Davos Summer Guide

Six Mountains × Family Hiking × Hidden Rail Routes

When people think of Switzerland, the Jungfrau, Zermatt, and the crowds in front of the Matterhorn come to mind first.

But if you ask me which destination is worth staying three extra days for, the answer is Davos.

Six mountain systems — three days still won't be enough.

Great food and accommodation: Davos is a city, not just a resort, so the range of restaurants and hotels is genuinely broad.
Clean air, total relaxation: The same pure mountain air that made Davos famous as a 19th-century sanatorium destination still makes it one of the most restorative places in the Alps.
Scenery worth painting: The landscape is so striking that Expressionist master Ernst Ludwig Kirchner found his muse here, producing a series of landmark works from the surrounding valleys.
Six mountains, endless options: With six distinct mountain systems to explore, even a generous three-day stay won't cover everything.

No rushing from sight to sight, no fighting for cable cars. A Swiss Travel Pass and a train take you straight into the mountains.

Tip: Once you arrive in Davos at 1,600m above sea level, your hotel's Premium Card unlocks discounts on all mountain lifts, 800+ activities, and free city public transport.

Getting to Davos

From Zurich, the train journey takes approximately 2.5 hours, with a change at Landquart onto the Rhaetian Railway. This mountain railway is part of a UNESCO World Heritage route, winding through gorges and alpine meadows — the scenery through the window is already worth the trip.

The entire journey is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. No separate tickets, no cancellation worries if plans change. On arrival, your hotel's Premium Card takes care of the rest.

Where to Stay: Davos Platz vs. Davos Dorf

Davos has two main zones, and where you stay shapes the rhythm of your trip:

Davos Platz — Best for first-time visitors
The most complete infrastructure: boutiques, restaurants, and hotels all within easy reach. Hotel Grischa is a standout four-star option in this area. Its restaurant, Le Shiki, serves high-quality Chinese and Asian cuisine — a genuine lifesaver after a long day on the trails.

Davos Dorf — For outdoors-focused travellers
Quieter, and right next to the Parsenn cable car station. Ideal if your trip is primarily built around hiking or skiing.

Buses run every 7 minutes between the two zones. If driving, note that the Promenade main road is one-way (buses only run both directions) — plan your route in advance.

Davos Map 1 Davos Map 2

Davos' Six Mountains: Which One Is Yours?

Each of Davos' six mountains has its own personality. Different travellers fall for different ones:

1. Parsenn — Classic, all-round
Recently completed a major lift upgrade. A year-round destination for both skiing and summer hiking. If it's your first time in Davos and you want the most complete experience, start here.

2. Jakobshorn — Energy and atmosphere
Famous for freestyle skiing and a vibrant après-ski culture. The cable car reaches 2,590m, with panoramic views across the entire Davos valley. Several trails of varying difficulty on the way down — easy enough for families, rewarding enough for keen hikers.

3. Schatzalp — Quiet and unhurried
Four minutes by funicular. Known as the "Slow Mountain," its centrepiece is the century-old Berghotel Schatzalp, a former tuberculosis sanatorium. In the early 1900s, Davos attracted patients from across Europe drawn by its clean mountain air — their restless companions introduced skiing and sledging, inadvertently launching the town's sporting history. Thomas Mann set his novel The Magic Mountain here. Gentle trails, a fine alpine botanical garden, ideal for guests who prefer a slower pace or are travelling with older companions.

4. Rinerhorn — Family favourite
Home to an alpine petting zoo and a summer alpine coaster popular with children. One of the top picks for families visiting Davos.

5. Madrisa — Made for kids
The largest children's adventure playground in the Swiss Alps. If your group is primarily young children, this is the mountain to prioritise.

6. Pischa — Off the map
Barely mentioned in guidebooks. No facilities, no crowds. For those who want the mountain entirely to themselves.

Family picnic hike at Rinerhorn Davos

Summer hiking picnic at Rinerhorn, Davos © Destination Davos Klosters

Trail running at Pischahorn

Trail running at Pischahorn © Destination Davos Klosters

Summer hiking at Jakobshorn

Summer hiking at Jakobshorn © Destination Davos Klosters

Schatzalp — the Slow Mountain © Destination Davos Klosters

Family hiking at Madrisa © Destination Davos Klosters

When You Have a Few Hours: Lake Davos (Davosersee)

The lakeside path runs approximately 4km, entirely flat, and fully accessible by pram. The water is clear enough to see the bottom. In summer, the temperature is comfortable enough for children to wade at the water's edge while adults sit at a lakeside café. This kind of afternoon — unhurried, open-ended — is the sort you end up wanting to repeat.

Davosersee lakeside beach © Destination Davos Klosters

An Artist and His Valley: Sertig

Sertigtal (Sertig Valley) is a side valley of Davos that still preserves traditional Walser architecture and a genuine mountain community.

Expressionist painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner lived here and painted his famous work Sertig Valley in Autumn from this exact landscape. At the head of the valley stands a dramatic waterfall; golden eagles often nest in the area in spring. Walserhuus Sertig hotel serves authentic fondue and offers traditional rooms — a true retreat from the outside world.

For Rail Enthusiasts

Nostalgic Train
A vintage train running daily between Davos Platz and Filisur — a time-travel experience for anyone who loves historic railways.

Wiesner Viaduct + Zügen Gorge
Start from Davos Wiesen station and walk approximately 1 hour 15 minutes through the dramatic Zügen Gorge to reach this stone arch viaduct. The light and terrain through the gorge tend to slow even determined walkers — it is one of those stretches where time simply disappears.

Bonus on the way back: Landquart Fashion Outlet
The return train from Davos to Zurich passes through Landquart, where you change trains. Landquart Fashion Outlet is right next to the station — a rare chance to pick up European outdoor brands like Norway's Norrøna, Swiss Mammut, Finland's Rukka, and Germany's VAUDE at outlet prices.

Why Davos, Instead of Going Back to Jungfrau?

The Jungfrau is spectacular. But that spectacle happens while standing in a crowd, photographing the same angle as everyone else.

Davos offers a different Switzerland: six mountains to choose from, each trail with its own story, each valley inhabited for hundreds of years.

Travelling with children? There are adventure playgrounds and a gentle lakeside path. With older companions? The funicular mountain and botanical garden. Alone? The solitude of Pischa and a gorge trail that makes you forget what time it is.

Take the train into the mountains. Leave when you're ready, stay as long as you want. That's what makes travelling with a Swiss Travel Pass worthwhile.

Planning a Davos itinerary or building a complete Swiss route around your Pass? Get in touch with us.