Davos: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
Enjoyable hiking fun with the whole family in the warm summer months and hitting the snowy slopes in winter: The popular holiday resort Davos in the canton of Graubünden is worth a visit in any season for an active sports vacation amidst the magnificent landscape of the Swiss Alps.
Table of contents
Davos - Must-see attractions
Parsenn Ski Area
The Parsenn ski area has 102 kilometers of slopes. Most of the runs are of medium difficulty. These are complemented by some blue runs with low difficulty and some black slopes for experienced winter sports enthusiasts. Additionally, around 6 kilometers of freeride slopes offer varied fun. The region around Davos is popular not only as a ski area. You can also discover the enchantingly snow-covered Alpine landscape on winter hikes. After an active day in the snow, you can warm up in one of the mountain restaurants of Parsenn with hearty Alpine cuisine.
Botanical Alpine Garden Alpinum
The colorful Alpinum showcases over 5,000 different mountain plants from around the world. In addition to the natural treasures from the local Alps, you will find botanical exotics from the Pyrenees and the Himalayas here. The breathtaking garden is part of the Hotel Schatzalp in Davos. You can explore the Botanical Alpine Garden Alpinum on your own or join the regular guided tours. A highlight is the culinary events with tastings of herbal snacks or spirits. After a tour through the garden paradise, the excellent hotel restaurants entice with delicacies.
Kirchner Museum Davos
For many years, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880−1938) lived in Davos. With the Kirchner Museum, the community created a monument to the artist and opened up the opportunity for art enthusiasts to journey through the complete creative spectrum of the painter. The collection ranges from classic paintings to drawings and original sketchbooks. Admire, among other things, works from Kirchner's time in the artist group "Die Brücke." Changing special exhibitions related to Kirchner's work complement the permanent exhibition.
Lake Davos
Visitors are especially drawn to the beach resort with its expansive, well-maintained lawn, showers, and changing rooms. Sports enthusiasts appreciate the beach volleyball court, pedal boats, and kayak rentals. You can learn the timeless trend sport at a surfing school. Admission to the resort is free. You can enjoy a great view of the lake and the Grisons mountains during a walk along the 4 km long shore path. Alternatively, pedalos are offered. Around the lake, good restaurants invite you to a cozy rest and tasty dishes.
Vaillant Arena
The Vaillant Arena is known for its dome-shaped roof structure, which gives the stadium a rustic-elegant touch. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls contribute to the unusual design, which has been altered several times over the years. The arena is considered one of the most beautiful ice hockey stadiums in the world. The Vaillant Arena is the home venue of HC Davos. In addition to ice hockey tournaments, opulent ice galas with world-famous figure skaters regularly take place here. This includes the ice show "Art on Ice," where superstars of the skating scene showcase their skills.
Flüela Pass
The 26 km long Flüela Pass was created in 1867. It connects the Rhine Valley with the Lower Engadine. At the same time, it is the endpoint of a long-distance hiking trail that crosses the high mountain landscape in the north of the Engadine. In the winter months, the pass is closed due to avalanche danger. Nevertheless, a winter service allows BMW test drives on the pass road near Davos. An experience in summer is a ride with the historic six-horse post coach from Davos station to the Flüela Hospice. Bikers also love the winding, well-developed route.
Davos - Secret spots
Büelenwald
In the Büelenwald region near Davos, there are diverse outdoor activities, especially for mountain biking and hiking enthusiasts. The area includes various routes, such as the Jakobshorn-Dischma Trail, which stretches over about 23 km and has an elevation difference of 1255 meters. Another notable path is the Davos Spring Trail, which offers a length of 35 km and elevation differences between 775 and 1270 meters, ideal for challenging mountain biking and spectacular landscape views.
Kirchner Museum
The Kirchner Museum in Davos displays works by the German painter and graphic artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who lived in the famous winter sports resort in the Alps from 1917 until his suicide in 1938. The museum, housed in a building specifically created for it, can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday.
Zügen Gorge
The 3 km long Zügen Gorge near Davos in the canton of Graubünden was shaped by the Landwasser over millennia. Today, the old Zügen road, which was once used by carriages traversing the gorge, serves as a rock educational trail and is accessible from spring to autumn. The wild and romantic Zügen Gorge is a popular trail for mountain bikers.
Walser Museum
The Nutli Hüschi ("little house") is the Walser museum of Klosters near Davos. It was opened in 1925 and expanded with a barn 70 years later. The Walser museum exhibits numerous items related to the life of the Walser, including tools, furniture, and toys. Changing special exhibitions complete the offerings.
Davos - In 3 days
Day 1
After unpacking your luggage, take some time to explore Davos against the alpine backdrop of Graubünden, which has developed from six factional communities. Stroll through the town center of the community, which has about 10,000 inhabitants, characterized by new buildings in the Davos flat-roof style. Among them, the numerous churches stand out. Some, like the Reformed Church of St. Johann, are based on remnants of medieval sacred buildings. The ornate stained glass windows by Swiss painter Augusto Giacometti are worth seeing. Art enthusiasts can continue to the Kirchner Museum, which houses numerous originals by the artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. The town of Davos often served as inspiration for the expressionist's paintings and drawings, such as the work "Davos with Church" from 1925. Relax and end the first day of your vacation at the wellness and adventure pool "eau-là-là." Adults can unwind from everyday life with a hot infusion in the sauna world. The highlight for young bathers is the 80-meter-long giant tube slide Black Hole.
Day 2
On the second day, you explore the mountain world of Davos, in every season. Outside the ski season, you have the choice between relaxed family hikes and challenging mountain tours. Mountain biking tours in the forested peak landscape around Davos are also a real pleasure. Early risers are invited to a sunrise hike at Flüela Schwarzhorn – a true experience. Or you can set the turquoise Jöriseen as the destination of a hike. A tip for a hiking holiday with children is the Gwunderwald. There, you explore the eight short, partially stroller-friendly hiking trails for kids. The playful tasks related to the local flora and fauna provide variety along the way. In winter, the Davos Klosters Parsenn ski area opens with around 100 kilometers of slopes. There is the right level of difficulty for every skill level. After sporty adventures on skis or snowboards, you can return to one of the mountain restaurants with a winter sun terrace for a snack.
Day 3
Plan diverse excursions in and around Davos on the third day. A hike to the Sertiger Waterfall is definitely a must. It makes its way through a rugged rocky landscape and is a popular excursion destination with a refreshment guarantee not only in summer. In winter, the frozen waterfall is an exciting destination for experienced climbers who want to try ice climbing. Climbing is also fun for beginners and children in the Adventure Park Davos Färich with its rope park featuring courses of varying difficulty levels. The youngest can start on the children's course from the age of four. The action continues in the Adventure Park with skating or in the bike park. End the afternoon at the beach of Lake Davos. Of course, the small lake is also fantastic for walks against the majestic Alpine backdrop. The lakeside path, which leads all around the lake, is about 4 km long.
Davos - Climate
In Davos, you can expect a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. In the summer months, you can enjoy hiking with maximum daytime temperatures around 19 degrees Celsius. The warmest months are July and August, which also have the most rainy days on average. Spring and autumn bring maximum temperatures in the low double digits, but it can cool down to around freezing. One of the best times to visit is the ski season in Davos. January and February are the coldest months, with temperatures dropping to as low as minus 9 degrees Celsius.