Jewish in Davos and Tourist Information

Accommodation
Davening with a Minyan
Mens' Mikvah in Davos
Kosher Food
Shabbos
Walks and Hikes
Transportation

Feel free to reply with any further requests for information, corrections and the like.

Accommodation

Warnings:

1) Talking about hotels or rentals in general, be sure not to pay upfront before verifying that you are dealing with a scammer. In July 02 2026 someone paid thousands of £££'s for a place in Switzerland and when he arrived, the place was deserted with a sign saying: "This establishment is closed for the summer season". Another tip: Try to pay with HSBC bank, as they did take action and - despite the fact that the eMail address of the scammer was already closed - managed to recoup the money and return it to the defrauded client.

2) Never try to set up a Mikve on a balcony, certainly not in a flat that is on the first, second or sixth floor . . . Experts recommend checking the load-bearing capacity before any unusual installations. Ask yourself the most simple question: Is it even allowed to put a pool on a balcony? The problem lies in the weight of the water. One cubic meter of water corresponds to 1,000 liters - and weighs around a ton (= 1,000Kg). Even small pools can therefore add several hundred kilograms to a balcony within a few square meters. For example, in Switzerland, residential balconies are generally built in accordance with the SIA 261 standard so that they can bear a load of at least 350 kilograms per square meter. The decisive factors are the size of the balcony, the amount of water and the question of how the pool will be emptied again later.

Consult the following founts of information, who will be happy to share with you details of where to stay in Davos:

Jewish Davos WhatsApp Group https://chat.whatsapp.com/DkMuxR8H00FG1aM0209mKJ

Moshe Lappe 0041793463561 (only by WhatsApp)

Zev Speisehandler s0789533003@gmail.com / 0041789533003 (only by WhatsApp)

There is Davos Dorf and Davos Platz, which have over the years become unified into one town. Basically, Davos Platz is an extension of Davos Dorf (or vice versa...) and so there are two thoroughfares running in parallel across the whole length of the area: Tahlstrasse where traffic (buses, cars etc.) can only go eastwards(?) and Promenade, where traffic can only go westwards(?), with a lesser one at the top, running between the houses on the ridge of the mountain.

1) Cresta Hotel - info@crestahotel.ch

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hotel+Cresta,+Davos/@46.8021767,9.8348955,17z/data=!4m9!3m8!1s0x0:0xe151271e9ef54568!5m3!1s2022-05-13!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d46.8021458!4d9.8370873)

2) Staying in Davos

Rent via:

1) Haus Barga GP in Davos, Ground Floor Flat. You need to book via Booking.com and only if you need specific help contact her via 'phone or eMail. Contact details: Karin Weissberger, weissbergerg6@gmail.com, 00 41 79 383 75 06. Caretaker: Jasmin Hassler 0041787203266, lives on the first floor, second flat. We used this flat by way of leaving the garden door unlocked (NOT open...) just for Shabbos. Tip: NEVER bring along expensive jewellery to holiday, nor cameras, laptops etc., which increases the chances of פרצה קוראה לגנב - even in Davos where crime is at its lowest ימ"ש... Barga GP, Davos – Updated 2022 Prices (booking.com)

2) Hotel Edelweiss: their hallways have automatic lights, so you need to find out if this is permissible for use on Shabbos. If you have already confirmed with the Edelweiss hotel, try the following:

1. Find out if the hotel room/s assigned to you are on the ground floor. If so, find out if you could come and leave your room/s from the garden (in the rear) or the parking (at the front) of the hotel. This way, you do not need to walk through the corridors ONLY on the holy Shabbos AND with the consent of management AFTER explaining to them the reason for your strange behaviour... and so you will NOT not need to cancel your reservations (but please read on for the advice in the next paragraphs).

2. If the above is not the case (i.e. your room/s are on an upper floor) please do ask your Rov for guidance. He might advise you that because you are travelling for health - or other important reasons, Halacha allows this type of פסיק רישיה.

3. If the above two options are unsatisfactory, please read the small print to see if you can cancel the room/s. If so, do so WELL BEFORE your allotted time for cancellation is up and write an apologetic letter to the hotel, followed up by a courtesy call to ensure you have explained your position.

3) Hilton Garden Inn

Not sure from a Shmiras Shabbos perspective...

