Davos
266km of piste, 2034m vertical, 6 ski areas from Parsenn to Pischa freeride terrain in Switzerland's highest town.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
13 Nov 2026
Closes
4 Apr 2027
Days open
142
Annual snow
7m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Davos sprawls across 266 kilometres of piste between 810 and 2844 metres in the Prättigau/Davos Region of Graubünden, Switzerland. The resort comprises six distinct ski areas - Parsenn, Jakobshorn, Rinerhorn, Pischa, Madrisa and Schatzalp - spread across both sides of the Landwasser valley, connected by 53 lifts and free regional buses. 2034 metres of vertical drop delivers everything from the 12-kilometre Parsenn descent to Küblis, one of Europe's longest pistes, to the dedicated freeride terrain of Pischa where no runs are groomed.
The terrain splits 31 per cent beginner, 49 per cent intermediate, 15 per cent advanced and 5 per cent expert across 70 marked runs, with vast off-piste zones adding depth for strong skiers. Parsenn anchors the system as the largest sector with 97 kilometres of runs and direct connections to neighbouring Klosters via the Gotschnabahn. Jakobshorn on the valley's south side hosts a 120-metre superpipe and the JatzPark terrain park at 2300 metres, drawing snowboarders since the 1980s. Rinerhorn offers quiet intermediate cruising, whilst family-friendly Madrisa near Klosters provides sunny slopes and a 1478-metre vertical descent.
Davos operates as Switzerland's highest town at 1560 metres rather than a purpose-built ski village, with two main centres - Davos Dorf and Davos Platz - offering urban infrastructure, the Kirchner Museum, indoor pools and conference facilities. The resort hosts the World Economic Forum each January and the Spengler Cup ice hockey tournament every December. Lift bases scatter across the valley floor requiring trains and buses to move between sectors, though all transport runs free with a valid lift pass.
The Davos Klosters Mountains regional pass covers five of six sectors for CHF 80 peak-day adult tickets, with separate single-mountain options from CHF 45 for Parsenn or Jakobshorn alone. An annual TopCard season pass costs CHF 1550. The resort receives 423 centimetres of snow annually with reliable coverage from mid-November through mid-April at elevations reaching 2844 metres at Weissfluhgipfel. Davos suits intermediates seeking mileage, freeriders chasing untracked powder on Pischa, and families wanting comprehensive facilities beyond skiing.
2034m
Vertical
70
Runs
266 km
Piste
7m
Annual snow
The Terrain
70 runs across 266 km of piste
Davos spreads 70 runs across 266 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 49%, with 22 beginner runs to find your feet and 15 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
70
runs
70 runs across 4 grades
Beginner22 runs · 31%
Intermediate34 runs · 49%
Advanced11 runs · 15%
Expert4 runs · 5%
Time it right
When to visit Davos
The 2025-26 season runs 14 November 2025 through 20 April 2026, delivering a 157-day operating window. Davos typically opens earlier and closes later than many European resorts due to its high base elevation of 1560 metres and summit reaching 2844 metres. Season length averages five months with snow reliability particularly strong from December through March, when over 80 per cent of terrain sits above the 2000-metre snow-sure threshold.
Davos receives 423 centimetres of average annual snowfall, with January historically the snowiest month delivering 101 centimetres, followed by February's 74 centimetres and March's 75 centimetres. November brings 41 centimetres to build early-season coverage, whilst December adds 83 centimetres. Snowmaking covers 75 kilometres of piste - roughly 28 per cent of the network - concentrated on lower elevation runs and key links to ensure valley access throughout the season. Base depths typically range 100 to 300 centimetres at mid-mountain through peak winter.
Optimal timing centres on January through early March for deep powder and full terrain access, including the long valley descents to Küblis and Serneus that require sustained cold temperatures. December offers quieter slopes post-Christmas once the Spengler Cup crowds depart, whilst late March and April deliver spring corn snow conditions with extended daylight and terrace weather. Early season in November provides uncrowded skiing on upper Parsenn and Jakobshorn before Christmas crowds arrive.
