Must-knows about Davos

  • Davos is located in Graubünden in south-eastern Switzerland.
  • Davos was primarily known as a health and wellness town. There are still many hotels with spa facilities.
  • The town hosts the annual World Economic Forum.
  • It’s the highest larger town in Europe.
  • The area is famous for its ski runs, with trails up to 12 km long.
  • Davos may not have the authentic charm of some other Swiss towns, but the marvelous natural surroundings make up for that.
Recommended season: early January to early March and mid April to mid October
Altitude: 1559 m (5115 ft)
This is a winter sports resort
Town size: Medium
Local language: German
There is a train station

Things to see and do near Davos Copy link to clipboard

Find activities in Davos and surroundings

Graubünden mountains from Parsenn above Davos
Parsenn-Weissfluhgipfel
MountainsMin. time required: 2:30
Find all details to prepare for a day trip to the mountain Parsenn-Weissfluhgipfel in Davos: how to get there, what to do, what it costs, …
Guided tour Kirchner Museum in Davos
Guided tour Kirchner Museum in Davos
MuseumGuided day tour
Discover the collection of the Kirchner Museum in Davos with an experienced guide. Get a unique insight into the life and work of the artist.

Offered by Swiss Activities: www.swissactivities.com

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Airboard fun tour incl. fondue on the mountain Pischa
Airboard fun tour incl. fondue on the mountain Pischa
Culinary, SleddingGuided day tour
Experience a dreamlike landscape on the mountain Pischa above Davos. A natural winter world, a rapid descent on the belly and a delicious alpine herb fondue await you.

Offered by Swiss Activities: www.swissactivities.com

  • Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
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Snowshoe tour and sledding with fondue in Davos
Snowshoe tour and sledding with fondue in Davos
Culinary, SnowshoeingGuided day tour
You can expect a beautiful landscape on Pischa above Davos. Look forward to fantastic views over the Grisons Alps and a delicious alpine herb fondue.

Offered by Swiss Activities: www.swissactivities.com

  • Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
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Davos Snowkite Taster Course Beginner
Davos Snowkite Taster Course Beginner
Winter sportGuided day tour
Learn the basics of snowkiting in this taster course and at the end ride yourself with the power of the wind over the snowy slopes of Davos.

Offered by Swiss Activities: www.swissactivities.com

  • Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
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Mountain sports in summer and winter

The main activities near Davos are mountain-based. You can enjoy hiking, biking and swimming in Lake Davos in summer. There's basically any snow sport you can think of in winter.

Mountain chair lifts, cable cars and funiculars can be accessed all along the valley from the various villages.

Activities in the town

As Davos is fairly large, it has good shopping opportunities. There are also many wellness facilities, restaurants, bars and a casino to keep you entertained.

Winter activities in Davos

If you like diverse winter trips, Davos is a great destination for you.

You can ski the famous Parsenn Downhill Run, from Weissfluh (above Davos Dorf) to Küblis. It's 12 km long and has a height difference of 2,000 m. On top of over 300 km of downhill ski runs, there are nearly 160 km of winter hiking and snowshoe trails and 75 km of cross-country ski trails.

Davos has a huge ice skating rink with a surface of 4,500 m2. It’s also home to a successful National League-ice hockey team, the Davos Hockey Club.

Family activities

In addition to mountain sports near Davos, we recommend the below options for families:

  • Madrisa Land, ‘Switzerland’s largest adventure park’, which is situated above the village of Klosters (www.madrisa.ch).
  • Available in summer is the Adventure Park Davos (www.davos.ch).

The Monstein Brewery

You can visit the Monstein Brewery, one of the highest breweries in Europe. It's open for tastings and tours (www.biervision-monstein.ch).

The alpine botanical garden

A botanical garden with lots of mountain flowers can be found on Schatzalp. It has thousands of species of plants from around the world. The Schatzalp also inspired the author Thomas Mann to write his novel "Magic Mountain" (www.schatzalp.ch).

Travel info and town map Copy link to clipboard

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How to reach Davos by train

Davos can be reached by train from the following directions:

  • From the north via Zurich and Chur. A single ride Zurich-Davos takes 2h15.
  • From the west via Andermatt. This is part of the Glacier Express route. A train ride Andermatt-Davos takes 4 hours.
  • From the south-east via Tirano and St. Moritz. St. Moritz-Davos via Filisur in the Albula Valley takes 1h45. This journey is part of both the Glacier Express and Bernina Express routes.
  • An alternative route from St. Moritz to Davos is the one via Zernez and Sagliains. This is a 1h50-ride.
  • From the south-west via Bellinzona in the Ticino. Bellinzona-Davos takes 3h10 to 4 hours.
  • From the east, which is mostly relevant if you arrive from Austria. A train journey from Innsbruck in Austria to Davos, via Sargans and Landquart, takes just over 4 hours.

The Swiss timetable helps you plan your trip to, in or from Davos.

