The trip to Graubünden, a province in southeastern Switzerland, was in continuation to our trip to Austria in August. I have to say, there is something about Switzerland that makes you in awe of it. The moment we crossed border, mountains soared higher, lakes filled up with magical clear blue-green water, and the air- still as a statue and pure as mountain dew. It was soo refreshing!
We were in Graubünden only for a couple of days and wanted to make the most of our stay. Starting with Chur, the capital and also the oldest town of Graübunden! Chur is a small beautiful town surrounded by Alps. Colorful narrow streets, cobbled stone pathway dotted with restaurants and bars, Chur is the perfect place to consider for your accomodation, and a relaxed meal after exploring the near by areas of Arosa and Bergün.
Caumasee
If you are looking for a place to relax amidst nature, there a couple of mesmerizing lakes near Chur which are a must visit- Crestasee and Caumasee. Both of them are on the same route, Crestasee is smaller, about 20 minutes drive from Chur and Caumasee is 10 minutes further up. Surrounded by fir and spruce trees, the blue-green water of Caumasee is truly magical! The color of the water is a real highlight, which is very unique to Switzerland. You can enjoy a swim in the lake, sun bathe or stroll around the lake.
Caumasee is accessible from a parking lot nearby. Make sure you carry Swiss coins for the parking meter.
Arosa
Only 30km southeast of Chur, the route to Arosa is nothing short of spectacular. Option One is to drive through the many hairpin bends and if you are not sure of your driving skills in steep mountain then take Option Two- the Rhätische Bahn, a scenic train ride from Chur to Arosa. If you don’t want to miss out on the views while driving, we can highly recommend Option Two. You can spot the Langwies Viaduct on this route.
Langwies Viaduct
View on the way to Arosa
Encompassed by steep mountains, the ski resort town of Arosa is dominated by Lake Ober (Obersee). It is right at the centre of town. For the hiking enthusiasts, there are many routes in and around Arosa.
The day we reached Arosa, we were in luck. The opening ceremony of International Arosa ClassicCar hill climb was going on. Only historic race and sports cars built between 1905 and 1985 could participate in the competition! It was a great treat for our eyes (and ears ;)), we completely enjoyed taking pictures and cheering for the drivers!!
Arosa
International ClassicCar Festival
Landwasser Viaduct, the beautiful town of Bergün and Albula Pass, can all be done in one day.
Landwasser Viaduct
There are many incredible viaducts in Switzerland built by the Rhaetian railway, of these the famous Landwasser Viaduct is the most impressive. The train comes out of one tunnel only to go right into the next one. In between stands a masterpiece, the Landwasser Viaduct. Arching over a span of 142 meters and standing tall at 65 meters, the limestone structure and the red train topping along with the rocky mountains and greens in the background make for an incredible picture frame. We waited over an hour for this picture because only a couple of train passes through the viaduct per hour.
To reach here, there are two walks from the Filisur train station, but you can drive closer to the viaduct and park your car along the road as well.
Bergün
Bergün is a small picturesque town to stop by for lunch while driving to Albula Pass. There are many colorful houses with sgraffito (wall decor technique) plasterwork. Walking along the beautiful lanes is dreamlike- intricate iron grill on windows, soft hued houses with mountains in the background! If you have enough time, then it is also worth exploring the small village of Latsch where you can find wonderful hiking trails.
Albula Pass
At the height of 2315 m, Albula Pass is a mountain road connecting the lower regions of Graubünden, like Chur, Bergün to the higher ones in Engadine valley. In the beginning (Bergün side) the experience is quite thrilling as the road climbs up along a cliff with several serpentines. Once you reach the top, fantastic views open up on a plateau with a small lake, a modest restaurant and a gift shop. If you’re hungry, you can grab a bite here and have coffee on the sun deck while enjoying the view. We spotted lot of mountain bikers and cyclists on this road. It is absolutely incredible to watch them bike through the steep mountain pass. This road is closed during winters, and the lower part of the mountain pass turns into a sledging mecca.
View from our hike, Albula Pass
There are many hiking trails in Albula Pass, all of which are well marked with distance and time. No matter what your ability and experience level is, you will find plenty of walking routes to suit you. If you want to explore the surrounding mountains and lakes, we can highly recommend a short hike. While we were hiking, we spotted many herds of Swiss cows. After a while, things got so quiet that all we could hear was the sound of our footsteps and cowbell from the mountains.
Biker Stickers, Albula Pass
Cafe, top of Albula Pass
Graubünden offers some of the wildest, most breath-taking landscapes in the Alps. If exploring untouched, raw places is what you are looking for, head to Graubünden now and we assure you, you won’t be disappointed. Every view, every vista is a postcard image! No matter what picture you take, it will be beautiful. You will walk through scenes of intense and unlimited natural beauty. Apart from being a walking holiday region, Graubünden is also popular for its resorts like St. Moritz, Davos and Klosters. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to cover all these destinations, but we were so much in love with Switzerland, that we both agreed to come back some day.
If you have any questions/ doubts in planning you trip to Graubünden, do not hesitate to ask us in the comments section below. Also, if you have already been here, do let us know how was the experience for you. Would love to hear!