Davos encompasses almost the entire Landwasser Valley in the canton of Graubünden and is located in the Prättigau/Davos region. The mountain landscape, local history and experiences by the water offer different focal points.
Landscape and trails around Sertig
Sertig is a typical glacial valley with steps and ridges, striking mountains and a waterfall at the far end of the valley. The region is considered especially worthy of protection. In Sertig-Dörfli stands the small church «Hinter den Eggen», built in 1699; here, the landscape meets a tangible testimony to local history.
A ridge hike starts at Jakobshorn, follows a narrow trail to Jatzhorn and then continues down into Sertigtal. The narrow ridge path and descent make this a clearly defined hiking option, distinct from an outing to Davos’s cultural sites. Access and route conditions can vary seasonally; check them before setting out.
Lake Davos: Water and activity
Lake Davos is a natural mountain lake, fed by meltwater from the surrounding glaciers and by rainwater. Swimming is possible at the public beach, and sailing, stand-up paddleboarding and wakeboarding are also available. Which activities are available during your travel dates may vary seasonally. If you are planning your stay around the lake, check what is on offer for your chosen dates.
There are also various ways to get active on two wheels. Alps Epic Trail Davos is the first and so far the only mountain bike route in Switzerland to have been awarded the title «Epic Trail» by the international mountain biking organisation IMBA. The grounds of Davos Adventure Park in Färich include a bike park with a pump track and dirt line. The same park’s high ropes course has five routes of varying difficulty; it operates seasonally.
Cross-country ski trails are another option for a winter holiday: Davos and Davos Wiesen have 79.4 kilometres of groomed classic trails and 56.6 kilometres of skating trails. Trail lengths and grooming may change seasonally. If you are planning your visit around cross-country skiing, check the current trail information.
Culture and Davos history
The Kirchner Museum Davos presents temporary exhibitions on its collection, artists of Classical Modernism and contemporary art. Exhibition content changes. For a different perspective on the town, visit the Davos Local History Museum: it documents Davos’s development from a farming village into a tourism and congress destination, and explores Walser culture, customs, crafts, everyday life and historical documents. The museum is housed in the historic Grosses Jenatschhaus. Its complex includes a mill that is still in operation.
Davos grew into the largest Walser settlement in Graubünden and founded the League of the Ten Jurisdictions in 1436. The town joined the Reformation in 1526. From the mid-19th century, Davos developed into a health resort; in 1889, Karl Turban opened a sanatorium in the park, the town’s first closed medical institution. Later, winter sports became more prominent in Davos. These milestones illustrate different chapters in the town’s history, which cannot be reduced to a single focus.
Cheese, beer and planning your stay
At the Davos dairy’s show cheese dairy, visitors can watch Davos mountain cheese being made. Products introduced during the tour are available from the direct-sales shop; visiting opportunities may vary seasonally. Various beer experiences are also offered in the heart of Davos. A warehouse sale is possible on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m.; visit arrangements may change.
For a short stay, it helps to choose a focus first: perhaps the landscape and hiking, cultural history or days by the water. You can reach Davos by train via Landquart: first with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), then with the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) to Davos. Check the timetables before travelling. Davos also has an extensive local bus network; routes and departure times may change.
Discover more destinations: Valzeina, Saas, Fideris, Luzein, Davos Wolfgang, Klosters Platz, Pragg-Jenaz, Clavadel.
Go to the main travel overview: Prättigau-Davos.
