Klosters provides access to one of Switzerland’s major ski regions, but understanding how the skiing fits together is useful before choosing where to stay.
Klosters itself has two particularly important mountain gateways.
From Klosters Platz, the Gotschna cable car takes skiers into the extensive Parsenn ski area, which stretches across the mountains between Klosters and Davos.
From Klosters Dorf, the Madrisa cable car accesses a smaller and particularly family-friendly ski area above the village.
Beyond those two mountains, the wider Davos Klosters destination includes Jakobshorn, Rinerhorn, Pischa and Schatzalp. In total, the destination currently describes six ski areas with around 300 kilometres of pistes. For most visitors staying in Klosters, however, the key decision is much simpler:
Choose Gotschna and Parsenn for the largest range of skiing and long intermediate runs.
Choose Madrisa for families, children and a smaller, easier-to-understand mountain.
Skiing in Klosters at a glance
| If you are looking for… | Start with |
|---|---|
| The largest ski area | Gotschna → Parsenn |
| Families with younger children | Madrisa |
| Beginner lessons | Madrisa / Klosters ski school |
| Long red runs | Parsenn |
| More challenging skiing | Parsenn |
| Freestyle and snowparks | Jakobshorn in Davos |
| Freeride terrain | Pischa or guided terrain elsewhere |
| A quieter family mountain | Madrisa |
| Easy access from central Klosters | Gotschna |
| Skiing close to Klosters Dorf | Madrisa |
Gotschna and Parsenn
The main ski area for most Klosters visitors
For confident skiers staying in Klosters, Parsenn is likely to provide the majority of the skiing.
The Gotschna cable car rises from Klosters Platz and connects Klosters directly into the Parsenn ski area. The same mountain can be accessed from Davos Dorf via the Parsennbahn, but visitors staying in Klosters normally begin their day at Gotschna. The Parsennbahn itself departs from Davos Dorf. From Klosters, the direct route into the Parsenn ski area is via the Gotschna cable car.
Parsenn is the largest and most traditional ski area in Davos Klosters. You will find wide pistes, long descents and roughly 97 kilometres of slopes, together with further marked ski routes.
Who is Parsenn best for?
Parsenn is particularly good for:
- confident intermediate skiers;
- visitors who enjoy long red pistes;
- advanced skiers;
- mixed groups containing several ability levels;
- skiers wanting to explore a large mountain rather than repeatedly skiing one compact area.
The published piste breakdown is strongly weighted towards intermediate terrain, with the mountain operator currently listing substantially more red-piste kilometres than blue or black.
There are easier pistes on Parsenn, but complete beginners may find the smaller learning areas on Madrisa less intimidating.
The Parsenn run to Küblis
One of the classic ski experiences in the region is the historic Parsenn descent towards Küblis.
When snow conditions permit, the route starts from the Weissfluh summit and provides a descent of around 12 kilometres towards the valley. The official destination describes it as the legendary Parsenn nostalgia run.
The important practical point is that Küblis is farther down the Prättigau valley rather than back in Klosters. This makes the run more of a journey than a conventional lift-and-piste circuit, and skiers should check current route conditions and how they intend to return before setting off.
Skiing on Madrisa
Klosters’ family mountain
Madrisa rises directly above Klosters Dorf and offers a very different skiing experience from Parsenn.
It is a much smaller mountain, with around 23 kilometres of pistes, but has deliberately developed a strong family and beginner focus. Dedicated children’s areas include practice terrain, beginner lifts and magic carpets.
That makes Madrisa particularly attractive to families who would rather have a manageable mountain immediately above their accommodation than spend each day navigating a much larger ski network.
Madrisa is particularly good for:
- families with younger children;
- first skiing holidays;
- beginners;
- mixed families where parents want to ski while children are in lessons;
- visitors staying in Klosters Dorf;
- relaxed ski days.
When snow conditions allow, Madrisa also has a 7.7-kilometre toboggan run towards Saas, together with winter walking and snowshoe routes for non-skiers.
This makes Madrisa especially useful for a family group where not everybody wants to downhill ski every day.
Is Klosters good for beginners?
Yes – but choosing the right mountain matters. For complete beginners and younger children, Madrisa is the obvious first choice.
