Davos - Introduction
Davos in the Grisons, the holiday corner of Switzerland, wears many hats. Idyllic nature and humming holiday city. Traditional and open minded. Davos is both town and country in one. The lake of Davos, ropeways reaching altitudes up to 2'844 m, a modern sports centre, the Congress Centre, and an infrastructure that really covers everything – Davos is the alpine metropolis of variety. An altitude of 1'560 m practically guarantees good snow conditions in winter and refreshing coolness in summer. You're simply spoilt for choice with five great skiing regions: Jakobshorn, Parsenn and family-friendly Pischa, Madrisa and Rinerhorn. In other words, you can take your pick of over 300 km of pistes with guaranteed snow and 55 mountain transport facilities.
Skiing
There are 5 ski regions at the Davos resort; Jakobshorn (suitable for all skiers, and hosts mountain events), Parsenn (suitable for all events, and offering night-skiing and long downhill runs), Pischa (a dedicated free-ride mountain with 3 protected runs), Madrisa and Rinerhorn (the family friendly mountains, offering a “children’s paradise”. Within these mountains, there are runs to suit skiers of variable ability. Experts will find there is plenty to do both on and off-piste with the Meierhofer Talli and Paresnnhutte-Wolfgang offering some challenges, whilst off-piste the Gotschnagrat runs are amongst the steepest around. Intermediates meanwhile enjoy a variety of runs to Klosters, and from Madrisa and the Schlappin valley, whilst those seeking more of a challenge should head to the Jakobshorn. Finally beginners have the use of the Bolgen nursery slope beneath the Jakobshorn and the Bunda, whilst the Parsenn offers easy runs and good skiing in the bowl.
Snowboarding
Boarders can use 4 terrain parks in the surrounding mountains; the Sunrise, Pischa, Parsenn and Madrisa. The Sunrise is the main park and hosts the O’Neill Evolution contest, as the best in the area, and boasts a good variety of jumps, rails, and boxes, including a great C-box, along with 2 floodlit pipes. Slightly less crowded is the Pischa, where there’s a range of rails and kickers, whilst Parsenn and Madrisa offer boardercross courses, whilst beginners can use the minipark at Rinerhorn.
Ski Schools
The ski school at Davos has a good reputation with nearly all the highly skilled and friendly instructors speaking English, and small teaching classes, whilst the competitive snowboard school also offers good lessons. Children are catered for with a special Disney themed slope at Bolgen.
Eating Out
There are plenty of mountain restaurants, which are mostly self-service, but Bruhin’s at Weissfluhgipfel, whilst expensive offers great service and brilliant rustic or gourmet cooking, whilst Parsenn Weissflujoch also enjoys a good reputation. In the resort itself there is a wide variety, mostly hotel based, but it is advised that you check the tourist office’s guidebook so you find what you’re looking for. There are two Chine restaurants, several Italian restaurants including Al Ponte (good pizza and steak), and the Carretta, with its home-made pasta.
Bars and clubs
Apres-ski is relatively good- there are lots of bars, discos and nightclubs, and a large casino at the Hotel Europe. However, the nature of the clientele at Davos itself means that the guests are often quieter, the drinks more sophisticated, expensive and sometimes less exciting. The liveliest place in town is the Chami, (popular with locals), whilst the Ex-Bar draws all ages. The most popular clubs are the Cabanna and the Cava Davos (of the hotel Europe). Boarders should head to Bolgenschanze and Bolgen-Plaza.
Off the slopes
Davos is more than just a ski resort. It has been world famous as a wellness retreat since the Victorian era, and therefore is developed as a town. There are plenty of shops and other diversions; great sports facilities, Europe’s biggest natural ice rink, supplemented by more artificial venues; hosting ice hockey as well as other events. Winter walking and tobogganing are also popular, whilst night-skiing takes place every Friday night on Hohenweg. Finally, if you want to explore beyond Davos, it is possible to visit st. Moritz by car or rail, and Arosa, Laax-Flims and Lenzerheide