Klosters History
Klosters, Canton Graubünden, was initially settled as a monastery in 1200 AD to urbanise and develop the land for agricultural use. This picturesque, alpine town transitioned from farms to THE hotspot for royals and many famous film, music and theatre names. It became a popular destination for tourists around 100 years ago and remains a great vacation spot for both summer and winter seasons. Throughout the years, Klosters has maintained its alpine style and character while being a discreet and quiet vacation spot for many well-known guests.
Famous Guests
Thanks to the publicity by Hollywood director Peter Virtel since the 1950s, Klosters has been a hot spot for Hollywood starlets and royals alike. Many famous guests include Deborah Kerr, Greta Garbo, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Gene Kelly (who danced on the bar tables in Hotel Chesa Grischuna), Paul McCartney, Truman Capote, and Audrey Hepburn. Because of these guests, Klosters was nicknamed “Hollywood on the Rocks.”
Besides Hollywood stars, Klosters has also been a frequent holiday destination for many of Europe’s royalty. Famously, His Majesty King Charles III and his family have come to Klosters to ski during the winter season. Prince William and Prince Harry both learned to ski on the slopes of the Gotchna. If you wander through town, you will find many establishments have a royal warrant of appointment as an official supplier for the Royal Family of England.
Things to do
The mandatory guest card benefits overnight guests from a wide range of advantages and discounts. The Davos Klosters Cards are available digitally for smartphones. For more information, visit the Davos Klosters website: https://www.davos.ch/en/information/guest-information/guest-card.
Summer
Hiking: The Klosters/Davos area has over 700 km of hiking trails. Here are some family-friendly options.
Klosters Dwarf Trail - Zwergenweg
~ Difficulty: Easy
~ Duration: 0:54 h
~ Distance: 2.5 km
Hike around Lake Davos - Rundwanderung um den Davoser See
~ Difficulty: Easy
~ Duration: 1:00h
~ Distance: 4 km
~ Public transportation available to access
Swimming Pool
Family-friendly pool with an adventure character - ideal for having fun or relaxing. The facilities include a swimmer's pool, with water heated to 23°C, a diving pool, a four-metre-high climbing wall, and a water slide. A cozy restaurant is integrated into the operations building. In addition to the beautiful sunbathing lawns, there is a fun play area for children and a beach volleyball court.
Madrisa Land
With barrier-free lifts, mountain restaurants, an adventure park for families, and a range of fantastic sports activities such as ski tours, hikes, and trail runs, Madrisa—the local mountain in Klosters—is a popular destination all year round.
A visit to Madrisa Land is guaranteed to light up faces. This adventure park, located around 1,900 metres above sea level, features activities like bouncing, sliding, swinging, and splashing around.
Schatzalp: the Magic Mountain Above Davos
Featuring the summer toboggan run Schatzalp. The Schatzalp has many activities: take a hike (such as the ‘Sonnenweg’ (‘sun trail’), the circular waterfall trail, the ‘Eichhörnliweg’ (‘squirrel trail’) and the trail up to the Strelapass), enjoy a ride on the summer toboggan, pay a visit to the botanical garden or take in the view from the mountain restaurant. The art-nouveau-style hotel was originally designed as a luxury sanatorium. Since 1953, it has been run as a hotel.
Gotchna/Parsenn
The Gotschna Freeride Trail is popular among mountain bikers. Trail runners and hikers love the Panoramaweg. Summiteers will enjoy hiking on the impressive Schiahorn (2,709 m above sea level), a popular sunrise tour choice. Enjoy a mountain meal in one of the many alpine restaurants.
For more information about our favourite summer activities, check out the Davos Klosters website or feel free to ask us!
Wellness
Bad Ragaz Thermal Bath & Spa
Enjoy the healing effects of the 36.5-degree warm thermal water and experience relaxation at the highest level. The Tamina Therme in Bad Ragaz is the perfect place if you are looking for peace and relaxation. In the Swiss health resort, relaxation becomes an experience. Choose from a comprehensive range of sauna experiences, wellness treatments, or relaxation in the thermal bath.
