Davos security zones and hotel badges: what the 2026 rules mean for 2027
During the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the cantonal police of Graubünden (Kantonspolizei Graubünden) close restricted zones around the Congress Centre and a few hotels. In 2026 there were five zones, in force from Sunday 18 January 18:00 to Friday 23 January 18:00. Entry was limited to residents, accredited people and others with a reason the police accept, such as a hotel stay. The rest of Davos stayed open, including all other hotels, shops and the side-event houses on the Promenade, while police checked people and vehicles on every road into town.
The details below come from the police order for 2026. The 2027 order has not been published yet. It usually appears in December or January, and we will update this page when it does. The Annual Meeting 2027 runs from 18 to 22 January 2027.
The five restricted zones in 2026
Zone | What it covered |
Congress Centre | The Congress Centre, the Congress Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn and the Kurpark |
Belvédère | The Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Belvédère and its surroundings |
AlpenGold | AlpenGold Hotel Davos and its surroundings |
Lake | Heliport Lago, the lake car park (Seeparkplatz) and the Seewiese meadow |
Ice rink | The Eisstadion |
Barriers mark the edge of each zone, and the zones may be under video surveillance. Anyone who enters or stays in a zone without authorisation can be detained and prosecuted.
For 2027, Gemeinde Davos has already said that the lake car park closes for police use from 4 January 2027 07:00 until 28 January 2027 18:00 at the latest. The lakeside path between the car park and the Strandbad is closed for the same period. Walkers can still go round the lake via Seewiesenstrasse, via Flüelastrasse and the SLF institute, or via Flüelastrasse and Stillistrasse.
When the zones apply
In 2026 the zones applied from the evening before the opening day to the evening of the last day, or until the barriers came down. Building of the security installations started on 5 January 2026. Some street and pavement closures around the Congress Centre started earlier, on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January. Read road closures and getting around.
Who may enter a zone
The 2026 order allowed these people into the zones, with proof of their status:
Residents.
The organiser, accredited participants and Forum staff.
Police, security services, emergency services and public authorities.
Drivers collecting or dropping off participants.
People working at the meeting for other professional reasons.
Accredited media, in the areas assigned to them.
People with a legitimate interest they can show, such as a hotel stay, a workplace or a doctor's appointment.
People with explicit permission from the cantonal police.
Checks on the roads into Davos
Police check all roads into Davos and the whole municipality during the week. People who are stopped must identify themselves and allow their person, vehicle and luggage to be searched. The authorities say the aim is to keep dangerous items out of Davos and that checks should be quick, but waits can happen. Carry a passport or national ID card.
Drones of every size, including those under 250 g, were banned from Davos Monstein to Landquart from 14 January 10:00 to 24 January 17:00 in 2026.
What stays open
The authorities state that tourism in the Davos region is generally not affected and that there are no general travel restrictions. Davos stays reachable by train and by car. All hotels outside the zones, and all shops and businesses, can be reached without restriction.
The branded houses and pavilions on the Promenade were outside the 2026 zones, so no badge was needed to reach them. Many events inside them still check registrations or invitations at the door. Read side events and houses on the Promenade.
Hotel badges
A hotel badge is a personal pass, issued by the cantonal police, that lets someone who is neither an accredited participant nor a resident enter a hotel inside a zone, for example to stay there or to attend a meeting.
How it works with us. You send us the name and passport details of each person. We file the applications through a hotel inside the perimeter. The police check every application and decide. Each person collects their badge in Davos, in person, with the passport they registered.
Cost. The official police fee is CHF 105 per badge. Secured hotels and event organisers add their own fees on top, and we quote the full price per badge before you commit.
Timing. Send us the details at least 72 hours before arrival. Earlier is better, because applications close before the week starts.
Limits. No one can guarantee a badge, because the police decide. Badges are personal and cannot be passed on. A hotel badge does not admit you to the Congress Centre; only the Forum's own accreditation does. In 2026 the Promenade pavement between the Congress Hotel and the English Church was closed to pedestrians, and the traffic order exempted only people with Forum accreditation.
See hotel access to request badges.
Staying in a private apartment during the week
Most private apartments in Davos were outside the 2026 zones. Guests reached them without a badge, after the same road checks as everyone else.
Street closures can stop a car from reaching the door. In 2026, for example, Reginaweg and Alteinstrasse could only be reached from Talstrasse, Symondstrasse was closed between the Promenade and Richtstattweg, and Richtstattweg was open only to residents and police. Ask us how a car reaches a property before you book it.
The 2026 police FAQ says people resident in the zones receive badges and vehicle passes. Short-term guests are different: in our experience, anyone renting a private apartment inside a restricted zone needs a hotel badge to reach it, just like a hotel guest. Ask us whether a property is inside a zone before you book. In 2026 the police hotline for questions about security and the zones was 081 257 58 01, staffed from 5 to 23 January, and the Davos police station at Talstrasse 2b answered questions in person.
Questions
Do I need a badge to enter Davos during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting?
No. Davos stays open to everyone. You pass a police check on the road into town, and you need a badge or accreditation only for the restricted zones.
Does a hotel badge get me into the Congress Centre?
No. A hotel badge covers hotels inside the restricted zones. Only the Forum's own accreditation admits you to the Congress Centre.
How much does a Davos hotel badge cost?
The official police fee is CHF 105 per badge. Secured hotels and event organisers add their own fees, so the total is higher.
Can I visit the side-event houses on the Promenade without a badge?
Yes. In 2026 the houses on the Promenade were outside the restricted zones. Many events still require registration or an invitation.
Do I need a hotel badge if I rent an apartment inside a security zone?
Yes. In our experience, guests in a private apartment inside a restricted zone need a hotel badge to reach it. Send us the details at least 72 hours before arrival.
When are the 2027 security zones published?
The police order usually appears in December or January before the meeting. Until then, the 2026 order is the best guide.
Sources
Davos Villas & Apartments is an independent services provider and is not affiliated with the World Economic Forum.
Comments