Davos Klosters Ski Resort Switzerland

Davos Klosters ski resort has a high-falutin reputation that is backed-up in reality, with some of the world’s finest on & off-piste skiing. Feted as the 'cradle' of skiing in Switzerland, Davos Klosters is spread across six separate ski areas deep in Grisons (Graubünden a.k.a. POWbünden) canton, Switzerland.

Each ski area has distinctive lifts, terrain & aspect, giving the Davos & Klosters ski region a wonderful sense that each day will be a grand voyage of discovery. A high average winter snowfall & massive freeride potential make it a must for all powder hounds.

Pros & Cons for Davos Klosters Ski Resort

Pros

• Rated by Powderhounds in the Top 10 Best Overall ski areas in the world.
• Sensational variety of lifts, pistes and freeride options.
• Exceptionally reliable snowfall region (8m annual average).
• All terrain aspects are available, allowing skiing in all weather conditions.
• Wonderful, sheltered learn-to-ski area in Davos at the base of Jakobshorn.
• Loads of long, interesting valley trails & routes (up to 12km+ & over 2,000m vert).
• Massive and challenging freeride terrain.
• Incredibly quiet on a powder day (blizzard day!).
• Fabulous restaurants on mountain.
• Superb bus & train connections between ski areas & valley trails.
• Good après ski & nightlife in Davos.
• Broad range of non-ski activities throughout the region.
• Klosters village retains some of its traditional 'charm and calm'.
• Access by train to the region is excellent and one can ski race it down to Klosters!

Cons

• Ski areas are disjointed - not lift-interlinked; bus or train only.
• The local trains are no longer included
• Accommodation, eating out & lift passes are all expensive by Alps standards.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

• Potentially confusing lift ticket pricing & options.
• Aging lift infrastructure at Rinerhorn & Pischa, but they are great on a powder day.
• The two-stage funicular up Parsenn is a clunky way to access the main mountain, but it does run in all weather.
• Bus transport around to the different ski areas, and returning from most valley routes, can be a pain and can require some planning.
• Limited ski-in, ski-out accommodation
• Davos is a large, modern city that has lost much of its traditional charm.

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

Skiing Davos Klosters is a magical mystery tour of epic proportions. Six ski areas, 5 of which are covered by the one ski pass, provide every type of ski lift, terrain & trail imaginable. The five main ski areas are Parsenn, Madrisa, Jakobshorn, Pischa & Rinerhorn. The sixth ski area is Schatzalp, the smallest of the group. Piste trails total over 300km in length with something for every ski or snowboard proclivity. It is so big that there are two sides to the trail map. For a closer look at either side of the valley, see the Parsenn-Madrisa ski trail map & the Jakobshorn-Pischa-Rinerhorn ski trail map.

The epic proportions include all ski areas having most ski terrain above a snow sure 1,900m altitude to make the most of the 10m average snowfall. As well as unlimited off-piste freeride skiing & snowboarding terrain, there are no less than 12 valley piste trails (& many more routes), some over 12km long, leading back to all points in the valley. One trail descends over 2,030 vertical metres. And to top it off, when you find yourself in an apparently remote village, you will likely find a nearby train station for the journey back to Davos or Klosters; all included in the lift pass.

The region's ski lifts are an odd mix of every type of uphill conveyance imaginable, making for some interesting journeys! Modern & vintage collide here as well. Parsenn & Jakobshorn have a generally updated selection of lifts (with some notable exceptions!), however at Rinerhorn & Pischa, the average age of the ski lifts is older than many of the visiting adults! Snowboarders not used to surface tows will be tested in some resort areas like Rinerhorn, & the upper section of Madrisa.

Lift pass options in the region are many. The simplest is to get a Davos Klosters Mountains Regional Pass that includes free passage on the local bus network, but NOT on the rail network.

For more information on ski lifts, terrain, lift pass and trail maps, see the Davos Klosters Skiing & Snowboarding page.

Where is Davos Klosters Switzerland?

Davos Klosters ski resort is in the canton Graubünden (Grisons) of southeast Switzerland, close to the border with Austria. The nearest cities are Landquart (30km by road) & Chur (47km by road). Klosters is only 137km southeast of Zurich (1½ to 2hr drive). The gateway airport is Zurich (ZRH) & the recommended mode of travel to the resort is via the fabulous Swiss rail system.

The towns of Davos & Klosters are 9km apart but connected by road, train, ski lift & piste trail! By train, Zurich airport is less than 2½hr from Klosters, slightly more for Davos. Search & book train tickets to Davos & Klosters.

