The Albula railway trail from Preda to Bergün

Take the train up to Preda, at the western end of the Albula tunnel on the Rhaetian Railway, and follow the signposted Railway Adventure Trail (Bahnerlebnisweg Albula) down to Bergün/Bravuogn. The path runs beside the Albula line, which is a UNESCO World Heritage railway, past its spiral tunnels and viaducts, with information boards on the way, and ends at Bergün station.

It is 7.2 km one way and drops about 430 m from Preda to Bergün by our figures; the railway gives about 60 m up and 480 m down. Allow about 2 to 2½ hours. The railway gives stage 1 as 7.0 km and 2 h 15 to 2 h 45 of pure walking time, and says you may need more time if you stop to read the information panels; Bergün Filisur Tourismus gives 7.1 km and 2 h 05. The grade is Moderate: the railway calls it a mountain hike of medium difficulty on well-surfaced but often narrow paths, with a short steep climb near the Rugnux helical tunnel. Bergün Filisur Tourismus rates it T2, asks for surefootedness and says it is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs; SchweizMobil's description of the path mentions steps and a stretch secured with chains.

Switzerland Tourism lists June to October as the suitable season for the Bergün to Preda stage of the Via Albula/Bernina, which follows this path the other way, and Bergün Filisur Tourismus highlights May to October. The Rhaetian Railway's list of scheduled construction work marks the line between Thusis and Preda, which includes Bergün, as closed from the night of 28/29 October to the night of 13/14 November 2026, and says dates may be postponed.

The walk starts at Preda station and ends at Bergün station, so it needs the train up to Preda and, from Bergün, a train home. Look up the timetable on the Rhaetian Railway's site.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.