There is no better place for winter adventures than Davos — tucked away in the Swiss Alps, surrounded by snowy peaks and cozy mountain vibes. At 1,560 meters above sea level, it’s Europe’s highest city and the perfect place to dive into all things winter: skiing, sledging, hockey, cross-country skiing—you name it.

I’ve been coming here every year with my family, soaking up the crisp mountain air, indulging in amazing Swiss food, and spending nights playing board games by the fire. Over time, I’ve found the best hidden spots, from epic ski runs to local restaurants most tourists never hear about. Now, I’m sharing all my favorite tips to help you plan the perfect winter trip to Davos!

What to do

Davos is a winter adventures playground, offering endless ways to embrace the snow. Whether you’re making your way down the slopes, gliding through cross-country ski trails, or racing down a sledging run, there’s something for every winter adventurer. And if you prefer the action off the slopes, maybe playing some ice hockey in the town square is more up to your speed! After a few years of travelling to this snowy paradise, I feel like I’ve really gotten the hang of spending the perfect winter vacation in Davos.

Skiing

Of course, the first thing people think of when talking about Switzerland in Winter is skiing. And with good reason! With five winter sports areas, the Davos Klosters Mountains are one of the largest ski areas in the Alps, where all winter sports enthusiasts can get their money’s worth on 253 km and 80 different slopes. The most beautiful and exciting winter experiences are on offer here.

“Parsenn” is the biggest area out of the five, and easily accessible from Davos and Klosters. Parsenn is considered the cradle of skiing in Switzerland and a classic ski mountain with endless descents on wide pistes and mountain huts with style and tradition. It offers slopes of all levels of difficulty, from beginners’ slopes to steep slopes. 17 mountain restaurants take care of your physical well-being and invite you to linger on the sun terraces.

Personally, I think this is perfect for intermediate skiers. There aren’t really any training hills for beginners, as well as no real steep and challenging slopes for adrenaline junkies. It’s a really nice and chilled area that gets a lot of sunshine and invites you to enjoy the breathtaking views on the Alps.

Price: CHF 84,- for a day pass
More information: davosklostersmountains.ch

Schatzalp Hotel

You might be surprised to see a hotel in the “to do” section, but this one you really shouldn’t miss! Especially if you’re into Wes Anderson’s style, you will love this Art Nouveau hotel. First opened in 1900, the Schatzalp was created as a luxury Sanatorium. There have never been extensive renovations or reconstructions, and the hotels retains its original soul.

The Schatzalp Hotel is located on top of a mountain, and is only reachable via funicular – at least in Winter. Undoubtedly, this is already part of the experience! While quite short, only 4 minutes, the ride is quite fun. You get amazing views over Davos and the mountains.

You can enjoy live piano in the Piano Lounge everyday from 4pm to 7pm, and 9pm to 11pm. With a stunning view over the mountains, and the historic marble and Art Nouveau decorations around you, you feel like you’re transported back in time. However, the live piano wasn’t really continuous during the time I was there and the waiters weren’t the most accommodating. If you can look past that, it’s definitely worth checking out!

Price: CHF 20,- for a return funicular ticket, looking at the hotel is for free!
More information: Schatzalp Funicular

Sledging

A normal road in summer, a 3 km long sledging run in winter – this classic run leads you from the Schatzalp Hotel down to Davos through the magical “Zauberwald” forest. This is such a fun winter activity suitable for the whole family! The run leads you down via 18 curves without ever getting too steep and narrow. It’s perfect for sledging beginners like me. Even better: once it gets dark, they turn on floodlights that light up each turn. At the time I was there, at about 5pm, the run was completely deserted, and we had the whole thing to ourselves.

You can sledging every day from 10am to 11pm, starting in mid-December until the end of March. To get the sledge, you have to pay a rental fee of 10 CHF at the funicular station at the bottom of the mountain. Keep in mind, you also have to bring the sledge back afterwards. This is about a 500 meter walk through Davos in which you’ll have to carry the sledge. If you already have a sledge, then the run is free to use!

Price: In theory for free! In practice, it’s CHF 10,- for a one way funicular ticket and CHF 10,- to rent a sledge
More information: Schatzalp Sledging

Alternative

If you’re more advanced or crave some more adrenaline, you can also check out the sledging at Rinerhorn mountain. This 3.5km long run takes you down some more steep hills along 24 bends, twice a week even at night. I’ve not personally done this run, but my dad has. He tells me this is definitely more of a “make sure you wear your helmet” kind of experience.

You can rent the sledge at the sports shop Rinerhorn starting at 40 CHF for a whole day, including the lift ticket. Alternatively, you can go night sledging every Wednesday and Friday from 7pm-10:30pm. The price is then only 27 CHF for the whole evening.

Ice Hockey

Every winter from December to March, the small lake Seehofseeli turns into an ice rink. So if the weather is too bad up to mountain to go skiing, or you just need a break from it, this is the perfect winter sport alternative! The rink is right opposite to the Davos Parsenn station, so you can’t miss it. I’m not the biggest skater and usually just try not to fall. If you’re better than me, you might even find some likeminded locals and play a few games of hockey!

