Resort height: 1560m
The mountains
Most people gravitate to the area known as the Parsenn at the start of their ski holiday in Davos. It's reached by an annoyingly slow two-stage mountain railway, the Parsennbahn, but it's worth making the journey to ski the high and snowsure pistes at the summit. This is also the starting point of an extraordinary 12km descent into the valley of Klosters which is easy enough for all but the wobbliest of intermediates. Skiing a run this long is a real feather in the cap for new skiers, and it's worth taking your time over it, stopping at one of several mountain huts on the way down to savour the views (and rest your legs).
Elsewhere in Davos, the Jakobshorn is home to a highly-rated terrain park, and there are impressive and challenging off-piste routes to be skied all over the valley. One of the classics is the Wang beneath the summit of the Goschnagrat - a powder-pig's paradise, but also a serious avalanche risk. You'll need a guide to show you the way.
Getting there
It takes 2 1/2 - 3 hours to reach Davos from Zurich airport.
Rating: 
6/10
Après-ski
There's nothing in Davos to match the après-ski scene of an Austrian ski resort as the lifts close - most guests disperse back to their hotels before dinner. The scene only gets going from about 10pm, starting in the Montana, and moving on to the Ex-Bar, which is often rammed at the weekends. Dinner is usually taken in the hotel: for posh nosh in Davos, try the newly-renovated and super-stylish Waldhotel or the country inn, Hubli's Landhaus, on the road to Klosters.
Rating: 
7/10
Non-skiers
The choice of activities is virtually limitless, although you might end up wishing you'd stayed down in Klosters, which shares its ski area with Davos and is much the more characterful base. Skating, swimming, spas, cross-country skiing and tobogganing are just a few of the activities on offer.
Rating: 7/10
Cost of living
Davos needn't be expensive - especially if you book a hotel at the last minute, and shop around looking for the best deal. You may end up forking out on the occasional taxi to help you get around town, though.
Rating: 
5/10
Attractiveness of the resort
There are plenty of mountain views, but the workaday buildings and busy one-way traffic system means that Davos is never going to win a beauty contest. It's the main reason why most people prefer to stay in neighbouring Klosters.