Address: Hans Albrecht-Strasse, 7310 Bad Ragaz
Website: www.taminatherme.ch
Winter
Snow Sports
Gotchna/Parsenn – 8-minute walk
Casa Clara is a short 8-minute walk to Klosters Platz and the Gotschnabahn, which takes you to over 102km of world-renowned skiing at Parsenn.
Parsenn is seen as the birthplace of skiing in Switzerland. In 1895, four English tourists got lost on the Weissfluhjoch and ended up in Küblis. This is how the Parsenn descent was discovered – and an Alpine legend was born. Since the Parsenn Funicular opened around 90 years ago, Parsenn has gained a reputation as a classic ski destination, with long descents down the mountain, wide slopes, and chic, traditional mountain huts. The annual Parsenn Derby is the oldest downhill race in Switzerland. The 97 km of slopes in this ski area are accessible from Davos via the Parsenn Funicular and from Klosters via the Gotschnabahn ski lift.
Madrisa – 15-minute walk
Casa Clara is a quick 15-minute walk to the Madrisa-Gondelbahn. Few ski resorts are as perfectly adapted for families with small children and people with disabilities as Madrisa. There are three magic carpets to carry the little skiers up to the top. And with a snowbike (available to hire from Intersport at the mountain station), you can ride down the slope sitting down, with your skis strapped on – perfect if you’re new to skiing. While the kids practice their first turns at the three practice lifts, parents can explore the ski resort, which boasts 23 kilometres of slopes. If there’s enough snow, the highlights of this resort include the 7.7-kilometre sledge run down to Saas, the winter hiking trails to Mässplatte and Zügenhüttli, as well as the new snowshoe trail Mässplatte.
Cross Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing is considered the healthiest sport in the world. With a little bit of momentum and the use of the poles, almost all muscles of the body are evenly stressed. More than 100 kilometres of classic and 75 kilometres of skating pistes in Davos Klosters provide boundless variety. Try the Herzloipe Klosters trail, which starts on the opposite side of the Arena Klosters and leads along the Landquart to the Aeujer bridge. From the Aeujer bridge, it returns to the start on the same side of the river. With 3 km in length and only 24 meters in altitude, this loop is perfect for beginners.
Sledging
The famous Davos sledge is the original among toboggans. Its wooden structure makes it so special. The pull bar provides the requisite stability, joining the two iron runners. An iron rod bears the rope, which can be used to pull the sledge through deep snow. The word "DAVOS" is usually branded on the central wooden slat in capital letters.
Klosters sledging runs:
Madrisa-Schlittelbahn
~ Difficulty: Moderate
~ Duration: 0:40 h
~ Distance: 8.3 km
Gotschna-Schlittelbahn
~ Difficulty: Moderate
~ Duration: 0:15 h
~ Distance: 4.4 km
Rental sledges are available at most hills. The corresponding websites have more details and information on track condition.
Ice Skating
Arena Klosters/Sportzentrum
In winter, rinks are available for ice hockey, figure skating, and curling. The rinks can also be reserved for private events. Ice skates, sticks, and helmets can be rented at the cash desk. Public evening ice skating takes place every Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Ice skate rental is available.
HC Davos, Ice Stadium and Spengler Cup
Davos is famous for its ice hockey. The Swiss record-holding Hockey Club Davos (HCD) has contributed much to this sport. The internationally renowned Spengler Cup and the impressive Davos ice stadium are further indicators of the Davos ice hockey tradition. Catch a home game during hockey season in the winter! Tickets are available at https://www.hcd.ch/de/tickets.
In addition to the suggestions above, there are many skiing, sledging and winter hiking trails with various difficulty levels. For more information about our favourite winter activities, check out the Davos Klosters website or feel free to ask us!
