The Best Hikes in Switzerland: Davos
The Top 5 Must-Do Hikes in Davos, Switzerland
Best Hikes in Davos, Switzerland: Jöriseen
When you think of the Swiss Alps, there are usually a few iconic mountain towns that immediately come to mind. One of my favourite places to hike in Switzerland that might not immediately come to mind but should be on everyone's list to visit: Davos.
Davos is in the canton of Graubunden on the eastern side of Switzerland, nestled in the mountain valley of Landwasser near the Austrian border. This quaint town is an adventure lovers’ dream - one town, unlimited activity options! Skiing, snowshoeing, paragliding, mountain biking, winter hiking, cross country skiing and ice skating, there really is no shortage of outdoor activities here! But one of the reasons Davos is so great is the abundance of hiking options.
Davos offers some of the best hikes in Switzerland and some of the most beautiful, and they are all easily accessible from right in town. You can walk outside of your hotel, and start hiking! If you prefer, like me, to take a lift part way up or down the mountain, there are 3 main lift areas right in the town of Davos that are open in the summer: Schatzalp, Parsenn, and Jakobshorn.
With so many hiking areas and trails, it can be overwhelming deciding where to go! So without further ado, here is a top 5 must-do list so you can see for yourself why Davos has some of the best hikes in Switzerland.
Jakobshorn
Route: Jakobshorn - Tällifurgga - Rüedisch Trail
Length: 3.5 hours, 10 km
Starting point: Jakobshorn lift
Best Hikes in Davos, Switzerland: View from Jatzhorn
This hike is not only one of my top hikes in Switzerland, but one of the top hikes I’ve ever done in any country.
After gaining most elevation to the top of Jatzhorn from the Jakobshorn lift, you continue up and down a ridge to Tällifurgga. From here, you can continue down to Rüedisch trail to Teufi, or head right to Sertig Dorfi. Rüedisch trail takes you through a pasture that is well marked but no real defined trail - watch out for the cow patties! Eventually, you’ll make it to a road, and these last couple of kilometres to Tuefi you lose all of the elevation you gained. This part was tough on the knees!
At Teufi, you can take the bus back to town.
Tip: there are ZERO shaded areas on this hike, so make sure to bring proper sun protection on sunny days.
2. Seehorn
Route: Davosersee - Drusatscha - Chaltboden - Seehorn
Length: 546 m gain, 8 km
Starting point: Davosersee
Best Hikes in Davos, Switzerland: View from Seehorn
The prominent Seehorn can be seen as soon as you drive into Davos, towering above Davosersee. There are a couple of routes to get to the summit, a quick and dirty steep grind that involves some hands-on scrambling with rope sections, or a longer more scenic route along the lake and up from there.
The more scenic route up to Drusatscha takes you up through farmland, and you make your way up switchbacks to Chaltboden. Once at the summit, the views of Pischa and Flüelapass are incredible. This side seems a bit quieter compared to other areas, and my guess is because there are no lifts in this area.
Be careful: like most trails in Davos, hikers share the trail with mountain bikers so be cautious around blind corners.
3. Jöriseen
Route: Wägerhus - Jöriflüelafurgga - Jöriseen
Length: 13.5 km,
Starting point: Wägerhus bus stop
Best Hikes in Davos, Switzerland: View from Jöriflüelafurgga
Another favourite hike in Switzerland! Any hike with bright turquoise blue lakes instantly makes it to the top of my favourite hikes, and this hike is no exception.
There are a few starting points and routes that you can take to get to Joriseen. A shorter and more direct route starts at Wägerhus bus stop. From here, you have the option of a loop hike! Going up clockwise, you make your way up to Jöriflüelafurgga which has incredible 360 degree views. This is a great spot for a little break before heading down to Jöriseen, which has unlimited lakeside snack spots!
You can make your way back to the bus stop on the same trail, or continue on around the lakes up to Winterlücke and back to Wägerhus - this was my plan when I went, but there was too much snow on the Winterlücke route!
Tip: there is no bathroom at the bus stop or anywhere along the trail.
4. Rinerhorn - Oberalp
Route: Jatzmeder - Oberalp- Monstein
Length: 2.75 hrs, 9 km
Starting point: Top of Rinerhorn lift, Jatzmeder
Best Hikes in Davos, Switzerland: Monstein beer and rösti
This hike is the least strenuous out of all of the hikes on this list. It was a much quieter trail through forest and farmland and it’s a beautiful and enjoyable walk if you’re looking for a more leisurely stroll. There is a mountain hut at Oberalp that serves freshly made food and cold drinks (cash only!), or you can continue into Monstein for a few more food options. There is a brewery here, and it is the highest elevation brewery in Europe! The brewery offers tours on select days, and is a perfect spot to sample the local refreshments along with a Switzerland classic dish: rösti.
5. Panoramaweg
Route: Parsennbahn - Panoramaweg - Parsennhütte - Gotschnagrat
Length: 3 hours
Starting point: Parsennbahn, Mittelstation
Best Hikes in Davos, Switzerland: common “wild” life seen hiking in Switzerland
A classic hike in Switzerland, and a classic hike in Davos! Panoramaweg stretches across the majority of the east side of Davos from Davos Dorf to Davos Platz, and any section of this trail is beautiful! The Panoramaweg can be started in a few different areas, and one of my favourite variations begins at Parsennbahn Mittelstation. You can either hike up to the Mittelstation or take the lift and once you’ve reached the mittelstation it’s a nice ridge walk all the way to Parsennhütte. Here, you can stop in and enjoy a refreshment and Apfelstrudel on the large patio, taking in the views of the Swiss Alps and the many cows who call these mountains home in the summer. 20 minutes from the hütte is the lift at Gotschnagrat (Gotschnabahn) to take you back down to Klosters, or there is a trail to walk directly back down to Wolfgang Davos from Parsennhütte.
Alternate route: Another favourite section of the Panoramaweg starts at Strelapass. It’s worth checking out both areas!
Tip: Most lifts take credit cards for payment, but some don’t - it’s always a good idea to carry some cash just in case you decide to take a lift down and to have cash on hand for stops at the huts!
Davos is an incredible destination for outdoor lovers in Switzerland. If you’re looking for one town that has beautiful views, friendly people, and some amazing hiking in the Swiss Alps, Davos is the place.
The Davos Klosters website is a very valuable resource for figuring out trails, starting points, train and bus stop names, and even more suggested routes.
The SBB app is so useful for not just Davos, but for all of Switzerland. View schedules, and book trains, bus or most lift tickets in advance and on the fly.
There are many hotel and hostel options throughout town, and you can explore those through my favourite hotel booking site below.