To foreigners, Davos is probably one of the lesser-known mountain towns in Switzerland. (Compared the ever popular Zermatt or Saint Moritz, for example.) But Davos is actually the highest town in the Swiss Alps, sitting at 1560 meters and one of the best places to ski in Switzerland. Davos is only a couple of hours from Sandro’s hometown, so we go there fairly often. It is a major winter and summer sports hub – offering a wide range of activities during both seasons. You may know of it, as every year the town hosts the annual World Economic Forum. We have put together a comprehensive guide of everything to see and do in Davos; including the best restaurants and hotels. Read on to learn about all about Davos in this complete travel guide!
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Davos, Switzerland
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Getting To Davos
By air:
If you’re traveling from abroad, the closest airports to Davos are Zürich Airport and Friedrichshafen Airport. From Zürich, you can easily reach Davos by train. Friedrichshafen Airport (located in Germany) is another option, particularly for travelers coming from nearby European countries. From there, you can take a train or a combination of train and bus to Davos.
By train:
The journey from Zürich to Davos takes about 2.5 hours and you will have to transfer trains once. Trains run regularly from Zürich – just hop on a train at Zürich Hauptbahnhof (the main train station) in direction Chur. You will change trains in Landquart. and disembark at Davos Platz station.
By car:
If you’re traveling by car, no problem! Coming from Zürich, the journey to Davos takes approximately two hours. From Zürich, you’ll take the A3 freeway and Route 28 via Landquart.
Getting Around Davos
Local Buses:
Davos has an excellent network of local buses. Free bus passes (Davos Klosters Card) are actually included with many hotel reservations, so make sure you check with your hotel! Davos consists of two main parts (Davos Dorf and Davos Platz) which are connected via a large one-way loop and frequent bus stops. Buses are circling the village all day long and are easily accessible from just about any part of Davos.
Davos Klosters Card:
As mentioned, upon arrival at your accommodation, you’ll likely receive the Davos Klosters Card, a guest card that offers numerous benefits, including free public transportation within Davos. This card grants you unlimited access to the local buses, making it incredibly convenient for exploring the town. It’s an excellent way to save money while traveling around Davos and provides the freedom to hop on and off as you please.
Walking and Cycling:
Davos is compact and pedestrian-friendly, making it easily walkable. Many of the main attractions, shops, restaurants, and hotels are within walking distance of each other. Davos also has cycling paths if you are interested in biking around. You can rent a bike from one of the rental shops if you don’t have your own.
Driving:
You will mostly be exploring Davos via walking or by bus. However, if you arrived with a rental car, you can totally drive around the surrounding area and explore. Just remember that parking is available, but slightly limited, so the other transportation options will probably be more convenient during your stay.
Best Areas To Stay In Davos
Davos is a stretched out village with two main areas: Davos-Dorf and Davos-Platz. Both areas are perfectly fine to stay in and well connected. If you plan on skiing, it makes sense to stay close to one of the major Gondola stations: either Parsenn (Davos Dorf), or Jakobshorn (Davos Platz), to have easy access.
There are also several ‘side valleys’, such as Sertig Tal, to stay in, but those are more of a 20-minute drive from Davos village and mostly suitable for guests that want to stay off the beaten path. Public transportation connections into those side valleys are less ideal.
Davos Platz:
Davos Platz is the heart of the town. This area is the most convenient for accessing shops, hotels, and restaurants. Additionally, the nearby Davos Congress Center hosts various events throughout the year, making it an ideal choice for business travelers.
If you’re planning on skiing, you can still totally stay here with no problem and use the ski bus service to get to the slopes.
Davos Dorf:
Situated at the foot of the Parsenn ski area, Davos Dorf is definitely the best base for accessing the ski slopes. The area offers direct access to the slopes, ski schools, and rental facilities. It is also within walking distance of Lake Davos.
Best Hotels In Davos
Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Belvédère: $$$
This hotel is located on the promenade – close to everything and about a 15-minute walk from the Davos Platz train station. It is one of the older hotels, but it is charming and well-maintained. It has two restaurants and a bistro with a terrace.
Grischa - DAS Hotel Davos: $$
This hotel is in a great location (close to the train station and only an 8-minute walk to Jakobshorn gondola station). The rooms are very nice and modern and breakfast is included!
Hotel Walserhuus Sertig $$
This hotel is a bit off the beaten path but the surroundings are beautiful and some of the rooms even come with a hot tub on the balcony!
Hotel Strela: $
We’ve stayed here and it was a nice, affordable option in a great location.
Best Restaurants In Davos
There are a ton of great restaurants in Davos, however some are only open seasonally. So make sure to check before you go!
Restaurant Bergführer
Fantastic restaurant in a 450 year old traditional Swiss house. We recommend sitting on the terrace for the mountain views!
Montana Stube:
Montana Stube is a hidden gem known for its warm and inviting atmosphere. It is a traditional Swiss restaurant that is so charming with wooden furnishings and alpine-inspired decor.
La Muña:
If you are wanting to change it up from the usual Swiss cuisine, we definitely recommend this place. La Muña is a fine-dining Japanese restaurant located in Hotel Alpengold. However it is only open in the winter.
