Graubünden is Switzerland's largest and wildest canton, offering a deep connection to nature and folklore. The most famous resident is fictional: Heidi. In Maienfeld, families can visit the Heidi Village to see the house, feed goats, and hike the themed trail that recreates the beloved story. It’s a gentle introduction to Alpine life for younger children. The landscape here is dramatic, featuring the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' (Rhine Gorge), which can be explored by rafting (for older kids) or by riding the train that winds through the gorge.
Transport is a major highlight here. The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) features the famous red trains, including the Bernina Express. The journey on the Albula Line spirals through tunnels and over viaducts, looking like a model train set come to life. In Bergün, the Railway Museum Albula is fantastic for families, featuring simulators and a play train. For wildlife enthusiasts, the Swiss National Park in the Engadin valley is a strict nature reserve where you cannot leave the path, maximizing the chances of spotting marmots, ibex, and golden eagles in the wild.
The resort town of Arosa is home to the Arosa Bear Sanctuary, where rescued circus and restaurant bears live in a massive outdoor enclosure. Visitors can watch the bears from a 'skywalk' platform. Nearby Lenzerheide is famous for its 'Globi' hiking trail, an educational treasure hunt. Whether you are swimming in the turquoise waters of Caumasee near Flims or taking a horse-drawn carriage ride into the Val Roseg, Graubünden offers a rugged, authentic mountain experience.
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Activities & Best Times
Hiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism
Home to the Swiss National Park, this region offers pristine alpine wilderness and world-class hiking trails through unique Romansh-speaking valleys. Peak summer months (Jul-Aug) provide the only reliable window for high-altitude trekking when trails are snow-free and wildlife activity is at its zenith.
Spa retreats, wellness centers, peaceful getaways
Features world-class architectural marvels like Peter Zumthor's Therme Vals and the historic grand spas of Bad Ragaz. The peak experience occurs during the snowy winter months (Dec-Feb) when the contrast between the freezing mountain air and thermal waters provides a quintessential luxury wellness experience.
Winter sports, ski resorts, snow activities
World-renowned destinations like St. Moritz and Davos offer elite infrastructure and authentic alpine charm that set global standards. Peak winter (Jan-Mar) ensures consistent sub-zero temperatures and deep snow cover, while the late-season shoulder in April appeals to sophisticated travelers seeking sun-drenched spring skiing.
Sport tourism, fitness activities, active recreation
A premier global destination for mountain biking and sailing on the high-altitude Lake Silvaplana. The stable weather and pleasant temperatures (max ~19°C) in July and August provide optimal conditions for intensive physical activity without the extreme heat found in lower European regions.
Scenic drives, countryside tours, route-based travel
Spectacular high-mountain passes like the Julier and Bernina offer some of Europe's most dramatic driving scenery on impeccable Swiss roads. July through September is peak season as all high passes are guaranteed open and autumn colors begin to transform the larch forests in late September.
Beach resorts, marine activities: diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, wind surfing, sailing
Pristine alpine lakes like Lake Cauma and Silvaplana offer crystal-clear water and world-class kiteboarding in a stunning mountain setting. Peak summer is the only time water temperatures are suitable for swimming, while winter months see the lakes frozen or too cold for use.
Urban tourism, museums, historical sites, architecture
Chur offers a sophisticated glimpse into Switzerland’s oldest urban history, while the region’s unique Romansh language provides deep cultural authenticity. Summer months are peak for exploring the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway and open-air cultural heritage sites.
Learning experiences, scientific sites, historical education
Excellent opportunities for families to learn about alpine geology, glaciology, and the preservation of the rare Romansh language. The Swiss National Park's visitor centers and guided educational treks are most accessible during the peak summer window when climate conditions permit safe mountain exploration.
Events, celebrations, seasonal attractions
Home to unique international events like the 'White Turf' horse races on the frozen lake of St. Moritz (February) and traditional 'Alpabzug' cattle descents (September). These events offer high-caliber, authentic cultural displays that are deeply rooted in regional history.
Attractions (64 total)
Water Park / Splash Park / Aquatic Centre
7132 Therme
Vals
An architectural masterpiece by Peter Zumthor made of local quartzite, offering a world-famous, serene thermal bathing experience.
Visit website →Bogn Engiadina Scuol
Scuol
A major thermal bath and aquatic complex featuring six indoor and outdoor mineral pools and a renowned Roman-Irish bath circuit.
Visit website →Ovaverva Pool, Spa & Sports Centre
St. Moritz
A premier indoor aquatic center in St. Moritz featuring multiple pools, diving boards, and several waterslides with panoramic Alpine views.
Visit website →Bellavita Erlebnisbad und Spa
Pontresina
A family-friendly aquatic center featuring a 75-meter black-hole slide, a children's splash area, and heated outdoor pools.
Visit website →Bogn Sedrun
Sedrun
A wellness and adventure oasis featuring a whitewater canal, a waterfall, and a Roman-style spa area in the Surselva region.
Visit website →Eau-là-là Wellness and Adventure Pool
Davos
A modern aquatic center in Davos offering an adventure pool, an 80-meter fun slide, and extensive indoor and outdoor wellness facilities.
