Mountain Coaster Near Zurich, Your Adventure Made Simple
Want to ride a mountain coaster near Zürich, but can’t figure out how? Look no further!
This comprehensive blog post has all the information you need to know about travelling to the Pradaschier alpine coaster at Churwalden, whether you’re flying into (or out of) Zurich or Basel.
In addition, I’ve included everything you need to know ahead of your thrilling toboggan adventure, from activities and facilities, to prices and top tips, to make your visit even easier.
I visited on an Extreme Day Trip and collated all the details to save you the time and effort of having to research yourself.
So wrap up warm, and get ready for an adrenaline-fulled adventure!
Introduction
Erlebnisberg Pradaschier ski resort is located in Churwalden – a picturesque municipality in the Swiss Alps.
And it’s here you’ll find the longest of the mountain coasters in Switzerland. Racing along 3,060 meters of track, you’ll love the thrill of cornering 31 curves and hairpin bends at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour.
This exhilarating toboggan run has become a popular wish list experience amongst the 300,000 members of the Extreme Day Trips Facebook group. This is mostly down to its founder Michael Cracknell, who makes the journey on average once a fortnight and is often joined by up to 20 other thrill-seekers.
While having someone like Michael on hand to guide you along the journey is handy, this blog post details the exact steps for navigate it yourself. Having travelled there recently, I promise it’s really not so daunting if you have the information you need in advance.
Flights
It’s possible to reach the Churwalden mountain coaster from both Zürich and Basel airports. I’d recommend checking flight times and prices for your preferred dates, and decide which align the best.
On my visit, we flew from London Gatwick into Zürich and back from Basel. But you can do it the opposite way around, or use the same Swiss airport for both journeys. Just bear in mind that the transport time to Basel is longer, taking around three hours compared to two hours for Zurich. Day trip flights to both airports are also now available from Manchester with EasyJet.
Check flight times and prices easily using Skyscanner below.
Public Transport Tickets
Once you’ve found your flights, I highly recommend buying a SBB Saver Day Pass as far in advance as you can. You can buy them up to six months in advance, but prices increase based on demand and the passes can even sell out, so grab yours as soon as possible.
The pass covers all your public transport journeys in Switzerland within that 24-hour period, including trains and buses. Train journeys can be pricey, so this offers a good saving if making multiple journeys and connections.
Prices start from CHF 52 without a Half Fare Travelcard, which is probably only worth considering investing in if you plan to visit Switzerland a few times within a 12-month period.
Furthermore, if you buy your pass using the SBB Mobile app, you can access the digital pass as well as track your train times, platforms, and more. Just click Saver Day Pass, choose passengers, date and class, then select the option ‘Full Price Without The Half Fare Travelcard’ (unless you have one, of course!).
Note: the Saver Day Pass is non refundable except on proof of certain exceptional circumstances. You may be asked for proof of ID to ensure you’re the named ticket holder, and the names must match exactly.
How to Get to the Alpine Coaster From Zürich Airport
The full journey from your starting point of Zürich Flughafen to the the finishing point at Churwalden, Bergbahnen takes just over two hours.
If you use the SBB Mobile app, add the start and end points above and it will map out your journey. It shows departure times, platforms, train capacity and on-board facilities, and even handy maps for navigating between platforms and to the bus stop, as you can see here.
Here’s the journey, broken down step-by-step:
To travel back to Zürich airport, just follow the same instructions in reverse.
How to Get to the Alpine Coaster From Basel Airport
The journey time from or to Basel EuroAirport is longer at just over three hours, as this involves an additional bus ride. So this is something to bear in mind when planning your itinerary.
Here are the instructions for the journey, made simple:
To travel back to Basel airport, just reverse the same instructions.
Switzerland Public Transport Tips
If you’ve never used the buses and trains in Switzerland before, here are some handy top tips to ensure your journey goes smoothly and problem-free.
Choose your seat wisely
On the train from Zürich HB, sit on the left in the direction of travel for the best views. The same goes for the bus ride up to Churwalden. And sit on the right in the opposite direction for the best mountain views. You’ll thank me later!
Keep your ticket handy
Have your ticket ready for inspection by the conductor/driver. Also make sure you sit in the correct class of carriage for your ticket, and in a seat that isn’t reserved (unless it’s reserved for you). Failing to have the correct ticket can result in a heavy fine.
Careful with ID
Make sure you carry ID – the name and date-of-birth on your train ticket and your ID must match exactly, or this can result in a fine. So don’t do what my friend did and used funny nicknames on our train tickets – that suddenly was not funny at all!
Power up
Some trains (but not all) have charging points, but you’ll need a Swiss/EU plug adaptor like this one to use them. Wi-Fi isn’t available on board to tourists visiting Switzerland.
Check facilities
Almost all trains have toilets, and some have restaurant carts and even a family zone and play area. The SBB mobile app uses symbols to show the facilities available on each service.
Stamp it!
If you’re travelling with kids (or big kids!), pick up a free Grand Train Tour booklet and they can stamp the pages at specific stations. It’s like a souvenir passport and guide book in one. Read more details here.
Mountain Coaster Near Zurich – The Site
On arrival at Erlebnisberg Pradaschier, home to Switzerland’s unique alpine rollercoaster, head to the ticket office at the base of the hill to purchase your tickets. You can buy tickets online, however, I don’t advise doing this in advance in case the toboggan is closed due to poor weather. But you can skip the line by scanning the QR code and purchasing on the website on arrival.
