Davos combines mountain activities, museums, swimming, skating, playgrounds, and easy public transport in one compact Swiss resort. It can work especially well for active families, but many attractions are seasonal. Before choosing your dates, check the current lift calendar, weather, activity restrictions, and opening hours.
Quick Answer
Davos is a good family destination for skiing, sledding, hiking, lake activities, museums, and mountain adventures. Winter suits snow-loving families, while summer offers the widest choice for hiking and outdoor play. Plan around seasonal lift schedules, check age restrictions, and leave room for changing alpine weather.
Key Takeaways
- Winter highlights include ski lessons, sledding, winter walks, and seasonal ice skating.
- Summer activities include family hikes, Lake Davos, Madrisa-Land, the Davos Adventure Park, and mountain animal experiences.
- Many lifts and attractions close between seasons, so check the official operating calendar before booking.
- A Davos Klosters guest card may include local public transport and discounts, depending on your accommodation and travel zones.
- Families should confirm age limits, high chairs, children’s menus, childcare spaces, and room occupancy directly with each provider.
Is Davos Good for Families?
Davos is well suited to families that enjoy being outdoors but still want indoor backup options. Ski areas, marked walking routes, playgrounds, museums, pools, local buses, and mountain railways make it possible to plan days for different ages.
The destination is not perfect for every family. Switzerland can be expensive, alpine weather can interrupt plans, and some attractions are unsuitable for toddlers. Mountain railway schedules also change by season, so a successful visit requires more advance checking than a typical city break.
The official Davos Klosters family guide is the best starting point for current activities, family facilities, and seasonal programmes.
Best Time to Visit Davos With Kids
Winter: skiing, sledding, and ice activities
Winter is the best choice if skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or snowy scenery is your priority. The main winter season usually runs from December into March or April, but opening dates depend on the mountain, snow, weather, and maintenance schedule.
Families travelling near the beginning or end of the season should be especially careful. A town may look snowy while a specific beginner area, sledding route, or lift remains closed.
Summer: hiking, lakes, and mountain play
Summer gives families the broadest mix of hiking, mountain railways, playgrounds, animal experiences, water activities, and outdoor attractions. Late June through September is generally the most dependable period for access to several higher mountain areas.
Some facilities open earlier or remain available into October, but each railway follows its own calendar. Review the official mountain railway operating times before finalizing an itinerary.
Spring and autumn: quieter but less predictable
Spring and autumn can bring lower accommodation demand and quieter streets. However, these are transition periods. Mountain railways, restaurants, trails, and attractions may close temporarily, and snow or mud can affect higher routes.
Note: Do not rely only on a business profile or an old travel guide. Check the attraction’s official page and the live lift, trail, or facility status shortly before leaving your accommodation.
Outdoor Activities for Kids in Davos
Winter activities
Davos Klosters has several snow-sport areas, ski schools, and beginner facilities. A lesson can be helpful even when parents already ski because instructors can match the child to suitable terrain and explain local slope rules.
- Skiing and snowboarding: Compare lesson age limits, group sizes, language options, equipment rental, and meeting points before booking.
- Sledding: Use designated routes and check whether children may ride alone or need an accompanying adult.
- Winter walking: Choose marked and maintained winter paths rather than ordinary summer hiking trails hidden by snow.
- Ice skating: Davos has indoor and outdoor skating options, but they are seasonal and may follow changing public-session schedules.
- Snow play: Beginner areas and family snow parks can be easier for small children than committing to a full ski day.
The official Davos ice-rink page publishes seasonal information and weekly schedules. Public skating should not be described as available year-round.
Summer activities
In summer, families can combine short hikes, mountain playgrounds, animal experiences, cycling, and time beside Lake Davos. Start with shorter routes until you know how each child responds to altitude, slopes, and uneven ground.
- Lake Davos: Families can walk around the lake, use recreation areas, and choose from seasonal water activities such as pedal boats or stand-up paddleboarding.
- Madrisa-Land: This mountain play area above Klosters includes water play and activity stations. Check which routes are suitable for strollers.