4) Lastly, there's an agency that specialises in providing accommodation for the Frum Oylem: Christoffel Ferienwohnungen AG Davos, Promenade 41, Davos-Platz, 7270, Switzerland, +41 81 413 34 08, info@christoffeldavos.ch. He's specialising in helping the Jewish community (I hope you will agree with me and - the day before you leave - you will compliment him for this).

5) There is a Jewish charity based in Zurich that runs ZENTRUM HAUS DAVOS (originally called Haus Etania ‑ Sanatorium)

From Pesach until after Succos it is rented out to frum Yidden (other times it is rented out to Ski groups), Kashrus is up to each tenant who wants to cook in their own mini-apartment. You will have to ask about the situation at the Etania communal Kitchen (not advised).

Address: ZENTRUM HAUS DAVOS, Richtstattweg 3, 7270 Davos, Schweiz, which is less than a ten minutes' walk from the Promenade (the upper main thoroughfare). The building belongs to the Etania Charitable organization.

Caution: There is another place / building that is called Etania, so before booking accommodation near the Shul, ensure you have he correct location!

To rent a Room/s, Speak to Mrs Sarah Marder of Refue Davos +447469351119 / Chaim VeShalva line +442031375501 ext 5 or try any of the following contact details:

+41815083626, info@davosvfk.com, reservation@zentrumhaus.ch or +447368666015.

To pay for your stay at ZENTRUM HAUS DAVOS, please follow the payment link: https://pay.sumup.io/b2c/X7L0KXCL38.

Once payment has been effected, please confirm via email to refuedavos@gmail.com).

Or you can call Mrs Tamar Weiss on +41815083626.

For other accommodation options, see our blog "Hotel Information for Switzerland".

For information about Davos in Hebrew,

Either join the WhatsApp group

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DkMuxR8H00FG1aM0209mKJ

Or read here:

https://metaylimbkipa.com/%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%9B%D7%A9%D7%A8-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A5/#davos

Davening

Re: Davening with a Minyan in Davos and in other places in and around Davos

You can try to ask Efraim (Rafi) Mosbacher on davos.mosbacher@gmail.com, who organises all the Jewish infrastructure in Davos, about the Etania Beis haMedrash: Minyan during weekdays and Shabbos

When you're there, please ask for Mincha-Ma'ariv times and eMail them to me, so we can help others, TYVM!

Mikvah

Etania Mikvah (try: 0041774264140); ask for the price they charge.

To pay for Shul donations / expenses (e.g. for an Aliyah or Mikvah), please follow the payment link: https://pay.sumup.io/b2c/X7L0KXCL38. Please confirm your donation / payment via email to info@davosvfk.com.

You can also try and ask Yosef Goldschmidt, Swiss Holiday Seforim Gemach, 0041794290803

Kosher Food

Cosher food is available in Coop or Kosher food in Migros...

Consult the Koscher Liste of the IRG in Zurich, available for download from this url: https://www.irgz.ch/koscherliste.

You may also try Mr Moshe Fein (only by WhatsApp) +41 763407410

Shabbos

Remember to look out for the furthest distance you could walk so as not to cross the border of Techum Shabbos.

Remember to place a glass, stone or metal underneath your Shabbos candles.

Remember all the other things you need to look out for, when renting Zimmerim in the Galil...

Renting a hotplate

Buying ready-cooked meals / food for Shabbos: Call Rabbi Hochhauser on 0041 788903543

Weather:

To follow the weather and other metrics for the area, see the WebCam of the "Walserhuus" in Sertig: Total cloud cover – Ventusky

Walks and Hikes

After all, the streets and paths in Davos are walkable and - once you (and your family) orientate yourself - it is not easy to get lost. There many hills, but hey - you came to rejuvenate!

Even if it takes 30 minutes to walk to the shul, and 40 minutes to walk to the grocery store, it's still worth it.

If travelling with a baby / toddler, you may want to hire / borrow a mountain buggy from Intersport / the Jewish Hotel, which is very handy for long / rugged mountain tracks / paths.

Hope to be מקיים the לאו of ולפני עור לא תתן מכשול, so if some of the advice I gave you is incorrect, please do let me know.

