Holiday with toddler in Davos – Swiss Alps in summer

The Swiss Alps have so much to offer, and not just in winter. We ventured to Davos in August and wanted to know what you can do in the summer with a toddler. Read about our experiences in Davos and the surrounding area in this post.

Davos

Our hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Davos was our starting point for many beautiful excursions in Davos and the surrounding area. As the highest town in Europe and with 11,000 inhabitants, Davos is by no means a big city. But it's not too small either, with plenty of shopping options for both shopping and everyday needs. However, it's important to note that not all shops are open in the summer. Nevertheless, Davos is worth a visit even in the warmer months. The surrounding mountains, with their green and cozy pastures, are simply magnificent. Everything looks so lush green. It's almost like you see on TV when you see that commercial with the purple cow.

Right in front of our hotel was the beautiful spa gardens, with numerous playgrounds and small places to relax. It's simply fantastic for walking or jogging. If you visit Davos in the summer, you can go hiking, go to the outdoor pool, swim at the lake, or play golf. And these are just a few of the destinations. Why go to the Alps just for skiing!?

Davos Klosters Card guest card

As a highlight for summer guests, guests who stay overnight in Davos receive the Davos Klosters Card. This guest card offers many benefits for the summer:

• Free use of buses and trains in Davos
• Discounts or even free entry to attractions
• free use of the mountain railways

What struck us was that many hotels had closed and were only operating for the winter. This was confirmed to us at the reception desk at our hotel. For most of them, it's not worth it in the summer because there are too few tourists. We think that's a real shame, because anyone who enjoys sports in the Alps in winter can also do so in the summer. This is exactly the right place for all active vacationers and not just beachgoers.

Milch Arena Davos – Show Dairy

All year round, you can watch cheese being made at the Milch Arena in Davos on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. From mid-June to the end of September, a trip to the Clavadeler Alp, part of the Milch Arena, is also worthwhile. Admission is free with the Davos Klosters Card; all other holders pay CHF 8, and children under 12 are free.

We arrived at the dairy shortly before 10 a.m. and were warmly welcomed by Simone. Since the upper floor is accessible via elevator, families with strollers are also welcome. Cheese production was already in full swing, as the bacteria that turn milk into cheese don't follow opening hours. Fortunately, we hadn't missed much. The spacious room has enough space for all guests, and through the large glass panes, you can watch the cheesemakers at work live.

Simone explained everything to us in detail: starting with the milk, where it comes from, and how high-proof milk is turned into yoghurt. How does milk become cheese or yogurt? How do the bacteria work? What happens in the ripening cellar? And how does the rind actually get on the cheese? All questions that are answered here. Some cheese-making processes take a little longer, and we used this time to watch a film about the mountain farmers and their dairy cows. During our visit, a soft cheese was being made, and we were able to watch the curds being poured into molds. Our little son found it fascinating, too, even if he just found it funny to see so many people "jumping around."

At the end, which everyone had been waiting for, there was, of course, a tasting of various cheeses, fresh whey (which we had never had before and it's delicious), and raw cheese. I was totally surprised by Simone's comment about whey, that it stimulates milk production for breastfeeding. I had no idea, so I immediately got an extra cup. I thought it was very kind and thoughtful of her to accommodate her guests like that.

The Davos Dairy is definitely worth a visit! We found it very informative and interesting, and the informal atmosphere goes a long way toward making you feel at home, rather than just visiting a museum.

Lake Davos

You can get to Lake Davos either by car or by bus. Since parking is subject to a fee, we recommend taking the free bus for holders of the Davos Klosters Card. The mountain lake directly outside the town entrance of Davos is beautifully clear and warm enough for swimming in the summer. A wide hiking trail with only gentle inclines runs all around it, making it ideal for strollers. At about an hour and a quarter, the walk isn't too long and won't be too strenuous for children. At one end of the lake, there's a wakeboarding facility, which was busy when we walked past. Just a short distance further on is a large, free lido. Here you can rent all kinds of equipment for the lake, including stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and you can also go windsurfing and canoeing. You certainly won't get bored.

Jakobshorn

This is one of the mountain railways that you can use free of charge with your guest card. The first cable car takes you up to 1931 m to the Ischalp. From here, numerous hiking trails start, both uphill and downhill. Unfortunately, none are suitable for strollers. There is a large alpine hut with all kinds of Swiss specialties for your culinary needs. A second, smaller cable car then takes you up to the Jakobshorn at 2590 m. From up here, there are also hiking trails that are suitable for strollers. However, you must always be aware that you are in the mountains and a stroller that is somewhat suitable for off-road use would be an advantage. The cable cars run every 30 minutes, and the staff are very friendly and helpful, especially when it comes to parents with children and strollers.

