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Bern to Chur by train
How to take the rail journey from Bern to Chur
The Swiss capital is now connected to Chur, the gateway to the best of north-east Switzerland, by direct trains
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Routes
From Bern to Chur
Journey Summary
3hr 5min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Chur
All trains also call at: Landquart
Connect at Landquart into RhB trains towards Klosters and Davos.
Arriving in Chur:
Connect at Chur into RhB trains on towards St Moritz and Arosa.
Also connect at Chur for buses to the Laax-Flims-Falera ski resort, check the Chur station guide to access more info.
1 x train per hour
Final departure of the day is usually before 19:40.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
These trains are operated by SOB and tickets can be booked on its website.
Tickets are also sold on the SBB, Swiss National Railways, website
When booking on the SBB website there are two things that are worth looking out for:
(1) If you want to to specifically travel by direct these trains on the more scenic route, look for IR in the ‘travel with’ column; SBB will also offer other options, which involve taking 2 x express IC trains and connecting in Zurich.
(2) Cheaper ‘Supersaver’ tickets (those with a % symbol on a red button) are available on these IR trains between Zurich and Chur
You’re most likely to find these Supersaver tickets if you book around 4 - 8 weeks ahead.
You may need to search through the departures to find these 'Supersaver' tickets using the ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ buttons, so try and be flexible with your departure and arrival times.
Though if you want to make a day trip from Bern there's a possibility that a Saver Day Pass, will be a cheaper option.
Using Eurail or InterRail Passes
If you have a Eurail or InterRail pass you can just hop on these trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SOB | * | |
| SBB | * | |
| Happy rail | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you'll be happy to change trains it can be possible to save around 40mins of travel time by taking an IC train from Bern to Zurich HB station and then connecting there for a second IC express train on to Chur.
Journey description:
This a journey of three distinct phases.
- The first phase is the journey through a pleasant rolling landscape between Bern and Olten, these trains take the more picturesque route now bypassed by the express trains, as they take the newer and straighter railway.
- The second part of the ride from Olten on to Zurich is the least scenic.
- This is the journey which saves the best 'til last, as once the trains emerge from the long tunnel , which they will travel through shortly after departure from Zurich, the remainder of the route on Chur is wonderful.
From the left of the train (when facing the direction) of travel, there are fabulous views over Lake Zurich...
and then over the Walensee...
...before the train calls in Sargans.
Then between Sargans and Chur there are very pleasant views of distant mountain ranges from both sides of the train.
Though as the will reverse direction on departure from Zurich take seats on the right-hand side when boarding in Bern in order to make the most of these views.
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