Arosa Lenzerheide

Arosa Lenzerheide occupies two parallel valleys in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland's largest canton. Arosa sits at the head of the Schanfigg valley at 1,775 metres, accessible only via a dead-end road climbing 1,320 metres from Chur through 360 hairpin bends over 30 kilometres. Lenzerheide spreads across a high plateau between Chur and Tiefencastel at elevations from 1,229 to 1,500 metres, positioned on the historic Julier Pass route connecting the Rhine valley to the Engadin. The resort spans the municipalities of Arosa, Lenzerheide, Valbella, Parpan and Churwalden, with the Plessur Alps rising to the north and east.

Chur, Switzerland's oldest city and capital of Graubünden, lies 30 kilometres northwest of Arosa and 13 kilometres north of Lenzerheide. The regional centre provides rail connections, supermarkets and cantonal government services. St Moritz sits 80 kilometres south via the Julier Pass, Davos 40 kilometres east over the Wolfgang Pass. The car-free resort of Arosa maintains its isolated character at the valley terminus, surrounded by peaks including Weisshorn, Hörnli and Brüggerhorn. Lenzerheide's more accessible position on the main Chur-St Moritz corridor historically attracted pass traffic before developing into a destination resort.

Road access channels through the A13 motorway, the primary north-south artery through eastern Switzerland connecting Austria to Italy via the San Bernardino tunnel. Drivers approaching from Zürich or northern Europe exit at Chur Nord (exit 16) and follow mountain roads to either valley. The Arosa route via the Schanfiggerstrasse requires 40 minutes from Chur on a narrow, winding road often demanding snow chains in winter. Lenzerheide proves easier to reach via a 19-minute drive from the same Chur exit or 25 minutes from Thusis Süd. Churwalden's Panoramabahn Heidbüel lift serves as the optimal day-visitor entry point from the north. Parking fees apply at all resort base areas.

Zürich Airport, Switzerland's largest, lies 154 kilometres northwest, a two-hour drive in good conditions or three hours by public transport. Friedrichshafen Airport across the German border sits 155 kilometres away, also two hours by road. Rail access runs via Zürich Hauptbahnhof to Chur, where connections diverge: the Rhaetian Railway's narrow-gauge line winds directly to Arosa station in one hour, depositing passengers opposite the Weisshorn cable car. Lenzerheide receives post bus service from Chur station, with the number 182 Postbus reaching Lenzerheide in 40 minutes. Arosa Lenzerheide lift passes include free travel on Chur-Arosa and Chur-Lenzerheide-Tiefencastel public transport routes. Transfer companies operate shared and private shuttles from Zürich, Friedrichshafen and regional train stations year-round.