15 Best Things to See in Davos (Switzerland)
Graubünden’s Rhaetian Alps contain the resort town of Davos in the Landwasser Valley. Davos is reputed to be the highest town in Europe, standing at a height of more than 1,500 metres. Additionally, six mountain areas with skiing in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer are accessible via funiculars, cable cars, and ski lifts that can carry you even higher. Ernst-Ludwig Kirchner, a pioneering Expressionist painter, relocated to this town a century ago, and his 20-year tenure is commemorated by a top-notch museum that houses the largest collection of his work. The World Economic Forum is another reason Davos is well-known internationally. It is held there every January. Let’s examine the top activities in Davos:
Train Trips
Nothing beats relaxing in a warm carriage and taking in the rolling Alpine alpine scenery. Two of the most well-known train routes in the world, the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, have their termini in Davos. The first travels from Graubünden to Valais across the Swiss Alps on what is billed as the “Slowest Fast Train in the World” so passengers may view fabled peaks like the Matterhorn. Another tourist route that winds across the Bernina Range to Tirano in Italy is the Bernina Express. On board, there is an audio guide that labels the natural treasures as you pass by, and panoramic carriages offer once-in-a-lifetime views.
Rinerhorn
This mountainous location is accessible by bus and chairlift, both of which are free with a Davos Card, and it overlooks the breathtaking Landwasser Valley. Your experience at Rinerhorn will depend on the time of your visit, just like it does at almost any other location on this list. Summertime activities include strolls across flower-filled pastures with livestock and trips to petting zoos where kids may pet lambs and baby goats. You could hire Trotti bikes—cycle-scooter hybrids—to freewheel back down the incline so your feet could rest. In the winter, skiers who prefer less crowded slopes prefer Rinerhorn, and more adventurous skiers can explore many fantastic off-piste slopes.
Mountain Biking
In the summer, Davos’ slopes are dotted with mountain biking tracks, seven of which the MTB scene highly recommends. The infamous Gotschna Freeride must be your only trail to ride if you ride any trails at all. This six-kilometre trail winds its way down Gotschnagrat to the settlement of Klosters. There are more than 200 banked turns and jumps to navigate, in addition to descent of more than 720 metres. Riders typically finish this exhilarating rollercoaster ride in about 20 minutes. Despite all the excitement and challenges along the way, the path has an intermediate blue rating and is thus appropriate for both experts and newcomers.
Sertig Valley
If you’re coming from Davos in the south, you can pull off for the Sertig Valley before you reach the Rinerhorn or Monstein. The most picture-perfect Alpine farming you could imagine may be found along the route that feeds Landwasser. On the valley bottom, there are cows and pigs roaming around in lovely green pastures. On the higher slopes, there is moorland and forest. It’s worthwhile to travel the entire route, whether by car or bicycle, to reach the foot of Mittaghorn, Plattenfluh, and Hoch Ducan, three angular peaks covered with snow. You’ll pass the adorable tiny village of Sertig Dörfli along the road, which was established in the 13th century by Walser farmers. Look for the charming village chapel, built in 1699, here.
Flüela Pass
Join Route 28 throughout the summer for a breathtaking mountain drive that connects Susch in the Lower Engadin with the Landwasser Valley of Davos. Even though BMW uses it as a test road during that time of year, the road, which leads east from Davos, is typically closed in the winter due to the danger of avalanches. Be prepared for snow beside the road in June, even though marmots are frequently seen along the verge. The Flüela Pass, which is 2,383 metres high, is the highest point. This is situated between Blackhorn and the Flüela Wisshorn, two peaks that rise above 3,000 metres. You will feel quite small indeed as you travel along the twisty road with many hairpin curves far above the tree line.
Zügenschlucht
You can join a trail that meanders down the bottom of a three-kilometer gorge in Monstein. The sides are green and gently sloped near the mouth, but as you proceed, the Steig and Silberberg formations start to press in as the terrain gets steeper and rockier. There are information panels explaining the geology of the canyon and its abundant amounts of lead and zinc that were mined up until the 1800s along this route, which is called a “Geological Trail,” as you walk to the settlement of Wiesen. The Rhaetian Railway crosses the gorge above, weaving through tunnels and the magnificent Wiesen Viaduct.
Kirchnermuseum
Ernst-Ludwig Kirchner, a member of Die Brücke and a German Expressionist, lived in Davos for the final 20 years of his life. He came to this area in 1917 to fight drug addiction, and a year later he started painting the scenery and people again. Based on a collection amassed by a local merchant, the museum named in his honour opened in the 1980s. It relocated to a modern, purpose-built gallery housed in four glass cubes in 1992. It is the greatest collection of Kirchner paintings in the world and includes more than 1,400 of his paintings. It spans both his early Expressionist years in Berlin, Munich, and Dresden, as well as his latter years in Switzerland. Additionally, there are artefacts from his life, including letters, sketches from his youth, and—in a gruesome turn—the gun he used to take his own life.
