Davos Travel and Things to Do Guide

Welcome to Cvent's Meeting and Event Planning Guide to Davos, a guide for meeting professionals. One of the most renowned destinations in the world, Davos is held in high regard for its sports, leisure, and cultural facilities, rejuvenating climate, research institutions, and long tradition of hospitality. The clear leader in the global meeting market in the mountains, Davos is home to the leading conference center in the Alps, which hosts the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting and thereby welcomes approximately over 3,000 internationally known economists, politicians, intellectuals, and media representatives to discuss the latest global issues each year. Davos' reputation as a strong meeting and convention area, as well as its exceptional lodging, shopping, and dining options, help make this urban destination a center of energy, education, and knowledge, all contributing to the spirit of Davos.

The 110-square-mile alpine metropolis, surrounded by a picturesque natural environment, is also known as the highest town in Europe, as it sits 5,118 feet above sea level. Comprising six sections, including Davos Dorf, Davos Platz, Frauenkirch, Glaris, Monstein, and Wiesen, Davos conveniently sits 45 miles from St. Moritz, 99 miles from Zurich, 100 miles from Lugano, and 105 miles from Lucerne. Visitors fly into Zurich Airport, which holds the title of Switzerland's largest and busiest airport for international flight connections. At the airport, visitors can hop aboard Swiss national rail service to Landquart, and then continue on the Rhaetian railway to Davos, a trip that takes less than 2.5 hours from the airport. The Davos Express shuttle bus service offers round-trip service between Zurich Airport and Davos every Saturday during the winter season. Once in Davos, delegates can maneuver the town aboard both public rail and bus service. What's more, Davos offers all guests who stay at least one night the Davos Klosters Inclusive Card, which grants free transport on cable cars, Rhaetian rail, and local buses, as well as free use of the Davos Sports Centre and discounts on many attractions and activities. (Alternative international airports are in Munich and Innsbruck.)

Conveniently situated in the middle of Davos, between Davos Dorf and Davos Platz, the cutting-edge Congress Centre Davos is known for its modern design and state-of-the-art technological amenities. Spanning more than 129,000 square feet and accommodating up to 5,000 delegates, Congress Centre Davos is also perfectly outfitted for medical congresses and most notably serves as the home of the annual WEF, which takes place every January. Congress Centre Davos features a 14,000-square-foot plenary hall with a unique honeycomb ceiling, as well as 34 other meeting and event rooms for 20 to 1,800 delegates.

Aside from its famous Congress Centre Davos, the city of Davos offers a variety of unique venues that demonstrate the spirit of Davos, as well as serve as fantastic sites for group gatherings. Groups can hold private events in the striking Kirchner Museum, a crystalline building of glass, concrete, wood, and steel. The museum houses the world's largest collection of the works of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, one of the pioneers of German Expressionism, as well as showcases other works of classical modernism and contemporary art. Delegates, particularly those attending medical conferences, can secure private tours of the Museum of Medicine, which explores Davos' health resort origins through a variety of equipment, X-rays, and files that document the activities of local physicians and researchers. Another option for private events, the Winter Sports Museum examines Davos' history as the birthplace of modern winter sports, thanks to its collection of equipment and documents relating to the beginning of winter sports and including the sports of today.

For events and activities that are more on the active side, groups can explore the five ropes courses at Adventure Park Faerich, which are designed for adventurers of varying levels. Aside from its ropes courses and children's ropes course, the park features a bike park and bike rentals. Groups who prefer to stay outdoors but on the ground can secure private tours of the 12-acre Alpinum Schatzalp, a botanical garden, home to 10,000 plants and 2,000 different species from mountain ranges around the world, including New Zealand, China, Nepal, and Tibet. Situated at more than 6,200 feet above sea level, the 12-acre garden was the first botanical garden on the Schatzalp, created in 1907 as a sanitarium for tuberculosis sufferers. Today, the garden features protected and endangered species, as well as a medicinal plant garden and modern naturopathy collection.