpiece of early 20th-century mountain engineering. The narrow-gauge red train corkscrews up through the Schanfigg valley, crossing the spectacular Langwieser Viaduct — an elegant stone arch that stretches across a deep gorge and has become an iconic image of Swiss infrastructure.
The views from the carriage windows change constantly: medieval Chur gives way to forested gorges, then to open alpine pastures, then to the snow-dusted peaks surrounding Arosa itself. No mountain road or cable car compresses so many landscapes into so short a journey.
Tips for Riding It Right
The journey takes approximately 55–65 minutes from Chur Hauptbahnhof to Arosa station. Trains run roughly hourly throughout the day and are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass — no supplement required. The Arosa Card, given free to guests at most Arosa hotels, also covers the return train journey from Chur.
For the best experience, travel on a clear morning when the light is sharp and the snow on the peaks is still pink from sunrise. The panoramic windows of the newer Allegra railcars make photography effortless — just keep a lens cloth handy for the inevitable condensation.
The Rhaetian Railway: Chur to Arosa Line on video
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