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With 1,560 meters above sea level, Davos is one of Switzerland’s highest towns. It is a huge mountain resort and ski area. In and around Davos, there are six ski areas – Parsenn/Gotschna, Jakobshorn, Pischa, Madrisa (Klosters), Rinerhorn, and Schatzalp/Strela. Besides 300 km of slopes, Davos has 100 km of cross-country trails, 58 ski lifts, two ice skating rinks, and curling fields. Every year, Davos hosts the world’s top leaders during the World Economic Forum. But it’s more than that.
For those who want something quieter, Davos has a lot of side valleys to explore, like the Sertig Valley. In summer, you can swim and sail on Davos Lake.
Some of those visitors who will want to go to Davos will come from Zurich. In this article, we will discuss the train commute from Zurich to get to Davos. How long is the travel time from Zurich to reach this popular mountain resort? How much are the tickets? Read on for more information.
On this page, you can find all the information you need regarding the train journey from Zurich to get to Davos.
You can start by visiting the SBB website: www.sbb.ch. Using the website, you can type in your departure and arrival destinations. It will then guide you to where and when you need to be. An app is also available for iOS and Android devices.
If you wish to pay half the fare for all your train rides in Switzerland, a Half Fare Discount Card (1-month validity) is available on www.sbb.ch. This allows you to travel for half the price on all SBB routes and most other railways during the duration of your discount card.
Using the Swiss Pass, you get unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat in Switzerland. Over 500 museums are also free or discounted, and there are free or discounted excursions to mountain summits.
>Getting tickets from RailEurope is a convenient option if you’re traveling within Europe and/or visiting multiple countries. Having been in operation since the 1930s, RailEurope‘s extensive history, user-friendly website and mobile apps, flexible currency payment options, commitment to customer satisfaction, and strategic partnerships with leading rail operators, collectively establish it as a reliable and trustworthy platform for booking European train travel.
You can obtain from RailEurope the following travel passes:
- Swiss Travel Pass – choose between continuous or flexible Swiss train passes for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days. The perks? unlimited use in over 90 Swiss cities, free admission to more than 500 museums, and discounts on mountain railways and cable cars. You also get discounts on high-speed Lyria trains between France and Switzerland as well as Nightjet trains that go through Switzerland. See RailEurope for more information.
- Eurail Global Pass – unlimited train travel to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for non-EU residents
- Interrail Global Pass – access to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for citizens and permanent residents of the EU
How to Get From Zurich to Davos
Davos is way bigger than other mountain resorts. Find out where you need to get off the train before you head to Davos. For those in the main town and not near the side valleys, you will likely have to ride the train until Davos Dorf or Davos Platz. You need to check your itinerary or accommodation for which stop you’re taking.
How To Get From Zurich to Davos
The fastest and easiest way to get from Zurich to Davos is to go via Landquart. You will have to take the following trains:
- First, take the Intercity train from Zurich to Landquart.
- In Landquart, take the regional train to Davos Platz or Davos Dorf.
If you miss the train in Landquart that goes to Davos, you can also first take the train going to Klosters Platz and from there take the connecting regional train to Davos Dorf or Davos Platz.
How To Get From Zurich Airport to Davos
There are no direct trains from Zurich Airport to Davos. If you want to find out which train platform you need to go to and what time, you can check the screens and boards inside Zurich Airport.
From Zurich Airport, you can take any train which will lead you to Zurich Train Station. From Zurich Train Station, you can head to Davos via Landquart.
Here are the trains that you need to take from Zurich Airport to Davos:
- First, take an Intercity or Interregio train from Zurich Airport to Zurich (Zurich HB).
- In Zurich, take the Intercity train to Landquart.
- In Landquart, take the regional train to Davos Platz or Davos Dorf.
If you miss the train in Landquart that goes to Davos, you can also first take the train going to Klosters Platz and from there take the connecting regional train to Davos Dorf or Davos Platz.
Is There a Direct Train From Zurich to Davos?
As of the time of writing (updated December 2022), there are no direct trains from Zurich to Davos. You will have to change to a connecting train in Landquart and/or Klosters Platz.
How Long Is the Train Ride From Zurich to Davos?
The following table shows the train ride duration from Zurich to Davos (as of December 2022):
| Route | Duration (fastest) |
|---|---|
| Zurich – Davos Platz | 2 hours 19 minutes |
| Zurich Airport – Davos Platz | 2 hours 39 minutes |
| Zurich – Davos Dorf | 2 hours 13 minutes |
| Zurich Airport – Davos Dorf | 2 hours 34 minutes |
| Davos Platz – Zurich | 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Davos Platz – Zurich Airport | 2 hours 40 minutes |
| Davos Dorf – Zurich | 2 hours 16 minutes |
| Davos Dorf – Zurich Airport | 2 hours 36 minutes |
Is the Train Route from Zurich to Davos Scenic?
Although not as scenic as the Bernina Express route, the views once you reach Graubünden are incredibly beautiful. If you are interested in pursuing a scenic train route, then you can check out some options listed below.
Your other options in detail are the following:
- Historical Train Davos to Filisur – May through October, vintage carriages are pulled by the century-old crocodile locomotive from Davos Platz to Filisur. The train line covers a total length of 4,200 meters through 14 tunnels and 28 bridges. Its scenic highlights include the Wiesen Viaduct and the Zügen Gorge.
- Golden Pass – The Golden Pass departs from Lucerne. You would take a train from Zurich to Lucerne, then change to Interlaken. This is sometimes referred to as the east end of this route. The Golden Pass has panorama coaches and is scenic.
- Glacier Express – Glacier Express is a long journey that starts from Zermatt, home of Matterhorn. It then traverses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels before stopping in St. Moritz. Both Zermatt and St. Moritz are beautiful mountain resorts worthy of a longer stay. The Glacier Express passes by several idyllic mountain villages.
- Bernina Express – Bernina Express is another train route that begins in Chur. Chur is the oldest alpine city in Switzerland and definitely worth visiting. This train route spans 196 bridges. It goes through 55 tunnels and passes 20 beautiful villages in Switzerland. For you to go on this scenic train, you will have to go from Zurich or to Chur first.
How Much Will the Train Ticket from Zurich to Davos Cost?
The following table shows the train ticket prices from Zurich to Davos (updated December 2022):
| Route | Full Fare (CHF) | Half Fare (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich – Davos Platz / Davos Dorf | 56.00 | 28.00 |
| Zurich Airport – Davos Platz / Davos Dorf | 61.00 | 30.50 |
As you can see, if you avail of the Half Fare Travel Card, you can definitely save on your fare for long train journeys. So this is definitely something to consider during your travel to Switzerland. You can do simple calculations and decide from there if it will be worth it for you.
Do You Need a Seat Reservation on the Train?
No, there is no need to reserve a spot on the train. But you can always add this option if that is your wish.
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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.