Worth the train ride: A winter escape to Switzerland’s Engadin region

Czechia’s winter resorts seem convenient until you realize they involve a few other Cs: cars, crowds, and circuits for skiing that start to feel limited. For a more action-packed getaway, it may be worth traveling further to a sweeping alpine region in Switzerland, where you won’t need a car or even a fixed base.

Designed for travelers who prefer to stay on the move, the Lower Engadin, near the Austrian border, feels like a playground for winter activities. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, or long winter walks can all be combined in a single trip, with picturesque villages and well-maintained trails connected by a scenic train route. 

Simply spend the morning skiing around one area, then hop on a train in the afternoon, and bunk down for the night somewhere new. For those who are accustomed to traveling by rail and enjoy active days followed by good food, this stretch of the Engadin valley is a natural fit.

In this part of Switzerland, cross-country skiers can follow the Engadin Classica, a 111-kilometer route stretching from Maloja to Martina along the winding Inn river. For experienced athletes, it is a one-day challenge, and for everyone else, it’s a multi-day adventure with overnight stops in villages like Scuol or Lavin. Your luggage can be transferred ahead, and the only interruption is a short train ride where the valley narrows.

Downhill enthusiasts will want to check out Samnaun, where the Silvretta Arena links Switzerland and Austria into one expansive winter playground. With a season running until early May, you can enjoy endless fun across 239 kilometers of slopes served by 45 lifts. Whether you prefer wide carving runs or steep, demanding descents on the Greitspitze, you can expect perfectly groomed slopes and excellent mountain dining.

Slip on some snowshoes for something quieter but still outdoorsy. Via Silenzi is a two-day journey from S-Charl to Ofenpass, through high alpine terrain that feels remote even in winter. You can book the whole 25-kilometer route as a package, which includes three nights of accommodation, luggage transfer, horse-drawn carriage transport to S-Charl, and a map.

In Scuol, you’ll find the Eisweg Engadin, a specially prepared three-kilometer ice skating trail. It’s a different kind of icy experience, skating along the natural landscape rather than gliding in circles on a traditional rink. 

Trains are not only how travelers arrive from Prague or Zurich, they are also the primary way to move through the Lower Engadin itself. The journey can be completed entirely by rail, with long-distance trains bringing visitors into Switzerland and regional connections carrying them into the valley. 

While it may seem more remote, travelers are surprised (and relieved) at how little they need to organize transport upon arrival. For more than a century, the iconic Rhaetian Railway has been stitching the valley together, making it easy to move between villages, trailheads, and ski areas with clockwork reliability. 

The stunning landscape unfolds through the large windows of elegant Pullman cars and historic railcars, allowing you to ski a section of trail, hop on a train, stay in one village tonight, and another tomorrow. The fleet also includes steam locomotives, which run throughout the season.

After full days outside, it’s time to slow things down. Evenings are about warm interiors, local food, and small pleasures. Mountain lodges and village hotels focus on comfort without excess. 

Dining ranges from simple alpine kitchens to refined experiences like the Gourmino dining car on the Albula rail line between Chur and St. Moritz. Belle Époque interiors and carefully prepared gourmet menus turn a train ride into a moving dinner table. It fits neatly between active days as a reminder that slowing down is also part of winter travel. 

Villages such as Scuol, Guarda, or Sent invite evening walks through historic streets, a visit to thermal baths, or a quiet glass of wine in a cozy setting.

For travelers who value movement, landscapes, and seamless logistics over ticking off attractions, the Lower Engadin offers a rare balance. A winter escape here is about moving through a landscape that was meant to be explored, one active day at a time, with the train always waiting to take you a little further.