Visit website →Adventure Park / Outdoor Activity Center
Adventure Park Davos Färich
Davos
An extensive high ropes and mountain bike park offering five different courses of varying difficulty for all ages.
Visit website →Madrisa-Land
Klosters
Switzerland's largest adventure park at 1,887 meters above sea level, featuring giant slides, climbing walls, and animal encounters.
Visit website →Pradaschier Adventure Mountain
Churwalden
Home to the world's longest toboggan run and a challenging ropes course set against stunning alpine vistas.
Visit website →Rope Park Pontresina
Pontresina
A high-quality forest adventure park near St. Moritz featuring zip lines and balance bridges amidst majestic larch trees.
Visit website →Seilpark Engadin
Sent
An adventure park located in the Sur En forest offering nine courses of various heights and levels of difficulty.
Visit website →Botanical Garden / Formal Gardens
Alpengarten Schatzalp
Davos
A world-renowned high-altitude botanical garden featuring thousands of alpine plant species from across the globe, accessible via funicular.
Visit website →Botanischer Garten Chur
Chur
A peaceful urban botanical garden featuring a diverse collection of regional and international plant species arranged by geographic origin.
Visit website →Schlosspark Haldenstein
Haldenstein
A beautiful formal rose garden and manicured park surrounding a historic 16th-century Renaissance castle near the Rhine river.
Visit website →Alpinum Pontresina
Pontresina
A meticulously maintained rock garden showcasing the delicate flora of the Engadin valley and other high-altitude mountain ranges near an ancient church.
Visit website →Zoo / Wildlife Park / Safari Park
Arosa Bärenland
Arosa
A unique animal sanctuary located at 2,000 meters above sea level where rescued bears live in massive, natural alpine enclosures.
Visit website →Steinbock-Zentrum Pontresina
Pontresina
An interactive wildlife center dedicated to the Alpine ibex, located near the famous Languard ibex colony where animals are frequently spotted.
Visit website →Castle / Palace / Historic Site
Benedictine Convent of Saint John
Müstair
A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring exceptionally well-preserved Carolingian frescoes and a museum illustrating monastic life.
Visit website →Chur Cathedral
Chur
An 800-year-old architectural masterpiece with a late-Gothic high altar, located in the heart of Switzerland's oldest city.
Visit website →Tarasp Castle
Tarasp
An iconic 11th-century fortress perched on a rocky hill, offering guided tours and art exhibitions within its historic walls.
Visit website →Castello di Mesocco
Mesocco
One of the largest castle ruins in Switzerland, this imposing medieval fortification offers extensive grounds to explore and historic frescoes.
Visit website →Palazzo Salis
Soglio
A majestic 17th-century palace featuring a historic museum and an award-winning ornamental garden in a picturesque mountain village.
Visit website →Historic Town / Village / Cultural Area
Benedictine Convent of St. John
Müstair
A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the world's best-preserved cycle of early medieval church frescoes from the Carolingian period.
Visit website →Chur Old Town
Chur
Explore Switzerland's oldest city with its car-free medieval streets, historic cathedral, and vibrant market squares.
Visit website →Bergün Village
Bergün
A well-preserved village known for its distinctive Engadin architecture and its location on the UNESCO-listed Albula railway line.
Visit website →Zuoz Village Square
Zuoz
Considered the best-preserved village in the Upper Engadin, showcasing grand aristocratic houses and a traditional atmosphere.
Visit website →Guarda Village
Guarda
A prize-winning village in the Lower Engadin famous for its beautifully preserved houses with traditional sgraffito etchings.
Visit website →Soglio Village
Soglio
Often called the most beautiful village in Switzerland, it sits on a sunny mountain terrace with views of the Bondasca glacier.
Visit website →Landmark / Monument / Iconic Urban Attraction
Brusio Spiral Viaduct
Brusio
An architectural and engineering masterpiece of the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway, featuring a unique 360-degree loop to descend a steep slope.
Visit website →The Leaning Tower
St. Moritz
A 12th-century stone remnant of the former St. Mauritius Church that tilts at an angle of 5.5 degrees, serving as a symbol of the town.
Visit website →Church of St. Martin
Zillis
A medieval church world-renowned for its 12th-century ceiling, consisting of 153 perfectly preserved Romanesque panel paintings.
Visit website →Schloss Tarasp
Tarasp
A magnificent 11th-century fortress perched on a high rock, dominating the Lower Engadin valley with its striking towers and fortifications.
Visit website →Art Gallery / Fine Art Museum
Bündner Kunstmuseum
Chur
A stunning blend of neoclassical and modern architecture featuring art from the 18th century to today, including works by the Giacometti family.
Visit website →Kirchner Museum Davos
Davos
A world-class museum dedicated to German Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, housed in a prize-winning minimalist glass building.
Visit website →Muzeum Susch
Susch
A contemporary art museum integrated into a medieval monastery and brewery, focusing on pioneering women artists and site-specific installations.
