Where is davos

Overview

Davos is a picturesque alpine town located in the Prättigau/Davos Region of the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. Situated in the Landwasser Valley, it lies approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of Zurich and 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the Italian border. The town's history dates back to the 13th century when it was first mentioned in historical records, originally developing as a farming and mining community before transforming into a health resort in the 19th century due to its clean mountain air.

Today, Davos is internationally famous as the host of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, which has been held there since 1971. Beyond its global political significance, Davos is a major tourist destination, particularly known for winter sports, with its ski resort being one of the largest in Switzerland. The town's economy revolves around tourism, conferences, and healthcare, with the Davos Platz and Davos Dorf districts forming its main urban centers in a municipality that spans a vast alpine area.

How It Works

Davos functions as both a traditional Swiss alpine community and a global meeting point, balancing local needs with international significance through several key mechanisms.

• Tourism Infrastructure: Davos operates one of Switzerland's largest ski resorts with over 300 kilometers (186 miles) of ski slopes, 58 ski lifts, and 75 kilometers (47 miles) of winter hiking trails. The town hosts approximately 2.5 million overnight stays annually, with tourism contributing significantly to the local economy. Infrastructure includes the Jakobshorn, Parsenn, and Rinerhorn ski areas, plus the Vaillant Arena ice hockey stadium.
• Conference Facilities: The town maintains extensive conference facilities centered around the Congress Centre Davos, which hosts the WEF meeting each January. This 11,000-square-meter (118,400-square-foot) complex can accommodate over 5,000 participants and features state-of-the-art security, technology, and meeting spaces. Beyond WEF, Davos hosts numerous medical, scientific, and business conferences throughout the year.
• Transportation Network: Davos is accessible via the Rhaetian Railway with direct connections to Landquart and Filisur, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Albula Railway. The town has two main railway stations (Davos Platz and Davos Dorf) and is connected by road via the A28 highway. During WEF, temporary flight restrictions are implemented, with participants often arriving at Zurich Airport (156 km away) and transferring by helicopter or secure ground transport.
• Security Operations: During major events like WEF, Davos implements extraordinary security measures involving over 5,000 military personnel and police officers. The town establishes a secure perimeter with checkpoints, surveillance systems, and restricted zones, costing approximately 9 million Swiss francs annually for WEF security alone. This temporary transformation allows global dialogue while maintaining local safety.

Key Comparisons

Why It Matters

• Global Governance Impact: Davos serves as a unique neutral ground where approximately 3,000 participants from over 100 countries convene annually at WEF to address pressing global issues. The meetings have facilitated historic dialogues, such as the 1988 agreement between Greece and Turkey that prevented war, and continue to shape international policies on climate change, economic development, and technological innovation. This concentration of global influence in a small Swiss town creates unparalleled networking and decision-making opportunities.
• Economic Significance: The town demonstrates how a remote alpine community can achieve global relevance, with tourism and conferences supporting a robust local economy. Davos maintains a low unemployment rate of around 2.5% (below the Swiss average) and has developed specialized industries in medical research (through institutions like the AO Foundation) and environmental science. The balance between seasonal tourism and high-profile events creates economic stability rarely seen in mountain communities.
• Cultural and Environmental Role: Davos preserves traditional Swiss alpine culture while engaging with global modernity, hosting both the International Ice Hockey Federation and cutting-edge climate research at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). The town's high-altitude environment makes it a natural laboratory for studying climate change impacts, with research showing temperature increases of 2°C in the Alps over the past century—twice the global average.

Looking forward, Davos faces the dual challenge of maintaining its traditional character while adapting to increasing global attention and climate change impacts. The town is investing in sustainable tourism, with plans to become carbon neutral by 2030, and enhancing its conference facilities to host more diverse events beyond WEF. As digital connectivity reduces geographical barriers, Davos's physical gathering space may become even more valuable for fostering the human connections essential to solving complex global problems. The town's evolution from health resort to global forum suggests its unique model of combining local authenticity with international significance will continue to offer lessons for other communities seeking to balance preservation with progress in an interconnected world.