Pontresina - Rick Steves Travel Forum

Posted by me.crewe

620 posts

given the way the summer has been, this could be your last chance to see a glacier close up. I did this 40 years ago from Pontresina and i can assure you the walk is now longer, it was when I went back just 8 years later!!! Start with a 10 minute train ride to Morteratsch, when you get there go to the front end of the train and wait for it to clear the crossing. Then just follow the trail (and probably a few more people). Doesn't need full-on hiking gear, just a chunky sole on your shoes - and pleny of sunscreen. Note the dated signs as to where the glacier end used to be.

When the railway opened in 1908 the walk was 400metres.....

You are correct about the trains - but also worth knowing that the Bernina Express is actually special cars with a premium upgrade tagged on to the back of a normal train, you can travel in the ordinary cars at the front without the supplementary fee. Alp Grüm is a restaurant with impressive views, unless you intend some serious hiking or extreme mountain biking there isn't really anywhere to go.

Make sure your train route from Chur to Pontresina is via the Albula route (via Bergün)

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

08/18/26 12:58 PM

12357 posts

Hi poorvi205. Are you interested hiking/walking or simply riding to enjoy the views?

If you come via Bergün as recommended by me.crewe, you might stop for an hour or two at the Albula Railroad Museum. Very nice, especially for railroad fans and a nice break in the trip. You simply buy a ticket Chur to Pontresina via Bergün and you can “hop-on-hop-off” as you wish and take the next train.

We like to go to Poschiavo as a half-day trip and have lunch at one of the restaurants in the village center. You’ll feel like you are in Italy.

Your hotel may include a pass for local trains and cableways. In addition to Muottas Muragl, ride up to Diavolezza for a glacier view.

While I am not a fan of St. Moritz as a place to stay, we like to walk from the train station to Laj de Staz, about a 30 minute walk with lovely views of the lake and mountains. There is a very good restaurant there as well as a less formal kiosk if you want to fortify yourself for the walk back to town, or you can walk out behind the restaurant to arrive in 30 minutes or so at Muottas Muragl valley station and take that cableway or catch a train back to Pontresina.