Its children’s snow areas are specifically designed for learning, with easy practice terrain and conveyor lifts. The official destination also identifies Madrisa as one of its principal beginner and family areas.
Adults learning to ski can also book private or group instruction through local ski schools.
Once a skier becomes comfortable on blue pistes, the wider Davos Klosters region provides far more terrain to progress onto.
Is Klosters good for intermediate skiers?
This is probably where Klosters is strongest. Parsenn has extensive red-piste terrain, allowing intermediates to cover considerable distances without repeatedly skiing the same short slopes.
The combination of:
- long descents;
- broad pistes;
- connections across Parsenn;
- mountain restaurants;
- and access from Klosters itself
makes it particularly well suited to skiers who are already comfortable on red runs and want to explore. Intermediate families can also spend a day on Madrisa before moving onto the much larger Parsenn area.
After skiing, Klosters has a small but genuine après-ski and evening scene. See our guide to Eating & Drinking in Klosters.
Skiing for advanced skiers
Advanced skiers have a good range of options. Parsenn includes black pistes and marked ski routes as well as its extensive red terrain, while the wider Davos Klosters destination provides additional challenging skiing and freeride opportunities.
Snowboarding in Klosters
Snowboarders can use the same principal terrain on Gotschna/Parsenn and Madrisa.
For riders specifically interested in freestyle, however, Jakobshorn in Davos is the mountain most strongly associated with snowparks and freestyle skiing and snowboarding.
This is a good example of why staying in Klosters does not mean limiting yourself exclusively to Klosters’ two local mountain access points.
Rail and bus connections make days elsewhere in the wider Davos Klosters region practical.
The other Davos Klosters ski areas
The six ski areas are not all one continuous piste network. Visitors sometimes see “300 kilometres of pistes” and assume they can ski continuously between every mountain. In practice, individual areas have separate lift systems and travelling between some of them requires public transport.
Jakobshorn
Best known for freestyle terrain and snowparks and easily reached through Davos.
Rinerhorn
A smaller ski area on the Davos side of the destination, particularly associated with blue and red terrain and family skiing.
Pischa
Primarily known for freeride and ungroomed snow-sports terrain rather than conventional piste skiing. Please note that this is uncontrolled Alpine terrain where avalanche awareness is essential.
Schatzalp
A smaller, more relaxed mountain above Davos.
For a week’s holiday, most Klosters skiers are unlikely to need to visit every area. Parsenn and Madrisa alone provide a useful contrast, with the other mountains adding variety.
Ski lessons in Klosters
Klosters has its own long-established Swiss Ski + Snowboard School Klosters, which dates back to 1931.
The school currently offers:
- children’s group lessons;
- adult instruction;
- private lessons;
- snowboard lessons;
- cross-country instruction;
- freeride and ski-touring instruction;
- adaptive snow-sports tuition.
Children’s lessons operate on Madrisa and, at higher levels, around Gotschna and the wider mountain network.
For beginners, booking lessons before arriving is sensible during popular ski weeks rather than assuming instructors will be available at short notice.
Ski hire in Klosters
Visitors do not need to bring their own skis or snowboard. Several established sports shops in Klosters provide equipment rental and servicing.
Current local options include Gotschna Sport, close to Klosters Platz, and Andrist Sport, which rents alpine skis, ski boots, snowboards and other winter equipment.
Gotschna Sport currently offers online rental and, subject to capacity, equipment collection the evening before skiing.
For families in particular, hiring locally can be considerably easier than transporting several sets of skis through airports and railway stations.
Ski passes
The Davos Klosters lift system offers both tickets for individual mountains and regional ski passes.
For short stays, mountain-specific one- and two-day tickets can be appropriate if you know where you intend to ski.
Visitors spending several days exploring the wider area should compare the regional ski pass, which covers the participating Davos Klosters winter-sports areas. Current ticket types and prices are published by Davos Klosters Mountains.
Prices vary by duration and age category. Always check the current official tariff rather than relying on older published prices.
One useful detail: although the wider destination has six ski areas, Schatzalp operates separately and is not included in the standard Davos Klosters regional ski pass. Check the current ticket conditions if you plan to ski there.
Ski maps and live lift information
Before skiing each day, check the current:
- lift status;
- piste openings;
- weather;
- avalanche information;
- and any temporary closures.
