Day trip to the Landwasserwelt: The best train experiences around Filisur

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Around the Landwasser Viaduct, which is considered the landmark of the Rhaetian Railway’s UNESCO World Heritage route, a new experience area called the Landwasserwelt has been created. It offers not only railfans but everyone numerous opportunities to discover the diverse cultural and natural landscape surrounding this masterpiece of engineering.

We took a day and tried out how many of these experiences can be comfortably combined. Spoiler: quite a few. What emerged was a varied day trip with historic train rides, spectacular viewpoints, pleasant hikes, and surprising stops around Filisur and Davos Wiesen.

An overview of our day trip to the Landwasserwelt

The Landwasserwelt extends around its centerpiece – the Landwasser Viaduct – between the municipalities of Alvaneu, Schmitten, Filisur, Bergün and Davos Wiesen, and unites the five experience worlds of rail, culture, agriculture, forest and water. An overview of all experiences and points of interest is provided by the Map view on the Landwasserwelt website,

For our excursion we had the following premises in mind:

• We travel to and from the area by public transport
• We want to discover as much of the region as possible
• We want to do some walking in addition to riding the trains
• We want to experience the Landwasser Viaduct from as many perspectives as possible

The result was a really cool loop tour through the Landwasserwelt, which started shortly after 10:00 a.m. at Davos Platz station with a ride in a historic train composition of the Rhaetian Railway including an open observation car, and ended at 4:00 p.m. with the return trip from Filisur toward Zurich. What we experienced in between and how much time each stop takes, you’ll find out in the following sections.

By historic train through the Zügenschlucht to Davos Wiesen

Between mid-May and mid-October a historic train composition with nostalgic carriages and an open observation car runs twice daily on the route between Davos Platz and Filisur. The highlight en route is the roughly three-kilometer-long Zügenschlucht between Davos Monstein and Davos Wiesen, where over centuries the Landwasser has cut deep into the rock and shaped an impressive landscape.

Two years ago we already crossed the gorge on foot on the Parc Ela Trek at the height of Davos Wiesen and noted at the time that we would like to experience this section again with a bit more time. So it was clear to us that we would start the day trip with this program item.

No special ticket is required for the ride on the historic train. That makes it easy to combine the route with a hike along individual sections. But first we look for a scenic spot in the open observation car. I sat on the left facing the direction of travel, because you can see a bit more of the gorge on that side. The waterfall «Bärentritt», which the train passes directly, is on the right side. If there’s enough space – which fortunately was the case for us – you can easily get a seat on both sides so you don’t miss anything. The ride to Davos Wiesen takes just under thirty minutes.

Sky Walk Wiesner Viaduct and Coray viewpoint

At Bahnhof Davos Wiesen we get off and sling on our light daypacks. Of course you could also just stay on the train to Filisur. However, that would mean missing the opportunity to cross the Wiesnerviadukt on foot directly after Davos Wiesen station and experience the impressive dimensions of the highest railway bridge in the Rhaetian Railway network up close. Over a length of 210 meters the viaduct spans the Landwasser at almost 90 meters high and is thus one of Switzerland’s highest railway bridges.

Thanks to the good signage, the access to the Sky Walk from Davos Wiesen station is hard to miss. If you follow the trail at the end of the viaduct for a few more minutes, you’ll also reach the newest viewing platform of the Landwasserwelt. The name «Coray» recalls Richard Coray, the builder of the Wiesner Viaduct.

Note: Until 3 July 2026 access to the Coray viewing platform is closed due to construction. However, you can still see the viaduct from the footpath.

By the way, the timing also works perfectly for photography enthusiasts: If you arrive in Davos Wiesen on the historic train at 10:46 and stroll comfortably over the Sky Walk to the viewing platform, you can shortly thereafter photograph the historic train composition on the Wiesner Viaduct from the Coray viewing platform. The connection toward Davos crosses the viaduct as scheduled a few minutes before the arrival at 11:13.

Hike from Davos Wiesen to Filisur

Allow around ten minutes on foot for the stretch from Davos Wiesen station to the Aussichtsplattform Coray. The same path will also take you back to the station, where the next regional train to Filisur departs. The wait can be nicely bridged with a coffee from the Zügä Beizli. Also note that at Davos Wiesen station – except for the historic train – trains normally stop only on request («Halt auf Verlangen»).

Alternatively, you can follow the hiking trail directly toward Filisur, which is the route we were already on. On the roughly three-kilometer section to Schönboden you’ll find a beautiful, shady forest path with only a few inclines. A really relaxed stretch, perfect for a leisurely day trip. At Schönboden the path also passes an idyllic barbecue spot.

After that it’s downhill to Filisur. You have two options: either follow the wide gravel path directly to the station, or choose the route of the Walserweg, which leads via some scenic hairpins right into the charming village center of Filisur. Along the way you’ll get more nice views of the Albula line.

Filisur is considered the “lowest” Engadin village and is one of the best-preserved historic settlements in Graubünden. As part of the interactively designed “FiliTour” you can learn interesting facts about the village’s history and architecture at a total of 14 stations. But even without following the entire route, you will repeatedly discover informative panels with exciting background information on the historic buildings while walking through the village.