- Rinerhorn: Seasonal family attractions can include an alpine petting zoo and playground.
- Schatzalp: Families can combine the funicular, easy walks, a seasonal summer toboggan run, and the Alpinum botanical garden.
- Cycling: Pump tracks and beginner areas are more suitable for inexperienced children than advanced alpine single tracks.
Warning: Mountain weather can change quickly. Turn back when thunderstorms, poor visibility, strong winds, trail closures, or tired children make the planned route unsafe. A cable car ride does not guarantee an easy walk at the top.
Family-Friendly Attractions in Davos
Davos Adventure Park
The Davos Adventure Park combines rope courses with bike and play facilities. The children’s course is designed for children from age four, while higher courses have separate age, height, and supervision requirements.
Some organized high-course sessions specify a minimum age of seven and a minimum height of 1.30 metres. Younger participants may need an adult to climb with them, while older children may still require supervision from the ground. Confirm the current rules for the exact course you plan to use.
Kirchner Museum Davos
The Kirchner Museum introduces families to the work of expressionist artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Children can use creative activity cards featuring Boby the Cat to explore colour, lines, movement, and storytelling.
Workshops and family events change throughout the year. Check the museum’s art-education programme and current event calendar before visiting. This is a useful rainy-day choice, but parents should still consider whether the current exhibition suits their child’s attention span.
Davos Winter Sports Museum
The Winter Sports Museum explains the development of skiing, skating, bobsleighing, and ice hockey in Davos. Guided tours may be offered through the guest programme, but dates, language, fees, and registration requirements vary.
Alpinum Schatzalp
Alpinum Schatzalp is a botanical garden rather than a wildlife park. Its collections focus on alpine and mountain plants from different parts of the world. It is a seasonal summer attraction and can be combined with the Schatzalp funicular and nearby walks.
Rainy-day activities
Keep at least one indoor option ready for each day. Depending on the current schedule, possibilities can include:
- Kirchner Museum Davos;
- Davos Winter Sports Museum;
- the eau-là-là pool and wellness complex;
- a family film at a local cinema;
- public skating at an operating indoor rink;
- creative workshops listed in the official guest programme.
Pro Tip: Save one museum or pool visit for the day with the weakest weather forecast instead of using every indoor attraction on your first clear day.
Child-Friendly Dining Options in Davos
Davos has restaurants, bakery cafés, hotel dining rooms, and casual options suitable for families. However, children’s menus, high chairs, allergen procedures, and play spaces can change. Confirm any must-have facility directly instead of assuming that every family-listed restaurant offers it.
| Restaurant | Area | Why families may like it | Check before visiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Bakery, Café and Restaurant | Davos Dorf | Pastries, snacks, light meals, and a casual café setting. | Current kitchen hours, high chairs, and allergen needs. |
| HUGO’s Davos | Davos Platz | Pizza, regional dishes, pastries, and vegetarian choices. | Seasonal menu, reservation needs, and children’s portions. |
| Pöstli dining venues | Davos Platz | Central location with burger, grill, and restaurant choices depending on the venue. | Which Pöstli venue is open and whether its menu suits your children. |
Café Weber can be convenient for pastries or a lighter meal, while Restaurant Pöstli options may suit families seeking burgers or grilled food. For children with allergies, contact the restaurant before arrival and explain the exact allergen rather than relying only on a menu symbol.
Eating earlier can make dinner easier with young children. It also reduces the risk of arriving after a restaurant’s main kitchen has closed, even though the café or bar remains open.
Family-Friendly Accommodation in Davos
Davos offers family hotels, apartments, chalets, hostels, and luxury properties. The right choice depends less on star rating and more on room layout, transport access, meal flexibility, and the age of your children.
Hotel Seehof Davos, for example, advertises executive rooms suitable for a couple with one child as well as larger suites and a family apartment. Occupancy rules differ by room, so confirm the number of permanent beds, sofa beds, cots, and separate sleeping spaces before booking.
A holiday apartment can be more practical for longer stays. A kitchen makes it easier to manage breakfast, snacks, allergies, and early bedtimes. The official Davos Klosters reservation system includes hundreds of classified apartments, but classification does not replace checking the exact facilities.
