Switzerland / Graubünden (St. Moritz & Davos) / DavosDavos
The High Alpine Town of the World Economic Forum
At 1,560 m, the highest town in Europe by some counts: a former sanatorium resort (Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain), now a big ski area (Parsenn, Jakobshorn) and the seat of the World Economic Forum each January and the Spengler Cup ice hockey after Christmas. Summer brings lake Davos, the Schatzalp funicular and hundreds of kilometres of walking trails. Reached by the Rhaetian Railway from Landquart (2 h 20 from Zurich) or from St. Moritz via Filisur.
Highlights
- Schatzalp funicular and its old sanatorium hotel
- Lake Davos walk
- Parsenn and Jakobshorn views
- Kirchner Museum
- Landwasser Viaduct on the Albula line
- Spengler Cup ice hockey (26–31 December)
- Skiing December to April
Things to do
- Schatzalp funicular and sledging or walking trail downAfternoon · 2h 30m
- Lake Davos circuit walkMorning · 2h
- Train to the Landwasser Viaduct at FilisurMorning · 3h
- Kirchner MuseumAfternoon · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.
When to go
Best time: June – September (summer); December – March (snow)
Heads up
Ski Season Prices
Winter is high season in the ski resorts: rooms cost most, and are hardest to find, from Christmas to New Year and in the February school holidays, when many hotels sell only week-long stays. Ski passes are priced dynamically and are dearest on those dates too. January (outside the holidays) and March are better value.
Worth knowing
Between Seasons: Hotels and Lifts Closed
May and November fall between the summer and ski seasons: many hotels, restaurants and mountain lifts close for weeks of maintenance, and walking trails above the villages can still be under snow in May. Check that the lifts you want are running before you book.
Worth knowing
World Economic Forum
For the World Economic Forum in the second half of January, Davos is sealed off with security checks and almost every room is taken by delegations at several times the usual price. Ski elsewhere that week.
- Spengler Cup · 26–31 Dec — The world's oldest invitational ice-hockey tournament, between Christmas and New Year, on top of the ski holiday peak: book Davos rooms very early.