Davos & Parsenn
Treat Davos as a high-valley base whose useful plan changes by season, then choose Parsenn or a lower lake/valley day according to lift status and weather.
Valley day
Lake, town and easy transport; lowest weather risk.
Parsenn day
Mountain transport and open trails or winter terrain.
Culture fallback
Museums and indoor stops in poor weather or shoulder season.
Know where the day actually begins.
RhB trains reach Davos from Landquart; the resort has multiple stations. Mountain-lift access depends on where you stay and which system is operating.
What this route gives up.
Davos gives robust infrastructure and broad mountain access but less compact old-town character. It suits outdoor travelers; visitors seeking historic urban texture may prefer Chur as the overnight base.
Fit this field guide into Chur, Davos & Graubünden, not into an isolated checklist.
Chur is a compact historic city and the practical gate to multiple Rhaetian Railway corridors. Davos, Arosa and the Rhine Gorge are not neighboring attractions in walking terms; each is a distinct rail or road day. Treat the canton as a set of transport corridors with different weather and seasonal functions.
Two nights in Chur can support one city and one excursion; more time belongs in the mountain base itself if hiking or winter sports are the purpose.
RhB trains are the organizing system. Arosa, Davos and the Rhine Gorge use different branches; through-ticket ease should not be mistaken for geographic closeness.
Resort lifts, hiking trails and winter operations vary strongly by season. Chur remains usable year-round and is the safest fallback when high terrain closes.
If mountain plans fail, use Chur’s old town, museums and a shorter rail excursion. Keep a second corridor ready instead of forcing a closed lift or exposed trail.
Arrive, orient, commit, then protect the return.
Check Davos Klosters lift status, RhB trains and current trail/snow information. Check Davos Klosters lift status, RhB trains, MeteoSwiss and the current trail or snow report for the exact mountain sector you intend to use before leaving the valley floor.
- 01Arrive
Identify your Davos station
Dorf and Platz are different anchors; match the hotel and lift.
- 02Orient
Check seasonal operations
Do not assume the advertised mountain system is running on your date.
- 03Commit
Commit to one elevation block
Spend the day in one mountain area rather than crossing the valley repeatedly.
- 04Return
Return before local frequency thins
Finish at the correct station for the hotel or onward train.
A useful day even when the postcard disappears.
When lifts close or weather turns, use the lake, museums, valley buses and rail-accessible scenery. Shoulder season can be quiet enough that planning around open businesses matters.
Check Davos Klosters lift status, RhB trains and current trail/snow information. Check Davos Klosters lift status, RhB trains, MeteoSwiss and the current trail or snow report for the exact mountain sector you intend to use before leaving the valley floor.
Change the plan before the problem compounds.
Multiple stations
Wrong-station assumptions cost time with luggage.
Shoulder-season quiet
Restaurants and lifts can pause between seasons.
Sports terrain
Winter and summer routes require their own safety knowledge and conditions.
Other ways to use Chur, Davos & Graubünden.
Chur Old Town & Rhine Gorge
Use Chur’s old town as a compact urban anchor, then choose a specific Rhine Gorge rail or walking segment rather than…
Open this guide →
Arosa & the Mountain Railway
Make the Chur–Arosa railway part of the excursion, then keep the resort day focused on the lake, village or one open…
Open this guide →Davos & Parsenn FAQ
How much time should I give Davos & Parsenn?
Give Davos a full day even without a major hike. Mountain routes need separate condition checks and more margin.
What should I combine with Davos & Parsenn?
Pair with one mountain system only. Do not turn Davos into a transit stop en route to Arosa.
What should I verify before leaving?
Check Davos Klosters lift status, RhB trains and current trail/snow information. Check Davos Klosters lift status, RhB trains, MeteoSwiss and the current trail or snow report for the exact mountain sector you intend to use before leaving the valley floor.
Official sources and photo credits
Planning facts and image licensing were reviewed on 12 September 2026. Lift, boat, trail, weather and transport conditions can change quickly; verify the linked operator or authority before travel.
- Graubünden Tourism.
- Rhaetian Railway.
- Davos Klosters Tourism.
- Arosa Lenzerheide.
- Chur (Altstadt).jpg — Freaktalius, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, display-cropped and converted to WebP; no other material edits.
- Davos as seen from Älplihorn (summer).jpg — Capricorn4049, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, display-cropped and converted to WebP; no other material edits.
- Arosa, Switzerland - Lake (2).jpg — Aileen's Pics, CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized, display-cropped and converted to WebP; no other material edits.