Text and photos by Aurea Fagel
After a very long Covid spell, I am back kicking and eager to give you again my humble recommendations for local travel! My recent trip was an unexpected destination - dazzling Davos! One you won’t probably put on your list but will certainly tickle your interest especially if you are looking for some quiet respite with nature and a relaxing break. Indeed, it is a famous ski resort destination but here are 8 reasons I can give you to consider Davos on your summer/autumn travel list:
Get on a Rhaetian Railway train! If you are going to Davos, taking the train is a great option, especially with Carte Journalière deals. You will hop on the historic Rhaetian Railway trains passing through the scenic alpine forests and mountains en route to Davos Platz/Klosters. You may even max out your ticket by taking the UNESCO heritage Rhaetian Railway Albula-Bernina route to Filisur or Tiefencastel and pass through 2 historic bridges “Landwasserviadukt” and “Wiesnerviadukt”!
Take a leisurely visit to Schatzalp, the location for the movie and literary masterpiece “Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann. It is just a 10-minute funicular ride and you will see right away the Art Nouveau Hotel Schatzalp which was once a luxurious sanatorium in the late 19th century and now also houses over 3,000 varieties of plants and herbs (like at least 5 kinds of rosemary herbs from various countries!) in their botanical garden. The historic hotel has a nice balcony restaurant giving you panoramic mountain views such as the Jakobshorn, Rinerhorn and Piz Ela. Inside the hotel you will find Art Nouveau decors and ambiance especially the dining room and lobby. And of course, walking trails!
Relax and chill by the Davos lakeside at the Davos Surf Club. The Davos lakeside is accessible by bus and is not far from the train station of Davos Dorf so you can also walk from there. There is a short pathway along the lake leading you to the Davos Surf Club where you can sit outside, chill and grab some drinks. If you are lucky, you can watch some kitesurfers and sailors.
Drop by the Kongres Zentrum Landschaft Davos, the venue of the famous World Economic Forum (WEF) event held annually at the start of the year. Feel the aura of this event as you walk through the halls and meeting rooms.
Try traditional dishes at the historic Kirchner’s Stubli Restaurant in the TurmHotel Victoria. The setting is very alpine, chalet-style, with traditional Swiss dishes and Swiss wines to match. And it used to be frequented by the artist painter Edward Kirchner hence the name. The hotel tower itself is worth a photo-opp.
Take the very easy Helsana Trail in nearby Klosters. It starts within the town center, from one of the main bridges and follows the river path passing by some artworks and sculptures before circling back to the town. There are signs everywhere and it is a leisurely enjoyable nature walk, one that most locals take daily.
Then indulge in a hearty delicious meal at the famous and renowned Chesa Grischuna Hotel Restaurant, located just beside the Klosters Tourism office. Try one of their homemade Capuns with chanterelles mushrooms (a veggie dish!) and also their local wines. The place has a very authentic early 19th-century setting and historically the hotel is a holiday sport for American soldiers after the Second World War and boasts a guestbook filled with royalties, actors, authors, and famous people!
Discover the famous collection of paintings of Ernest Ludwig Kirchner at the Kirchner Museum in Davos Dorf. He is one of the most famous expressionist artists and has lived for 20 years of his life in Davos, painting the landscapes and the people.
TIP: If you stay at least one night in any hotels /accommodations in Davos, you will get the Premium Card (also available digitally) which gives you free public transport and reduced tickets prices during your stay.
Author bio
Aurea Fagel - A keen photographer and former expat who loves to travel, discover food, wine and cultures, does a bit of feng shui & home design and plays Scrabble & Gateball. She has been living in Switzerland since 2000 and would like to share her experiences, photos and perspectives on all of the above! Her blog caters to Swiss locals.
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