Where to Stay in Arosa

Arosa sits at around 1,800 m at the very top of the Schanfigg valley in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland — ringed by peaks beneath the Aroser Weisshorn (2,653 m) and built around two small mountain lakes. It's a quiet, high-altitude resort with no through traffic: the road from Chur ends here. An alpine health resort since 1877, today it's known for skiing in the linked Arosa Lenzerheide area, the Bärenland bear sanctuary, and clean, sunny mountain air.

Here's what to know before booking: how to get there, when to go, and where to stay — with a live price comparison to find your room.

Getting to Arosa

The classic approach is the narrow-gauge Chur–Arosa railway: in just 26 km it climbs about 1,000 m through the Schanfigg valley, winding around some 360 curves and across the photogenic Langwies viaduct, taking roughly 45 minutes. Chur itself connects to the national network, so from Zurich the whole trip is around 2½ to 3 hours by train. You can drive up too, but Arosa restricts car traffic in the village — there's a daytime driving ban in the centre and a free shuttle bus loops around town — so many guests simply leave the car behind and arrive by rail.

When to visit

• Winter (December–April): peak ski season — slopes, sledding, snowshoeing and events on the frozen Obersee. Book well ahead for the Christmas and February holidays.
• Summer (June–September): hiking, mountain biking and the lakes; many lifts run for walkers and the air is cool and clear at altitude.
• Shoulder seasons: late spring and autumn are quietest and best value, though some lifts and hotels pause between seasons.

What to do

Skiing & Arosa Lenzerheide

Since the two resorts were linked by cable car over the Urdenfürggli, Arosa and Lenzerheide share one ticket and a combined 225 km of pistes. Arosa's own side is compact and sunny — gentle blue runs near the village for beginners and families, wider reds and blacks higher up with long views over the Graubünden Alps. It's also strong for snowshoeing, winter walking and night sledding.

Arosa Bärenland

Up near the Weisshorn cable car, the Arosa Bärenland is a large mountain sanctuary run with the animal charity FOUR PAWS, giving a species-appropriate home to bears rescued from poor captivity. You reach it on foot from the Obersee or by cable car — a moving, family-friendly stop that's open in summer and (partially) winter.

The two lakes

Arosa is built around the Obersee (~1,739 m), the larger of its two lakes, and the smaller Untersee. In summer you can take a rowing or pedal boat out, and the shore is lined with walking paths; in winter the frozen Obersee hosts events including a horse race on snow and winter golf.

Hiking & mountain air

A health resort since the 19th century, Arosa is wrapped in pine forest and well above the valley haze, with a dense network of marked trails. The Weisshorn cable car lifts you toward 2,653 m for high-alpine panoramas, and gentler paths circle the lakes and forests for easier days out.

Where to stay

Arosa is small and walkable, strung between its two lakes and the forested slopes. The main choices:

• Inner Arosa / by the Obersee: the resort heart — near the lake, shops and the main lifts, walkable to most hotels and restaurants.
• Around the railway station: convenient for arrivals by train and close to the village centre and ski access.
• Maran / the plateau above: quieter and elevated, by golf and walking country with big views, a little removed from the bustle.

Arosa runs from simple guesthouses and apartments to grand four- and five-star spa hotels; rates peak over the Christmas, New Year and February ski weeks and are far better value in summer and the shoulder seasons. The comparison below pulls live rates for your dates.

Hotels in Arosa — live map

Explore where hotels sit around Arosa, with live prices for your dates. Drag, zoom and click a marker to book.

Nearby destinations

Arosa anchors the Schanfigg corner of Graubünden:

• Davos — the larger Graubünden mountain resort, across the valleys to the east
• St. Moritz — the Engadine classic, reachable over the passes
• Lugano — over the Alps toward Italian-speaking Ticino

See all 16 Swiss destinations →