Greentraveller's Guide to Klosters, Switzerland

Chocolate box chalets, balconies bursting with crimson geraniums and towering craggy peaks have all played a part in making Klosters on of Switzerland's most popular skiing destinations. Quiet during the summer months, the tiny alpine town is crammed during the winter when the great and and good of Europe descend upon its plentiful snow, myriad winter sports and glittering social scene.

While Klosters' chilly charms are well known, spring and summer offer plentiful opportunities for hikers, golfers and kayakers in picturesque surroundings. From the ethereal blue-ice river to the abundent wildflowers and magnificent views, summer in Klosters is prime time for nature lovers. Easily reached by train from London (via Paris), Graubunden's prettiest ski resort is a year-round destination with plenty to enjoy, see and do.

Klosters - understandably one of Switzerland's most popular skiing destinations

What to do

1. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Museum. Davos, just 20 minutes away by train, is home to the Kirchner Museum - a gallery dedicated to the work of the area's most famous son. Inside the wonderful Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer designed post-modernist building is the largest collection of Kirchner paintings in the world, with over 1,200 works on permanent display.

2. European Junior Championships. Held each July, the European Junior Championships let you get close to the tennis stars of the future in spectacular surroundings. The list of one-time participants reads like a who's who of the modern game, with Roger Federer, Martina Hingis and Stephen Soderling among stars past. 

Climbing up towards the peak of Gotschnagrat Mountain3. Take the Parsenn cable car to Gotschagrat. A gentle chug up the Gotschnagrat Mountain by cable car combines magnificent views with the chance to see some of the local wildlife. Alpine chamois, ibex, marmots and golden eagles all live on the peak, which also has a wealth of hiking and biking trails if you fancy doing something a little more adventurous. During the winter, derriere-boosting Nordic Walking is available.

4. Play golf at Switzerland's greenest course. Golf isn't known for being the most eco friendly of sports but Klosters' course is green in more ways than one. The first in Switzerland to receive certification from the Golf and Environment Initiative, the 9-hole course has made efforts to reduce water use, boost biodiversity and increase recycling. It's also located in a very pretty spot with mountain views on all sides, and welcomes everyone from beginners to professionals. 

5. Hike up the Silvretta glacier. The Klosters area has over 700km of high altitude trails ranging from gentle strolls along the Dwarf Path to serious hikes up to the summit of the Verstanclabach. One of the best takes you to the top of the Silvretta glacier, rising 30m above the town. Along the way, you'll find small information points detailing the natural history of the area and some truly spectacular views. 

Where to eat and drink

1. Restaurant Höhwald. A really good supper spot, Restaurant Höhwald is a 20 minute walk from the centre of town and serves up Swiss specialities made from locally grown and produced ingredients. Don't expect haute cuisine - it's not - but what you do get is hearty food, generous portions and excellent local wine, all in a pretty wooden chalet furnished with comfortably large pine tables and chairs. 

Relax in a cosy chalet surrounded by snowy peaks2. Landgasthof Sommerfeld. If you took Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's focus on organic and local, and added a sprinkling of Heston Blumenthal's weird and wonderful, you'd have something approaching the sort of food on offer at Landgasthof Sommerfeld. Again a little out of town, the restaurant is located in a lovely white wooden hotel in Prättigau on the Landquart road. Getting there is a bit of a nuisance - although it's ameliorated by the fabulous views en route - but the fare on offer makes it al worthwhile. Particularly good is the wonderful homemade bread. 

Where to stay

1. Chesa Grischuna Hotel. One of the oldest hotels in Klosters, Chesa Grischuna has hosted a glitzy roll call of Hollywood and European royalty during it's 80-year existence, including Prince Charles who apparently likes to eat at the hotel restaurant when in town. Glamorous clientele aside, the Chesa Grischuna is a small family-run hotel with cosy bedrooms festooned with locally made crafts. Along with a slightly retro restaurant, the hotel has its own bowling alley - built in the 1920s and complete with heavy wooden balls and old-fashioned unvarnished skittles.

Getting around KlostersAppreciate some stunning views whilst getting where you're going

As with the rest of Switzerland, public transport in Klosters is easy to use, runs on time (literally to the second) and will take you pretty much anywhere you'd want to go. Ortsbus is the local provider, although given Klosters' diminutive size; you aren't likely to need it at all. For journeys in the surrounding area, try the banana-yellow PostBus or the local trains. Rhaetian Railways services can be picked up from Klosters Dorf in the city centre and come with an added bonus in the shape of some stunning high altitude views.

Local information

The local tourist board - Destination Davos-Klosters - runs the main information point on Alte Bahnhofstrasse. Along with information on what to do, the board also has a number of special offers to take advantage of, including a 'Davos Klosters Inclusive' pass, which gives you free access to public transport and cable cars when you book a night in one of the local hotels.

Travelling to Klosters by train from London St Pancras International

From Paris, taking the train to Klosters means a journey of around 6 hours and 30 minutes but does include plenty of wonderful scenery. What's more, Swiss trains are comfortable and run to the minute; all of which make journeys far more pleasure than chore. From paris, take the high speed TGV-Est line to Zurich from the Gare de l'Est. Once in Zurich take the InterCity train to Landquart, where you switch to the Rhätische Bahn for Klosters.
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The Swiss trains carve through stunning winter landscapes