Additional loop to the Acatos viewpoint

Our hiking route from Davos Wiesen to Filisur not only leads through Filisur’s worth-seeing village center, but also includes an additional loop to the Aussichtsplattform Acatos. From Filisur station the platform can be reached on foot in about 20 to 25 minutes. The platform is named after the Greek-Swiss engineer Alexander Acatos, who designed the Landwasser Viaduct.

In my opinion the panorama from here is even more impressive than from the much better-known Hennings viewpoint, which we will visit at the very end of the day. From the Acatos viewing platform you can not only overlook the Landwasser Viaduct but also the subsequent Schmittner Viaduct, creating a particularly beautiful panorama of the Albula line.

Practical: At the viewing platform you can call up the next train passage directly via QR code. As a rough guideline, trains on the Albula line pass the route approximately on the hour. It’s best to plan your visit so that you arrive at the viewing platform around xx:45.

Key data of the hike Davos Wiesen – Filisur village – Acatos – Filisur station

The hiking map shows the route of the hike from Davos Wiesen to Filisur including the additional loop to the Acatos viewing platform. The route is continuously signposted as a white-red-white marked mountain trail (T2) and is technically not demanding.

I also found the crossing of the Wiesner Viaduct on the Sky Walk quite manageable despite the height. The path is appropriately developed and secured, so you hardly feel exposed. Even with a slight fear of heights the crossing should be possible without problems — as long as you don’t stare down for too long.

Starting point	Davos Wiesen station (1,197 m above sea level)
Accessibility	accessible by public transport
Length	8.2 kilometers
Elevation gain/loss	↗ 246 m ↘ 365 m
Duration	2:15 h
Destination	Filisur station (1,080 m above sea level)
Places to eat	Zügä Beizli at Davos Wiesen station and Bahnhöfli Filisur / alternatively: Schönboden barbecue spot (wood available on site)

Short stop at Filisur station

We departed Davos Platz on the historic train at 10:18. The clock now shows 1:20 p.m. Our next fixed program item doesn’t start until 2:15 p.m. – so it’s high time for a short breather at Bahnhof Filisur.

In the old station building there’s a small bistro that offers coffee, cakes and various snacks as well as homemade soups and refreshing homemade lemonades. We treated ourselves to a barley soup and a lemonade before taking a look inside the Illusionswagen Filusio. In the converted historic railcar various optical illusions are waiting to be discovered or exposed – depending on the perspective. All installations playfully refer to the world of railways.

Good to know: The Illusionswagen Filusio is open daily from mid-May to mid-October from 08:00 to 18:00. Admission costs 5 CHF per person.

With the Landwasser Express to the Landwasser Viaduct

At 2:15 p.m. our ride with the Landwasser-Express to the Viaduktplatz begins. Twice daily the tourist slow train runs as a circular route from Filisur station through the village center to the Viaduktplatz and back. The trip takes about 25 minutes and along the way you learn interesting facts about the Landwasser Viaduct, the Albula line and the Rhaetian Railway’s UNESCO World Heritage.

On site there is plenty of time to admire the impressive structure from below. The stay lasts around 45 minutes. There is also a small information kiosk, seating and a fire pit inviting you to linger.

My tip: Definitely try a Filisur ice cream. The locally made ice cream is really delicious and is also available at the Bahnhöfli Filisur.

Good to know: The round trip costs 15 CHF for adults. Children up to 16 years pay 7 CHF (toddlers up to 6 years who do not require their own seat travel free). Tickets can be booked in advance online on the Website der Landwasserwelt.

From the Viaduktplatz to the Hennings viewing platform

We timed our day trip so that after a short ice cream break at the Viaduktplatz there was still enough time to admire the Landwasser Viaduct extensively and then walk up to the Aussichtsplattform Hennings. The 65-meter-high structure looks quite different when you stand directly underneath it. I have marked the route to the viewpoint for you on the map below. Allow about 20 minutes for the ascent to the Hennings platform. You’ll cover roughly 85 meters of elevation, while enjoying additional great angles on the region’s landmark along the way.

The viewing platform, named after Friedrich Hennings, the chief engineer of the Albula line, offers the probably best-known view of the Landwasser Viaduct and the surrounding landscape and is definitely worth a detour.

From here you can easily reach the new Haltestelle «Schmitten GR Landwasserviadukt». This is regularly served by the Viaduktshuttle, which runs between Filisur and Alvaneu. We take the 15:35 connection back to Filisur, where we connect to the Albula line and begin the return journey toward Zurich at 16:00.

Good to know: The Viaduktshuttle can be used with a regular route ticket or with GA, day tickets etc. No special ticket is required.

Practical tips for your day trip to the Landwasserwelt

• Many experiences in the Landwasserwelt can be flexibly combined. On the Website der Landwasserwelt you will find more ideas for day trips as well as various themed programs for railfans, families or hiking enthusiasts.
• The historic train as well as the Viaduktshuttle can be used with regular public transport tickets or with GA, day tickets etc.
• Depending on where you are coming from and which offers you want to use on site, the various Landwasserwelt passes can be worth it. You can find all information about them on the Website der Landwasserwelt.
• For the Landwasser-Express it is especially recommended to buy tickets in advance on weekends and during school holidays so that you can secure your seat.