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Davos is regarded as one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts. It established itself as a health resort in 1860: its high altitude and long hours of sunshine eased the suffering of tuberculosis patients from around the world. Robert Louis Stevenson completed "Treasure Island" while resident at a Davos sanatorium in 1882 and Thomas Mann, the great German writer and Nobel Prize winner in Literature in 1929, spent time in Davos in 1911 where his wife was in a sanatorium. His stay inspired him to write his novel "The Magic Mountain", which was published in 1924.
In 1930, Davos became popular as a Sports Center, and today also is known as a Congress Center (e.g. World Economic Forum). Davos is a town way up in the mountains - not your average Alpine ski village, but a bustling place, famous for its fresh mountain air, its consistently excellent snow cover and one of the most extensive ski areas in Switzerland with 45 mountain rides and 230 km (143 miles) of skiing runs. Davos has been attracting skiers for generations and gained fame as a hip snowboarding destination.
But also during summer time Davos is a popular destination to visit. The town offers many sporting and leisure activities as well as fine dining, shopping and entertainment, huge indoor and outdoor skating rinks, a sports center, and two sled runs. Just a few minutes from the town center and you’re in another world. There are 700 km (435 miles) of marked hiking, theme and panorama trails that lead through forests rich in fauna, through unforgettable mountain landscapes and rugged, romantic valleys. More attractions and activities in Davos and surroundings
Location:
Davos is located in south-eastern Switzerland in Graubunden. At 1,560 m (5,117 ft) above sea leavel, situated on the Landwasser River and surrounded by several mountains and hills, the town extends for almost 4 km (2.5 miles) and is divided into Davos-Dorf and Davos-Platz. With 6 districts totaling an area of 284 km2 (110 sq. miles), Davos is the largest community in Switzerland.
Distances to other popular Swiss Destinations:
Destination |
Distance |
Travel Time in Minutes |
km |
miles |
by Train |
by Car |
Zurich |
147 |
91 |
138 |
approx. 120 |
Bern |
266 |
165 |
204 |
approx. 190 |
Basel |
228 |
142 |
202 |
approx. 165 |
Lucerne |
170 |
106 |
200 |
approx. 130 |
Lugano |
159 |
99 |
236 |
approx. 135 |
Geneva |
418 |
260 |
310 |
approx. 280 |
St. Moritz |
68 |
42 |
113 |
approx. 90 |
Interlaken |
237 |
147 |
257 |
approx. 170 |
Grindelwald |
253 |
157 |
304 |
approx. 195 |
Zermatt |
294 |
183 |
369 |
approx. 345 |
Getting to Davos:
By Plane:
Zurich-Kloten is the nearest international airport with easy access to Davos by train or car (travel time 2 - 2.5 hours). Other gateways such as Basel-Muhlouse or Milan-Malpensa are within approx. 3 - 3.5 hours travel time by car. Also the regional airport at Lugano-Agno might be an option from where Davos is reached within 2.5 hours by car.
By Train:
International trains from the north, east and west connect to Landquart where you need to change trains to Davos or Klosters. Coming from the south (Italy, Ticino) international trains connect via Bellinzona and Zurich to Landquart (total travel time 5 - 5.5 hours from Bellinzona) or you can take the scenic bus "Palm Express" via the San Bernardino and the Spluegen Pass to Thusis and by train to Davos (total travel time 3.5 - 4 hours from Bellinzona). When coming from the Engadin Valley (St. Moritz) trains connect through either Filisur or through Samedan and Klosters. When traveling from the Lake Geneva region or the Rhone Valley, you might consider the scenic train Glacier Express originating from Zermatt via Visp/Brig to Davos (total travel time 6.75 hours from Visp).
By Car:
Coming from the north, east or west, connect to the A3 / A13 Highway south direction Chur, take Exit "Landquart" and then follow the main road via Klosters to Davos. From the south (Italy, Ticino) take the A13 Highway north via the San Bernardio and the Spluegen Pass to Thusis where you exit an then follow the main road via Tiefencastel to Davos. From the Engadin Valley (St. Moritz) the fastest way is the main road 28 via the Fluela Pass, or you also can drive via the Julier Pass and Tiefencastel, or via the Albula and Filisur to Davos; during winter time you want to consider taking the car transporter train which conveniently gets you through the Vereina Tunnel to Klosters and Davos.
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