We enjoyed the view of the mountains opposite, even though the weather was a bit cloudy. From up here, you can see just how many other cable cars there are and how expansive and wide the valley actually is.

Schatzalp

This mountain railway is also free with the Davos Klosters Card. The ride takes you up to 1,865 m in a funicular. Getting on the cable car with a stroller is a bit tricky, but manageable, as you have to climb a lot of stairs. Once at the top, there's the large Schatzalp restaurant and the hotel of the same name, a former sanatorium. Highly recommended is the Alpinum, a botanical alpine garden founded in 1907 with around 5,000 plant species. Unfortunately, due to the many small steps and steep slopes, it's not accessible with a stroller. Just 10 minutes up the mountain, a wide hiking trail leads to the next restaurant, the Strela Alm. There's also a summer toboggan run up here. It's not particularly long, however, and only has about eight or nine small bends. Nevertheless, there was a big crowd, as children always enjoy something like that.

We decided to hike to a waterfall. Unfortunately, there are no stroller-friendly hiking trails on the Schatzalp. We set off anyway, hoping to see how far we could get. The circular trail takes about an hour and, in our opinion, is easily manageable with a somewhat off-road stroller (no plastic wheels). It winds its way up the mountain through the forest. The switchbacks offer wonderful views of the valley. We were a bit disappointed when we arrived at the waterfall. In summer, with high temperatures and little rainfall, there isn't much water to fall. Nevertheless, the circular trail is worth it just for the view.

Waterfall on the Sertigbach – Ducanfall

Just a 20-minute drive from Davos, the Sertigbach stream lies in a side valley. Passing Sertig Dörfli, you reach the Waslerhus restaurant, where the last parking spaces are located. This is where the approximately one-hour hike begins. You follow the Sertigbach mountain stream on a moderately steep trail all the way to the Ducan Falls. Except for the last 100 meters, the entire section is accessible with a stroller. The roaring waterfall is truly impressive, and if you climb a little further along the rocks, you can even reach the pool where the waterfall plunges into the valley. The alpine meadows, dotted with herbs, are reminiscent of Heidi. Now all that's left is Peter the Goat, the goatherd, to come around the corner.

Over the Flüela Pass to St. Moritz

The best way to drive from Davos to St. Moritz is via the Flüela Pass. This pass climbs to an altitude of 2,383 meters and puts a lot of strain on the car on its winding road. A quick stop at the Flüela-Hospiz Pass Hotel, right on the shores of Lake Schottensee, was therefore not only beneficial for our recovery. At this altitude, it can be quite chilly in summer, and anyone starting a hike from here should be prepared for any weather.

St. Moritz

St. Moritz is a beautiful and truly wealthy place, with many small churches. The town center is perched on a mountain, making it a bit difficult to explore with a stroller. What we saw in our short time there were mostly expensive brand-name stores that weren't for the average consumer. We found the Lej da San Murezzan (Lake St. Moritz) much more beautiful, famous for the White Turf, the horse race on the frozen lake in winter. There's a paved circular path here, and there were lots of people out and about on this Saturday. Due to the lake's large surface area and its location in the valley, it's very windy and therefore a bit chilly. However, it was great for the surfers and sailboats that were out and about.

Parking is subject to a fee everywhere in St. Moritz. Fortunately, despite being a high-society city, it's not very expensive. At the lake, for example, it's only 1 CHF per hour. We found the way to pay for parking very innovative. You simply had to enter the parking space number into the machine, and then, as in Germany, the amount of money determined the parking time. Unfortunately, you don't get any change. Now you no longer need to put a parking ticket or note in your car, because the digital readout shows which parking space is occupied and how long you have left.

Before our trip back to Davos, we actually wanted to go to the Olympic ski jump in St. Moritz. But when we arrived there, we were somewhat confused because there was nothing more than a pile of stones. It was missing a take-off platform and everything else needed for an Olympic ski jump?! Only later did we find out through an internet search that it was shut down in 2006 and should have been rebuilt long ago. But as with many major projects, it's all about money.

Which travel guide can you recommend for Davos or Switzerland?

There is no travel guide specifically for Davos. However, we can recommend this Book from ADAC* recommend. Here you will find detailed and comprehensive information on all the sights on 144 pages.

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