Laax is the best-known of three villages, Flims, Laax and Falera, that share one big ski area in Graubünden, about 30 minutes west of Chur. Together they form Flims Laax Falera, with 216 km of pistes and 30 lifts between about 1,100 m and 3,018 m on the Vorab glacier.
Laax has a reputation that goes beyond its size. It is one of Europe’s freestyle capitals, with five snowparks, a huge halfpipe and an indoor freestyle hall. But you don’t have to be into jumps to enjoy it. Most of the area is wide, open intermediate terrain, and the resort says 70% of its lifts sit between 2,000 and 3,000 m, which is high for a Swiss resort this close to a big city.
Laax ski area: 216 km across Flims, Laax and Falera
The three villages each have their own way up the mountain, and the lifts link above them into a single area.
- Laax has the main base, Laax Murschetg, a purpose-built area around the valley station with the rocksresort, hotels, shops and the ski school. Lifts climb towards Crap Sogn Gion, the hub of the freestyle terrain.
- Flims is the largest village. Its lifts go up to Foppa and Nagens, with the FlemX up to Cassons above.
- Falera is the smallest and quietest. A chairlift climbs to Curnius, which links into the slopes above Laax.
Higher up, Crap Masegn, La Siala and the Vorab glacier give the area its altitude. The resort’s own description of the pistes puts the easy blues around Alp Dado and the beginner areas, sunny advanced runs at Nagens and Mutta Rodunda, and the steepest skiing on the former FIS run and the route from the back of the Vorab down to Alp Ruschein.
Skiing in Laax for beginners
There’s a gentle Ami Sabi piste at Spalegna above Flims, with the ten FIS rules for skiing explained at five points along the way, and easy runs around Alp Dado. A beginner ticket covers the lifts from Flims to Foppa or Nagens and from Laax or Falera to Crap Sogn Gion, so you don’t have to pay for the whole area on your first days.
Skiing in Laax for intermediates
This is where most of Laax’s 216 km sits. Long, open reds and blues run across the whole area. The highlight is the descent from La Siala to Flims, which the resort describes as about 13 km with a 1,700 m drop: a proper top-to-bottom run that tests your legs more than your technique.
Skiing in Laax for experts
Strong skiers have the former FIS run and the routes off the Vorab, but Laax’s real draw for experts is freeride. There are 10 yellow-marked freeride routes, protected against avalanches but not groomed. The longest, route 84, runs from Crap Masegn all the way to Falera. Route 77 from Vorab Pign towards Fuorcla is one of the most popular. For anything beyond the marked routes, go with a guide.
Laax snowparks, the superpipe and the LAAX OPEN
Freestyle is what Laax is famous for. The resort has five snowparks with more than 90 features, all grouped around Crap Sogn Gion:
- Beginners’ park and Ils Plauns (easy and medium), between Crap Sogn Gion and Alp Dado.
- P60, a 1,000 m park with four Olympic-size kickers.
- NoName, home of the superpipe: 200 m long, 22 m wide and 6.9 m high. There’s a mini-pipe for beginners too.
- Whoop De Doo, an easy park of rolling waves.
The LAAX OPEN, a FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Cup with slopestyle and halfpipe contests, live music and events in the valley, runs from 13 to 16 January 2027. It’s a great week to watch, but expect the resort to be busy.
On bad-weather days, the Freestyle Academy in the valley is an indoor freestyle hall of about 2,000 m² with skateboarding, trampolines and parkour, plus a separate Kids Freestyle Academy for children up to 8.
Snow in Laax and the 2026/27 season
For 2026/27, the season starts with an opening weekend on 28 and 29 November 2026, then the lifts run daily from 5 December 2026 to 11 April 2027, subject to snow.
With most of the lifts above 2,000 m, Laax holds snow well, and the resort calls itself one of the most snow-sure areas in Switzerland. The valley bases are lower, though, at around 1,100 m, so the runs back to Flims, Laax and Falera are the first to suffer in a mild spell.
