Resort Report: Davos, Switzerland
Enjoy the Heidi high
Sunday 04 January 2004
Latest in Skiing
On Facebook
Where is it?
Where is it?
Davos, 1,500m above sea level in the Graubünden region of Switzerland, has pedigree aplenty among its grand hotels and smart shops.
Chocolate box or concrete box?
Davos is on the Heidi Express train line, but chocolate box it isn't, despite the quantity of chocolate on sale.
What's the snow like?
Usually pretty good, with a top height of 2,800m and most of the home runs covered by snow cannons.
Going up
Davos shares its mountain transport with Klosters, and has 54 lifts. The only annoyance is getting between ski areas, though the transport is efficient.
Coming down
Beginners should head for Bolgen, then up the mountain to the wide blue runs on Parsenn. Intermediates should launch out on the 12km descent from the village of Kublis, from which a train goes back to Davos. For experts, the real challenges lie off-piste.
Where can I leave the kids?
The Bobo Club (00 41 81 416 59 69) will take four- to seven-year-olds and teach them the art of falling over. The Pischa Children's Paradise nursery (00 41 79 660 31 68)takes kids from three-years-old.
Can I get some air?
There are two half-pipes on Jakobshorn and plenty of challenging off-piste into the surrounding valleys.
How much for a lift pass?
A six-day Davos/Klosters lift pass costs 279 Swiss francs (£125) for adults, Sfr187 for 13- to 17-year-olds and Sfr93 for 6- to 12-year-olds. There are also seven free lifts for beginners.
My thighs hurt. Can I slope off?
Wellness is the word in places such as the Waldhotel Bellevue (00 41 81 415 37 47) and Bristol Wellness (00 41 81 416 31 33), with everything from shiatsu to brine baths on offer.
Where can I eat up my francs?
If chocolate is your first love, then head for Schneider (00 41 81 420 00 00) or Choccolino (00 41 81 413 68 61). Fondue and traditional Swiss fare can be found at Gentiana (00 41 81 413 56 49), a smart oasis in Davos Platz's urban jungle.
Après-ski rating
On Jakobshorn, swinging skiers should head for the Jatzhütte or Bolgen Plaza. For non-ski-boot drinking, Davos Platz is your best bet, with the Ex Bar and Chämi Bar the liveliest options.
How do I get there?
It's a 144km drive from Zurich to Davos and about a three-hour train ride.
In the area
Hop on the Panorama train, fitted out with big windows for the scenery on the trip through Albula valley to St Moritz.
- 1 Spotify: 1 million plays, £108 return
- 2 How Koscielny became prince of the Emirates
- 3 Apple admits it has a human rights problem
- 4 Mark Steel: If religion is 'marginal', I'm the Pope
- 5 No secularism please, we're British
- 6 Lightning kills an entire football team
- 7 Matthew Norman: There's always the Human Rights Act, Trevor
- 8 Special report: The hungry generation
- 9 I was born to be a killer. Every night I see the Devil in my dreams
- 10 Six Grammys, five years off: Adele puts love before career
Free trial of new Independent iPad app
Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines
Win a three-week coastal jaunt
Spend three weeks exploring every nook and cranny of gorgeous Atlantic Canada.
Amazing restaurant offers
Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.
Latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
How an abortion divided America
Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...








Comments