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Voykit pocket guide · Switzerland
Ilanz
One day in Ilanz is enough for the main sights and a short hike; add another half‑day if you want rafting or cycling.
Ilanz is a small town in the Surselva valley with a historic centre, a regional museum and easy access to the Rhine gorge. The railway station offers hourly connections, and PostBus links nearby villages. Most attractions fit into a half‑day walk, with optional water sports or cycling for longer stays.
- Country
- Switzerland
- Best months
- Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar
- Avoid
- Jan (cold), heavy snow may limit rafting
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CHF
- Money
- Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; euros are sometimes taken with change in francs.
- Daily spend
- Budget Fr 30–45 excl. bed · Mid Fr 45–70 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · Rega 1414
- Plugs
- Types J, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Swiss three-pin sockets are recessed: thin two-pin (type C) plugs fit, but thick German Schuko plugs do not — bring a Swiss adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.; Café or bar: Round up.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Optional; CHF 2–5 for porters.; Mountain guide: CHF 20–50 for a day, optional.
- Water
- Tap and fountain water is excellent. Restaurants usually charge for bottled water; ask for 'Hahnenwasser' / 'eau du robinet'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost CHF 1–2; restaurants and department stores are free for customers.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | Fr 4–6 |
| Regional dish (e.g., Bündner Fleisch) | Fr 12–20 |
| PostAuto ticket | Fr 5–15 |
| Museum Regiunal entry | Fr 8/4 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ZRH · Zurich Airport
- Main international gateway, about 1.5 h by train to Ilanz
Typical fares
- Ilanz → Chur train
- ≈ CHF 15, hourly service
- PostAuto day ticket
- ≈ CHF 15, unlimited local buses
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
PostAuto buses serve all nearby villages; the town centre is walkable, bikes useful for outskirts.
See and do
Known for
- Museum Regiunal Surselva
- Rhine gorge (Swiss Grand Canyon)
- Traditional markets
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chur | Train from Ilanz, about 35 min | ≈45 min |
| Andermatt via Oberalp pass | Train to Disentis then change, total ≈2 h | ≈2 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Rätia
- Central location, rooms from Fr. 45 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEntschuldigung |
| Thank you | DankeDanke |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?Wie viel kostet das? |
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette?Wo ist die Toilette? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting in shops
- Punctuality: Be exactly on time; avoid: Running for the train expecting it to wait
- Language: Greet in the local language, then ask for English; avoid: Speaking German in Geneva as a default
- Quiet: Low voices in trains; quiet carriages are marked; avoid: Speakerphone calls
- Money: Keep financial talk discreet; avoid: Asking people's salaries
- Recycling: Separate PET, glass and cans; avoid: Leaving rubbish in hotel or flat bins unsorted
Scams and watch-outs
- Train only hourly; plan connections at Chur if coming from Zurich.
- Museum closed two months in spring and autumn; check schedule.
Ilanz is safe; standard mountain precautions apply: watch weather, keep to marked trails.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ilanz yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Museum Regiunal Surselva
- Rhine gorge (Swiss Grand Canyon)
- Traditional markets
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ilanz, revision 4674147 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4674147
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ilanz). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.