First-Timer's Field Manual

Davos is a six-kilometer linear mountain resort linked by the Promenade and a local rail line.

Davos Platz: The main hub housing the Congress Centre, key hotels like the Belvédère, and dense Promenade pop-ups.

Davos Dorf: The northern end. Quieter and residential. Accommodation here is often more available, but requires factoring in transit to morning panels.

Local Rail Trick: Use the RhB train between Davos Platz and Davos Dorf as a fast 4-minute local subway. It bypasses frozen Promenade bus traffic every time.

Davos during WEF is divided into strict security perimeters. Knowing which badge opens which door saves hours of frustration.

Badge Pickup Location: Official accreditation processing takes place at the main WEF Badging Center upon arrival. You must present your passport in person to pick up primary credentials.

The White Badge (Official WEF): Administered exclusively by the World Economic Forum. Grants access to the secure outer perimeter, the Congress Centre, and official Forum sessions.

Hotel & Lounge Access Badges: White badges alone do not grant access to off-site corporate pavilions, side-event lounges, or private hotel hubs like the Belvédère. Private access permits, hotel badges, and venue passes are managed independently by host organizations and local partners—this is where we take care of your access needs.

During WEF, the main street transforms into a dense mile of global networking.

The Makeover: Standard retail storefronts become corporate lounges, tech hubs, and broadcast studios overnight.

Walking Math: A 15-minute summer stroll takes 35 minutes during peak week. Security checkpoints, snow-dusted pavements, and constant sidewalk conversations slow everything down. Build in buffer time.

Nobody inspects your winter boots on the street, but everyone notices if you take a spill on the ice.

Footwear: Pavements are packed snow and slick ice. Wear winter boots with deep rubber lug soles outside. Venues are comfortably warm indoors, so carry dress shoes in a bag if you plan to switch.

Outerwear: Tailored wool coats and structured layers work best over suits. You will be stepping into warm lounges 15 times a day, so easy layering is mandatory.

Altitude, dry cold air, and non-stop schedules take a toll if unmanaged.

Altitude & Hydration: The air at 1,560 meters is dry. Double your normal water intake and carry lip balm.

Pharmacies: Amavita Pharmacy on the Promenade is the central local hub for cold remedies, vitamins, and prescriptions.

Emergency Care: Spital Davos (located at Promenadenstrasse 25 in Platz) provides 24/7 emergency medical care. The Swiss emergency number is 144.

Swiss quality combined with high demand means WEF-week pricing requires realistic planning.

Accommodation: Central Promenade apartments and hotel rooms carry significant peak premiums (CHF 1,000–3,000+ per night). Secure rooms months in advance.

Daily Fuel: A simple lunch or lounge bite runs CHF 35–60; espressos sit around CHF 5–7. Casual dinners range from CHF 90–180 per person before wine.

Local Transit: Local buses and RhB train shuttles between Platz and Dorf are punctual and included with your local visitor pass or registration badge.

Schedules shift rapidly after Monday. Plan accordingly.

The Cadence: Breakfast roundtables start as early as 07:00. Panels run through 18:00 and later, leading straight into late-night hotel lounge sessions and dinners.

The Rule: Swiss trains run to the second; pedestrian traffic does not. Treat every 10-minute walk as a 25-minute transit window.