Ristorante Da Elio:
Located on the Promenade, Ristorante Da Elio serves Mediterranean food and delicious pizza!
Lokal:
Wonderful restaurant with vegan options! (Which can be hard to come by in Switzerland). It has a very cozy/trendy vibe and great food.
ExBar:
This is basically a Swiss pub. You’ll see locals here and it’s a fun, casual place for a drink.
Alte Post:
Alte Post is a restaurant and bar located in Hotel Alte Post (In Davos Platz). We enjoy coming here at the end of a long day of exploring for a glass of wine.
Things To Do In Davos
Davos is not the most picturesque town (compared to the traditional chalet-style villages like Zermatt), but it has a lot to offer for outdoor enthusiasts and people who like to have a fun time after a full day’s worth of skiing or hiking.
SHOPPING:
Promenade:
The Promenade is Davos’ main shopping street, located in Davos Platz. It is lined with a variety of shops, boutiques, and stores. It’s a pedestrian-friendly street and is perfect for leisurely strolls and exploring the town.
SIGHTSEEING/ACTIVITIES:
Winter sports:
If you have been dreaming about skiing in Switzerland, we would definitely recommend going to Davos. As we mentioned before, Davos is a prime skiing and snowboarding destination. You have access to six different ski areas, including Parsenn and Jakobshorn mountains, (Madrisa and Rinerhorn are family-friendly mountains!). And in addition, Davos has lots of options for nordic skiing, ice skating, winter-hiking, snowshoeing and tobogganing. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there are ski schools and rental facilities available to suit all levels of experience.
Alpine Hiking and Biking:
In the Summer and the warmer months, Davos is an excellent place for hiking and mountain-biking. There are over 700 kilometers of hiking trails and a bunch of biking routes. We aren’t hardcore hikers, so we like that there are trails for all fitness levels.
Explore the nightlife:
While the town is a bit more quiet in the Summer, the bars really come to life during the Winter season. Visit between December and March, and the town is buzzing with guests enjoying a few drinks on the mountain or in the village at the end of the day. Davos has a vivid nightlife and lots of fun to be had during day and night.
Hockey Stadium of Davos
Those who are into Hockey must visit the Hockey Stadium of Davos (Vaillant Arena), a beautiful wooden construction that is the home of top-tier local club HC Davos.
Lake Davos:
We love going here! It is a small natural lake that is surrounded by the mountains and trees – it’s beautiful. Definitely go here during the summer as they have a lot of recreational activities like volleyball, wakeboarding, sailing, and much more. You can also rent a paddle board or kayak or just relax and grab a snack at the café.
In the winter, the frozen lake becomes a natural ice-skating rink!
Visit Weissfluhjoch:
Weissfluhjoch is a summit at an altitude of over 9,000ft with incredible panoramic views and a restaurant perched on top. We HIGHLY recommend you go here – it makes for amazing photos! Take the Parsenn funicular from Davos and you can even choose to hike back down if you’d like.
CULTURE:
Kirchner Museum:
Kirchner Museum is an art museum that is dedicated to the life and work of the famous German expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who lived in Davos. If you’re into art, you should check it out!
Wintersport Museum:
This is a tiny little museum where you can learn about the winter sports history of Davos. It is tucked away within the historic Höhenweg building in Davos Platz, and it showcases the evolution of winter sports through fascinating exhibits and displays. You’ll see vintage skis, sleds, and memorabilia, and learn about the town’s role in the development of winter sports.
Festivals and Events:
Davos offers an array of fun events year-round, such as concerts, guided tours, a film festival, and MUCH more! Check out their calendar of events here.
Hidden Gems In Davos
Schatzalp:
Schatzalp is worth a visit in both winter and summer. We go here every time we are in town. It’s a cable-car stop above Davos, with great views over the valley and a wonderful hotel with a restaurant to relax and have a bite to eat or a coffee. You can take the cable car up and stroll the grounds of Hotel Schatzalp. Several hiking trails start from there as well and the hotel even has a botanical garden.
HOT TIP: We also recommend trying the summer toboggan run that is up here!
Fun Fact: Hotel Schatzalp actually used to be a sanatorium and was turned into a hotel in 1953.
Bachi’s Strandbad:
A sandy beach at the edge of Lake Davos with wonderful views, drinks and offering a plunge into the cool water.
Jatzhütte:
Fun bar and restaurant at the top of the Jakobshorn mountain. Perfect for some great Apres-Ski (after-skiing fun)! It is closed during the summer season.
HOT TIP: If you arrived on foot, just make sure you don’t miss the last gondola ride back down to the village!
Concerts at Hard Rock Hotel:
If you’re into live music, definitely check out the events at Hard Rock Hotel. (Fridays and Saturdays!)
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FAQ
How many days should you spend in Davos?
There is a lot to do in Davos, so we recommend spending at least 3 days there.
When is the best time to visit Davos?
It depends on what you are looking to do, but we would recommend either the winter (December – March) or summer (June – August). The options of things to do in Davos during those seasons are endless.
About Us
We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel – especially to Sandro’s home country. Because we are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share all our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy travels!