Davos Klosters Mountains publishes live information covering lifts, pistes, operating times and mountain conditions.
When does the Klosters ski season start?
There is no single permanent opening date. Parsenn, Madrisa and the other areas operate on different schedules, and early or late-season openings remain dependent on snow and weather. Parsenn normally has the longest operating window of the Klosters-accessible areas, while Madrisa generally runs through the main winter season.
For that reason, anyone travelling early in December or late in March should check the current official operating schedule before booking purely for skiing.
Getting to the ski lifts
Gotschna
The Gotschna valley station is in Klosters Platz, making this the most convenient accommodation area for visitors expecting to ski Parsenn regularly.
Madrisa
The Madrisa valley station is in Klosters Dorf. Staying nearby can make a significant difference for families carrying children’s skis and equipment each morning.
Klosters also has local trains and buses, so staying beside the wrong lift does not prevent you skiing elsewhere.
Guests staying in qualifying local accommodation receive the Davos Klosters guest card, which includes free local public transport within defined zones. For many visitors, this means a car is not necessary for the ski holiday itself.
Where should skiers stay in Klosters?
This depends primarily on the mountain you expect to use most.
Stay in Klosters Platz if:
- Parsenn will be your main ski area;
- you want easy access to Gotschna;
- you are arriving by train;
- you want central restaurants and village facilities;
- this is your first visit.
Stay in Klosters Dorf if:
- you are travelling with younger children;
- Madrisa is your priority;
- you want a quieter base;
- easy access to children’s skiing matters more than central village facilities.
Our detailed accommodation guide compares the two areas and representative hotels and apartments.
Klosters or Davos for skiing?
Both villages access the same wider winter destination, but the holiday experience differs. Klosters is smaller and more village-like, while Davos is a much larger town with more restaurants, nightlife and direct access to several separate mountain areas.
Klosters has one major advantage for many visitors: Gotschna gives direct access into Parsenn without requiring you to stay in Davos.
Families also have Madrisa immediately above Klosters Dorf.
Skiers wanting maximum nightlife or the easiest possible access to several Davos mountains may prefer Davos. Visitors wanting a quieter Alpine village while retaining access to a large ski region may prefer Klosters.
Skiing without a car
A ski holiday in Klosters is quite practical without a car. Trains reach both Klosters Platz and Klosters Dorf, local buses connect the village, and qualifying accommodation guests receive local public-transport benefits through the guest card.
For the simplest car-free trip:
stay near Klosters Platz station if Gotschna and Parsenn are your priority;
or:
stay near Klosters Dorf station if Madrisa is central to the holiday.
Beyond downhill skiing
Not everyone in a ski-holiday group necessarily wants to ski every day.
Klosters also offers:
- cross-country skiing;
- winter walking;
- snowshoeing;
- tobogganing;
- ice skating;
- curling.
Klosters itself currently has around 28.5 kilometres of classic cross-country trails and the same distance prepared for skating, together with a 3.1-kilometre night trail.
For those activities, see our broader:
Planning a ski holiday in Klosters
For most first-time visitors, I would keep the decision process simple:
1. Decide who you are skiing with
Experienced adults / intermediates: prioritise Parsenn.
Young family / beginners: seriously consider Madrisa.
2. Choose your accommodation area accordingly
Gotschna → Klosters Platz
Madrisa → Klosters Dorf
3. Check current lift operations
Particularly if travelling early or late in the season.
4. Book lessons early if needed
Especially during school holidays.
5. Compare ski passes
Choose between mountain-specific tickets and the wider regional pass depending on the length of your stay.
6. Leave some flexibility
Weather and snow conditions can change, and having access to both skiing and non-ski activities makes a Klosters holiday considerably more adaptable.
Find accommodation for your Klosters ski holiday
The right location can make a significant difference to a ski holiday. If you expect to ski Parsenn most days, start with accommodation around Klosters Platz and Gotschna. For family holidays centred on Madrisa, look around Klosters Dorf.
Some accommodation links on Klosters.com are affiliate links. If you make a booking after following one of these links, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Useful official ski information
Parsenn – official mountain guide
Madrisa – official mountain guide
Current lifts and pistes – live Davos Klosters Mountains information
Ski passes – current official prices
Ski maps – official current maps
Swiss Ski + Snowboard School Klosters – lessons and courses