Safien Platz lies at an altitude of 1,315 metres in a remarkable, well-preserved cultural and natural landscape. Around 700 years ago, the Walser people left their mark on the Safiental; their architecture, culture and language continue to shape the valley today. Hiking trails, historic architecture and the Safien Platz Museum give the area a variety of character—from a circular hike near Safien Platz to multi-day sections of trails through the valley.

Landscape and Trails in the Safiental

The Safiental is a mountain valley in Beverin Nature Park that opens into the Rhine Gorge, with its rugged cliffs reaching up to 300 metres high. An extensive network of hiking trails provides access to the valley on foot. The Rhine Gorge can be reached by the Rhine Gorge Bus and the Rhaetian Railway. Safien Platz itself is a practical starting point for a range of routes: a circular hike via Zalön and Hof returns to Safien Platz, while long-distance trails connect the village with other stages in the Safiental.

The Safien Platz–Zalön–Hof–Safien Platz circular hike reaches an altitude of 1,658 metres and offers views of Piz Beverin and Bruschghorn. For a longer hiking option, the second stage of the Via Capricorn covers 15 kilometres from Glaspass via Inner Glas, Safien Platz, Hof, Camanaboda, Thalkirch and Under Gassli to Turrahus. The Walserweg Safiental is a three-day tour that also leads to Turrahus via Tenna and Safien Platz. The routes therefore differ not only in their named waypoints: the circular hike focuses on returning to Safien Platz and enjoying the views, while the Via Capricorn and Walserweg are sections of a longer tour. Check seasonal conditions before setting out on a hike.

The Sagenweg Safiental runs from Thalkirch (Enthälb) to Safien Platz and follows the Walserweg Safiental. It is signposted throughout in both directions and is considered suitable for families. Ten legends are depicted on panels along the route. The trail thus combines a journey through the Safiental with stories from local tradition; here, too, it is advisable to check seasonal trail conditions before setting out.

For a different way to get around, there is the Aussersafien Bike route: it is 15.4 kilometres long and starts and finishes at the school in Safien Platz. By contrast, the similarly long second stage of the Via Capricorn is a hiking route from Glaspass to Turrahus. The distances therefore refer to different types of trip planning—a cycling route that starts and ends in the same place and a hiking stage with different start and end points.

Walser History and Cultural Sites

A striking cultural site in Safien Platz is the Reformed church. The late Gothic building dates from 1510 and has a polygonal choir. The Safien Platz Museum is also in the centre: since June 2024, it has been housed in the Alte Post (Old Post Office). The museum is located in a distinctive Walser house with an attached stable dating from the 17th century and offers space for special exhibitions and other activities. If you are travelling to see a particular exhibition, check the current programme.

The museum is close to the PostBus stop. Not far away, you can see two different traces of the village’s history: the older Walser house architecture and the late Gothic church. Guided tours of the Safien Platz power station control centre are offered year-round; it is worth checking for a current date when planning your visit. Spensa is another local point of interest, a shop selling products from the Safiental.

Seasonal Events in the Region

The events calendar for the wider Safiental may also influence when you travel: Openair Safiental takes place in the Safiental in mid-July each year. In winter, two natural ice rinks are set up there from December to February, provided the weather is cold enough. They are free for visitors and local residents. The ice rinks therefore depend on the weather; before making plans, check whether temperatures are sufficiently low.

Discover more destinations: Surcuolm, Ruschein, Falera, Sumvitg, Sagens, Breil-Brigels, Medels Im Oberland, Trun.

Go to the main travel overview: Surselva.