Visit website →Segantini Museum
St. Moritz
An iconic domed gallery built to celebrate the master of alpine painting, Giovanni Segantini, featuring his monumental triptych on mountain life.
Visit website →Mili Weber House
St. Moritz
A whimsical and fairy-tale-like artist's house where every wall and ceiling is covered in the charming paintings of Mili Weber.
Visit website →Museo Ciäsa Granda
Stampa
An imposing 16th-century patrician house featuring significant works by the world-famous Giacometti family and the painter Varlin.
Visit website →Museum Berry
St. Moritz
Housed in the historic Villa Arona, this museum showcases the luminous alpine landscape paintings of doctor-artist Peter Robert Berry.
Visit website →Natural Feature / Scenic Site
Caumasee
Flims
This turquoise alpine lake features a swimming area, a restaurant, and a funicular, making it a perfect destination for families to relax in a stunning natural setting.
Visit website →Landwasser Viaduct
Filisur
This UNESCO-listed bridge is a masterpiece of engineering set within a rugged valley, offering iconic photo opportunities and scenic hiking paths for visitors.
Visit website →Rhine Gorge
Flims
Known as the Swiss Grand Canyon, this dramatic gorge offers spectacular views of white rock formations and the turquoise Rhine river from easily accessible platforms.
Visit website →Piz Nair
St. Moritz
Standing at 3,057 meters, this peak offers families a high-altitude experience with breathtaking 360-degree views, accessible via a comfortable two-stage cable car.
Visit website →Diavolezza
Pontresina
This mountain station provides an accessible way for families to experience high-alpine glacier scenery and panoramic views of the Eastern Alps' highest peaks.
Visit website →Lake Sils
Sils im Engadin
As the largest lake in the Engadin, it offers scenic boat trips, flat walking paths, and a tranquil atmosphere surrounded by impressive mountain peaks.
Visit website →Morteratsch Glacier
Pontresina
Families can explore the receding ice on a gently sloping path that leads directly to the glacier's edge with educational stops along the way.
Visit website →Muottas Muragl
Samedan
Accessible by a historic funicular, this site offers the region's most famous sunset views and a variety of easy mountain walks suitable for all ages.
Visit website →Farm Park / Petting Zoo / Rural Experience
Heididorf
Maienfeld
A historic rural experience in the original setting of the Heidi story, featuring a traditional farmhouse, museum, and a goat petting zoo.
Visit website →Rinerhorn Petting Zoo
Davos
A popular high-altitude petting zoo located at the Rinerhorn mountain station where children can interact with Alpine farm animals.
Visit website →Schaukäserei Morteratsch
Pontresina
An authentic Alpine show dairy offering demonstrations of traditional cheese production and local farm products in a stunning glacial valley.
Visit website →Beach / Coastal Recreation Area
Lake Cauma
Flims
Known as the 'Pearl of Flims,' this stunning turquoise lake features a beach club, a wooded island, and crystal-clear swimming waters.
Visit website →Lej da Staz
St. Moritz
The most famous swimming lake in the Upper Engadin, offering warm moor waters and idyllic beach spots nestled in a forest.
Visit website →Strandbad Davosersee
Davos Dorf
A classic lakeside lido offering a pebble beach, spacious sunbathing lawns, and consistent winds ideal for sailing and windsurfing.
Visit website →Lake Cresta
Trin
A protected natural moor lake with exceptionally clear emerald water, offering a peaceful beach area and a rustic restaurant.
Visit website →Lido Heidsee
Lenzerheide
A high-altitude recreation area featuring a sandy beach, a pirate ship playground, and a variety of water sports facilities for families.
Visit website →National Park / Nature Reserve
Rhine Gorge (Ruinaulta)
Flims
Often called the Swiss Grand Canyon, this massive limestone gorge features turquoise waters and dramatic white cliffs ideal for hiking.
Visit website →Swiss National Park
Zernez
Switzerland's only national park offers a strict wilderness environment with 80 kilometers of hiking trails and abundant wildlife sightings.
Visit website →Viamala Gorge
Thusis
A breathtaking natural monument within Beverin Nature Park featuring narrow rock walls rising up to 300 meters above the Hinterrhein river.
Visit website →Lake Cauma (Caumasee)
Flims
A stunning turquoise mountain lake surrounded by forest, located within the Flims Rockslide nature protection area.
Visit website →Beverin Nature Park
Thusis
This park is centered around Piz Beverin and is renowned for its large ibex colony and deep canyons that are a hit with hikers.
Visit website →Biosfera Val Müstair
Santa Maria Val Müstair
A UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve bordering the national park, showcasing traditional Alpine architecture and untouched natural beauty.
Visit website →Parc Ela
Savognin
The largest nature park in Switzerland encompasses a diverse landscape of alpine passes, pristine villages, and over 100 mountain peaks.
Visit website →Swiss National Park Visitor Centre
Zernez
An interactive museum providing families with a modern and engaging introduction to the ecology and animals of the national park.
Visit website →Theme Park / Amusement Park
Adventure Park Davos Färbi
Davos
An extensive rope and climbing park offering various difficulty levels, including a specialized children's course and two long zip lines.
Visit website →