Davos vs St Moritz: which should you book?
Last reviewed July 2026
The short answer
Davos wins on size, snow variety and value for money. St Moritz wins on glamour, sun and life off the slopes. Pick Davos if you came to ski a lot for less, St Moritz if you came for the whole show.
These two sit barely an hour apart in the same Swiss canton, yet they pull very different crowds. Davos is a big, functional mountain town spread across six separate ski areas, the kind of place where keen skiers rack up serious mileage and never queue twice. St Moritz is a lakeside resort in the sunny Engadin that effectively invented the winter holiday and still runs on grand hotels, frozen lake polo and a glittering clientele.
Both are expensive by any normal measure, but the value gap between them is real and worth understanding before you book. Davos gives you more terrain for less money. St Moritz charges a premium for its address.
The numbers side by side
| Davos | St Moritz | |
|---|---|---|
| Resort altitude | around 1,560 m | around 1,820 m |
| Top lift | around 2,840 m | around 3,300 m |
| Pistes | around 300 km | around 160 km |
| Day pass | around $80 | around $90 to $95 |
| Snow reliability | Very good, high and varied | Very good, sunny and high |
| Village | Functional town, six ski areas | Glamorous lakeside town |
| Best for | Keen skiers, mileage, value | Non skiers, glamour, sun |
| Nearest airport | Zurich, roughly 2.5 hours | Zurich, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours |
The skiing
Davos wins this comfortably. Around 300 km of pistes spread over six mountains, headlined by the long Parsenn descents, gives keen skiers far more to chase than St Moritz offers across roughly 160 km on Corviglia and Corvatsch. St Moritz skiing is lovely, sunny and supremely civilised, but it is smaller and gentler. If your group wants to ski hard all week, Davos is the value pick. Winner: Davos.
Cost and value
This is where the budget skier should pay attention. Davos runs a lower daily lift pass, around $80 against roughly $90 to $95 at St Moritz, and that is before lodging. St Moritz hotel and dining prices sit among the highest in the Alps, while Davos and especially neighboring Klosters offer far more mid range beds. For a week of actual skiing, Davos can come in meaningfully cheaper. Winner: Davos.
The village
A clash of two ideals. Davos is a long, businesslike town that prizes function over postcard charm, best known to outsiders as the host of the World Economic Forum. St Moritz is a polished resort of grand hotels and designer shops beside a frozen lake. For mountain practicality, Davos works. For town glamour, St Moritz wins easily. Winner: St Moritz on looks, Davos on convenience.
Non skiers and the scene
St Moritz wins this one clearly. It is built for people who may never click into a binding, with grand spas, lakeside walks, horse racing and polo on the ice and a famously glamorous social calendar. Davos has good options, including the largest natural ice rink in Europe, but it is a skier's town first. Winner: St Moritz.
Access
Davos is the easier arrival, reached from Zurich in roughly two and a half hours. St Moritz takes a little longer at three to three and a half hours, though the scenic rail approach is a pleasure in itself. For a short trip where travel time eats into ski days, Davos has the edge. Winner: Davos.
The verdict
Book Davos if you want the most skiing for your money, if your group is keen and mixed in ability, or if you would rather spend on extra days than on a grand hotel. Book St Moritz if the holiday is about sun, glamour and life off the slopes as much as on them. Read our full reviews of Davos Klosters and St Moritz, and for more Swiss options see the best resorts in Davos Klosters and the best in Switzerland. If Zermatt is also on your list, compare Zermatt vs St Moritz.
Common questions
Is Davos or St Moritz cheaper?
Davos is the cheaper trip overall. Its day pass runs around $80 against roughly $90 to $95 at St Moritz, and lodging and dining in Davos and neighboring Klosters are far more affordable than the grand hotels of St Moritz. For a week of skiing, Davos can come in meaningfully cheaper.
Which has more skiing, Davos or St Moritz?
Davos has more skiing. It spreads around 300 km of pistes across six separate mountains, while St Moritz offers roughly 160 km on Corviglia and Corvatsch. Davos is the stronger choice for keen skiers who want mileage.
Which is better for non skiers?
St Moritz is clearly better for non skiers, with grand spas, designer shopping, lakeside walks and a glamorous social calendar that includes horse racing and polo on the frozen lake. Davos has good options but is a skier's town first.
How far is each from Zurich airport?
Davos is roughly two and a half hours from Zurich by road or rail. St Moritz is a little farther at around three to three and a half hours, though the scenic train approach is part of the appeal.
Is Klosters a good base for Davos?
Yes. Klosters sits next to Davos, shares the same lift network and keeps more of a traditional village feel at often friendlier prices. It is a smart base for skiers who want the Davos terrain without the bigger town.
Which should a mixed ability group choose?
Davos suits a mixed ability group better thanks to its sheer variety across six areas and its lower cost per day. St Moritz works well if part of the group does not ski and wants a glamorous base.