How to reach Davos by car

Davos can be reached by car from the same directions as the train routes described above.

Note that you need to cross mountain pass roads in many cases:

  • The Oberalp Pass if you travel from Andermatt. There's a car train too.
  • The Julier Pass or the Albula Pass if you arrive from the Upper Engadine in the south.
  • The Flüela Pass if you travel via Susch south-east of Davos.
  • The San Bernardino Pass if you drive from the Ticino.

7 rail stations with the name 'Davos'

Davos Dorf and Davos Platz are the two main rail stations of Davos. They're in the actual village.

In addition, there are more train stations with 'Davos' in their names. From north-east to south-west:

  • The most northern rail station is Davos Wolfgang. This is a tiny district.
  • Between Davos Wolfgang and Davos Dorf, there's small lake: the Davoser See.
  • The central stations are Davos Dorf and Davos Platz.
  • There are a few more train stops south-west of Davos Platz. They're all in hamlets: Davos Frauenkirch, Davos Glaris, Davos Monstein, and Davos Wiesen.

Getting by on foot and by public transport

If you're based close to the rail stations Davos Dorf or Davos Platz, you can easily get by on foot. There are frequent trains between both rail stations. In addition, buses operate between the several parts of town.

Mountain transport

You can hike into the nearby mountains. There are several local funiculars and cable cars, departing from different areas of the town and nearby villages.

Free local traveling with the Davos Klosters Premium Card

Guests staying one or more nights in a hotel or holiday rental receive the Davos Klosters Premium Card, offering free local transportation and discounted activities. Winter discounts (November to April) vary from summer discounts (May to October).

The Topcard for Davos-Klosters, Arosa and Lenzerheide

If you plan lots of activities near Davos-Klosters and the bordering (winter) sports areas of Arosa and Lenzerheide, you can consider the Topcard. It includes mountain lifts in summer and winter.

The Topcard is an annual card. This means that costs are high, and that it's only economical if you plan lots of mountain trips for a longer period.

Other train passes recommended for a stay in Davos

You can consider the graubündenPASS if you plan a limited number of days on which you want to explore other areas of Graubünden too.

For us, a nation-wide pass such as the Swiss Travel Pass or the Swiss Half Fare Card, is usually a better choice when we stay in Graubünden though. We gladly explain how to find the perfect match for your itinerary here.

The town of Davos on a map

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When to visit Davos Copy link to clipboard

The seasons we prefer for Davos are early January to early March and mid April to mid October.

Davos in spring, summer and fall

Davos is an attractive base town from mid-April to mid-October. This is when the green hills are prettiest. Details:

  • Most cable cars are operational from late June to early October. Some have longer or shorter operating seasons.
  • July and August are best for high-altitude hikes and mountain biking.

Davos in the winter season

Davos is mainly a winter sports resort: the options for skiing and other snow activities are endless.

If you visit Davos for a snow experience, the best months are January, February and early March. It’s also most crowded at the ski runs then.

Pistes may still have snow in late March: visit during that time if you like a quiet holiday.

Weather in Davos Copy link to clipboard

Davos is situated at 1559 meters above sea level. This means that temperatures are significantly lower than in low-altitude cities, such as Zurich or Geneva.

It can be around or below freezing point during winter, especially in January and February. Snow in town is likely, but not guaranteed.

Average summer temperatures can range from about 15°C to 23°C.

5-day weather forecast for Davos

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Recommended hotels in Davos Copy link to clipboard

Davos is traditionally a wellness resort. You'll find many upper-class hotels with spa facilities. But there are fine budget options too.

Winter view of ski resort Davos in canton of Graubünden

Our hotel suggestions for Davos - budget to 5-star

Nearly all hotels in Davos are within walking distance of one of the rail stations. Many have spa facilities.

Davos: location and layout

Where is Davos located?

Davos is in north-eastern Switzerland, at a 2h15-train ride from Zurich. It’s nestled in the Landwasser Valley, which is situated in the large canton Graubünden. Davos is surrounded by mountains and forests.

The valley is also home to the village of Klosters, located about 30 minutes by train northeast of Davos Dorf. A bit farther on is the village of Küblis.

What are the main areas of Davos?

Davos is a long, narrow town, stretching out from the northeast to the southwest. It’s split into two main parts, with Davos Dorf in the northeast and Davos Platz in the southwest. One can walk from one end to the other in about 45 minutes.

Part of Davos Dorf in the north is on a small lake: the Davoser See.

Pros and cons of Davos

Davos is fairly secluded. The closest city to Davos is Chur (often used to start the Glacier Express or Bernina Express trips), which is 1h30 by train.

Davos is a large town with several large hotels and conference centers. It doesn’t have the cachet and glamour of St. Moritz or Zermatt, which can help to keep costs down – a little.

Davos is generally most popular in winter, so it can be a great experience in the other seasons when it’s less busy. Especially in spring and fall, it’s off the tourist radar, unlike St. Moritz.

Other websites of interest

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.