Davos Attractions and Activities
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Davos is a well established health resort and sports center, which for many years has been offering a variety of sports and leisure activities - during summer and winter time. Davos is not the "ordinary" mountain resort, but rather a city in the Alps, and thus, featuring urban amenities as well as nature experiences - too many to list in details, and therefore, we provide just an overview....
Excursions: >> Mountain ExcursionsCity Excursionsother Excursions
Mountain Excursions:
Jakobshorn (2,590 m / 8,497 ft):
From the top of the Jakobshorn, you get a panorama view over the whole Davos and Klosters area as well as the Sertig Valley. Access by funiculars, then 5 minutes on foot up a steep incline. Allow at least 2 hours there and back to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.
Parsenn / Weissfluhjoch (2,266 m / 7,432 ft):
On the first section the alpine TGV of the Parsenn cable railway takes you from Davos Dorf up to the middle station Höhenweg. On the second section the journey continues up to the Weissfluhjoch from where you enjoy views over Davos and Klosters and the surrounding peaks.
Rinerhorn (2,053 m / 6,734 ft):
Children (and adults alike...) will adore the Alpine petting zoo at the Rinerhorn summit station. The "Äbirügg" barbecue spot - also accessible with a child’s buggy - is the perfect place for a picnic and the Rinerhorn also is the ideal departure point for hikes into the Sertig Valley, to Monstein or into the Ducan Valley.
City Excursions:
With its location in the Alps of the Grisons, Davos is not exactly the ideal place from where to make city excursions..... The nearest Swiss city is Chur (s. below) which might be an option for a one-day excursion by train or by car. Rather stressful, but feasible are one-day excursions by car to Zurich (2 hours one way), St. Gallen (1.5 hours), Lucerne (2 hours), Lugano (2.5 hours), Innsbruck, Austria (2.5 hours), and Milano, Italy (3.25 hours).
Chur - the oldest town in Switzerland:
Half- or Full-day excursion (approx. 90 minutes by train from Davos). With a settlement history dating back 5,000 years, Chur harbours many a secret just waiting to be uncovered such as the 800-year old cathedral or the picturesque winding streets in the Old Town. The spirit of bygone days lives on in Chur and merges with the present to create the town’s incomparable charm. Particularly worth a visit is the Rhaetian Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum. Chur offers a broad culinary range of Graubunden delicacies - with its own wine, alpine source water from every tap, Bündner specialities and international dishes served at its 130 restaurants. Over 500 shops and stores offer produce and wares from all over Graubunden. In summer, open-air events such as concerts, theatre and cinema, give the city a Mediterranean feel. Chur is also home to an animal and leisure park, and a large sports center with outdoor- and indoor swimming pools, beach volleyball, inline skating, skateboarding, BMX-biking, tennis, horse riding, and much more besides.
other Excursions / Sights:
Madrisa - Adventure Park:
The Adventure Park is located in open countryside on the sunny Madrisa mountain just 20 minutes on foot from the mountain cable car terminus. There are five different sections: 12 m long rope bridge / 8 m high climbing tree with an amazing view from the top / 180 m long aerial rope way for crossing the mountain stream / steep track with an abseiling point / 5 - 6 different 12 - 20 m high climbing routes on the mountain face.
Cheese Factory Clavadeleralp: at 2,028m (6,652 ft)
Open daily from 9 AM - 4 PM; from Mid-June through End of September (Presentation 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM; start cheese production at 10:30 AM). The cheese factory can be reached either with the Jakobshorn cable car up to Jschalp and a hike of 45 minutes afterwards, or with the post bus to Clavadel and a hike of one hour afterwards. Moreover, there are numerous hiking trails starting from the valley and leading up to the cheese factory on Clavadeleralp.
Alpinum Schatzalp:
Open daily from 9 AM – 5 PM from End of May through Mid-September.
Botanical garden with 3,500 alpine plants from the mountains of all over the world (Switzerland, Pyrenees, New Zealand, China, Nepal, Tibet, and many more...).
"Hohe Promenade" Walk:
The Hohe Promenade is a perfectly planned road, level and sometimes under trees, kept clear of snow in winter. This one-hour roundtrip by foot starts from Davos-Platz at the road behind the Seehof Hotel (near Parsenn station), or from Davos-Platz via a steep path which continues the lane to the Catholic Church.
