From mountain rail to glacier trail—6 places to visit in the Swiss Engadine Alps

Stretching 60 miles across Graubünden, the Engadine Valley is an ethereal wonderland. Its untamed landscape changes with the seasons, from snow-dusted peaks and frozen lakes in winter to lush meadows and verdant valleys in the summer. Overlooked by the majestic Piz Bernina — the highest peak in the Eastern Alps — villages populated by Romansh speakers cling to the mountainsides, offering a retreat for travellers looking to stop off and explore the region at their own pace.

Hiking trails, national parks and glitzy mountain resorts showcase the region’s rugged beauty, from the dramatic Morteratsch Glacier to the imposing peaks of the Bernina Mountain Range. Best explored at leisure, mountain railways enable visitors to travel between these must-see destinations, with the ability to hop off and explore Switzerland’s alpine playground up close.  

1. Landwasser Viaduct

Towering peaks rise above the Landwasser Valley to frame the Landwasser Viaduct, a magnificent, six-arch structure and one of Graubünden’s most iconic landmarks. Constructed in 1901 using only two cranes and a hoist, the 214ft bridge forms part of the UNESCO-listed Albula-Bernina railway line, leaping from cliff to cliff over a fast-flowing turquoise river. For a close-up view of this engineering masterpiece, visitors can take a scenic half-hour hike from Filisur train station to a viewpoint south of the viaduct. If visiting in the summer, there’s also the option to take an enchanting, 30-minute ride on the Landwasser Express to the viewpoint. From here, take in the imposing, 465-foot-long bridge as it seemingly disappears into the jagged rock face.

2. Bergün

Nestled between snow-capped mountains at the foot of the Albula Pass, the hillside village of Bergün is a characterful treasure. Home to a slender-spired Romanesque church assumed to have been constructed in 1188, it’s adorned with ornately decorated chalets featuring sgraffito, frescoes and oriel windows in traditional Engadine style. To explore its lush surroundings head to Parc Ela, Switzerland’s largest nature park, which is teeming with lakes, meadows and hiking trails. The 11-mile Albula Railway Trail — from Preda to Bergün — leads hikers through the park’s wild landscape, traversing historic villages, glacial lakes and deep-cutting Alpine valleys.

3. St Moritz

On the shores of Lake St Moritz, the glamorous mountain resort of St Moritz has been central to Swiss Alpine tourism since British skiers first flocked here in 1864. Alongside its high-end shopping street and vibrant apres-ski scene, the town’s four-mile Water Trail hops between six glistening mountain lakes on the way to Alp Munt, offering a scenic hike within the Bernina Mountain Range. Just 30 minutes north, the lush trails of Swiss National Park reveal the untouched beauty of the Engadine Alps, where crystalline streams and vibrant pastures are overshadowed by glaciers. St Moritz transforms into an outdoor sports haven during the winter, where visitors can ski, bobsleigh or toboggan down some of Switzerland’s finest slopes.

4. Pontresina

In the Upper Engadine, the glacier-capped Bernina Range towers over the mountain village of Pontresina, creating a haven for outdoor enthusiasts seeking hiking trails, mountain biking routes, ski runs and climbing trails. Here, visitors can embark on the Morteratsch Glacier Trail, a two-hour, out-and-back journey that leads to the glacier’s tongue — a striking blue ice crevasse stretching two-and-a-half miles deep. At 2,300 feet above sea level, the Muottas-Muragl funicular offers panoramic views of Piz Palü and Piz Bernina, two of Graubünden’s most striking peaks. With trains running until late at night, visitors can enjoy the valley’s majestic sunsets before swiftly returning to the valley below.

5. Alp Grüm

Perched at 6,900 feet, Alp Grüm is a remote railway station in the Poschiavo municipality of southern Switzerland. To view the Engadine Alps from above, grab a table on the sun terrace of Albergo Ristorante Alp Grüm. Here, dig into Graubünden specialities of pizzoccheri (buckwheat pasta with potatoes, cabbage and cheese) and capuns (Swiss chard dumplings), while taking in the breathtaking views of Lake Palü’s vibrant, blue-green waters. Accessible only by train or on foot, this hidden destination lies in the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo, where railway tracks corkscrew through dense forests and the Palü Glacier glimmers above.

6. Brusio Circular Viaduct

Just beyond the mountain-flanked shores of Lago di Poschiavo lies the Brusio Circular Viaduct – one of the Engadine’s most celebrated engineering feats. Built in 1908 to maintain the Bernina railway’s gradient at a maximum of 7%, this impressive structure loops a full 360 degrees just beyond the village of Brusio. Featuring nine arches, each 33 feet in diameter, the spiralling viaduct is a popular landmark among visitors, its stone facade contrasting the backdrop of craggy rock faces and lush grassy plains. While best viewed from the road or railway tracks, a 10-minute walk from Brusio station offers the chance to admire the curvature up close.