When it comes to enviable places to live in Switzerland, Davos is high on the list – quite literally, in fact, because at 1,560 metres-above-sea-level, it’s also the highest town in Europe.
But it’s not just the altitude that’s impressive. This Alpine town is packed with life and energy in every season, but it’s also perfectly positioned for enjoying some of Switzerland’s most incredible natural wonders, being surrounded by towering, snow-strewn mountains and thick pine forests.
And while Davos may be famed, justifiably, for its world-class winter sports and superlative skiing, summer is also a glorious time to be there. This is when life switches from the slopes to the shore of the lake, and après-ski vibes turn alfresco, with locals and tourists found enjoying cocktails on rooftop terraces and sipping frosty brews in sunny beer gardens.
Essentially, life in Davos is good, year-round. And if you want to be a part of it, that’s now possible thanks to The Residences at the Hard Rock Hotel Davos, a complex of pristine apartments which are also available for non-Swiss residents to purchase. Designed by celebrated global architecture studio Woods Bagot, these contemporary-yet-cosy homes are positioned in central Davos, with the town’s many atmospheric cafes, bars and restaurants just metres from your doorstep, and truly epic mountain adventures just a stone’s throw away.
Owners will be able to spend eight weeks a year in their new pad (including three weeks during high season for ski junkies), with the property fully managed and rented out by the hotel for the remaining time, meaning it’ll be generating income for you when you’re not there. Plus – and this is a big plus – you’ll also get access to the premium facilities at Hard Rock Hotel Davos, including entry to the Rock Spa® (featuring saunas, steam room, swimming pool and rejuvenating wellness treatments), fitness centre, and hotel restaurants and bars.
That seems like a big win-win to us. Find out more at residencesathrhdavos.com and take a peek at what’s on offer in a virtual tour at residencesathrhdavos.com/virtual-tours.
To get you inspired for Davos living, we’ve picked out some of the region’s top activities and experiences, covering winter, summer and everything in-between.
Heralded as the birthplace of Swiss skiing (after four English visitors got lost here in 1985 and accidentally discovered the vast Parsenn descent), this famous 12-kilometre piste links Davos and Küblis, and has become rightly famous over the years. Switzerland’s oldest ski race, the Parsenn Derby, is held here annually, but if skiing isn’t your thing, there are opportunities for tobogganing, paragliding and hiking, too.
If you want to get away from the well-trodden paths around Davos Klosters, strap on a pair of snowshoes and get stomping. The best option for beginners is to take a guided walk, as your guide can lead you through deeply snow-laden forests and across frosty landscapes, as well as making sure you have the right equipment. A full moon is a special time for a snowshoe walk and a trip can be combined with an evening meal of local specialities in a traditional mountain hut.
Set in a former dairy in a gorgeous mountain village, Monsteiner is the highest brewery in Switzerland (and also one of the highest in the world), sitting at an altitude of 1,624 metres-above-sea-level. But this is no novelty operation, as Monsteiner have been making delightful craft beer since 2001, made even more delightful by the ridiculously beautiful mountain views you’ll admire while enjoying your brew.
Whether you prefer mountain biking or road riding, and whether you’re a pedal veteran or an occasionalist cyclist – or even a complete beginner – Davos has all the cycling routes and options you’ll need, plus a good few more. Follow in the trails of the pros as you cycle the Albula Pass and Flüela Pass (popular sections on the Tour de Suisse, no less) or go off-road and explore the many (well-signposted) mountain routes to get to know the landscape. Need a little engine-powered inspiration to get up those hills? Simply grab an e-bike and off you go with minimal effort.
If you prefer a more grounded approach to exploring, fear not, as Davos is also blessed with a multitude of outstanding hiking trails. First things first – if you’re going to be a Davos resident, you need to climb the Flüela Schwarzhorn. At 3,146 metres-above-sea-level it’s the highest point in Davos and a local institution. Naturally, it also offers superb views for miles around, including down over the Flüela Pass, where you’ll spot cyclists building up thighs of steel in the saddle. Afterwards, start working your way through the rest of the area’s 700 kilometres of signposted trials. Fancy picnicking by a mountain lake? Head from the summit of Jakobshorn (reachable via cable car) down to beautiful Lake Stadlersee. Looking for a family friendly hike? Take the kids from Rinerhorn to Sertigtal Valley via the mountain station near Jatzmeder restaurant, where little ones will be delighted to find a playground, before you continue on past meadows and forests into the valley.
As we’ve already mentioned, summer is a fine, fine time to be residing in Davos, and one of the key reasons for that is the enchanting Lake Davos. Get the adrenaline flowing by windsurfing or wakeboarding, or go zen as you drift peacefully on your stand-up paddleboard. Or just kick back and relax on the beach area as you gaze out over the water, watching sailing boats and windsurfers skimming across the water, perhaps drifting into one of the cute lakeside cafes afterwards for a treat.
Make the most of the summer sun by strolling leisurely through the Alpinum, Davos’s botanical gardens. It houses around 5,000 different plant species from mountains all over the world, including the Pyrenees, Himalayas and Appalachians, as well as the Alps, of course. There are guided walking tours for those who want to swot-up on their botany, summer cocktail evenings, a kitchen herb garden, a choice of restaurants in and around the grounds, and even a summer toboggan run, where you can hurtle down a 500-metre-long track.