Davos is a town in the canton of Graubünden, in the south-east of Switzerland, set in a high alpine valley about 150 kilometres from Zurich. It is best known internationally as the home of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, but for most of the year it is a working alpine resort town — one of the largest in the Alps — surrounded by ski mountains and hiking trails.
How high is Davos?
At roughly 1,560 metres (5,120 feet) above sea level, Davos is the highest town in Europe. That altitude defines the place: long, snow-reliable winters, crisp thin air, and a climate that made the town famous as a health resort long before it became a conference destination. It is high enough that visitors arriving from sea level occasionally notice the thinner air for a day or two — worth keeping in mind if you are planning anything strenuous on arrival.
Where exactly is it?
Davos sits in the Landwasser valley, hemmed in by mountains on both sides. The town stretches along the valley floor in two linked halves — Davos Platz at the southern end (home to the Congress Centre and the main promenade) and Davos Dorf to the north — with the smaller village of Davos Wolfgang beyond. Just over the Wolfgang Pass lies neighbouring Klosters, a quieter and more exclusive village that shares the same ski region and is around twenty minutes away.
For orientation: Davos is east of Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland, south-east of Zurich, and north of St. Moritz and the Engadin. The nearest major rail junction is Landquart, where the main Swiss network meets the narrow-gauge Rhaetian Railway that climbs the final stretch into the mountains.
How do you get there?
There is no airport at Davos itself. Almost everyone arrives via Zurich Airport (ZRH), then completes the journey by road or rail:
- By car, it is around two to two and a half hours from Zurich, longer in winter or during the Annual Meeting.
- By train, plan for roughly two and a half to three hours, typically changing at Landquart onto the scenic Rhaetian Railway.
- By helicopter, for time-critical arrivals, the flight is around 30–40 minutes.
We cover each option, with timings and trade-offs, in our dedicated guide on getting from Zurich Airport to Davos.
When to visit
Davos works in every season. Winter (December to April) is the headline — five ski mountains and over 300 kilometres of piste — and also the period of both the Spengler Cup and the Annual Meeting. Summer brings hiking, mountain biking, and a lake warm enough to swim. The shoulder seasons are quieter and cheaper, with the town catching its breath between the crowds.
If you are coming for the Annual Meeting 2027, the practical reality is that Davos is a small town absorbing an enormous temporary influx, and accommodation is the constraint that governs everything else. The earlier you secure a verified place to stay, the more of the week falls into place around it. Browse Davos 2027 accommodation or talk to our concierge team to plan your stay.