Discover Davos Platz

Davos Platz lies at 1,560 metres above sea level and is one of Davos’s two neighbouring population centres. Art, local history and winter sports shape different sides of the village; on Schatzalp, a mountain railway, a botanical garden and a literary trail add to the mix. If you are looking for a hotel in Davos Platz, these themes can help guide your stay: would you like to focus mainly on art and history, or make time for trails and winter sports?

Davos Platz and the history of Davos

Davos lies on the Landwasser River in the Rhaetian Alps, between the Plessur and Albula mountain ranges. Davos developed into the largest Walser settlement in Graubünden and founded the League of the Ten Jurisdictions in 1436. As its principal town, the municipality had a significant influence on the politics of the Three Leagues. From the mid-19th century, Davos developed into an internationally renowned health resort; later, greater emphasis was placed on winter sports. This development connects local history with a theme that is also central to the Davos Winter Sports Museum today.

Art, churches and winter sports history

The Davos Winter Sports Museum is located at Promenade 43, 7270 Davos Platz. It shows how and when the first skis, bobsleds and ice skates came to Davos, and why ice hockey is a particular passion in the village. The exhibition thus connects the early history of winter sports with a sport that has special significance for Davos.

The Kirchner Museum Davos is located at Promenade 82, 7270 Davos Platz. It houses the world’s largest collection of works by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. The museum building was designed and built by Zurich architects Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer. The site thus brings both the artist’s works and the museum’s architecture into focus.

St. Johann Church in Davos dates back to the 13th century. Its large tower was built in 1481 and is 71.20 metres high. The old St. Johann Church contained wall paintings; the church was remodelled in 1909. Another historic feature of the village is the Knabenbrunnen fountain in Platzgarten, also known as Postplatz. Wilhelm Schwerzmann created the ornamental fountain with the playing boys in 1928.

Schatzalp: garden and literary trail

The Schatzalp funicular reaches Schatzalp from Davos Platz in four minutes. More than 3,500 plant species and varieties bloom at the Alpinum Schatzalp Botanical Garden from June to September. The flowering season is therefore clearly limited to certain months. The Thomas Mann Trail offers a different focus: it runs from the Waldhotel Davos to Schatzalp, is accessible year-round and includes ten literary stops with quotations from The Magic Mountain. The garden and trail therefore differ not only in their themes, but also in when their respective highlights can be enjoyed.

Winter experiences with different highlights

In the Schatzalp-Strela ski area, skiing takes place on natural snow, without artificial snowmaking. Another winter activity is the 2.8-kilometre toboggan run: it winds through the Schatzalp Magic Forest in 18 bends down to Davos Platz and is suitable for children and beginners as well. The details on its length, route and suitability make it a clearly described option when planning a tobogganing trip.

“Eistraum Davos” brings together ice skating, curling, hockey and speed skating on a 4,500-square-metre ice rink. It is Switzerland’s largest mobile artificial ice rink. Ice gliders can be provided free of charge on request for wheelchair users; it is best to confirm their current availability before your visit. Unlike the activities on Schatzalp, Eistraum brings several ice sports together in one place.

Getting there and planning your stay

Davos can be reached by Swiss Federal Railways to Landquart, followed by the Rhaetian Railway. Check the connection for your travel date when planning your journey. You can then choose among the Davos activities mentioned according to your interests: the museum and churches represent culture and history, Schatzalp combines nature and literature, while tobogganing and ice sports offer different winter activities. These distinctions provide an objective basis for deciding whether Davos Platz is the right destination for your hotel stay.

Discover more destinations: Luzein, Fideris, Seewis im Prättigau, Davos, Saas, Sankt Antönien, Valzeina, Schiers

Return to the regional travel overview: Prättigau-Davos.