Prices (in CHF and correct as of March 2025) are detailed in the table below. You’ll want a combined chair lift and toboggan ticket – there is a hiking trail up the hill, but it’s steep, slippy and will seriously eat into your time (and energy levels!).
| Ticket Type | Adult | Teen/Student | Child | Half Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 x chair lift & toboggan | 29.50 | 20.00 | 15.00 | 23.00 |
| Groups of 10 or more | 23.00 | 16.00 | 12.00 | – |
| 3 x chair lift & toboggan | 49.00 | 39.00 | 32.00 | – |
| 5 x chair lift & toboggan | 59.00 | 49.00 | 39.00 | – |
| 1 x only toboggan | 18.00 | 13.00 | 9.00 | – |
| Groups of 10 or more | 14.00 | 11.00 | 7.50 | – |
| 3 x only toboggan | 38.00 | 28.00 | 20.00 | – |
| 5 x only toboggan | 49.00 | 39.00 | 29.00 | – |
If you don’t want to ride the coaster, the ticket can be used at any point to take the chair lift up and/or down. I did two toboggan runs then one chair lift ride down to relax while taking in the spectacular views.
Alpine Coaster Tobogganing
Each toboggan can fit two people at a squeeze, but you can choose to ride alone or with a partner. The rider controls their own speed by applying the brakes (or not!), although automatic braking will occur if your toboggan is catching up to the one in front of you.
The coaster can be enjoyed by children from the age of three, and those over the age of eight and 135cm tall can ride alone.
Seatbelts must be worn, and mobile phones aren’t allowed – you’ll find it incredibly difficult to keep hold of one anyway, trust me! Bring a GoPro or similar hands-free device if you want to record the experience. And don’t forget to smile for their camera!
Make sure you secure your belongings and any loose clothing like hats, glasses, ear muffs, scarfs and other accessories. If you lose anything, you won’t get it back! I recommend using a small cross body bag for your valuables, that you can wear high up.
I was so nervous about riding the coaster, as I’m not a fan of big rides. But this was actually so much fun! There are no big drops, just lots of fast turns and a few little dips.
More Activities
In winter, the site offers ski-ing and snowboarding on its natural snow ski pistes and long downhill runs, as well as snowshoe hiking for those wanting a slower pace.
While in summer, adrenaline junkies can fly downhill at a speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour on the site’s zipline. The two-minute flight covers a distance of 1,739m and a height difference of 470m with a 29% drop, giving a feeling of free fall.
Adventure Mountain visitors can enjoy a four-seater chair lift all year round. The ride offers a glimpse of the coaster track, as well as spectacular views over the Alps – particularly on the downwards journey.
Site Facilities
If hunger strikes, the Pradaschier Mountain Restaurant at the top of the slopes offers a variety of hot and cold snacks and meals. Or grab a local beer, or hot drink, and take a seat on the outdoor balcony to take in the breathtaking views. View the menu here.
Adventure Mountain visitors can enjoy a four-seater chair lift all year round. The ride offers a glimpse of the coaster track, as well as spectacular views over the Alps – particularly on the downwards journey.
There’s also Restaurant Portal at the site’s base, which offers the same breakfast and lunchtime menus, as well as a Co-op shop just next to the bus stop.
For children, there’s a rope park, a playground and a new giant ball track and mini self-powered trolley track.
Adventure Mountain visitors can enjoy a four-seater chair lift all year round. The ride offers a glimpse of the coaster track, as well as spectacular views over the Alps – particularly on the downwards journey.
Toilets are also available at both the top and base of the slopes – next to the Pradaschier Mountain Restaurant and behind the ticket office.
The photo machine can also be found close to the chair lift exit, and you can view and buy A5-size glossy prints of your coaster experience for just 5 CHF (about £4.50 or €5). Card and contactless payment is accepted.
This map of the site, located at the base of the slopes, is really useful for finding specific facilities.
FAQ & Top Tips
To get the most out of your day, here are some of my top tips in answer to some frequently asked questions, to ensure your coaster experience is fun-filled and hassle-free!
Alpine Coaster Alternatives
If the mountain coaster near Zurich is closed due to bad weather or maintenance, there are some excellent last-minute alternatives that can also be reached from Zürich and Basel.
Grindelwald First Cliff Walk
Enjoy a scenic cable car ride up to Mt. Great, where you’ll take a cliff walk along the edge of the steep mountain face.
This tour also includes a leisurely hike to Lake Bachalpsee and an elevated viewpoint from the new First View vantage platform.
Mount Titlis
Take a memorable trip to the stunning glacier around Mount Titlis.
Ascend in a gondola lift, before braving the suspension bridge cliff walk and exploring the glacier cave.
End your experience with a boat ride on the Trübsee before relaxing in one of the local pubs.
Conclusion
If riding an alpine coaster through the snow has been on your travel bucket list for some time, then I hope this blog post has given you the tools and inspiration to make the trip.
With a little preparation, and the right information at your fingertips, transport to and from Churwalden can be relatively easy and stress-free. And the exhilaration you’ll feel when you’re hurtling down the toboggan track with a spectacular view over the snow-capped Alps is so worth it!
So seize the day, book your trip, and head off for an adventure to remember!
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