Davos Klosters

The centre of one of Switzerland’s largest, oldest and best known ski areas. A large town, split in to two (Davos Dorf and Davos Platz), year round tourism/conference centre, world class facilities. Davos has for centuries been a major health centre and today has a hospital and three clinics, four of them specifically for children.

Davos today is the largest and most successful of the first breed of classic ski resorts. Europe’s highest town has successfully consolidated its significance in the early years of winter sports by constantly improving its ski area so that it has remained one of the world’s best. At the same time developments in the town itself have kept ahead of the pack and of equal or greater value to Davos are its world class medical institutions and its international status in playing annual host to world leaders in staging the World Economic Forum.

The Davos local authority, which includes the town, outlying villages and countryside, is the second largest area within Switzerland, larger even than the city of Zurich. The many facets of this remarkable resort mean that tourist office marketing slogans such as “Europe’s most extensive alpine resort” are not exaggerations. The town spreads along the valley floor for several miles with the more concentrated western section named Davos Platz, and the eastern Davos Dorf. The architecture is generally of grand design rather than being particularly picturesque, however the whole is attractive in its way, and the scenery around certainly spectacular. The main off-slope leisure facilities are nicely placed between the two halves and the major access lifts to the ski slopes are also well spaced throughout the town.

Davos’s growth as a mountain sports resort developed out of its existing status as a leading health resort in the late 19th and early 20th century. In years gone by Davos provided tuberculosis sufferers with sanatoriums, but today there are highly specialised institutes providing, in particular, therapy for allergies, respiratory illnesses and dermatological complaints.

At the turn of the last century up to 700,000 overnight bookings a year were being registered from visitors mainly for the health benefits (this was an increase on an annual figure of two visitors in 1866). The resort’s importance as a pioneer in winter sports cannot be under stated however: Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, is thought to be the first Scot to travel on skis, travelling from Davos to Arosa and the world’s first T Bar lift was installed at Davos in 1934.

Ski with the Ski Club of Great Britain today!

The Ski Club is the UK’s oldest and largest snowsports membership organisation, dedicated to bringing skiers together to discover better skiing through an enthusiastic community! The Ski Club operates a dedicated Ski Club Rep in this resort, along with 28 other resorts across Europe and North America – ski with us today and find your best day ever on snow.

Alongside Reps, the Club offers a host of services to help you make the most of your time on snow, including travel insurance designed by skiers for skiers, exclusive discounts for our Members, a huge range of information online and in our magazine, amazing Ski Club Experiences, special events in the UK and broad plus incredible Ski Club Freshtracks holidays around the world for every taste in skiing.