Travel
Where to today? Davos
A Swiss alpine town, well-known across borders
Sanatoriums, snow, sun: it is Davos!
Davos, a town of 11,000 habitants, attracts many tourists, politicians and journalists for skiing vacation, meetings and competitions each year!
At an high altitude of 1,560 m/5,100 feet, it makes it one of the highest altitude towns in Europe.
Photo: Destination Davos Klosters/Marcel Giger».
The clean air, the sun and the altitude are the reasons why Davos was famous well before it was known as a ski area. So in the 19th century when no cure for tuberculosis existed, Davos became the place to go to be cured. Many Europeans arrived and spent time in the sanatoriums for health reason.
In 1868 the first clinic was built and it continued until the end of the Second World War. Out of the 24 sanatoriums still existing in 1950 only 4 remain today. Most were converted into hotels and in clinics for pneumonic, pulmonary and rheumatic diseases among other things.
The sanatoriums, with their Art Nouveau look, give some charm to Davos, which without them, would not be such a charming place. You won’t find in the area too many wooden chalets that you may find elsewhere. If you drive to the village of Klosters nearby, you will find a more traditional alpine flair. It can be easily reached by bus. Neither Davos nor Klosters are car free.
Photo: Destination Davos Klosters/Christian Egelmair»
If you come for skiing, you will never get bored in Davos; you will just need to decide where you want to go skiing. Skiing is fun due to the large choice of 6 ski areas: Parsenn/Gotschna, Jakobshorn, Rinerhorn, Pischa, Madrisa and Schatzalp.
Unlike other ski areas in Switzerland, Davos does not have a glacier nearby, so snow is not guarantied all winter long. However if you go high enough, there should be plenty. The highest summit, the Weissfluhjoch, at 2,844 m/9,330 feet offers amazing views.
Davos has been a ski choice now since 1930 and the first railway, the Parsenn, came one year later. Every type of skier can ski there and have a great time. It is a paradise for cross country skiing with 70 km/43 miles of slopes out of the 320 km/198 miles available and for snowboarders with 4 fun parks.
You will find Davos a very relaxing place to ski and enjoyable especially for the winter ski break in February or in March. People take it easy and often stop for sun breaks on chairs, beds or seats. Palm trees can be spotted decorating bars and cafés.
So take a break at Tot Alp or other huts and restaurants down the slopes. Enjoy the great scenery that Davos has to offer. Eat a fondue outside for lunch while enjoying the sun.
Photo: Destination Davos Klosters/Christian Egelmair»
Night skiing is possible in Davos. For instance it is possible in Davos – Rinerhorn on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7pm to 11 pm.www.rinerhorn.ch and in Klosters Selfranga on Tuesdays from 7 pm to 9 pm and on Fridays from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
For those who do not come to Davos for skiing, here are the other activities available:
- ice skating
- horse-drawn sleigh rides
- going to the sauna
- swimming
- snowshoeing
- going on more than 110 km/68 miles of trails; Lake of Davos is nice
- walking the “Thomas Mann” path from the Waldhotel to Schatzalp hotel
- shopping from Davos Platz to Davos Dorf; 2 km/1,2 miles of shopping
Maybe your first knowledge of Davos is from the media as it makes the news each year since 1970 when the World Economic Forum was founded. Every January for 5 days more than 2,000 politicians and company leaders come to Davos to discuss important world topics such as health, environment and economy.
This year it is celebrating its 50th anniversary. It usually brings many journalists and celebrities like Bono from U2, Bill Clinton, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and social activist Greta Thunberg, to town.
If you are hoping to get a glimpse of some world political leaders or famous stars, the forum is going on right now.
Other well-known people have come to Davos like doctors and writers. Thomas Mann spent a month here in the Spring of 1912 when his wife was being treated at the Schatzalp sanatorium. That is where he got the inspiration for his novel “The Magic Mountain”. The writer of Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle, also came to Davos with his wife who was treated for tuberculosis.
During your stay if don’t wish to stay in the nicest hotels in town, take some time to walk by them. The architecture is worth your time.
Photo: Destination Davos Klosters/Stefan Schlumpf»
Steinberger Belvédère, 5 star hotel
Promenade 89
7270 Davos Platz
Tel: 0041 (0)81 41560-00
Hotel Flüela, 5 star hotel
Bahnhofstrasse 5
7260 Davos Dorf
Tel: 0041 (0)81 410 17 17
Waldhotel 4 star hotel
Buolstrasse 3, 7270 Davos Platz
Tel: 0041 (0)81 415 15 15
Berghotel Schatzalp, 3 star hotel
sunniest place in Davos, lovely historic hotel and only reachable via a funicular
7270 Davos Platz Tel
Tel: 0041 (0)81 415 51 51
So remember Davos, if you are close by or are looking for a great ski area!
Stefan Schlumpf
Where is Davos?:
From Zurich it is only 143 km/88 miles and it is easily reachable by car via the A3, A1 and A13 in just a 2 hour drive.
