Klosters Platz vs Klosters Dorf: Where Should You Stay?
If you are planning a holiday in Klosters, one of the first decisions is whether to stay in Klosters Platz or Klosters Dorf. Both are part of the same Swiss Alpine resort, but they offer slightly different experiences.
For most first-time visitors, Klosters Platz is the more convenient choice. It has the main railway station, easy access to the Gotschna cable car and a greater choice of restaurants, shops and village facilities.
Klosters Dorf is particularly appealing for families and visitors planning to spend time on Madrisa. It is generally quieter, has its own railway station and is close to the Madrisa cable car.
Both are practical without a car, which makes Klosters particularly attractive for international visitors arriving by train. The right choice ultimately depends on how you intend to spend your holiday.
Klosters Platz vs Klosters Dorf at a glance
| What matters to you | Klosters Platz | Klosters Dorf |
|---|---|---|
| First visit to Klosters | Our first choice | Quieter alternative |
| Skiing on Parsenn | Best for Gotschna access | Requires a local journey |
| Family skiing on Madrisa | Requires a local journey | Best for Madrisa access |
| Restaurants and bars | Wider choice nearby | More limited choice |
| Arriving by train | Main staffed station | Smaller unstaffed station |
| Holiday without a car | Particularly convenient | Practical with well-located accommodation |
| Peace and quiet | Quieter streets away from the centre | Generally quieter |
| Summer family activities | Good all-round base | Particularly convenient for Madrisa |
What is the difference between Klosters Platz and Klosters Dorf?
Klosters stretches along the Prättigau valley in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Rather than having one compact centre, it has two principal village areas, each with its own railway station.
Klosters Platz is the main centre, where you will find many of the resort’s hotels, restaurants, shops and visitor facilities. It is also where the Gotschna cable car leaves for the Parsenn mountain area.
Klosters Dorf lies farther down the valley, in the direction of Landquart. It has a quieter, more residential feel and is home to the Madrisa cable-car valley station.
The two areas are connected by local public transport, so staying in one does not prevent you from visiting the other. However, being close to the right lift or station can make a noticeable difference, particularly when travelling with children or carrying ski equipment.
Staying in Klosters Platz
Best for first-time visitors, restaurants and Parsenn skiing
Klosters Platz is where we would generally recommend starting your accommodation search, particularly if this is your first holiday in Klosters.
Its main advantage is convenience. The railway station and Gotschna cable car are close together, making it possible to arrive by train and reach the mountain without relying on a car.
The central part of the village also has a useful choice of restaurants, cafés and shops. For couples, short-break visitors and anyone who enjoys going out for dinner without arranging transport, this is a considerable advantage. See our guide to restaurants and bars in Klosters for places to eat and drink.
In winter, the Gotschna cable car provides access towards Parsenn, one of the principal ski areas in the wider Davos Klosters region. In summer, the same mountain area attracts walkers and mountain bikers, subject to seasonal lift operations.
There are quieter places to stay around Klosters Platz, too. Being in the main centre does not mean that every hotel or apartment is on a busy road.
The main drawback: If you intend to spend most of your holiday on Madrisa, you will need to travel to Klosters Dorf to reach its cable car. Klosters Platz is also the more active village centre, which may not suit visitors seeking the quietest possible setting.
Staying in Klosters Dorf
Best for Madrisa, younger families and quieter holidays
Klosters Dorf is a good choice for visitors who prefer a less central setting, particularly families with younger children. Its principal attraction is Madrisa. The cable car leaves from Klosters Dorf and provides access to a mountain with a strong family focus.
During winter, Madrisa offers skiing and facilities for children and less experienced skiers. In summer, Madrisa-Land provides play areas and family activities alongside walking opportunities. More information on Madrisa and its family activities.
If you are travelling with small children, being able to walk from your accommodation to the Madrisa cable car may be more useful than having a larger choice of restaurants nearby.
Klosters Dorf also has its own railway station, so visitors do not need a car simply because they are staying outside Klosters Platz.
The main drawback: There are fewer restaurants and central village facilities immediately nearby. If you expect to spend most evenings eating out in Klosters Platz, or most ski days on Parsenn, you may find yourself making regular local journeys.
Which is better for a ski holiday?
The most important question is which mountain you expect to use most often.
Choose Klosters Platz for Gotschna and Parsenn
The Gotschna cable car is in Klosters Platz and provides access towards the extensive Parsenn ski area.
This is likely to be the more convenient base for confident skiers planning to explore Parsenn regularly, as well as mixed groups who want a wider choice of village restaurants and facilities after skiing.
Choose Klosters Dorf for Madrisa
Madrisa is particularly attractive for family skiing and visitors who want to spend time on a smaller, family-focused mountain.
For parents managing children’s skis, boots and other equipment, reducing the distance between accommodation and the cable car can make mornings considerably easier. Families with older children who already ski confidently may prefer Klosters Platz, particularly if Parsenn will be their main destination.
Current mountain railway operating dates. Gotschna and Madrisa lift seasons differ, and exact dates change.
