We are avid Swiss hikers, in all seasons. However Davos will be a first for us. Although not a location we would ordinarily have chosen, a gratis week at a four star hotel was too much to pass up.

We will be spending a few days in St. Moritz post Davos so we feel that we will stay within the Davos/Klosters area for this week. Any suggestions about winter hiking trails would be greatly appreciated.

While we are on the Davos subject, we have a choice of the Seehof or Waldhuus hotels. Has anyone stayed at either?

Any other ideas about Davos? Restaurants?

Many thanks.

Hello again. I forgot to mention that the week in Davos will be mid-January.

Hello Lenore,

Davos would not be my first choice for a Switzerland vacation either, but a gratis week at a four star hotel sounds excellent!

The hiking around Davos is quite good in winter, though, and the scenery is beautiful (but St. Moritz will beat it easily ).

My personal experiences of Davos are limited to a week in August and some day trips for skiing/cross-country skiing in winter. But here is what I have heard (and cross-country tracks are often parallel to hiking paths).

Definitely do a hike in the Sertig valley. Good restaurant with typical Swiss food in Sertig-Dörfli. It is also a destination of horse-drawn carriages.

I liked the small (and charming) village Davos-Monstein, but I am not sure if there is a groomed hiking path to this place in winter.

Highly recommended is the hike from Ischalp (middle station of the Jakobshorn cable car) via Clavadel down to the valley floor. Very nice, but relatively short is the hike around the (frozen) lake of Davos to Davos-Wolfgang (back by bus or railway).

From Klosters you MUST do a hike via Aeuja and Monbiel to Alp Garfiun. Very quiet and romantic valley.

I cannot recommend on restaurants since my last visit has been about 8 years ago.

Regarding the hotels - the Seehof is *the* in-place in Davos. Very lively, sort of Grand Hotel charm, central, but noisy (traffic) location, next to the Parsenn funicular. The Waldhuus enjoys a quiet location, some hundred meters from the town centre. It is more "alpine" style, many wooden paneled walls and ceilings, located right by the golf-course and the hiking paths.

Once again, I have not stayed in either, but this is what I have heard and read.

Enjoy your time,

Ingo

Ingo, Thank you so much. You have given us wonderful advice that we can use in planning our holiday. Just one question. I understand there is a groomed trail in the Schwartzalp area. Do you know anything about this?

Regarding the hotels, my better half, who is Swiss by birth, likes the idea of the Waldhuus for it's cozy flavor. But since we will be staying at the Meierei in St. Moritz, one of the coziest hotels I know, the idea of the Seehof is a little tempting to me for a change of pace. On the other hand I don't like noisy. I think I'll call the hotel and see if any rooms are facing away from the road.

Thanks again, Ingo.

You are probably aware that the World Economic Forum will take place in Davos 26-30 January, but there are often disruptions in transportation and services up to a week before its start (after January 18-20). Many press and support staff come early, so the town is tightly packed. Also many areas might be closed off because of security considerations.

Hello Mark David Miller,
Thanks for the information. I knew that the Forum came in January but I really wasn't thinking about it's dates. When we were checking the available hotel dates there was full availability through the 25th. Now I understand why availability ended on the 26th. We will be leaving Davos on the 19th so I don't think we will be inconvenienced very much as a result of the Forum.

Hi again Lenore,

I envy you the stay at the Meierei I had the pleasure to enjoy a fabulous lunch there a couple of years ago. Yes, in this case a stay in the Seehof would be a nice change.

How could I forget about the Schatzalp? Sorry, yes you are right - excellent groomed paths there, a short walk to a nearby restaurant but also a longer hike through the woods doable. And a good idea to go there before they build that ugly 100 m high apartment tower.

I am sure the Seehof has quiet rooms, but these are probably without nice views.

I would not be concerned about the WEF. Have been there the week before it took place and no problems at all.

Enjoy,

Ingo