Family accommodation checklist
- Maximum room occupancy and the age counted as a child;
- cot, bed rail, sofa-bed, and connecting-room availability;
- kitchen, refrigerator, microwave, or kettle;
- lift access and the number of stairs;
- distance to a bus stop, railway station, or chosen ski school;
- ski or bike storage;
- laundry facilities;
- breakfast and dinner times;
- parking charges if bringing a car;
- cancellation terms if weather affects your plans.
Getting Around Davos With Children
A car is not essential for many families staying near Davos Platz or Davos Dorf. Local buses and trains connect the main parts of town, railway stations, several lift bases, and nearby Klosters.
Paying guests staying in eligible hotels, holiday apartments, or group accommodation normally receive a Davos Klosters Premium Card. It includes local public transport within defined zones and can provide seasonal discounts on mountain railways and guest-programme activities.
Coverage depends on the address of your accommodation. Side valleys and certain services may require an additional ticket. Ask your host to explain which zones are included and when your digital or physical card becomes valid.
- Use a compact stroller on buses and trains where possible.
- Allow extra transfer time when carrying skis, bikes, or a stroller.
- Download the current local timetable rather than relying on an old screenshot.
- Check the last downhill lift before beginning a late-afternoon mountain walk.
- Keep a small amount of flexibility in case a lift closes because of wind.
Tips for Traveling With Kids in Davos
Pack for rapid weather changes
Use layers rather than one heavy outfit. Bring waterproof outerwear, sun hats, sunscreen, refillable water bottles, and shoes with enough grip for the planned surface. Children may need gloves and a warm layer even on a cool summer mountain morning.
Plan one major activity each day
A mountain excursion often takes longer than the walking time suggests. Families also need time for transport, toilets, snacks, ticket lines, clothing changes, and unplanned play stops. Treat a museum or short lakeside walk as a bonus rather than a second compulsory attraction.
Check whether a route is truly stroller-friendly
“Easy” does not always mean suitable for wheels. Confirm the surface, gradient, steps, lift access, and distance from the station. A carrier may be more practical than a stroller on rough mountain paths.
Reserve limited activities early
Ski lessons, childcare, Adventure Park sessions, workshops, and guest-programme activities may have limited places. Book important activities first and leave free outdoor attractions flexible.
Carry snacks and a simple backup meal
Mountain restaurants can have shorter operating hours than town restaurants. Carry water and enough food to manage a delay, especially when travelling with toddlers or children who have dietary restrictions.
Childcare and Babysitting in Davos Klosters
Childcare options include provider-run clubs, daycare arrangements, and independent babysitting services. In winter, the Snowli Club in Klosters may accept children from 18 months, subject to minimum attendance, limited capacity, and advance booking.
The official tourism organization also links to external babysitter platforms, but it states that it does not carry out quality or approval checks on those independent providers. Parents should verify identity, experience, references, insurance, first-aid knowledge, language, and emergency procedures themselves.
Review the current Davos Klosters childcare information and remain reachable whenever a child is in someone else’s care.
Safety and Health Considerations for Families in Davos
Mountain activities require more preparation than ordinary urban sightseeing. Equipment, marked routes, and professional supervision reduce risk, but they do not make every activity suitable for every child.
Warning: Do not take children into unsecured or off-piste winter terrain without appropriate experience and planning. Check the official avalanche bulletin and use a qualified guide when the route involves avalanche terrain.
- Skiing and cycling: Use properly fitted helmets and equipment appropriate for the child’s size and ability.
- Water activities: Follow the operator’s age rules, use required flotation equipment, and supervise children continuously near the lake.
- Hiking: Stay on open marked routes and turn back before a child becomes exhausted.
- Sun exposure: UV exposure can be strong at altitude, even when the air feels cool.
- Weather: Check forecasts, live lift status, and storm warnings before heading uphill.
- Medication: Carry necessary medicines in your day bag rather than leaving them at the accommodation.
- Allergies: Keep translated allergy information available when ordering food.
