Davos Travel Guide, Switzerland

Set in a high valley surrounded by forest-covered mountains, Davos is a well known all year round resort with an ideal climate for both summer and winter activities. As it is not far from Klosters, only 11km stets them apart, you can easily cover both resorts during your stay.

You can number Davos along the other famous resorts like St. Moritz and Zermatt, Davos being the second largest in Switzerland and somewhat larger than St. Moritz.

Its history goes back to 1160 when the name of the settlement was first mentioned in written history. The first families set their home here in 1289 and with the years passing by the place grew to be known as a health resort. In the 19th century it was known mostly for a good place for patients suffering from tuberculosis. Famous people visited the resort or came here for treatment. Among some big names are Thomas Mann who used Davos as the setting for his famous novel The Magic Mountain, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. You can see the famous place where they stayed, Am Stein but only from the outside.

Davos used to be divided into the two sections, Davos-Platz and Davos-Dorf, but now they are joined. In both sections there are some interesting attractions worth visiting like the parish Church of St. John the Baptist and the Rathaus in Davos-Platz and in Davos-Dorf the 14th-century Church of St. Theodulus and the Altes Pfründhaus which hosts the Heimatmuseum, where you can see traces of the resort’s history.

Besides being a health resort, Davos has gained a reputation for being a well-known summer-and-winter vacation resort with an important sports center. It actually has some of the finest sports facilities in the world that can be used in both the winter and the summer. There’s a variety of activities to choose from and this is one of the reasons why it is so popular and attracts so many tourist. You can choose from playing tennis, swimming, playing golf, and horseback riding, sailing and windsurfing on Lake Davos or ice skating on the Natureisbahn, Davos-Platz, and the largest natural ice rink in Europe. It is ice skating that first drew the world’s attention to Davos, when in 1899 a huge ice rink was opened for the world figure-skating and the European speed-skating championship competitions.

But let’s not forget skiing as Davos is also known as one of the best ski regions in the world. There’s a diversified choice of skiing on five large ski areas of which the Parsenn-Weissflüh is the best. Weissflühjoch is your gateway to the major ski area. There are runs for every level. Beginners are advised to choose Rinerhorn, the slopes at Jakobshorn are for intermediate skiers and the more experienced ones can take the downhill ski runs from Weissflühjoch to Davos.

The best choice for your budget is to choose Davos's Top Ski Pass. This way you can have access to five different ski regions around Klosters and Davos at a reduced price.

The wide variety of activities makes Davos an ideal place for all those who come here for health issues or love outdoor and indoor activities, fresh mountain air, relaxation opportunities and having a good time in the mountains. It is an important venue for international meetings and a place sought by both rich and ordinary people.

No matter what sport you fancy you will certainly find something to your taste in Davos, the terrain is marvelous and the entertainment possibilities endless. There are plenty of bars, discos, plus museums and concert and theater performances to choose from.

At Davos you can invigorate both your body and mind and you will certainly what to make it your next destination.