Night skiing operates on a 2.5-kilometre section at Davos from 18:30 to 20:30 Monday through Friday, with Klosters adding 3.2 kilometres on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The World Economic Forum occupies Davos each January, raising accommodation prices and crowds. The Parsenn Derby - Switzerland's oldest downhill race - runs annually, whilst Jakobshorn hosts international freestyle competitions. Parsenn offers sunrise first-tracks sessions before official opening for early risers seeking fresh corduroy.
Season 2026 - 2027
13 Nov 2026
Opens
4 Apr 2027
Closes
142
Days open
7 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Davos, and where to stay
Davos sits at 1560 metres in the Landwasser valley within the Prättigau/Davos Region of Graubünden canton in eastern Switzerland, making it the country's highest town. The municipality sprawls along the valley floor between the Plessur and Albula mountain ranges, with ski terrain rising on both north and south-facing slopes. The town divides into six districts - Davos Dorf, Davos Platz, Davos Frauenkirch, Davos Glaris, Davos Monstein and Davos Wiesen - with a permanent population of 10,832 residents. Neighbouring Klosters lies 10 kilometres north down the valley, connected via the Wolfgang Pass and forming the extended Davos Klosters ski area.
Chur, Graubünden's capital, sits 50 kilometres northwest as the nearest major city. Landquart marks the valley junction point 35 kilometres north where the Prättigau meets the Rhine valley road network. The resort lies 154 kilometres southeast of Zürich, 239 kilometres from Basel and 175 kilometres from Innsbruck across the Austrian border. The Flüela Pass road east leads to the Engadin valley and St Moritz when open, whilst the Vereina rail tunnel through the mountains provides year-round car transport to the Lower Engadine.
Road access follows the A13 motorway from Zürich direction Chur, exiting at Landquart onto Cantonal Road 28 through the Prättigau valley to Davos - approximately two hours driving time covering 154 kilometres. Swiss motorway vignettes cost CHF 40 and must be displayed. Snow chains may be necessary from Klosters upward during heavy snowfall for two-wheel-drive vehicles. Parking concentrates in paid garages throughout Davos Dorf and Platz, with some hotels offering dedicated spaces.
Zürich Airport sits 154 kilometres northwest as the primary international gateway. Trains depart hourly from beneath the terminal, requiring two changes at Zürich Hauptbahnhof and Landquart to reach Davos Platz via the Rhaetian Railway in approximately 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 11 minutes. Friedrichshafen Airport across the German border lies 153 kilometres distant, whilst St Gallen-Altenrhein sits 89 minutes away. The scenic Rhaetian Railway journey passes through mountain terrain with regular service to Davos Dorf and Davos Platz stations, with onward connections to Klosters.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Davos, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
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31 Aug 2026
Davos Webcams
4 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Davos's live webcams
Check live conditions across Davos with 4 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Davos 3602622m
- Experience complete 360-degree panoramic views through this innovative Davos webcam positioned at 1560 meters elevation in Switzerland's highest alpine town. This Davos live cam provides interactive rotating perspectives across the entire valley, encompassing multiple ski areas and the charming resort town below. Essential for comprehensive weather and visibility assessment, this live snow cam showcases the vast scale of the Davos Klosters region, while this Davos web cam offers unmatched overview capability for planning your day across this legendary Graubünden ski destination that combines world-class terrain with rich winter sports heritage.
- Gotschna2622m
- From its vantage point near the Parsenn summit, this Davos webcam offers impressive views towards the Gotschna peak and its aerial tram terminus, capturing the dramatic high-alpine terrain.
- Schifer2622m
- Positioned at Parsenn's summit, this webcam provides sweeping vistas northward towards the Schifer area, offering clear views of the Schiferbahn gondola and its surrounding terrain.
- Dorftäli2622m
- This Davos webcam surveys the southeastern panorama from Parsenn's peak, overlooking Davos Dorf below and providing an excellent view of the Rapid lift and the popular number 5 trail.
Davos snow cams FAQ
How often do Davos snow cams update?
All Davos snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Davos.
Which Davos webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Davos 360 webcam at 2,622m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Davos webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Davos lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Davos snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Davos snow cams?
Check Davos webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Davos lift tickets?
Use our Davos webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Davos webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Davos snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Davos intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.