What to do in Grisons and Engadine?

Grisons, the Swiss canton with three official languages. It is the only canton in which three of the four official languages of Switzerland are spoken. Here, they are German, Romansh (not to be confused with the word "Romand") and Italian.

In the south-eastern corner of Switzerland, beyond the snow-capped peaks and deep valleys of Central Switzerland, the Graubünden unfolds as a land of contrasts and wonders, a space where history blends with the majesty of nature in an eternal ballet. It is a canton where languages and cultures meet, bearing witness to the richness of a heritage shaped by the Romansh, Germans and Italians, a living mosaic of traditions. In Grisons, golden larch forests rub shoulders with deep blue lakes, and the villages, with their houses studded with sgraffito, tell stories of communities isolated by majestic mountains, people united by respect for the land and love of their culture.

All in all, easy to reach from Zurich, having a common border with Liechtenstein, Austria and two Italian regions, Lombardy and Südtirol, the canton of Grisons is truly at the heart of the Alps.

Around Chur, capital of Grisons

The capital of Grisons, Chur stands as the oldest city in Switzerland, a crossroads of history where cobbled streets and ancient buildings tell the story of millennia of civilization. Chur, with its discreet charm, invites you to discover its hidden treasures, from the art museum to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, offering a glimpse of the cultural wealth of the canton.

From Chur you can go anywhere in Grisons. It is a real crossroads. Skiing on the heights of the city, discovering the Heidiland a little further north on the foothills of Appenzell, or going deep into wide and long alpine valleys to seek out the wildest nature as well as the most luxurious ski resorts in Switzerland.

So let's start our discovery towards Prättigau. Direction Davos, the Alpine city synonymous with international meetings but also outdoor recreation. Davos, with its peaceful lakes and extensive ski slopes, is a paradise for winter and summer sports enthusiasts, a place where fresh air and Alpine panoramas invigorate the mind and body. Klosters is to be preferred to Davos if you want to explore the east of Grisons. Many hikes are possible in unspoiled settings. Beyond the ridges, you have the choice between austriaou Engadine.

Just a few bends in the road from Chur or more easily accessible by train, Arosa is revealed, nestled in a picture-postcard landscape, a resort that charms with its family atmosphere and enchanting landscapes. Arosa, with its shimmering lake and hiking trails winding through dense forests, is an invitation to reconnect with nature, to experience moments of tranquility far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The resort is connected to Lenzerheide -Valbella a lesser known resort but particularly well located around a lake surrounded by forests.

Grisons, the mountain region where the Rhine is born

Not far away, the valley of the Anterior Rhine, around Flims, unfolds its natural wonders, including the spectacular Lake Cauma, an oasis of turquoise water surrounded by lush forests, a jewel that seems to emerge from another world. The Flims-Laax-Falera region is known for its ski slopes and mountain bike routes, but also for the Anterior Rhine that has carved out the impressive Ruinaulta Gorge, often nicknamed the “Swiss Grand Canyon”, a geological wonder that fascinates with its steep cliffs and white water.

The road leads up the valley to the village of Disentis, a typical village in the Surselva landscape, whose imposing abbey dates back to the time of Charles Martel in the 1100th century. In fact, in Romansh, the name of the village is "Muster", monastery. Although the altitude is still modest, at XNUMX meters, the mountain landscape begins to become harsher.

Beyond Disentis, the Oberalppass allows you to reach the Andermatt valley, and the military road to the south leads into the Brenno valley, in the canton of Ticino.

The valley of the Posterior Rhine has been for centuries an important place of passage between the Germanic countries and Italy. In fact, beyond Splügen and its pass open only in summer and which enters directly into Val Formazza in Italy, it is the San Bernardino pass that one crosses to descend towards the plain of Ticino. Before reaching Bellinzona, capital of Ticino, one crosses the entire Valle Mesolcina, Italian-speaking, but belonging to the canton of Grisons.

Just like its counterpart, Val Poschiavo, which connects the Italian Valtellina to the very Romansh Engadine in Switzerland.

It is in these details that we see the cultural richness of this mixture of influences in the canton of Grisons.

Engadine, luxury and high mountains in all simplicity

We have just mentioned it, the valley of Engadine, stretching its brilliance under a dazzlingly clear sky, is a world apart, where St. Moritz shines brightly, attracting winter sports enthusiasts and beauty seekers. But beyond this glamour, the Engadine offers moments of tranquility on the banks of its shimmering lakes and in its peaceful forests, where time seems to stand still. Villages like Guarda, Scuol or Tarasp, with their renowned thermal baths, are havens of peace that invite relaxation and contemplation, places where traditional Engadine architecture and frescoes tell the story of the deep bond between man and his environment.

Pontresina and the Bernina Pass provide access to the glaciers of the Bernina massif, a veritable ice liner in the Central Alps, the last peak over 4000 metres above sea level crossing the Alps from West to East.

The Engadine, crossed by the Inn River, merges in its lower part with the high valleys of Tyrol.

Excursions to nature parks like the Swiss National Park, the first of its kind in the Alps, reveal a striking diversity of flora and fauna, a sanctuary where chamois, marmots and eagles reign supreme. Hikes through the park, or along thematic trails like the Vals Sculpture Trail, are invitations to marvel at the power and beauty of nature, to listen to the stories that the wind carries across the peaks.

Beyond the Ofenenpass, the Val Müstair is more easily accessible from South Tyrol than from the rest of Switzerland. The heart of Romansh culture, this land resisted the power of the Counts of Tyrol for centuries, who geographically could have made short work of it.

Grisons is a geographical contradiction: the borders of the canton are not on the crests of the Alps, they do not follow the watersheds of the rivers. They are drawn by the history of the peoples of the valleys who wanted to remain attached to this canton, sometimes by remaining isolated for long months. Grisons really has a soul.

Grisons, a land of gastronomy

The journey through Grisons is also a culinary exploration, where specialties such as capuns, pizzoccheri or bündner nusstorte are savored in welcoming inns, moments of sharing that warm the heart. It is a region where every lake, every mountain, every village is a world to discover, a space where the diversity of landscapes and cultures offers an extraordinary backdrop for unforgettable adventures. In this region of Switzerland you will discover fascinating cultural and historical aspects, living traditions at the crossroads of Germanic, Romanesque and Italian influences, a Switzerland where every valley, every village has its own story to tell. You may fall in love with unique geographical and natural features, from Alpine peaks to crystal clear lakes, from Alpine meadows to mysterious forests, a palette of landscapes that awakens the soul and invites exploration.

Everything is quickly accessible. In less than two hours you go from the city to the ski slopes or from swimsuit to hiking boots. So? Ready to go?

Activities not to be missed in Grisons

Travel aboard the Express Glacier between Andermatt and Saint Moritz.
Visit Chur and its medieval city center
reassemble the Rhine crossing the villages (and ski resorts) of Flims, Laax and Disentis Muster, up to the Oberalppass which will take you to Andermatt
Take advantage of forests from the surroundings of Lenzerheide-Valbella
Climb in train to Arosa to enjoy the coolness of the plateau
Stroll at the foot of the massif of Silvretta from Klosters
visit winter sports museum in Davos

Discovering Grisons on video

The best webcams in Grisons

(click on the name of the village)

Arosa : a very beautiful foreground of Lake Arosa
Lenzerheide: Very nice view of the Lenzerheide valley and the peaks of Grisons!
Davos: the…city seen from above!
Klosters: towards the Silvretta massif
Laax: Laax Valley and Flims Laax Ski Area