{{filter.label}}
Holidays in Flims
History & Setting
Flims is a municipality in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons), in southeastern Switzerland.
It was first mentioned in historical documents in 765 AD as Fleme.
The landscape has been shaped by a huge landslide around 8,000-10,000 years ago, called the Flims rockslide. This remains one of the largest known landslides in the Alps. It created a large debris field, and features like the Ruinaulta (Rhine Gorge) owe their geology to this event.
Waldhaus Flims is historically significant: in 1869, the “Kur- und Seebadanstalt Waldhaus Flims” (a spa and lake-bathing establishment) was founded. The idea was to build a retreat/spa centre, with facilities like a hotel, baths at the lake, etc.
Over time, tourism developed: hotels, holiday homes, winter recreation. The hotel “Park Hotel” in 1877 introduced recreation and recreation tourism. Today, many homes and flats are used as vacation properties.
Description & Nature Highlights
Flims is known for very scenic natural features: Lake Cauma, Lake Cresta, the Rhine Gorge (“Ruinaulta” aka the Swiss Grand Canyon), the Segneshütte / Tectonic Arena Sardona (as a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
There are forests, high valleys (e.g. Bargis), steep rock faces (Flimserstein), mountain ridges, glaciers, and abundant alpine flora/fauna.
Typical Foods (Cuisine)
Because Flims is in Graubünden, many of the region’s specialties feature here.
Some traditional / must-try dishes:
Capuns — dumpling/spätzle-type dough mixed with dried meats (e.g. Bündnerfleisch or salsiz), wrapped in Swiss chard leaves, simmered in broth/milk and served with cheese.
Maluns — a rustic potato dish: boiled potatoes (often a day ahead), grated, mixed with flour, fried slowly in butter until small golden crumbs, often served with apple compote, cheeses or cured meats.
Pizokel — similar to spätzle/dumplings, sometimes using buckwheat or mixed flours. Usually served with cheese, onions, maybe with vegetables (spinach, Swiss chard) or meats.
Bündner-Gerstensuppe (barley soup), Plain in Pigna (potato dish), Bündner Nusstorte (nut tart) among sweets or desserts.
Also typical in alpine settings: hearty foods, cheese, cured meats, fresh bread, seasonal berries etc.
Activities
Summer
Hiking: many trails (e.g. through the forests, along lakes, up to high valleys). Scenic walking routes like the “Wasserweg” (water path) that connect lakes and gorges.
Mountain biking: Flims-Laax-Falera has ~330 km of bike trails.
Swimming in lakes: Lake Cauma & Lake Cresta are popular for bathing and relaxing in summer.
Nature & geology: visiting Ruinaulta (Rhine Gorge), exploring the Tectonic Arena Sardona; cable car rides for panoramic views.
Adventure & leisure trails: treetop walkways (the “Senda dil Dragun”), theme hikes, via ferrata routes.
Family-friendly activities: kids’ programs, playgrounds, guided nature tours.
Winter
Skiing & snowboarding: Flims-Laax-Falera is one big ski area, with many pistes (slopes), snowparks, halfpipe, freeride options.
Snow parks & freestyle: LAAX is particularly known for its freestyle
Other winter sports: sledding, ice rinks, winter hiking, winter walks.
Scenic cable rides: going up cable cars for views, perhaps enjoying panoramas over snow covered ridges.
Festivals & Events
LAAX OPEN — a major freestyle ski & snowboard event held in winter (mid-January etc.), which includes competitions like slopestyle, halfpipe, music, etc.
Swissalpine Trailrunning & Hiking Festival — held in summer, around July; a gathering for trail runners, hikers, with various trail distances, set in the landscape around the Rhine Gorge / Lake Cauma etc.
Kinderfest Laax — children’s festival in Laax (at Lake Laax / Laaxersee), with games, face painting etc.
Fullmoon Sessions Laax — an open-air music/art event at Lake Laax in summer.
International Alpine Hot Air Balloon Week, Flims — late September / early October; colorful hot air balloon flights, family events, festival atmosphere.
Shops & Local Life
In the centre of Flims (Flims Dorf) and Flims Waldhaus, there are shops: local grocery stores, boutiques, souvenir shops, stores for outdoor equipment, etc. It’s touristy but retains local charm.
Switzerland Tourism
Also small local markets occur in conjunction with events/festivals.
