Graubünden Way of St. James

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Müstair → Oberdorf
• Length: 258.9 km
• Elevation: ↗ 10,216 m / ↘ 10,021 m
• Highest point: about 2,606 m
• Duration: about 12–14 days on foot (estimated)
• Character: a high-alpine Way of St. James through the Engadine, Graubünden and the Surselva

Overview

The Graubünden Way of St. James is the official Via Jacobi 43 across Switzerland's largest canton. It begins at the Benedictine monastery of St. John in Müstair (UNESCO World Heritage) in the Val Müstair and runs over S-charl and Scuol into the Engadine, on over Guarda and Zernez toward Davos, then over Langwies and Tschiertschen to the cantonal capital Chur. From there it crosses the Surselva over Falera, Trun and Sedrun to Amsteg and ends in Oberdorf in central Switzerland.

This is a high-alpine route: over 10,000 meters of climb and descent, several passes, and a highest point around 2,600 m. It calls for fitness, mountain experience and the right season.

Who This Route Is Ideal For – and Who It's Not

Ideal if you're after the high mountains: lonely Engadine valleys, mountain passes, wide panoramas and a route far from the big pilgrim crowds. If you're sure-footed and fit and enjoy several days in the Alps, this is one of the most impressive routes in Switzerland.

Less suitable if you expect flat, easy stages or a dense network of hostels. The elevation gain is enormous, some stages are long and remote, and outside the snow-free months the high sections are not passable.

Route & Landscape

From the monastery of Müstair the way runs through the Val Müstair over Lü and S-charl down to Scuol in the Lower Engadine. It continues over the striking Engadine villages of Guarda and Zernez, then over S-chanf and the Dürrboden into the high valley of Davos.

Over Langwies and Tschiertschen you reach Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland. The route then crosses the Surselva over Trin, Falera, Andiast, Trun and Sedrun, before crossing via Amsteg in the Reuss valley over to Oberdorf. The landscape shifts from Engadine high valleys over Graubünden alpine passes to the forests and gorges of the Surselva.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

At about 259 kilometers, over 10,000 meters of climb and a highest point around 2,600 m, the Graubünden Way of St. James is one of the most demanding Ways of St. James in Switzerland. Depending on your pace, plan for roughly 12–14 days – individual stages are long and climb several hundred meters.

The route is officially waymarked as Via Jacobi 43. The terrain and altitude call for sure-footedness, good fitness and mountain gear. If in doubt, always follow the official waymarking.

Müstair and the Disentis seal – monastery to monastery

The way begins at the monastery of St. John in Müstair, one of the oldest monasteries in the Alpine region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Carolingian frescoes. Its spiritual counterpart lies at the other end of the Surselva: pilgrims who walk the entire Graubünden Way of St. James from Müstair to Disentis-Mustér and document it in their pilgrim credential can receive the "Disentis seal" at the Benedictine monastery of Disentis – a recognition of the multi-week pilgrimage. The route can also be walked in stages over several years for this purpose.

Highlights Along the Way

• Müstair – the Benedictine monastery of St. John, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Scuol & the Lower Engadine – spa tradition and typical Engadine architecture.
• Guarda – one of the best-preserved Engadine villages.
• Davos – the highest town in the Alps.
• Chur – the oldest town in Switzerland, at the gateway to the Surselva.
• The Surselva with Trun, Sedrun and its link to Disentis – the Romansh-speaking Graubünden highlands.

Continue your pilgrimage?

The Graubünden Way of St. James reaches the major Swiss junction of the alpine routes in the Reuss valley via Amsteg. Here the Graubünden and Valais routes meet the Tessiner Anschlussweg toward Seedorf, from where the way continues through central Switzerland to the hub of Einsiedeln and onto the main Swiss axis, the Via Jacobi (Constance–Geneva), heading west and ultimately to Santiago.

Preparation & Practical Information

Because of the altitude, the Graubünden Way of St. James can only be walked in the snow-free months – depending on conditions, roughly June/July to September/October. Snow can linger in the highest sections even in summer; check pass and trail conditions in advance.

You'll need good mountain gear (sturdy hiking boots, weather protection, enough food), fitness and sure-footedness. A pilgrim credential is useful for stamps and lodgings – and is required for the Disentis seal. A route booklet and accommodation list for Müstair–Oberdorf are available; on remote stages it's worth booking lodgings ahead.

What the journey will cost you

Switzerland is expensive. Budget roughly €60–100 per day for accommodation and food; in mountain regions and small villages it can run toward the upper end. Simple lodgings and self-catering lower the cost.

Getting There

The starting point is Müstair in the far east of Graubünden; the finish is Oberdorf in central Switzerland.

• Getting to Müstair: by train into the Engadine (e.g. to Zernez or Scuol), then by postbus into the Val Müstair. SBB – connections and tickets.
• Return from Oberdorf: via the Reuss valley to the rail network. SBB – connections and tickets.

Route Steward

The Swiss Ways of St. James are maintained by the association Jakobsweg Schweiz – Compostelle Suisse (formerly "jakobsweg.ch", renamed after its 2026 merger with "Les Amis"). The association waymarks and maintains the routes, trains pilgrim guides and publishes route booklets and the pilgrim credential.