Would you like to visit Caumasee, the beautiful lake near Flims? Then you’ve come to the right place because this detailed guide will tell you everything you should know before you start planning your trip to Lake Caumasee!
How to get there, when’s the best time to visit, and what else you can do in the area are just some of the topics covered in this detailed guide. Keep reading to learn more about Caumasee, and see why it’s one of the most popular summer holiday destinations in eastern Switzerland!
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About Lake Caumasee, Switzerland
Caumasee is a beautiful turquoise lake near the lovely town of Flims in eastern Switzerland. It’s also known as Lag La Cauma in the Romansch language, which translates to Lake Siesta.
This is a popular swimming lake, mostly because it tends to be quite a bit warmer than other Alpine lakes. The main reason for this is the low water level which allows to lake to heat up faster, which also means that you can comfortably swim in this lake as early as April.
The beautiful lake is best known for its crystal clear turquoise water, which owes to the glacial waters that feed the lake. Caumasee is fed by an underground spring, and the water level of the lake depends on the underground water flow. It’s at its minimum in April, just before the snow starts to melt on the surrounding mountains, and reaches its maximum in the summer after heavy rains.
How to Get to Lake Cauma, Switzerland
Lake Cauma is situated near Flims in eastern Switzerland, and it’s not exactly the easiest lake to reach. The farthest you can travel by car or public transport is to Flims, from where the lake is accessible by a seasonal gondola or a footpath.
Caumasee Lift
| Operating Hours | 10 am – 5 pm in summer |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Capacity | 12 people |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair friendly / Pram friendly |
| Height change | 72 meters |
The Caumasee lift runs from May to October, and it is free to use the 125m long lift. If you visit any other month, the only way you can reach Caumasee is via the stairs on foot. It’s about 15-20 minutes to the lift from the bus stop, and an additional 10-15 minutes if you don’t take the lift but walk down to the lake.
There’s no train station in Flims, so you will have to take a bus to get to the town from Chur. Depending on where you’re traveling from in Switzerland, you might be able to ride just one train and then get on the bus, or you might have to change trains a few times.
From Zurich, it’s possible to travel by direct train to Chur and then get on a bus to Flims. The journey takes about two and a half hours. It’s worth noting that, if you’re traveling from any other bigger city in western Switzerland, you’ll have to travel via Zurich. It’s around five hours to reach Caumasee from Geneva, three hours from Lucerne, and around three and a half hours from Basel.
Traveling by car is by far the quickest and most convenient option, so I’d highly recommend renting a car if you’re a confident driver. Depending on where from and with who you’re traveling, renting a car might just turn out to be cheaper than train tickets.
Caumasee Lake Parking
The Flims Waldhaus parking lot is the main parking lot for visitors to Lake Cauma. It’s situated near the entrance to Caumasee, and the parking fee is some 6 CHF for a daily ticket. You can pay with cash or with the parking app.
The thing to note is that there are only around 100 parking spots at this lot, and they fill up rather quickly during the summer season. It’s best to arrive early in the morning if you want to be guaranteed a spot, otherwise, you’ll have to look for parking in the town. There are other car parks in the town (like Parking Promenade), but they’re a bit further away from the entrance to Caumasee.
Entrance Fee in Caumasee, Switzerland
| Price (CHF) | |
| Adults | 18 |
| Children (6 -16 years) | 9 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
Entrance to the beautiful lake Caumasee is charged during the summer season (June to August) and it’s 18 CHF per person for adults. The entrance fee is reduced to 9 CHF for children between the ages of 6 and 16, and kids under the age of 6 are welcome to the swimming area for free. It’s worth noting that the funicular is free to use, and you can take the lift down to the restaurant without spending any money.
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Additionally, guests who stay at one of the nearby hotels will get a voucher for a reduced entrance fee. With the voucher, you only have to pay 8 CHF to enter the swimming area, so don’t forget to ask the receptionists for your card!
Free To Enter
The entrance to the lakeshore swimming area is not charged outside the summer season. Also, it’s worth noting that only the entrance to the swimming area is charged – if you just want to go on a hike near the lake to admire the views, you can do so without entering the swimming area and spending any money. Dogs are not allowed in the swimming area.
Caumasee Opening Hours
Lake Caumasee is open from 8 AM until 5 PM every day during the summer season. The funicular observes the same opening hours, while the restaurant usually stays open until 9 PM in the summer season.
One thing to note is that there aren’t any specific opening hours for the swimming area, so you can technically visit after 5 PM to go swimming. I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless it’s a really hot day, since the temperature of this and other alpine lakes is usually pretty low, so swimming is comfortable only when it’s unbearably hot.
What To Do and See at Caumasee
The Caumasee area is most popular for swimming. The water temperature of the lake rises to a nice 20 degrees in the summer, which is more than comfortable for swimming on a hot summer day.
There’s also a playground area for the youngest lake visitors, where they can have some fun while the parents soak in the sun. In addition to swimming, Lake Caumasee is also known for rock jumping and paddle boarding.
Other than that, the lake area is also popular with hikers and mountain bikers. There are several trails in the area, which allow visitors to discover the mesmerizing nature that surrounds this magical lake.
Where To Eat at Caumasee
There’s a lovely restaurant directly on the lake, which is accessible for a small fee that counts towards your total bill. You can walk or use the lift to get down, which is self-service. The restaurant at Caumasee lake is open until mid-November, and it’s the only restaurant in the area so you don’t really have too many options for food.
You can always bring your own food and have a picnic at the lake. There are many other restaurants, shops, and bakeries in Flims, so if you just remember to pick something up there and bring it along with you, you should be set for the day. The Caumasee restaurant has good food – usually Swiss specialties – but the visitors’ general consensus is that it’s overpriced.
Bringing Your Dogs At Caumasee
Dogs are not allowed at Lake Cauma beach, but they are allowed in other places near the lake. You can’t bring them to the swimming area, but you can take them to the restaurant as long as they stay leashed, and you can certainly walk around the lake and explore the hiking trails with them.
Dogs are also allowed in the water, just not in the beach area. If you want to have fun with your pet, just try to find a spot outside the designated swimming area. Also, keep in mind that these rules only apply when the entrance to the swimming area is charged, so during the summer season. If you visit the lake with your pet in April or September, you can freely explore the place with your dog on a leash.
Tips When Visiting Caumasee
There are certain rules that you need to follow when visiting Caumasee. One of the bigger ones is that dogs aren’t allowed in the swimming area, so please keep that in mind. Another important rule is that nude swimming is forbidden. Swimsuits are sold at the entrance in case you don’t have one, but if you strip down entirely, you will likely be escorted outside the swimming area.
The use of drones is entirely prohibited in the area of Lake Caumasee, as are barbecues and fires. You’re also not allowed to play “disturbing” or loud music, but there’s no explanation of what is considered to be disturbing music. I assume you can listen to whatever you want as long as it doesn’t disturb the other swimmers, but honestly, it’s a hill I would be willing to die on if anyone tried to tell me my music was too disturbing. Especially if there were any screaming children nearby.
Is Caumasee Worth Visiting?
That depends on when and why you’re visiting the area. Honestly, if you’re just going for the experience, it’s worth it. But if you’re considering Lake Caumasee as a destination for a longer summer holiday in Switzerland, I would discourage you.
The entrance fee is a bit steep in the summer, especially considering how busy the lido gets during peak season. There’s only one restaurant at the lake which is overpriced, and there’s really not much else to do in the area other than hiking and swimming/sunbathing.
Sure, it’s one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland and you should definitely visit it at least once in your life, but I wouldn’t recommend it to travelers who want to stay in one area for more than a couple of days.