So, it's easy to lose yourself, IF you have no street plan; print one online to PDF AND to paper and on the plane take time to highlight the landmarks. However, depending on your age, physical state etc., walking and climbing shouldn't be a problem at all; hey you're going there to replenish your oxygen, refresh your blood and rejuvenate!

Don't be afraid to ask the locals for directions, as they take pride in their town and are very forthcoming with help and advice - remember to greet them: "Gruetzy" and thank them: "Danke Viel Mahl".

I think that there is 'siesta time', which means that a couple of hours in the afternoon everything closes down (akin to Bene Beraq).

Hike: Sertig Dörfli - Sertig Waterfall, near Davos, Switzerland | Graubünden Tourism | Graubünden Ferien.

Address: Ducanfall Waterfall, Sertig Dörfli - near Davos, Albula Alps, Graubünden, The Swiss Alps, Switzerland.

Description: The short but very beautiful and panoramic hike from the idyllic Sertig Dörfli to the beautiful three-tier Ducan waterfall, which is over 60 meters high, is a nice choice. The Ducan waterfall has its origins in the synonymous Gletsch - Gletscher Ducan, part of a mountain in the Albula Alps in Graubünden. A popular and relatively easy hike takes you from Sertig Dörfli to the waterfall. The Sertig Waterfall is in the Sertig Valley, a short distance from the hamlet of Sertig Dörfli, near Davos. The path is pram-friendly for a significant portion of the way and takes about an hour, including the return trip. Cows are frequently seen grazing in the meadows of the valley and pasture in the mountains surrounding Sertig Dörfli in the landscape around Gletsch, adding to the romantic and pastoral scenery around the waterfall.

Amenities: There are cozy restaurants and overnight accommodations available in the Sertig Dörfli area for those who want to extend their visit, such as the Gasthaus Zum Bergführer and the Hotel Walserhuus Sertig.

Transportation: As there are buses literally every couple of minutes, you will be able to reach any point in town without difficulty.

The bus and train are very efficient, so you don't really need a car (unless you are not prepared to keep to the punctual times of arriving ten minutes before the train departs and leaving the train well before the conductor blows his whistle - and his top...). See: https://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/swiss-peak-pass-for-free-mountain-top-excursions

Besides, you will need to have a permit for car parking, unless the flat comes with a dedicated space.

Besides, if you really want to take out the maximum from your costly summer holiday in the Swiss Alps, WALK ;-)

Before you go, I would like to know:

1) Are you coming by rented car?

2) Where are you coming from?

3) How did you hear about me?

Have a safe trip!

menasche.scharf@gmail.com

As of 01/09/2024, the Yeshiva in Davos is sadly no more; the following information is obsolete: Davening in the Davos Yeshiva: The local Yeshiva has a Minyan at 7:30AM for Shacharis all year round, except for Bein HaZemanim (During covid it was allocated free of charge to the Yeshiva by the kind generosity of Family Halpert of Zurich).

More links below:

See: https://metaylimbkipa.com/switzerland-kosher-guide/, which might have more details for you.

http://kosherhoteldavos.com/en

Gemeinde Davos - Verkehrsbetrieb Davos

https://davos-kutschen.ch/

https://www.viastoria.ch/kulturwege-schweiz

www.hike-explorer.ch

https://www.walserverein-gr.ch/index.php/homepage-v2.html

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x4784a0c137ac6b0f%3A0xf92e0205d523e980!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPpWQVvI9jDHzJj3UJamtMyTkM2kdxumKj4JhM-%3Dw240-h160-k-no!5s%22teufi%22%20-restaurant%20-ski%20%22dischma%22%20%22walk%22%20-bike%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipPpWQVvI9jDHzJj3UJamtMyTkM2kdxumKj4JhM-&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGmY7MjL34AhUUR8AKHcyTB8cQoip6BAghEAM

https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-route/praettigau-davos/davos-clavadel-sertig-doerfli/1560921/

https://www.agoda.com/apartments/city/davos-ch.html?cid=1844104

https://www.booking.com/hotel/ch/etania.html?aid=1951296&label=0etania&no_rooms=1&checkin=2022-06-12&checkout=2022-06-16&group_adults=2&group_children=0&req_children=0&req_adults=2&hp_refreshed_with_new_dates=1