Car Hire Chur

Chur Mini Guide

Tell me About Chur
Chur is a city in the Swiss canton of Graubunden that is almost entirely surrounded by the Alps. It is known as the oldest Swiss city due to its 5,000 year history as a settlement. Half of the town is actually covered by forest and water from the spring is sold as Passugger mineral water.

How Would I get There?
The city is 120 km from Zurich and a meeting point for many of the Italian rail routes. The SSB train service connects many towns to Chur and once you are there you can use the bus service and town railway to get around. Chur is easily accessible by car too using the A13 highway. Click here for more information on driving in Switzerland including speed limits, minimum age to drive and rent a car and general safety tips for the roads.

What can I do in Chur?
Take a guided city tour around the medieval city centre and visit the Cathedral of St Luzius where you can see many antiquities. If you are interested in natural history go to Bundner Natur Museum and for a little art, head to Bundner Kunst Museum. The city has a large variety of shops and restaurants to keep you busy – take home a bottle of Cherry Liquer made at Ullius Chemist. Walking and skiing are key summer and winter activities, just one look at the scenery makes you want to get your boots on.

What Else can I do?
Take a train trip through the Alps – the Glacier Express goes over St Moritz to Zermatt or you could go to the spa town of Arosa on the Arosa Express. In summer time, walk up to the vineyards in Bunder Herrschaft and sample some of their wines.

Where can I Stay?
It’s all about the views! The Hotel ABC is in front of the train station and has fabulous mountain views or try Minotel Freieck, it is a 16th century building with views of the old town.

Chur is simply beautiful, it has the typical Swiss look and feel about it and as such has many photogenic places around the city. It’s completely surrounded by the Alps and expansion plans have been limited by the steep gradients of the valley that border Chur.

You’ll get a fabulous view of Chur from its highest point, Fürhörnli but you’ll need to use your hire car to get there unless you’re very fit. There are numerous opportunities for walking in the mountains surrounding Chur and a favourite is to follow the Plessur Torrent up to the Schanfigg valley.