Adventure Park Davos Färich
You can climb over five different courses in the forest canopy while wearing helmets and harnesses in an adventure park located below the Flüela Pass. Being forced to belay one another while climbing up and down ladders, rope nets, swinging bridges, and treetop climbing walls is great exercise, but it’s also great for team development. There is a course specifically designed for children, and if you have any reservations, be assured that it is closely supervised and uses a failsafe “fall-back” method to keep kids safe.
Skiing
The popularity of Davos as a winter sports resort in Switzerland is not a mystery. Six distinct ski locations with more than 320 kilometres of downhill slopes each are accessible from the village via effective transportation. The Parsenn Red Railway, which began running up and down the mountain in the 1930s, may take you to Parsenn, the largest and most modern of these areas. Long, meandering paths in Parsenn allow skiers of all skill levels to hone their technique, while more experienced skiers can go off-piste in search of new snow. If snowboarding is your thing, this is the mountain for you because it features a snowpark and a “monster pipe” for big air.
Madrisa land
The highest adventure park in Switzerland is located at Klosters’ Sonnenberg Mountain when the weather is warm. The park’s slides, tethered climbing walls, and tree houses will make the youngest members of the family the happiest, but Madrisa Land has something to offer the entire family. From a seat along the park’s edge, parents can keep an eye on their kids. Children can ride ponies and interact with baby Alpine goats in the farmyard while this is happening.
Schatzalp
To reach this verdant, car-free recreation area on the hills to the west of the town, a cog railway zips up and down the slope from Davos. The Art Nouveau sanatorium that was built here in 1899 coincided with the construction of the railway, which opened as a hotel in 1954. The fact that Thomas Mann found the inspiration for one of his most well-known novels, The Magic Mountain, here will excite literature enthusiasts. The Alpinum, a botanical garden open in the summer and cultivating over 3,500 varieties of Alpine plants as well as highland species from as far away as Tibet and New Zealand, is located atop one of the many walking trails on Schatzalp.
Lake Davos
Lake Davos, which is surrounded by a rugged meadow and forest, is located at the northeastern edge of the town. There is a lot going on here in the summer when visitors come for watersports, short excursions along the shore, and swimming. As a result of the lake catching the prevailing breezes, there are also wind-assisted activities like windsurfing and sailing. You may rent pedal boats, paddle boards, and kayaks. Don’t forget to bring something for the friendly squirrels to eat as they will approach you in the wooded portions of the lake, which has a couple of restaurants along the water.
More Winter Activities
Cross-country skiing must be mentioned because the Flüela Valley in Davos annually hosts a stage of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. The best part is that you can bike this route for free when the top distance skiers in the world aren’t using it. More than 100 kilometres of cross-country trails total more than 100 kilometres, all of which have been properly constructed and carefully plotted out for you to plan your route. The lengthy toboggan runs you can navigate quickly atop Rinerhorn and Schatzalp are less strenuous. The Davos World of Ice, a unique outdoor skating rink made up of connected ramps and rinks, is located right in the village’s centre. If you need a break, market vendors provide hot chocolate and mulled wine in cosy cups.
Vaillant Arena
A Davos hockey game requires a ticket between September and February. First, as you sit down, you’ll realise how incredible the Vaillant Arena is. One of the most amazing places to watch a sporting event has timber vaults that resemble cathedrals, supporting the roof from each corner. The local team is called HC Davos, and it competes in the Swiss National League. In 2015, it won the NL Championships for the last time. The Spengler Cup, the oldest invitational ice hockey competition in the world, is held by the club and is well-known in the hockey community. Book early to see some of the top players in the world compete on the ice at this event, which dates back to 1923 and takes place around Christmas.
BierVision Monstein
The tallest brewery in Europe is located in Monstein, a 15-minute bus ride or 15-minute drive from Davos along a twisting mountain road. On Fridays, BierVision offers tours where you can learn about the brewing process in-depth and get a close-up look at the fermentation and brewing vats. Beforehand, you’ll take a guided tour of the hamlet where you’ll meet a few residents and learn about their way of life. Five different beers, from dark lager to weissbier, are produced by BierVision, and you may sample them in the cosy Gambrinus Bar in the basement. You may purchase locally produced cheese and chocolate at the store, along with a bottle of the brewery’s own whisky that is also distilled there.
