Major city · Switzerland
Davos
Give Davos 2–3 nights if you ski or hike; skip it as a summer sightseeing stop unless you want high-altitude trails and a quiet town.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CHF
- Best months
- Dec–Mar (ski), Jul–Sep (hiking)
- avoid Nov (between seasons, lifts and many hotels closed), late Jan during the WEF (prices and security)
- Airport
- ZRH
- Nights
- 2–3
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Switzerland ↗Switzerland is in the Schengen area but not the EU: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Switzerland ↗Switzerland is outside the EU customs area: allowances on meat, alcohol and tobacco are strict and checked at borders.
- Switzerland ↗Motorways need a vignette (sticker or e-vignette) before you drive on them.
Davos is a high Alpine resort town in Graubünden, 1,124–2,844 m, built around winter sports and summer hiking rather than a historic old town. It hosts the World Economic Forum each January. Two train stations, Davos Dorf and Davos Platz, sit about 30 minutes apart on foot, and the whole town is roughly 3–4 km long, so you can walk or ride the local bus almost anywhere. Come for snow in Dec–Mar or marked trails in Jul–Sep; a day trip from Chur or Zurich is possible but thin.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Davos, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF).Switzerland-wide
- SIM or eSIMSwisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.Switzerland-wide
- Tap waterTap and fountain water is excellent.Switzerland-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.Switzerland-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/J. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Switzerland-wide
- SafetyDavos is a safe, well-run resort town; the real risks are altitude, fast-changing mountain weather, and off-piste skiing without a guide.
- RestroomsStation toilets cost CHF 1–2; restaurants and department stores are free for customers.Switzerland-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 144 ambulance · 118 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close early on Saturday in small towns and all day Sunday, except stations and airports.Switzerland-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportZRH Zurich Airport (Train to Davos about 3 h with changes at Zurich HB and Landquart; winter Saturday coaches run from the airport in Dec–Apr…
- Getting aroundThe town is about 3–4 km long and 1 km wide; walk the Promenade or take the municipal bus end to end.The town is about 1.9–2.5 mi long and 0.6 mi wide; walk the Promenade or take the municipal bus end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCHF 4–6
- BeerBeer: draught / supermarket canCHF 6–9 / CHF 2–3
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxiCHF 12–15 by day, roughly double at night
- Museum or sight ticketKirchner Museum entryCHF 10 adults
- Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personCHF 45
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomCHF 220
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomCHF 450
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CHF 90 · Mid CHF 160 · High CHF 280
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ZRH Zurich Airport (Train to Davos about 3 h with changes at Zurich HB and Landquart; winter Saturday coaches run from the airport in Dec–Apr, about 2 h)
Weather and climate
Davos: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
0°C32°F
−7°C19°F
9 rd
Feb
1°C34°F
−7°C19°F
8 rd
Mar
5°C41°F
−4°C25°F
9 rd
Apr
9°C48°F
−1°C30°F
10 rd
May
14°C57°F
3°C37°F
12 rd
Jun
17°C63°F
6°C43°F
13 rd
Jul
19°C66°F
8°C46°F
13 rd
Aug
19°C66°F
8°C46°F
13 rd
Sep
15°C59°F
5°C41°F
10 rd
Oct
11°C52°F
2°C36°F
9 rd
Nov
5°C41°F
−3°C27°F
9 rd
Dec
1°C34°F
−6°C21°F
9 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is about 3–4 km long and 1 km wide; walk the Promenade or take the municipal bus end to end. Ask your hotel for the Davos/Klosters guest card (Gästekarte): it covers most local buses, local trains and many lifts. Taxis run about CHF 12–15 by day and roughly double at night.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Klosters
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Rhaetian Railway from Davos Platz or Davos Dorf, about 25–30 min
Linked ski area (Parsenn/Gotschna) and a quieter village; the local line is free with the guest card.
Chur
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Train via Landquart, about 1 h 30 min
Oldest town in Switzerland; good wet-day or rest-day trip.
