Corporate retreat in Davos: venues, activities and a 3-day plan

Davos is a high-altitude Swiss resort town with a working-town feel: it hosts big international meetings every winter, so its hotels, congress centre and transport are used to moving groups around. It suits leadership offsites, strategy retreats and European team gatherings that want mountain air with proper conference rooms, rather than a remote chalet with a projector in the corner.

The case for Davos is range. In one valley you get a purpose-built congress centre, grand hotels from the sanatorium era, design-led newer properties and two ski areas, all linked by a reliable bus and rail network.

Why Davos works for a team offsite

• Getting there. Zurich Airport has nonstop flights from several large US hubs, and connections through the main European hubs from everywhere else. From there, Davos is roughly two and a half hours by train with one or two changes, or about two hours by private transfer in good conditions.
• Meeting infrastructure. Few Alpine towns have a dedicated congress centre plus several hotels with their own conference floors. You can run a plenary for a big group and keep breakouts in walking distance.
• Two parts of town. Davos Platz and Davos Dorf sit along one main road beside the lake, so a group can split across two hotels and still meet for dinner without long transfers.
• Easy evenings. Hotel restaurants, fondue huts and a few bars along the Promenade cover most nights; a mountain dinner at the Schatzalp is the obvious set-piece.
• The caveats. At about 1,560 meters, some people feel the altitude on day one. The town is also fully booked and expensive during the January economic forum week, so avoid those dates entirely.

Best time for a corporate retreat in Davos

There are two good seasons. Winter, from mid-December to early April, brings skiing on the Parsenn and Jakobshorn, sledding runs and cross-country trails, with prices highest over the holidays and in February. Summer, from late June to mid-September, is green and mild, with hiking, mountain biking and lake activities, and it is often easier to book. Avoid the second half of January, when the World Economic Forum takes over the town, and the Spengler Cup ice hockey tournament between Christmas and New Year. May and November are shoulder months when some lifts, restaurants and hotels close.

Corporate retreat venues in Davos

Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Belvédère

The town's best-known grand hotel, on the Promenade in Davos Platz. Its own FAQ lists nine conference rooms for up to 250 people, which makes it a solid single-hotel base for a company meeting or sales kickoff.

AlpenGold Hotel Davos

A large, modern hotel in Davos Platz with a distinctive rounded shape, with dedicated meetings and conference pages and a group activities program. It fits mid-size and large groups that want a contemporary base with a spa.

Hard Rock Hotel Davos

A newer hotel in central Davos, with event spaces and a livelier feel than the traditional properties. It suits younger teams and kickoffs where the evening program matters as much as the agenda.

Congress Centre Davos

The purpose-built venue that hosts the town's big international meetings. Use it when your headcount outgrows a hotel ballroom, and pair it with rooms spread across nearby hotels.

Waldhotel Davos

A former sanatorium on the forested slope above the town, with seminar packages and the option to rent the whole hotel. It works well for leadership retreats that want privacy and a quieter setting.

Hotel Schatzalp

A historic Art Nouveau hotel above Davos, reached by its own funicular, with an events program and wide views over the valley. It is a strong choice for a smaller off-grid retreat or a single memorable dinner.

Hotel Seehof Davos

A traditional hotel in Davos Dorf next to the Parsenn railway, with stone-pine seminar rooms. It suits ski-focused groups that want to be first on the lift in the morning.

Weighing a grand hotel against a buyout above town? Request a free itemized proposal in days and see two options priced side by side.

Team activities in Davos

• A ski or snowboard day on the Parsenn, with lessons for beginners and a long lunch at a mountain restaurant for non-skiers.
• An evening on the Schatzalp sled run, followed by dinner at the hotel at the top.
• A summer walk or paddle around Lake Davos, which is flat, short and works for every fitness level.
• A ride on the Rhaetian Railway toward Filisur and the Landwasser Viaduct, a good half-day outing.
• A guided hike in the side valleys of Sertig or Dischma, ending at a mountain inn.
• A visit to the Kirchner Museum, which holds a large collection of the expressionist painter's work.
• Curling or ice skating on one of the town's outdoor rinks in winter.
• A cheese fondue or raclette dinner in a mountain hut, booked as a private group evening.

Sample 3-day Davos offsite

Day 1: Arrive and acclimatize

• Morning landings in Zurich and a group train or coach transfer up the valley.
• Check-in, a short walk along the lake to help with the altitude.
• Welcome dinner in the hotel with a brief kickoff from leadership.

Day 2: Sessions and the mountain

• Morning plenary and breakouts in the hotel conference rooms.
• Afternoon on the slopes or a valley hike, depending on season.
• Funicular up to the Schatzalp for a group dinner, with sledding in winter.

Day 3: Wrap up and travel

• Breakfast session to confirm decisions and owners.
• Late-morning train back to Zurich Airport for afternoon flights.

Budget and planning notes

Switzerland is expensive, and Davos is no exception: hotel rates, dinners and ski passes all add up, and holiday weeks and February cost the most. Summer and early December are usually better value, and train transfers from Zurich are cheaper than private coaches for most groups. Hotel buyouts and big congress bookings need long lead times, and forum week should be ruled out from the start. Offsiteio trips start from about $999 per person depending on destination, with flights quoted separately. Tell us your headcount and dates to get a free itemized proposal in days, with one upfront price per person, 24/7 remote support and an optional on-site coordinator. Our corporate retreat cost guide explains the main line items.

Nearby alternatives

• Corporate retreat locations in Switzerland: the country overview, from lakes to high Alpine resorts.
• St. Moritz: the glossier Engadin resort, about two hours away by train.
• Zurich: a city alternative right next to the main airport.
• Offsite location finder: compare destinations by where your team is based.

Davos corporate retreat FAQs

When should we avoid booking Davos?

Avoid the second half of January, when the World Economic Forum fills the town, and the days between Christmas and New Year. Early May and November are quiet but many venues close.

How do we get from Zurich Airport to Davos?

The train takes roughly two and a half hours with one or two changes and handles luggage well. A private coach takes about two hours in good weather and is simpler for big groups.

Is the altitude a problem for a team retreat?

Davos sits at about 1,560 meters, which most people handle fine. Keep day one light, encourage water and save strenuous hikes for the second day.

Can Davos handle a large company meeting?

Yes. The Congress Centre is built for large meetings, and hotels such as the Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Belvédère have several conference rooms, so groups can spread across a few nearby properties.