Wellness- & Pleasure Pool Center Eau-là-là:
On the ground floor of the baths guests will find an expansive water world, whilst the two upper storeys house a stunning wellness world. The wellness oasis includes a steam bath and captivating starry sky on the top floor, two solariums and an additional shower as well as a cold water area, a club room with fireplace and impressive view, the wonderful log sauna, the inviting whirlpool and the very spacious terrace for sunbathing outside.
Summer Sports:
Hiking:
Davos has many opportunities for hiking; the landscape around Davos Klosters and its beautiful meadows, woods, pastures and above all mountains is accessible by 700 km (435 miles) of signed and maintained hiking trails. Comfortable paths for strolling or narrow mountain tracks through steep terrain above the tree line. Mountain railways make it easy to reach the high altitude rambling areas. There are many mountain cabins and restaurants ready to offer a warm welcome and a leisurely rest.
Biking / Mountainbiking:
Biking in Davos Klosters offers impressive tours, varied landscapes and an abundance of downhill adventure. Extensive, beautiful tours with picture-perfect panoramas for mountain-bikers and more relaxed riders. Downhill freaks will be in their element on the countless racy descents. The following mountain rides offer the transportation of mountainbikes: Rinerhorn: Davos Glaris - Jatzmeder / Jakobshorn: Davos - Jschalp / Parsenn Davos: Davos – Weissfluhjoch / Parsenn Klosters: Klosters – Gotschnagrat / Schatzalp: Davos – Schatzalp.
Water Sports:
During summer months, Lake Davos is the hotspot for water babies, surfers and sailors - and naturally also for sun worshippers. Lake Davos, with its 3.8 km (2.4 miles) shore, reaches the 20°C mark in summer and offers many possibilities for water sport enthusiasts. Surfing and sailing on the lake, or swimming and sunbathing at the Watersports Center which also offers a restaurant, volleyball courts, and rental of pedalos and watersports equipment.
Golf:
The Davos Golf Club is just 1 km outside of Davos. The 18 hole course has a yardage of 5,751 and a SSS of 68. In addition, there's the new 9 hole golf course, situated in the perfect landscape of Selfranga, Klosters, offering a magnificent panoramic view of majestic mountain peaks and promising a golf experience at the highest level. Both Golf Clubs are open from May to October.
Climbing Garden Seehorn:
The Climbing Garden Seehorn is set in the rocks near the Seehorn summit, reached by an hour's walk from Davos Dorf. A superb spot thanks to its sunny situation and spectacular views. The climbing garden has 24 routes of 1 to 3 rope lengths, in grades of difficulty from 3 to 7 and can be used free of charge. A barbecue area and route topos are located at the foot of the wall.
Nordic Walking:
Davos offers three marked round routes of 2.8 km, 8.1 km and 13.1 km in length, which start at the car park for the Jakobshornbahn cable car and head via Bolgen through the Clavadeler forest. In addition, there are Nordic walking round courses at the Schatzalp (3.3 km - 80 vertical meters), at Davos Platz (Hohe Promenade 4 km - 250 vertical meters) and at Davos Wolfgang (Meierhof 4.6 km - 260 vertical meters), and finally, also Klosters offers three marked round courses of 7.5 km, 13.0 km and 17.8 km, which run from the old railway car park towards Novai.
other Summer Sports
include inline skating, horseback riding (guided hacks through the unspoilt landscape or horse-riding lessons at the Riding Hall in Davos Frauenkirch), horse, donkey, mule and lama trekking, tennis (outdoor and indoor), squash, badminton, climbing and indoor golfing at the Färbi Sports Center, and ice-skating (indoor at the Davos Ice Arena / outdoor on the artificial ice rink!).
Go Out: (Dining / Entertainment / Nightife)
Since Davos is an actual town and not just a resort, there are numerous dining and apres-ski possibilities: the 78 restaurants in the area range from chalet-style restaurants serving cheese and meat fondues, to the open-air Snow Beach restaurant serving fish and meat dishes as well as homemade pastry. 21 bars and pubs, 10 cafes and bistros, and four discos keep the action going long after dark.
Casino Davos:
The Casino Davos is offering enthralling entertainment in the cultivated atmosphere. Slot machines and several table games such as Black Jack, Poker and American Roulette - fun-filled hours spent in the amusements arcade will also bridge afternoons of poor weather with ease. Also available: a bar at which you can enjoy a fine coffee or a glass of wine, whilst debating your game tactics.
