Major city · Switzerland
Flims
Spend 1–2 days in Flims for skiing or lake walks; a half‑day is enough for the main sights.
Flims is a small Alpine resort town in the Surselva valley, linked to the Alpenarena ski area and home to Lake Cauma. It is reachable by PostBus from Chur (30‑45 min) and offers winter lifts, summer lake trails, and a few dining and lodging options. One full day covers the ski lifts or lake walk; an extra night adds relaxed mountain time.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CHF
- Best months
- Dec–Mar for snow, Jun–Sep for lake hiking
- avoid Mid‑Oct to mid‑Dec (tourist office closed)
- Airport
- ZRH
- Nights
- 1–2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Switzerland ↗Switzerland is in the Schengen area but not the EU: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Switzerland ↗Switzerland is outside the EU customs area: allowances on meat, alcohol and tobacco are strict and checked at borders.
- Switzerland ↗Motorways need a vignette (sticker or e-vignette) before you drive on them.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Flims117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Flims, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF).Switzerland-wide
- SIM or eSIMSwisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.Switzerland-wide
- Tap waterTap and fountain water is excellent.Switzerland-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.Switzerland-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/J. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Switzerland-wide
- SafetyFlims is safe for tourists; main risks are mountain weather changes and occasional bus schedule gaps in winter.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsStation toilets cost CHF 1–2 (≈ US$2–3); restaurants and department stores are free for customers.Switzerland-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 144 ambulance · 118 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close early on Saturday in small towns and all day Sunday, except stations and airports.Switzerland-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportZRH Zurich Airport (about 1.5 h by train or PostBus to Flims).
- Getting aroundPostBus runs hourly from Chur (30‑45 min) and continues to Laax; free ski‑resort buses operate in winter.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCHF 4–6 (≈ US$5–8)
- Street or quick mealMountain lunch (sandwich, soup)CHF 12–20 (≈ US$15–25)
- Budget bedGuesthouse room (double), a night, per roomCHF 120 (≈ US$150)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse room (double), a night, per roomCHF 180 (≈ US$250)
- High-end bedGuesthouse room (double), a night, per roomCHF 260 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CHF 70 (≈ US$90) · Mid CHF 120 (≈ US$150) · High CHF 200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ZRH Zurich Airport (about 1.5 h by train or PostBus to Flims)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Feb
Best
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Mar
Best
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jul
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Aug
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Sep
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Dec
Care
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: Jan–Mar, Jun–Sep. Mixed: Dec. Avoid: Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)), coolest Jan (−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C) low), wettest May (10 rain days), driest Feb (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Flims: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
7 rd
Feb
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
6 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
8 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Jun
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Jul
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8 rd
Aug
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
9 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Nov
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
9 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
PostBus runs hourly from Chur (30‑45 min) and continues to Laax; free ski‑resort buses operate in winter. Bike rentals (e‑bikes) are available at the base station.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Lake Cauma
goDoor to door: ≈30 min round‑trip
Walk from Flims Waldhaus (signposted trail, 15 min)
Clear water, swimming allowed in summer.
Laax ski area
goDoor to door: ≈10 min to lift base
Cable car from Flims base station to Plaun, then ski lifts
Day pass CHF 77.
Chur
cautionDoor to door: ≈1 h total
PostBus from Flims (30‑45 min)
Useful for train connections; limited late‑evening service.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Casa Las Caglias
Boutique guesthouse near the base station
Hotel am Waldrand
Family‑run hotel close to the main street
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- CHF 70–120 (≈ US$90–150) excl. bed
- Mid
- CHF 120–200 (≈ US$150–250) excl. bed
- High
- CHF 200 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse room (double)1 × 1 night × CHF 180 | CHF 180 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × CHF 120 | CHF 120 |
| Alpenarena day pass1 × CHF 77 | CHF 77 |
| PostBus round‑trip Chur‑Flims1 × CHF 12 | CHF 12 |
| eSIM (1 week data)1 × CHF 25 | CHF 25 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CHF 41 |
| Trip total≈ CHF 455 per person per day, bed included | CHF 455≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in CHF; flights and rail passes excluded.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | CHF 4–6 (≈ US$5–8) |
| Mountain lunch (sandwich, soup) | CHF 12–20 (≈ US$15–25) |
| Ski lift ticket (full day) | CHF 77 (≈ US$100) |
| PostBus ticket Chur‑Flims | CHF 12 (≈ US$15) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Tourist office closed mid‑Oct to mid‑Dec; verify opening hours before visiting.
- Winter bus routes are free but limited to ski‑resort areas; summer relies on the regular PostBus only.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Ambulance
- 144
- Fire
- 118
- Rega (air rescue)
- 1414
Pocket card
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FlimsFlims
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Ambulance144
- Fire118
- Rega (air rescue)1414
Embassy
Swiss consular services are in Chur; US consulate in Zurich.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- PostBus Chur → Flims: about CHF 12 (≈ US$15) each way
- Alpenarena day pass: CHF 77 (≈ US$100)
Say or show
- Grüezi — Hello (gʁyːtsi)
- Danke — Thank you (dɑŋkə)
- Wie viel kostet das? — How much? (viː fiːl ˈkɔstət das)
- Wo ist die Haltestelle? — Where is the bus stop? (voː ɪst diː ˈhaltəʃtɛlə)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Flims. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Mar for snow, Jun–Sep for lake hiking · avoid Mid‑Oct to mid‑Dec (tourist office closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Flims
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