Parsenn

The basics

If you plan to ski or hike in the Parsenn area, you should look to stay in Davos Dorf or Klosters—not Davos Platz, which only has direct access to the Schatzalp ski area (which isn’t covered by the Davos-Klosters ski pass). Both Davos Dorf and Klosters are easily accessible from international airports at Zurich and Milan Malpensa, from where private transfers can be booked in advance.

The Davos-Klosters ski area, which covers Parsenn, is split into several mountain zones such as Jakobshorn and Parsenn, Parsenn Davos/Klosters, Jakobshorn, Rinerhorn, Pischa, and Madrisa. If you’re a decent skier and plan to cover serious ground, there are multi-day passes that cover all these regions. If you’re skiing, hiking, or mountain biking for a day or a weekend, or you’re a learner, it’s better to buy a ticket for just one mountain. Visitors can also consider paragliding flights (available year-round) from Davos.

Things to know before you go

• The terrain in Parsenn is best suited to intermediate and advanced skiers, with most pistes classed as red.

• Snowboarders should note many runs flatten out, with lots of stretches that they might need to skate along.

• Families with young kids and beginners will find better skiing at Madrisa (via Klosters) where there are bunny slopes, magic carpets, a fun park, and childcare.

• Kids under six years old can use the lifts free of charge all around the Davos-Klosters area.

• To check off serious miles, good skiers can complete a 7-mile (12-kilometer) Parsenn descent from Weissfluh to Küblis.

• The area is well-equipped with tourist facilities such as mountain restaurants with sun terraces and restrooms at the bigger lift stations.

How to get there

If you look on the Davos-Klosters piste map, the Parsenn ski area sits directly above Davos Dorf. From here, you can take the 2-stage Parsenn funicular to Weissfluhjoch; from Klosters, take the Gotschnabahn cable car to the Gotschnagrat ridge. Most of the mountain lifts and funiculars in the Parsenn area are open year-round, although there are closures in high winds as you’d expect.

When to get there

At its highest point, Parsenn sits around an altitude of 9,330 feet (2,844 meters), allowing it to enjoy a long ski season by European standards. Most pistes are open for skiing from late November through early April. Look out for one of Switzerland’s oldest annual ski races, the Parsenn Derby, which is usually held on the slopes for three days around late-February. Davos and Klosters are much busier on race days.

Stay in an igloo at Parsenn Iglu Village

For a unique stay on the mountain—and to get first tracks on the snow—consider the Parsenn Iglu Village. Each winter, a collection of igloos is built on the pistes of the Parsenn ski area, and you can book to stay in one overnight. During the day, the village opens an ice bar and an igloo restaurant that serves steaming fondue.