Shopping
Best Sporting Equipment Rental in Klosters (Winter or Summer)
Gotschna Sport Klosters
Address: Alte Bahnhofstrasse 5
The foundation of their sporting business started in 1914 as a general store under the name of Antonietti-Brosi. Around 1930 they took over the sport shop “Jakob JegenSportartikel” next door and began to sell and repair skis. The new name Gotschna Sport was created in 1968 by Köbi Boner. The shop has always been family-owned and run with passion and is now in the fourth generation with Urs Schlunegger and his team. They are proud that their family sport shop is based in the beautiful Klosters and greatly appreciate the natural environment in which they live. Customer service is very important to them even if you did not rent skis or Equipment from them they are happy to help with alterations.
Coop Supermarkt Klosters-Platz
Opening hours: 08:00 - 19:00, Sundays 08:00-18:00 (Subject to holidays)
Address: Coop Supermarkt Klosters-Platz, Bahnhofstrasse 10
Phone: +41 81 410 23 40
Helios Apotheke (Pharmacy)
Opening Hours: Open daily from 08:00 – 16:00 (hours are longer on certain days)
Address: Helios Apotheke, Alte Bahnhofstrasse 11
Phone: +41 81 422 1684
DROPA Drogerie Klosters (Drug Store)
Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:30
Address: DROPA, Gotchnastrasse 8
Phone: +41 81 422 1183
The Klosterser – Souvenir Shop
Opening hours: Wednesday – Friday 14:00-18:00, Saturday 09:00-15:00 (Closed Sunday)
Address: Swiss Ski and Snowboard School Klosters, Bahnhofstrasse 4
Phone: +41 81 410 28 28
Landquart Fashion Outlet
Opening hours: 10:00-19:00
Address: Landquart Fashion Outlet, Tardisstrasse 20a, 7302 Landquart
Phone: +41 81 300 02 22
Getting there from Klosters: Depart from Klosters Platz (usually Platform 2) to Landquart stop. Follow the train station signs to the outlet mall.
Restaurant Recommendations
There are many different culinary options in the area. Here are a few of our favourites.
Opening hours are subject to seasonality. Please reference the restaurant website for up-to-date information.
Chesa Grischuna
Opening hours: 07:00 – 21:30 (Closing days Monday & Tuesday)
Address: Hotel Chesa Grischuna, Bahnhofstrasse 12
Phone: +41 81 422 22 22
Restaurant Pizzeria Al Capone Klosters
Opening hours: Hot Food from 11:30-14:00 and 17:30-22:00.
Kafi-Träff daily from 8:00 for Breakfast
Address: Restaurant Pizzeria Al Capone Klosters, Bahnhofstrasse 22
Phone: +41 081 416 82 82
Hotel Cresta Restaurant
Opening hours: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – call for official hours
Address: Hotel Cresta, Landstrasse 170
Phone: +41 81 423 26 00
Berghaus Alpenrösli
Opening hours: 11:00-23:00 (Closed Wednesday)
Address: Alpenrüsli, Talstrasse 135
Phone: +41 81 422 13 57
Tip: This restaurant is in a picturesque location above Klosters. Alpenrösli can be accessed by car or by a lovely short hike.
Traveller Advice
Take the Train
Taking the train to Klosters is the easiest and most environmentally friendly way to travel into the mountains. There is only one main transfer to Klosters from Zurich Airport. When you are in Klosters, you can travel easily by foot, but there is always a bus or a train that can take you to your desired destination.
Use a Guest Card
Klosters can be expensive. But there are many ways you can save when visiting! Make sure to use your guest card! This is important because the guest card gives you free public transportation (trains, busses) in Davos and Kloster. There are also many seasonal benefits, depending on the time of year you travel. Yes, this costs you a small fee per night stayed, per person, but this is already a mandatory payment called the "Tourist tax", and it comes with this amazing benefit that will 100% save you money. Please make sure to ask your host about getting your guest card :)
Food
Cooking at the apartment or building you are staying at is a great way to save some cash. However, don't do this every night, as the food is part of Klosters's amazing mountain culture. We are happy to provide some recommendations for local restaurants that suit every mood and budget.