If you’d rather stay off the ice, you can have some “Glühwein” (mulled wine) and snacks and watch from the comfort of a cozy outdoor terrace. Don’t worry, there are even some tables with integrated ovens to keep you warm.

Price: For free, or CHF 5,- if you need to rent equipment
Opening hours: Everyday from 3pm-10pm (weather dependent)

Davos Lake

I’m super lucky to always be staying in a house that overlooks this amazing mountain lake. The Davoser See, as it’s originally called, gets its water from surrounding glaciers and rainwater. In winter, I love to walk around it, taking in the snowy scenery. At one point, you’re even walking through parts of a forest next to the lake, which creates even more picturesque surroundings. There are two cafés along the way where you can take a break while still enjoying the view on the lake: Hotel Restaurant Seebüel (open daily 11am-5pm) and Von Sprecher Haus (Friday-Monday 11am-4:30pm)

If you’re feeling adventurous, why not take the plunge into the icy waters of Davoser See? Ice bathing is an unforgettable experience (or so I’ve heard)—just bring your swimwear, warm clothes, and a bit of courage! You’ll need to register in advance, and the cost is CHF 15. You can find more information here: Ice Bathing Davos

Cross Country Skiing

This is something that I have yet to do, but it’s at the top of my priority list! Davos is an amazing location to go cross country – there are over 100km of trails! The last time I was in Davos, I kept on seeing cross country skiers and wondered why I had never done it before. It’s extremely healthy and you get to be outside enjoying the sun and crisp air for a few hours. There are even some illuminated trails making it possible for you to go skiing after dark.

The trails are open daily from 8am to 5pm (the night trails from 6:30-9:00pm), and there are even special dog trails. Dog owners can take their pets along on a total of 18 kilometres of trails. Though I don’t have a dog myself, this sounds pretty great! Another benefit of cross country skiing? It’s by far not as expensive as downhill skiing. While you have to pay CHF 84,- for a day pass for downhill skiing, a pass to use the cross country trails is only CHF 9,- per day!

Price: CHF 9,- for a day pass
More information: Davos Cross Country Skiing

Best Cafes and Restaurants

Whenever I’m in Davos, I usually stay in an apartment, which means I cook a lot of my own meals—Switzerland isn’t exactly budget-friendly, after all! But when I do eat out, I make it count. The spots I visit are some of the best in the area (in my opinion!), and many are hidden gems off the beaten path. Get ready to discover some local favorites! 

Restaurant Teufi

The first time I went to Teufi, I was only 10 years old. And yet, it stayed on my mind ever since! The restaurant is situated in Dischma Valley, about 6km from the center of Davos. Whenever I go there, it’s usually already dark so the view is pretty non-existent. However, it’s still really cool to drive along the snowy road, going deeper into the valley and only sporadically passing some houses. The restaurant is run in the third generation, offering traditional Swiss food. I always go for the Käsespätzle (traditional cheesy pasta), but the show stopper is for sure the cheese fondue!

It’s about a 20-30 minutes drive from Davos, but make sure you have 4×4 because the roads do get icy. If you don’t have a car or are unsure of how to get there – don’t worry! The restaurant offers horse-drawn carriage rides from Davos to Teufi in a one hour long romantic trip. And if horses (or the cold?) are not your thing, they also offer taxi pick-up and return services.

Walserhuus Sertig

Another one of my favourites is this restaurant, nestled in the Sertig Valley. The Walserhuus offers typical Swiss food in an extremely cozy environment. Whenever I get there, I first head straight to the back of the house which is always decorated beautifully, and has a campfire burning. Inside the restaurant, expect wood paneling, cowbells, and other Swiss decor. If you eat meat, I would definitely suggest ordering the Fondue Chinoise. You get three types of meat (veal, beef, and venison) that you skewer and put into hot broth. Alongside, you get bottomless sides of fries and rice, as well as various sauces, and even a fruit platter.

One thing I look forward to the most is their “Heuschnaps”, or hay schnapps. They used to only have it as a digestif, but the last time I was there, the schnapps was even infused into a dessert! The Heuschnaps tastes like hay (what a surprise!) and has quite a sweet note to it. If you drink alcohol, please do yourself the favour and try it!

Cafés

A great café option in the city of Davos itself is Kaffee Klatsch. They have two locations along the main street Promenade, the cozier one being Kaffee Klatsch Davos Original. In both locations, however, they serve excellent hot drinks. From normal coffee to Vanilla Bean Milk Coffee, Hot Ovomaltine, Golden Latte, or even alcoholic coffee, you’ll find anything you could possibly want. Furthermore, the food menu is full of delicious meals like pancakes, bowls, focaccias, and burgers.

If you’re craving chocolate, CACAO by Schneider’s is the place to be. This charming spot offers some of the finest Swiss chocolate you’ll ever taste. And the best part? You don’t have to wait—treat yourself to a rich hot chocolate right on the spot!

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