For more information about the different mountains, see our Skiing in Klosters guide.
Which is better without a car?
One of Klosters’ advantages is that you do not need a car to enjoy a conventional skiing or summer holiday.
For international visitors, particularly those arriving through Zürich Airport, travelling to Klosters by train is often the simplest option. Swiss Federal Railways connects Zürich Airport and Zürich city with Landquart, where passengers change onto the Rhätische Bahn for the journey into Klosters.
Both Klosters Platz and Klosters Dorf have railway stations, but the choice of where to stay can make a difference to how easily you get around once you arrive.
Klosters Platz: the easiest all-round choice
For a first visit without a car, we would generally recommend Klosters Platz. The main railway station is close to the village centre, with restaurants, shops and the Gotschna cable car within walking distance.
It is also a staffed station, with ticketing assistance and luggage services. This can be particularly useful for international visitors who are unfamiliar with the Swiss railway system or are travelling with substantial luggage.
Staying centrally means you can often spend an entire day without needing additional transport. You can walk to the Gotschna cable car in the morning, return to your accommodation afterwards and head out for dinner on foot.
Klosters Dorf: convenient if you are visiting Madrisa
Klosters Dorf is also perfectly practical without a car, particularly if you are staying close to the railway station or Madrisa cable car. The station is smaller and unstaffed, but has ticket machines and step-free platform access.
For families spending several days on Madrisa, staying in Klosters Dorf may actually be more convenient than Klosters Platz. You can avoid travelling across the village each morning with children and ski equipment.
The trade-off comes in the evening, when visitors wanting a wider choice of restaurants may need to travel into Klosters Platz.
Getting between Klosters Platz and Klosters Dorf
Local trains and buses connect the two parts of Klosters, making it straightforward to visit either area.
Guests staying in qualifying hotels and holiday apartments receive the Davos Klosters Premium Card, which includes free local public transport within specified zones.
For accommodation in Klosters, the current benefits include travel on local bus and rail services within the relevant Klosters zones, together with qualifying journeys on the Rhätische Bahn towards Davos.
This can make exploring the wider area considerably easier without hiring a car.
The Premium Card does not provide unlimited free travel across Switzerland, and mountain railway tickets are subject to separate conditions. Check the current Davos Klosters Premium Card benefits before travelling.
What to check before booking a car-free holiday
The most important consideration is not simply whether your accommodation is advertised as being in Klosters Platz or Klosters Dorf, but its actual location.
A hotel close to the station can be very convenient. An apartment described as being in the same village area may involve a longer walk, possibly uphill.
Before booking, consider the walking distance to the nearest railway station or bus stop, the route to the cable car you expect to use most often and whether you will want to walk to restaurants in the evening. Also check evening transport if you expect to eat out regularly and whether your hotel offers a shuttle service.
For visitors arriving with heavy luggage, young children or mobility difficulties, these details can matter considerably more than the nominal distance between the two village centres.
Our Getting to Klosters guide explains airport connections, Swiss rail travel, local transport and the Davos Klosters Premium Card in more detail.
Which should families choose?
For families with younger children who expect to spend several days on Madrisa, Klosters Dorf would be our first choice. Being close to the cable car can make a real difference, and Madrisa has activities designed with younger visitors in mind.
For families with teenagers, particularly those who already ski confidently, Klosters Platz may be the better base. It offers convenient access to Parsenn and more flexibility for dining and other activities.
There is also a third option worth considering: accommodation between the two centres. Hotels with swimming pools, play facilities and other activities can work well for families who are happy to use local transport to reach the mountains.
See our Klosters with Children guide for more family activities throughout the year.
Where should you book accommodation?
The choice of area matters more than choosing a particular hotel simply because it has attractive photographs or a good review score.
Hotels in Klosters Platz
For a central stay, look at accommodation within comfortable walking distance of Klosters Platz railway station and the Gotschna cable car.
Seven Alpina Boutique Hotel and Hotel Piz Buin are two examples worth comparing if convenience is a priority.
Hotels in Klosters Dorf
If Madrisa is your priority, look for accommodation close to the Madrisa valley station.
Madrisa Lodge is particularly well positioned for the railway station and cable car. Sunstar Hotel Klosters is another option to consider in this part of the village.
Before booking, check the walking distance to your preferred cable car, proximity to public transport, cancellation conditions and whether parking or guest-card benefits are included.
Our recommendation: Klosters Platz or Klosters Dorf?
If you are visiting Klosters for the first time, we would generally choose Klosters Platz. Its combination of railway connections, restaurants, village facilities and Gotschna access makes it the easiest all-round base, particularly if you are travelling without a car.
For families planning to spend much of their holiday on Madrisa, Klosters Dorf may be the better choice, particularly if you can find accommodation within walking distance of the cable car.
The two areas are close enough that neither choice restricts you to one part of Klosters. But choosing the location that best matches your plans can make the holiday noticeably more convenient.
And if you find an appealing hotel or apartment between the two, don’t rule it out. A comfortable property near a convenient bus stop may suit you better than a less suitable hotel in the centre of either village.
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