- Insurance: Review whether your travel policy covers skiing, cycling, rescue, medical care, and planned adventure activities.
For a medical emergency in Switzerland, call 144. Police can be reached at 117. Save the official Davos emergency-services page before your trip.
Anyone planning winter travel outside secured areas should check the official SLF avalanche bulletin. The bulletin is a planning tool and does not replace local judgment or professional guidance.
Simple Family Itineraries
One summer day
- Start with a mountain railway that is confirmed open.
- Choose one short family walk, playground, or animal experience near the upper station.
- Return to town before late afternoon rather than depending on the final lift.
- Spend the remaining time beside Lake Davos, at a café, or at the pool.
- Keep the Kirchner Museum as the weather backup.
One winter day
- Book a morning ski lesson or beginner snow session.
- Take a long lunch and allow children time to warm up.
- Choose one short afternoon activity, such as sledding, a winter walk, or a public skating session.
- Finish before children become cold or overtired.
- Check the next day’s weather, lift status, and avalanche information in the evening.
Making the Most of Family Time in Davos
Davos gives families a useful balance of mountain adventure and indoor alternatives. The strongest trips are not necessarily the busiest ones. Choose one main activity, build in time for food and rest, and let weather conditions guide the final schedule.
Winter is best for structured snow activities, while summer provides more variety for mixed ages. Apartments can simplify meals, public transport can reduce the need for a car, and the guest card may lower some local costs. Most importantly, verify operating dates and participation rules before promising a particular experience to your children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Davos?
Davos is a mountain town in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is known for skiing, hiking, ice sports, medical and wellness history, and international events such as the World Economic Forum.
Is Davos a family-friendly destination?
Yes. Davos has ski schools, sledding, skating, hiking, mountain playgrounds, museums, pools, childcare options, and local public transport. Families should still check seasonal closures and age restrictions before booking.
What are the best activities for kids in Davos?
Popular choices include beginner ski lessons, sledding, Lake Davos, Madrisa-Land, the Davos Adventure Park, Rinerhorn family attractions, the Kirchner Museum, Schatzalp, and seasonal public skating.
Is Alpinum Schatzalp a wildlife park?
No. Alpinum Schatzalp is a seasonal botanical garden featuring alpine and mountain plants. Families seeking an animal experience should check current activities at locations such as Rinerhorn.
Are childcare services available?
Childcare clubs, daycare arrangements, and independent babysitting services may be available. Capacity is limited, and parents should directly verify qualifications, references, insurance, languages, and emergency procedures.
What family accommodation is available?
Choices include hotel family rooms, suites, apartments, chalets, hostels, and holiday homes. Confirm the exact bed layout, occupancy limit, kitchen facilities, lift access, and distance to public transport.
Are there family-friendly restaurants in Davos?
Yes. Davos has casual cafés, pizzerias, hotel restaurants, and family-listed dining venues. Confirm children’s portions, high chairs, allergy procedures, and play facilities directly because amenities can change.
What is the best time to visit Davos with kids?
Choose winter for skiing and snow activities. Choose summer for hiking, lakes, mountain playgrounds, and the widest mix of outdoor attractions. Spring and autumn are quieter but have more seasonal closures.
Do families need a car in Davos?
Not usually when staying near Davos Platz or Davos Dorf. Buses and trains serve much of the area, and an eligible guest card may include local transport in defined zones. A car may be useful for remote accommodation or specialized day trips.
Is Davos easy to visit with a stroller?
The town, public transport, lake area, and selected paths can work with a stroller. Mountain routes vary greatly. Confirm the surface, slope, steps, lift access, and distance before choosing a trail.
Sources
- Davos Klosters Family Guide — official overview of family activities and services.
- Davos Klosters Mountain Railway Operating Times — seasonal lift calendars and operating guidance.
- Davos Adventure Park — courses, children’s facilities, equipment, and participation information.
- Kirchner Museum Art Education — child-focused activities, workshops, and museum resources.
- Davos Klosters Premium Card — local public transport coverage and seasonal guest benefits.
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research — official Swiss avalanche forecasts and safety information.