For more information on the best ways to get there, see our Travel to Davos Klosters page.

Davos Accommodation

Whilst connected by ski lifts, trails, a railway line & road, the towns of Davos & Klosters are over 11km apart if travelling by car. Unless one is doing a day trip from elsewhere, when choosing where to stay overnight has at least 2 clear (& quite different) choices. Davos has the best ski access, nightlife & shopping but has become a soulless shadow of what we imagine it must have once been. Klosters is smaller, quieter & simply more authentically Swiss (as cliched as that may sound!).

A small, bloated city of over 11,000 souls, Davos is sprawled along the valley between Parsenn & Jakobshorn ski areas. Its lodging options are as varied as the ski areas. Most are located within the 3km stretch between the two train stations - Davos Platz & Davos Dorf. In Davos Dorf, numerous 4 & 5-star hotels line the upper-level Promenade including the iconic Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvedere which has been operating since 1875. The perfectly located Hotel Seehof, offers 5-star rooms & facilities right next to the Parsenn funicular. There are also a range of smaller, traditional 3-star hotels & new, luxury apartments. Worth a look is the Hotel Parsenn (across the road from the funicular), and the ski-in Parsenn Resort Apartments. Being able to ski into your accommodation is a comparative rarity in Davos.

At the fringes of Davos Dorf are several excellent family-run BnB options (i.e. Haus im Sand) that are within easy walking distance to the train or bus stops. Just off the Pischa road looms the curious 5-star golden concrete bubble (or monstrosity) that is the AlpenGold Hotel Davos. Private chalets available for rent extend up the mountainside above the Promenade where they gather the morning sun.

In Davos Platz the hotels are more affordable (not sure why). The pick of them are near the train station & Jakobshorn cable car. they include the 4-star Grischa Hotel, and the affordable, spacious Bernina Bed & Breakfast (more a hotel than a BnB, but it is what it is!).

Search & book all Davos Accommodation.

Klosters Accommodation

Klosters is the opposite of Davos. Whilst still sizable, with less than half the population of Davos it retains the feel of a classic Swiss mountain village. In part that is simply due to the traditional architectural style used throughout the town, but it is also because of the Gotschnatunnel diverting all through traffic away from the centre of Klosters.

Klosters lacks the 5-star behemoth hotels of Davos (but still has a couple to choose from - the Royals have got to stay somewhere!). Like Davos, Klosters has two railway stations (Dorf & Platz) which effectively delineate the town into two accommodation clusters at either end of town providing a relatively serene atmosphere that is lacking in Davos.

Klosters main town centre is at Klosters Platz train station, opposite the cable car up to Gotschnagrat (& Parsenn). There are a swag of good hotels to choose from nearby. The Alpina Boutique Hotel has the prime position in Klosters Platz, close to everything. Not far away is the affordable Adventure Hostel for those with less coin.

Only 1½km away is Klosters Dorf train station. The Madrisa gondola is 250m walk from the station. Several good hotels are nearby, with the Hotel Silvapina one of the better 3-stars, but note that the train does run right past it!

Search & book all Klosters Accommodation.

Other Local Accommodation

In between Davos & Klosters is the small hamlet of Davos Wolfgang. Some quiet lodging options exist here (the excellent Kessler’s Kulm Hotel), but still with the benefit of a train station, bus stop, cross country ski trails & valley return trail from Parsenn.

At the fringes of the train & ski route network that is included in a Davos-Klosters ski pass is the village of Küblis. A fine hotel for last minute bookings is the Hotel Terminus, located literally on the railway station platform. The location is a world away from the larger towns of Klosters & Davos but is still wonderfully convenient to ski the region by virtue of the magnificent local train network.

Ski Rentals Lessons & Guiding

Ski rentals are available in both Davos & Klosters villages. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Davos-Klosters Ski & Snowboard Rental page.

A brain-snapping plethora of ski instructors, ski schools & guides earn their bread in the Davos Klosters ski region. To make the choice easy, search & book via our Davos Klosters Ski Lessons & Guiding page.

Review

The Powderhounds first visited Davos Klosters in 2018 and returned for a long stay in February 2024. The ski region is so big we barely scratched the surface of the massive skiing potential and love it as a result. See our review & extra photos via the links in the left column (or top of page on a mobile).

See how Davos Klosters compares to the rest of the Swiss ski resorts on the Switzerland ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.

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