Flims

Flims is a small town of 2,800 people (2018) in the Surselva region of Graubünden in Switzerland.

Understand

Flims is a historic town in the Surselva valley yet not in the district of Surselva it is in Imboden. Flims has several distinct neighbourhoods, the most recognised being Flims Waldhaus and Fidaz, Fischeisch is a neighbourhood at the top of Flims, the town is centred on the base station in winter and the main street in summer. Flims is also part of a 220 km² ski resort known as the 'Alpenarena', the 'Weisse Arena', Flims Laax Falera or just Laax. The third of these names is the most descriptive, the resort links these three villages together, yet all three retain distinct identities. From the Flims base station lifts run to Plaun and Foppa.

Traditionally the economy of the town was based on agriculture, farmers would bring their fresh milk into town every week for villagers to buy, cutting the long grass in the meadows by hand. Flims nowadays relies on skiing and tourism, with a UNESCO World Heritage Site to its name, the iconic Flimserstein, the aquamarine Lag la Cauma (Lake Cauma) and being the meeting point of Romansch and Germanic Swiss cultures and languages, Flims certainly has much to offer.

Tourist office

• 1 Via Nova 62, ☏ +41 81 920 92 00, info@flimslaaxfalera.ch. M-F 08:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00, Sa 08:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00, closed mid-October until mid-December. (updated Mar 2017)

Get in

By public transport

Flims can most be accessed by postal bus from Chur. The trip takes between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on whether it is a direct bus or not. There are 1-3 trips an hour depending on the season and the time of the day. The bus continues on to Laax.

From Illanz there is also a bus, however the trip requires a change in Laax. There is only hourly trip and the journey takes around 45 minutes.

By car

The main road through the Surselva goes leads through Flims, so either from Illanz or Chur, just follow the main road to Flims. If coming from the A13 express way take the exit Reichenau and follow the signs in direction of Disentis.

Get around

• By bus: In winter several free bus routes operated by the 'Alpenarena' ski resort run around Flims, this stops during the summer however and the only option is the Post Bus running along the main road.
• By bike: Electro-Bikes are available to rent from the base station in Flims, these include batteries which boost the rider and replenishing stations are situated around the resort.

Do

• 1 Alpenarena (235 km in winter, 28 lifts). Skiing is the major winter activity here. The Alpenarena ski area is shared with Laax and Falera and has its highest point on the glacier at 3018 metres altitude. Skiers are mostly Swiss, but English can be heard as the place is being discovered more and more by foreigners. From Flims a cable car and a chair lift (which are next to each other) give access to different areas of the ski domain. Day pass Fr. 77/26. (updated Mar 2017)

Eat

• 1 Restaurant Epoca, Flims Waldhaus, ☏ +41 81 928 48 48. Serves regional specialities in a fine dining concept. 

Sleep

• 1 Casa Las Caglias, Via Las Caglias 3, ☏ +41 81 911 16 31, info@casalascaglias.com. (updated Mar 2017)
• 2 Hotel am Waldrand, ☏ +41 081 911 30 30, info@amwaldrand.ch. (updated Mar 2017)