פלימס לאקס פאלרה

December to April is the ski season, and the glacier area stays open longest. June to October is the best time for hiking, swimming in the lakes and mountain biking. Spring is quiet. Mud and snow can block high paths until early summer.

• Crap Sogn Gion is the main cable car station above Laax.
• Vorab Glacier is a glacier area above the ski region, reached by lifts.
• Crap Masegn is a mountain top with views across the Surselva.
• Lag la Cauma is a clear green lake in the forest near Flims, used for swimming in summer.
• Stennabrücke is a bridge over the Flem gorge.
• Parc La Mutta is a park of standing stones near Falera.
• Waldhaus Flims Alpine Grand is a historic grand hotel in a park in Flims.

• Ski or snowboard on the Flims Laax pistes.
• Swim in Lag la Cauma in summer.
• Hike on the paths above the villages.
• Walk among the stones at Parc La Mutta.
• Ride a mountain bike on the marked trails.
• Hike or raft in the Rhine Gorge.

• Chur is the capital of Graubünden, about 40 minutes away by bus.
• Ilanz/Glion is a small town on the Rhine.
• The Rhine Gorge, also called Ruinaulta, is a deep canyon. A rail line runs through it, and a hiking trail follows the river.

• Flims, Laax and Falera are the three villages of the area.
• Chur and Ilanz/Glion are the nearest towns.

• By air: Zurich is the main airport, about 2.5 hours away.
• By train: go to Chur or Ilanz, then take the PostBus to Flims and Laax. Check times on SBB.
• The bus from Chur takes about 40 minutes.

• Local buses link Flims, Laax and Falera.
• Lifts and cable cars start from Flims, Laax and Falera.
• Marked hiking and biking paths link the lakes and villages.
• In winter, ski buses and lifts connect the villages.

• A car is useful for the lakes and trails, but buses cover the main routes.
• Parking at the lift stations is limited in winter.
• Winter tyres or chains may be needed on mountain roads.

Try capuns and pizokel, two local Graubünden dishes. Bündner Nusstorte is a sweet nut tart. Mountain huts serve simple soups and barley dishes.

People speak German and Romansh. English is widely understood.

• The area is very safe.
• Mountain weather changes fast. Check the forecast.
• Slopes are marked for difficulty. Stay on marked pistes.
• Lake water is cold. Swim with care.

The area has been settled for thousands of years. The standing stones at Falera are about 4,000 years old. In 1464 a giant rockslide formed the Flims rockslide, one of the largest in the Alps, and it shaped the landscape and the lakes.

Flims became a health and summer resort in the 19th century. The ski area grew in the 20th century.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: