Davos Ski Resort Review 2026

Our honest take on Davos

Mountain stats

The figures below are rounded and conservative. Davos skis across six separate mountains, chiefly the Parsenn above the town plus Jakobshorn, Pischa, Rinerhorn and the Madrisa above Klosters, all on the Davos Klosters regional pass.

How it scores for your group

Families. Good, with caveats. The snow is reliable, the area is huge and there are gentle slopes and ski schools on several of the mountains, but the skiing is spread out and needs buses or trains between sectors, so it is less convenient than a compact purpose built resort. Families who can handle a little logistics get enormous value.

Beginners. Fine rather than ideal. There is gentle terrain, notably on Bolgen by the town and on the Madrisa above Klosters, with good ski schools. The catch is that the best beginner areas are not all on the doorstep, so first timers should pick their base carefully.

Intermediates. The sweet spot. The Parsenn alone offers some of the longest, most satisfying intermediate descents in the Alps, including the famous run down to Klosters and Kublis, and the other mountains add endless cruising variety. Confident intermediates could ski here for a week and not repeat themselves.

Experts. Better than its reputation. Davos has excellent lift accessed off piste, especially on the Jakobshorn and Pischa, plus serious ski touring and the long unpisted itineraries off the Parsenn. It is a quietly outstanding mountain for adventurous skiers who like to roam.

Non skiers. Decent. Davos is a real town with shops, museums, a famous ice rink, sledging, cross country trails and spa hotels, so non skiers can fill a day. It lacks the glamour of nearby St Moritz, but there is plenty to do.

Terrain by ability

Davos skis as six distinct mountains rather than one linked area. The Parsenn is the heart of it, a broad, sunny intermediate playground famous for its long top to bottom descents, including the celebrated run all the way down to Klosters. Across the valley, the Jakobshorn is the freeride and snowboard mountain, sunnier and steeper, while Pischa, Rinerhorn and the Madrisa above Klosters add quieter terrain and good off piste.

The skiing rewards explorers and mileage hunters above all. The sheer scale, the reliable high snow and the variety across the mountains mean a strong skier can chase fresh terrain all week, and the off piste and touring options are genuinely excellent. The trade off is that linking the mountains takes buses and the town railway, so it is less seamless than a single connected resort.

Charm, convenience and the evening

Davos is a town rather than a village, a long, high settlement strung along the valley that grew first as a health resort and is now best known for hosting the world's annual economic gathering. It is functional and a little urban rather than chocolate box pretty, with hotels, shops and a working life of its own. What it lacks in cuteness it makes up for in amenities, including a famous ice stadium and a real sense of being a town that lives all year.

Evenings are relaxed and sporting rather than raucous. There are good restaurants, comfortable hotel bars and a handful of livelier spots, but Davos is not an apres ski party town in the mold of St Anton or Solden. Its quieter, prettier neighbor Klosters, on the same pass, offers a more traditional and discreet village alternative for those who want it.

Lodging and chalet quotes

Davos has a broad range of lodging, from large town hotels and spa resorts to apartments and chalets, with the best located near the Parsenn or Jakobshorn lift stations to cut down on travel. For a prettier, calmer base on the same pass, neighboring Klosters offers traditional chalets and a more village feel within easy reach of the Parsenn.

Prices, lessons and ski hire

The Davos Klosters pass costs around $80 a day and covers all six mountains plus Klosters, which is strong value given how much terrain it opens. Multi day passes lower the daily rate. Switzerland is expensive overall, so booking lift passes, lessons and ski hire ahead is the simplest way to keep the trip in hand.

Transfers and access

Zurich is the main airport, and the transfer to Davos is around two and a half hours by road. Many visitors arrive instead by train, and the rail journey up into the Graubunden mountains is scenic and easy, dropping you right in the centre of town with its own local railway linking the lift stations. A private transfer, train or hire car all work well, and the train spares you the mountain driving.

The best weeks to ski Davos

Davos is high and reliably snowy, so the season runs long from late November into April. January and February bring the coldest, most dependable snow and the best conditions on the high Parsenn and Jakobshorn, and it is worth knowing that the town can be busy and pricey during its late January economic forum.

March is a lovely time to ski here, with longer, sunnier days, a strong high altitude base and the full six mountain area open. If you want quieter slopes and softer prices, the weeks either side of the February school holidays are the sweet spot in an otherwise expensive country.

Davos FAQs

Nearby alternatives

Staying in Graubunden but want a different feel? These three neighbors offer their own take on eastern Switzerland.