If there is one place that is making it to the headlines every day it is Davos in Switzerland. Well, of course when our Prime Minister is paying a visit there, it will be covered. Besides, even Shah Rukh Khan was there at the World Economic Forum 2018 and has shared some pictures of the beauty of the place. But other than the Economic Forum which will be held from January 23 until 26, there are a lot other places to visit in this ski town of Switzerland. In 1971, German-born Klaus Schwab, professor of business at the University of Geneva, arranged the first meeting between business leaders to discuss global management practices. Initially named the European Management Forum was initially aimed at helping companies in Europe catch up with US management practices.

Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Davos is a small sleepy town with a population of just close to 11,000 (2016). It is located on the river Landwasser and at a height of 5120 feet, the highest town in Europe. Other than being famous for the annual World Economic Forum Conferences, Davos is known for some of the biggest ski resorts. Not hard to guess, they have a lot of tourists coming here every year. Well, nobody says no to experience the beauty of snow on the Alps range.

Things to do in Davos:

  1. Skiing: The most obvious thing to tick off your list after you visit this snowy town is skiing. Skiing activities here make it one of Switzerland’s top winter sport destinations. The village has 320 kilometres of downhill pistes, in six different ski areas, all with efficient transport to the slopes. One must visit the areas in Parsenn, which are efficient for beginners as well. Parsenn and Gotschna are the most luxurious destinations for skiing. Exploring the pristine beauty while falling and tripping over the snow is a must.

  2. Nordic walking: Nordic walking basically means undertaking a walk with the help of walking poles. They are promoted as a good physical activity. At the foot of Jakobschornbahnen mountain, there are trails that are designed for this sport! If you are not into crazy hiking and yet looking at some challenge, then these long trails are perfect for you.

  3. Mountain Biking: Forget snow, Davos is also a place to ride on in the summers. When the summer melts, the rough biker in you can definitely take a ride on these terrains. Die-hard bikers can choose their routes based on difficulty levels on the path of Gotschnaboden to Klosters.

  4. Kirchner Museum: This museum houses the largest collection of German Expressionist Ernst-Ludwig Kirchner. He had spent the last 20 years of his life in Davos to cure of his drug addiction. Within a year, he had started painting the beauty of people and place around. The museum has his paintings and many other artefacts from his life. For art-lovers, this is a must visit.

  5. Explore Chur: Chur is the capital of canton of Graubünden and about one and a half hour drive from Davos. The place has a lot of cultural history to explore and good restaurants too. So if you want to visit a natural scenery of long fields, alpine flowering and magnificent mountain views as the backdrop, Chur needs to be your list to visit when in Davos.

  6. Spend a day at lake Davos: Lake Davos is a pretty sight that surrounds itself with forests and pastures. You can enjoy a paddleboat or a kayak ride in this peaceful lake depending on the weather. Take a book along if you are looking for a peaceful area to finish some pages. Lie on the pastures and enjoy flipping.

  7. Flüela Pass: This is mountain drive that connects Davos’ Landewasser Valley with Susch in the Lower Engadin. The best time to explore it in all its beauty would be the summers because the winter could see avalanches and it is very risky to drive here. But on a summer day, the hairpin turns will provide you with beauty to watch on every corner.

  8. Train rides: If you are not much into hiking or long road trips then the best option you have to explore the Alpine range is a train ride. Two famous railway lines run through Davos which cross the Swiss Alpine range and you can admire the legendary mountain-scapes from the windows. These are views that will cast an impression on your mind even after you have left the ride.

Depending on your agenda and interest you can visit Davos. Ideally, most people visit here to experience the snow-clad Alps, but if you are not much of a fan of the snow, then summers are a good time to visit. The best months in Davos are June, July, August and September. On average, the warmest months are July and August. Other than all the adventure activities, you can also visit here for the Ice Hockey tournaments which happen between September and February.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 23, 2018 07:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).