Albula Pass and the Lower Engadine
Over the Albula into the Engadine, then through the Swiss National Park area to painted villages and Tarasp Castle.
- Distance
- 121 km (75 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 40 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Switzerland
- Updated
- July 23, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 121 km (75 mi) with 9 stops, from Chur to Scuol. About 1 h 40 min of driving in total.
Route description
From Chur, drive south over the Lenzerheide to Tiefencastel and into the Albula valley. Bergün is a village of painted houses where the Albula railway line spirals through tunnels and viaducts, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Albula Pass climbs to 2,312 m through a stony, almost lunar landscape, a much quieter road than the Julier or the Bernina. It is narrow in places, closed in winter, and not recommended for large motorhomes or caravans.
Drop down to La Punt and turn east along road 27 into the Lower Engadine. Zuoz has some of the finest Engadine houses, with sgraffito decoration and deep-set windows. At Zernez, the national park visitor centre explains the park; take the Ofen Pass road to Il Fuorn and walk one of the marked trails.
Continue down the valley to Guarda, a village of beautifully decorated houses, then to Scuol, a spa town with mineral springs, below Tarasp Castle on its hill. The Lower Engadine is sunny and dry; July to September is ideal for walking.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Chur
Switzerland - 237 km
Bergün
Switzerland - 311 km
Albula Pass
ViewsBergün, SwitzerlandA quiet 2,312 m pass between Bergün and the Engadine, while the Albula railway tunnels far below. The road is narrow and winding, closed in winter, with marmots on the high meadows.
- 412 km
Zuoz
Switzerland - 519 km
Zernez
Switzerland - 612 km
Swiss National Park at Il Fuorn
NatureZernez, SwitzerlandSwitzerland’s only national park, strictly protected since 1914. Leave the car at the numbered car parks on the Ofen Pass road and walk in; red deer are easiest to spot at dawn.
- 717 km
Guarda
Switzerland - 811 km
Tarasp Castle
HistoryScuol, SwitzerlandA white castle on a rocky knoll above the Lower Engadine, one of the most striking in the Alps. Guided tours run in summer; the walk up from the village takes about ten minutes.
- 94 km
Scuol
Switzerland