Climate change is visible at the top. In August 2026, one of the two parallel ski lifts on the Vorab glacier was dismantled because the glacier had retreated so far that its masts were at risk of collapsing. The operator calls it a temporary removal, and the remaining lift still takes you to about 3,000 m, so for skiers little changes this winter.
Is Laax good for a last-minute ski trip?
Yes, with one catch. In its favour:
- Altitude. With so much terrain above 2,000 m and a glacier at the top, the upper slopes are usually skiable even when the valley is green.
- Access. It’s about 1 hour 45 minutes from Zurich by car and under 40 minutes by PostBus from Chur station, so you can decide on the forecast.
- Size. 216 km means a short snowfall still opens plenty of good skiing.
The catch is the price. Laax lift tickets are dynamically priced, so a day pass bought at short notice on a busy weekend can cost more than one booked earlier. Check the online shop as soon as you know your dates. Then find a place to stay in Laax, ideally near the Laax valley station.
Laax lift passes
- Dynamic prices apply to day, multi-day and afternoon tickets (from 11.45 am). They’re shown in the LAAX ticket shop and app. Other tickets, such as single rides, have fixed prices.
- Child and teen prices apply from 6 to 17, and senior prices from 64.
- Children under 6 don’t need a lift ticket, according to the LAAX School.
- The TOPCARD season pass covers Flims Laax Falera, Arosa Lenzerheide and Davos Klosters.
- A day lift ticket also gets you free local buses between Flims, Laax and Falera.
Après-ski and things to do in Laax
The après scene centres on Laax Murschetg: the rocksresort alone has eight restaurants, six bars and nine shops, and the Riders Hotel next door runs a club and events programme with concerts and parties. Flims is more of a traditional village, with more restaurants and a calmer evening.
Off the slopes:
- Sledging on three marked runs: Foppa to Flims (3 km), Curnius to Falera (3.5 km) and Nagens to Scansinas (1.5 km). Foppa and Curnius have had evening sledging on set nights.
- Ice skating at the Flims sports centre, on the free rink in Falera and on the rink beside Lake Laax.
- Cross-country skiing, with about 64 km of classic trails, and around 87 km of winter walking paths.
- The Freestyle Academy and the Aua Grava pool for bad-weather days.
Who Laax suits, and who it doesn’t
- Great for: freestylers of every level, intermediates who want long, high runs, freeriders, families who want a slope-side base, and anyone who wants a big, high area within two hours of Zurich.
- Think twice if: you want lots of tree-lined runs for stormy days (much of the area is above the tree line), a picture-postcard village at the lift (Laax Murschetg is modern and purpose-built), or a cheap pass bought on the day.
Skiing with children? Read our guide to Laax with kids.
How to get to Laax
Driving to Laax
From Zurich, take the A3 and A13 towards Chur and leave at exit 18, Reichenau/Tamins. From there it’s about 20 minutes on route 19 to Laax. Flims, Laax and Falera are about 30 minutes from Chur and 1 hour 45 minutes from Zurich. Parking at the valley stations can be reserved in advance through the LAAX ticket shop or app.
You need a Swiss motorway vignette (CHF 40), as an e-vignette linked to your number plate or as a sticker. Switzerland has no general legal requirement for winter tyres, but if your car isn’t properly equipped and that contributes to an accident, you can be held liable and your insurer may pay less. Use winter tyres and carry chains.
By train and bus
Take the train to Chur, then the PostBus to the Laax Bergbahnen stop, which takes under 40 minutes. A scenic alternative is the Rhaetian Railway through the Rhine Gorge to Ilanz, then a PostBus up to Laax. SBB’s luggage service can send your bags to your accommodation. Once you’re there, PostBus lines 81 and 411 link the villages, and they’re free between Flims, Laax and Falera with the guest card or a day lift ticket.
Nearest airports
Zurich is the nearest major airport, with Basel-Mulhouse and Milan Malpensa further away. In winter, the LAAX Airport Shuttle runs between Zurich Airport and Laax at weekends only. Book it online at least 48 hours ahead.