Cinema Davos:
Davos has a rich tradition of cinema going back to the century before last. From 1897 onwards a number of cinemas provided entertainment, a tradition that is carried on today by the Arkaden Cinema, the Open Air cinema in the Kurpark and by Hollywood director and honorary citizen of Davos Marc Foster.
Shopping:
Davos is not obsessed with Swiss folklore - the alpine metropolis of Davos plays on its qualities as the highest town in Europe and on the popular "Promenade" you'll find lots of emphasis on cutting-edge sportswear and equipment and elegant high-fashion boutiques including international labels, gift and souvenir shops and delicatessens full of fine Grisons specialities. In compliment to this, Klosters is home to small, refined shops with a sense of style and authenticity.
Market:
In spring and in autumn, market traders from all over Switzerland will set up their stalls around the "Seehofseeli" (lake) in Davos Dorf, selling everyday articles from pan cleaners to socks and inexpensive clothing. Browsers will discover small artworks or other trouvaille. Local clubs are also present at the market and there will be no shortage of food and drink on offer, with stalls selling the ever-popular spice bread (Magenbrot), Swiss sausage (Bratwurst) and local specialities. Not to forget wine tasting!
Events:
Spengler Cup: (in December)
The Spengler Cup was first awarded in 1923 to a team of Canadian Students from Oxford University. It is the oldest international ice hockey club team tournament in the world. The tournament, entry to which is by invitation, is hosted by the Swiss Team HC Davos. The tournament is played each year between Christmas and New Year's Day. It features club teams from around the world. A unique mixture of top-class ice hockey, festival atmosphere, pulsating holiday resort life and an unsurpassed wintertime backdrop is the “magic formula” that makes the Spengler Cup in Davos so special.
World Economic Forum: (in January)
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Held in Davos during the last week of January, presidents, prime ministers and assorted mega-suits of the World Economic Forum meet to discuss global cashflow and set the financial agenda for the year ahead.
Ice Gala Davos: (in February)
World figure skating champions are shining under the spotlights of the Davos Ice Arena showing off an intricate, emotional tour de force.
BMC Racing Cup: (in July)
This Cup is considered one of the most important racing series in Europe and enjoys a great international reputation. The BMC Racing Cup scores with it`s professional organisation, top cracks of the biking scene, and encoures young talents in an exemplary manner. The licensed categories and the Fun-Biker have to complete a circuit several times. This cross-country race runs over rough and smooth, and the youngest participants learn in the skills course how to handle their bikes and to reach the finish line with the least penalty points.
Davos Festival - young artists in concert: (in August)
The Davos Festival is recognized as a platform for talented young musicians of classic music from all over the world. At the concerts, works of classical and modern music, especially chamber music, are performed. The spirit and the significance of the young artists, combined with the splendor of the Davos mountain landscape attracts, year after year, music lovers from all over Switzerland and all over the world to Davos.
Calendar of Davos Events
Museums:
Wintersport Museum:
Skiing in Davos goes back to 1873. In 1893 the Branger brothers and Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle were famously intrepid. The old Post Office's central location makes it the most appropriate place to present the large collection of winter sports equipment and documents donated by the Jürg Kaufmann family, Davos. The well-preserved exhibits (sleds, bobsleds, skis, skates, curling material, etc.) documenting the history of winter sports from its very beginnings to the present day deserve special attention.
Kirchner Museum:
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880 - 1938) lived in Davos from 1917 until his death. His great work is considered to have exercised a pioneering influence on German expressionism. The Kirchner Museum was opened in September 1992 and represents the most comprehensive collection of the artist's work in the world.
Medicine Museum:
The documentation of Davos' medical-scientific development foundation has made it its duty to document and preserve the tools, x-ray images, and files reflecting best the work of the physicians and scientists in Davos. The collection is a welcome addition to the documentation library. It is accessible for studies to all persons interested in historic, social, scientific, and medical problems.
Davos Local History Museum:
The museum of local history in Davos endeavours to convey a living image of history, early everyday life, traditions and crafts from Davos . The rich collection of objects and documents is presented in the large Jenatschhaus. As an old patrician house and historic building, it also tells many stories itself. Special exhibitions also take place within the museum of local history on a temporary basis.
Mining Museum of the Grisons:
The Mining Museum of the Grisons is situated at "Schmelzboden" near the Davos Monstein railway station. It is housed in the historical administration building constructed in the early 1900s, which, before a landslide in 1933, was twice as large as nowadays. The museum displays: ores, mining objects, photos, documents and many plans from the various earlier mines throughout the whole canton.
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