Flims is a municipality in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons), in southeastern Switzerland.
It was first mentioned in historical documents in 765 AD as Fleme.
The landscape has been shaped by a huge landslide around 8,000-10,000 years ago, called the Flims rockslide. This remains one of the largest known landslides in the Alps. It created a large debris field, and features like the Ruinaulta (Rhine Gorge) owe their geology to this event.
Waldhaus Flims is historically significant: in 1869, the “Kur- und Seebadanstalt Waldhaus Flims” (a spa and lake-bathing establishment) was founded. The idea was to build a retreat/spa centre, with facilities like a hotel, baths at the lake, etc.
Over time, tourism developed: hotels, holiday homes, winter recreation. The hotel “Park Hotel” in 1877 introduced recreation and recreation tourism. Today, many homes and flats are used as vacation properties.
Description & Nature Highlights
Flims is known for very scenic natural features: Lake Cauma, Lake Cresta, the Rhine Gorge (“Ruinaulta” aka the Swiss Grand Canyon), the Segneshütte / Tectonic Arena Sardona (as a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
There are forests, high valleys (e.g. Bargis), steep rock faces (Flimserstein), mountain ridges, glaciers, and abundant alpine flora/fauna.
Typical Foods (Cuisine)
Because Flims is in Graubünden, many of the region’s specialties feature here.
Some traditional / must-try dishes:
Capuns — dumpling/spätzle-type dough mixed with dried meats (e.g. Bündnerfleisch or salsiz), wrapped in Swiss chard leaves, simmered in broth/milk and served with cheese.
Maluns — a rustic potato dish: boiled potatoes (often a day ahead), grated, mixed with flour, fried slowly in butter until small golden crumbs, often served with apple compote, cheeses or cured meats.
Pizokel — similar to spätzle/dumplings, sometimes using buckwheat or mixed flours. Usually served with cheese, onions, maybe with vegetables (spinach, Swiss chard) or meats.
Bündner-Gerstensuppe (barley soup), Plain in Pigna (potato dish), Bündner Nusstorte (nut tart) among sweets or desserts.
Also typical in alpine settings: hearty foods, cheese, cured meats, fresh bread, seasonal berries etc.
Activities
Summer
Hiking: many trails (e.g. through the forests, along lakes, up to high valleys). Scenic walking routes like the “Wasserweg” (water path) that connect lakes and gorges.
Mountain biking: Flims-Laax-Falera has ~330 km of bike trails.
Swimming in lakes: Lake Cauma & Lake Cresta are popular for bathing and relaxing in summer.
Nature & geology: visiting Ruinaulta (Rhine Gorge), exploring the Tectonic Arena Sardona; cable car rides for panoramic views.
Adventure & leisure trails: treetop walkways (the “Senda dil Dragun”), theme hikes, via ferrata routes.
Family-friendly activities: kids’ programs, playgrounds, guided nature tours.
Winter
Skiing & snowboarding: Flims-Laax-Falera is one big ski area, with many pistes (slopes), snowparks, halfpipe, freeride options.
Snow parks & freestyle: LAAX is particularly known for its freestyle
Other winter sports: sledding, ice rinks, winter hiking, winter walks.
Scenic cable rides: going up cable cars for views, perhaps enjoying panoramas over snow covered ridges.
Festivals & Events
LAAX OPEN — a major freestyle ski & snowboard event held in winter (mid-January etc.), which includes competitions like slopestyle, halfpipe, music, etc.
Swissalpine Trailrunning & Hiking Festival — held in summer, around July; a gathering for trail runners, hikers, with various trail distances, set in the landscape around the Rhine Gorge / Lake Cauma etc.
Kinderfest Laax — children’s festival in Laax (at Lake Laax / Laaxersee), with games, face painting etc.
Fullmoon Sessions Laax — an open-air music/art event at Lake Laax in summer.
International Alpine Hot Air Balloon Week, Flims — late September / early October; colorful hot air balloon flights, family events, festival atmosphere.
Shops & Local Life
In the centre of Flims (Flims Dorf) and Flims Waldhaus, there are shops: local grocery stores, boutiques, souvenir shops, stores for outdoor equipment, etc. It’s touristy but retains local charm.
Switzerland Tourism
Also small local markets occur in conjunction with events/festivals.
Click to show the map