Winter road
Driving from Zurich to Davos in winter
The route, what Swiss rules require of your car, where to check the road before you leave, and two alternatives: the train and a chauffeur. Facts from the authorities' pages and the TCS, checked on .
The drive from Zurich to Davos: route and driving time
From Zurich, take the A3 and A13 motorways towards Chur as far as Landquart. From there, road 28 runs through the Prättigau valley to Klosters and over the Wolfgang Pass (1,631 m) to Davos.
About 154 km, about 2 hours in normal conditions.
The TCS lists the Wolfgang Pass as open all year. In heavy snowfall, snow chains may be needed from Klosters.
The Flüela Pass is not on this route: it leads on from Davos to the Lower Engadine and is usually closed in winter (the TCS gives January to May).
What your car needs
Winter tyres
Swiss law does not require winter tyres, but you must be in control of your car at all times, and the Federal Roads Office calls winter tyres indispensable in the cold season (its rule of thumb: October to Easter). If you cause an accident or block traffic because you drive on summer tyres in winter, you risk a fine or even losing your licence, and your insurer may reduce what it pays or claim costs back from you. Renting a car? Check that it has winter tyres before you leave the airport.
Snow chains
Where the round blue snow‑chain sign stands, you may drive on only with snow chains on at least two driven wheels of the same axle. Four‑wheel‑drive cars are exempt only if a plate on the sign says so.
Motorway vignette
You need it for the A3 and A13 motorways. It costs CHF 40 and comes as a sticker or as an e-vignette linked to your number plate. Each year's vignette is valid from 1 December of the year before to 31 January of the year after: the 2027 vignette from 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2028. Buy the e-vignette only on the federal customs office's own site, e-vignette.ch.
Parking in Davos
Davos has various paid parking spaces. From 1 November to 30 April, night parking is banned from 03:00 to 07:00 in all spaces without 24-hour paid parking.
Check the road before you leave
The Canton of Graubünden shows closures and snow‑chain stretches on its road map, strassen.gr.ch; Davos Klosters publishes the local road conditions on davos.ch; the TCS lists the status of the main Swiss passes. The signs on the road always take precedence.
Snow, holiday traffic and the WEF week can add time.
Driving up for the Spengler Cup, 26–31 December? Spengler Cup 2026: transfer from Zurich Airport.
Or take the train
About 2 h 35–2 h 50 from Zurich Airport, with two changes (Zurich HB and Landquart); the Rhaetian Railway runs from Landquart via Klosters to Davos.
From Zurich main station: about 2 h 20–2 h 25, with one change in Landquart.
Or a chauffeur
- Door to door from Zurich Airport, about 2 hours in normal conditions.
- From CHF 450 one way (Comfort Sedan). Exact price before you pay.
- The price is per car, not per person. A Comfort or Business Sedan takes up to 3 passengers; the Business Van, at its own price, takes up to 6.
- In winter, every car runs on winter tyres. 4x4 vehicles and snow chains are available.
- If a road is closed, we look for another route and check official information. If there is none, we wait with you until it reopens or, if you prefer, drive you to the nearest train station and help you buy your ticket. You are never left on your own. A detour or waiting because of a road closure costs you nothing extra.
- Skis travel on a roof rack or inside with a seat folded. 1–2 pairs per passenger can be arranged if you tell us in advance in the booking comment.
In the WEF week, 18–22 January 2027
- In the 2026 event week, all roads into Davos were checked and several car parks were closed.
- During the event week, leave Davos 5–6 hours before your flight; be at the airport 2–3 hours before.
Express Transfer is an independent chauffeur company and is not affiliated with the World Economic Forum.
Driving from Zurich to Davos: your questions
How long is the drive from Zurich to Davos?
Is the road to Davos open in winter?
Do I need winter tyres in Switzerland?
Sources: davos.ch (getting there, road conditions, parking, WEF week dates), ch.ch and the Federal Roads Office (winter tyres), TCS (snow chains, passes), the Road Signs Ordinance (SSV), Art. 29 (snow‑chain sign), the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (vignette), strassen.gr.ch, sbb.ch. Checked on 3 October 2026.
This page is a summary for travellers, not legal advice; the official pages and the signs on the road apply.