Davos is the highest town in Europe and is at the heart of Swiss skiing. Conan Doyle first l(a)unched on skis here in 1894. The town is lively but not too large, with excellent transport. It sports the famous Schneider's tearooms for après ski death-by-chocolate. It is less expensive than Klosters nearby, yet pretty enough.

The town developed as a health resort and Thomas Mann wrote 'The Magic Mountain' both in and about Davos. It still has healthy fresh air and reminders of turn-of-the-century fashions, with its own small museum and art gallery.
The skiing is described as 'a vast ski area, with runs of a wide variety. Many of intermediate difficulty are very beautiful, through woods and valleys. Also good for off-piste, cross-country, touring, and not-skiing - with many beautiful walks or lifts to mountain restaurants'.

There is a wide range of excellent mountain restaurants, and traditional schwendis are especially popular with adults seeking a quiet pause in the sun.

Desmond Devitt