8 Best Sights in Graubünden, Switzerland

At Punt Muragl, off the train line and highway between St. Moritz and Pontresina, you'll find the funicular to reach Muottas Muragl, at 8,058 feet. Up here, in the winter, walkers can take the Philosophers' Path, which is dotted with quotations from famous minds as well as more modern observations about life. Following the three circular paths takes about two to three hours. From Muottas Muragl, you can also embark on a 2½-hour-long traverse to Alp Languard, where you can take a chairlift down to Pontresina. The Segantini Hut (approximately halfway along) offers possibly the most spectacular (and photographed) views of the Upper Engadine and its series of five terraced, serenely azure lakes. Expect moderate difficulty, since parts are rocky and steep; hiking boots are a must. Instead of the funicular, an alternative way back down to the valley is the 4.2-km (2.6-mile) sled run. This, together with a large playground, makes Muottas a good excursion for children.

Established in 1914, the Parc Naziunal Svizzer covers 173 square km (67 square miles), including the Macun lakes near Lavin. Although small compared with a U.S. or Canadian national park, it has none of the developments that typically hint of "accessibility" and "attraction": no campgrounds, no picnic sites, no residents, and few rangers. The park is home to large herds of ibex (the heraldic animal on the Graubünden flag), chamois (a distant relative of the goat), red and roe deer, and marmots. Don't forget binoculars; without them you might not see much fauna—the animals give a wide berth to the 80 km (50 miles) of marked paths. Before heading into the park, stop by the three-story National Park Centre in Zernez, where you can view the permanent exhibition, stock up on maps, and enjoy the natural-history exhibit. Guided walks in German are available (see the website for details); reserve one to two days in advance to join a group, or book a private guided walk in English. Trails start out from parking lots off the park's only highway (visitors are encouraged to take buses back to their starting point)—a series of wild, rough, and often steep paths. Visitors are restricted to the trails except at designated resting places. Download the Swiss National Park digital hiking app, which has park maps and other info, to ensure you don't get lost.

This narrow but dramatic gorge was carved thousands of years ago by glacial ice. Shortly after the start of the gorge, climb down 359 steps to view the river, rock formations, and a mid-18th-century bridge. You can reach the gorge by heading south from Chun toward the San Bernardino pass on the A13, then turn off at Thusis and follow the sign for the Viamala. This "bad road" was used by Romans and traders over centuries. It runs about 6 km (3½ miles) alongside the gorge.

Fans of Heidi can visit the area that inspired the legend along the circular Heidiweg (Heidi Path). Here you can find the house that was used as a model for the illustrations in the original Heidi books. It now houses Heidi-appropriate furnishings and life-size models of Heidi, Grandfather, and Peter. You can also take a somewhat-challenging hike up to Heidi's Alp Hut, get a Heidi stamp at the Heidi post office, and meet Heidi and Peter's goats at the petting zoo.

From Maienfeld you can hike along the Heidiweg (Heidi Path), either on the short circular route or, for more energetic hikers, continuing across steep open meadows and through thick forests to what now have been designated Peter the Goatherd's Hut, the Alm-Uncle's Hut, and Heidi's Alp Hut. The short version of the route begins at the train station and passes through the cobblestone alleyways of Maienfeld's Old Town. It continues up to the enclave of Rofels, where the Heididorf (Heidi's Village) is situated. After passing through most of the attractions there, the trail leads back to Maienfeld through picturesque vineyards. You might meet today's versions of the characters, who can answer Heidi-related questions in English. Along the way, you'll take in awe-inspiring Rhine Valley views from flowered meadows that would have suited Heidi beautifully.

A brief visit to the folk museum Nutli Hüschi shows the resort's evolution from its mountain roots. This pretty wood-and-stone farmhouse with a stable was built in 1565. It shows how people lived and worked in the Prättigau in centuries past through exhibits of kitchen utensils, handcrafts, tools, and the spare regional furniture, including a child's bed that could be expanded as the child grew.

Displayed in a 1675 mansion, this collection provides a thorough, evocative overview of the canton's development. It includes not only furnishings and goods from that period, but also archaeological finds from the region, both Roman and prehistoric. Display texts are in German, but an English-language guidebook is available for purchase. There are also exhibitions of special interest on display most of the time.

Showcasing the history of winter sports, from their relatively primitive infancy to the modern day, this museum has a large collection of well-preserved equipment, including sleds, skis, skates, bindings, and costumes.