Arosa
cautionDoor to door: About 2.5–3 h
Train to Chur, then the Arosa line, about 2 h 30 min total
Doable but long; better as an overnight than a return day.
Lenzerheide
cautionDoor to door: About 2–2.5 h
Train to Chur then bus or the cantonal line, about 2 h
Ski area linked to Arosa; check connections before committing.
Val Mesolcina
skipDoor to door: 3 h+
Train to Chur then south via San Bernardino, about 3 h+
Too far for a day from Davos; save it for a Ticino leg.
Tujetsch
skipDoor to door: 3 h+
Train via Chur and Disentis, about 3 h+
Overnight territory, not a day trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Davos Platz
South end: main Promenade shops, restaurants, Kirchner Museum and the congress centre; bus and train links.
Davos Dorf
North end: closer to the Parsenn cable car and the Dorf station; quieter, good for early starts on the slopes.
Davos Wolfgang / Lake area
Out of the centre; cheaper beds but you need the bus for everything.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- CHF 90–140 excl. bed
- Mid
- CHF 140–230 excl. bed
- High
- CHF 230+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 3 nights × CHF 220 | CHF 660 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × CHF 160 | CHF 960 |
| Day ski pass, Davos Klosters2 × CHF 90 · check | CHF 180 |
| Guest card (Gästekarte), local buses and trains2 × CHF 0 · Usually free from your hotel; check inclusions | CHF 0 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CHF 20 | CHF 40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CHF 184 |
| Trip total≈ CHF 337 per person per day, bed included | CHF 2,024≈ US$3,000 |
2026 estimate in Swiss francs; travel to Davos and ski passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | CHF 4–6 |
| Plate of rösti or a bowl of soup | CHF 18–28 |
| Cheese fondue for one | CHF 28–40 |
| Beer: draught / supermarket can | CHF 6–9 / CHF 2–3 |
| 5 km taxi | CHF 12–15 by day, roughly double at night |
| Kirchner Museum entry | CHF 10 adults |
| Winter Sports Museum entry | CHF 5 adults |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The guest card covers local transport and some lifts, but not all mountain railways: check which cable cars are included before you ride.
- Late January brings the World Economic Forum: hotel prices spike and parts of the centre are closed off.
- November is between seasons: many lifts, hotels and restaurants shut; confirm what is open before booking.
- High altitude (1,124–2,844 (≈ US$1,500–4,000) m): take the first day easy if you have come up from sea level.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Ambulance
- 144
- Fire
- 118
- Rega air rescue
- 1414
- European emergency
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
DavosDavos
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Bitte zu dieser AdresseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Ambulance144
- Fire118
- Rega air rescue1414
- European emergency112
Embassy
Switzerland has no foreign embassies in Davos; most countries keep embassies in Bern and consulates in Zurich or Geneva.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Zurich HB → Davos, second class: about CHF 96 return from Klosters; Davos slightly more, about 3 h
- Davos Platz → Davos Dorf, local train: free with the guest card; a few minutes
- Taxi in town: CHF 12–15 by day, roughly double at night
Say or show
- Grüezi — Hello (GROO-etsi)
- Merci — Thank you (MER-si)
- Bitte — Please (BIT-teh)
- Was kostet das? — How much is it? (vas KOS-tet das)
- Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay by card? (kan ikh mit KAR-teh TSA-len)
- Wo ist die Toilette? — Where is the toilet? (vo ist dee toy-LET-teh)
Swiss German is the local language; English is widely spoken in hotels, lifts and restaurants.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Davos. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Mar (ski), Jul–Sep (hiking) · avoid Nov (between seasons, lifts and many hotels closed), late Jan during the WEF (prices and security) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for ZRH: last train connections to Davos field-checked, winter Saturday coach option, taxi fallback.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Davos Platz, Davos Dorf, Schatzalp, Sertig.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kirchner Museum, Schatzalp funicular, Parsenn and Jakobshorn cable cars) and eat pages with last orders.
- WEF-week and between-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.