Anyone who knows me knows that, as a (hockey) mom of three kids, I’m used to going full speed ahead—organizing, planning, solving problems, and always being available. And especially during hockey season. That’s why many people were surprised when, in the middle of hockey season, and during the pre-Christmas period when we moms are really busy with our duties, I went on a solo weekend trip to Graubünden.
I’ll tell you, every one of us who needs to stop and take a breath for a moment should do this. Because I guarantee that after a weekend in the mountains, full of self-care and accompanied by the exceptional atmosphere of the Schweizerhof Flims hotel, you will return home with a lighter head and fully recharged. *
NOTE: This article was written in collaboration with Schweizerhof Flims Romantik Hotel & Spa. All opinions and observations are my own.
*Of course, dads can also treat themselves to a weekend like this – but if you treat your beloved wife to one, consider it an investment that will pay off 100%… just sayin’.
From the history of Schweizerhof Flims
Flims is located 20 kilometers west of Chur, the capital of the canton of Graubünden. Would you believe that a journey that now takes you 20 minutes by car used to take four hours by horse-drawn carriage? But it’s not hard to imagine that time, because the Hotel Schweizerhof still exudes the charming atmosphere of a grand hotel from the Belle Époque era. It has been very sensitively renovated, with many small original Art Nouveau details that give it its unique character.
The hotel’s history began in 1903, when it opened for the summer season, as did most spa and mountain hotels at the time. Although the hotel lacked electric lighting at the beginning, it was a time of elegant ladies’ gowns, gentlemen in tailcoats, afternoon tennis tournaments, and evening music performances and balls. The hotel had many distinguished guests, including Albert Einstein, who stayed here with his wife, Marie Curie’s mother, writer Max Brod, and Anna Freud, Sigmund Freud’s daughter.
The heart and soul of the hotel was Mengia Schmidt-Candrian, who continued to run it after her husband, Daniel, died and worked there until she was 90 years old. Together with her daughter-in-law Carla, she kept the hotel going even during the tourist slump after World War II. Nevertheless, the family managed to keep the hotel afloat, and it was at this time that winter tourism began to grow in popularity. While the whole of Flims had been open in winter since 1947, the Schweizerhof did not open in winter until the 1960s.
And here comes an interesting historical fun fact: even though we find fascinating men in the family history, such as the charismatic Artur (who was apparently a favorite of guests and a talented musician) or his son Daniel, who became an internationally renowned film director, the hotel was actually run by women during its most important periods. Unfortunately, their husbands died at a relatively young age, around 50, and the women continued to run the hotel after their deaths. This is fascinating when you consider that this was at a time when women did not yet have the right to vote in Switzerland.
And yet, the women managed the staff, welcomed foreign guests, ensured the quality of services, and knew their regular guests by name, including their room numbers. This philosophy—creating a space where guests feel at home—continues at the Schweizerhof to this day. The family has passed it down from generation to generation.
Today, the fourth generation is at the helm: Sandra Schmidt-Stahl and her husband Christoph. Thank you to Sandra for showing me around the hotel. If you would like to delve deeper into the hotel’s history, you will find a QR code in almost every corner that takes you to an app where Mrs. Therese Schmidt, a third-generation owner, will tell you the story of the Schmidt family. You can also meet her in person, as she tells this story to hotel guests every Friday in the hotel lobby.
Program for hotel guests
Speaking of programs, Hotel Schweizerhof offers its guests much more. Not that a historical excursion combined with an aperitif isn’t fascinating, of course. After Friday’s historical interlude, you can stretch out on Saturday morning with a morning yoga class. By the way, if you are a yoga fan, you should definitely not miss Schweizerhof Yogawochen – from January 22 to February 6, 2026, a two-week program full of yoga, mindfulness, relaxation, and support for female energy awaits you – you can find information here on the website. Or Yoga und die Kraft des Schweigens (April 8–12) – an intensive yoga retreat focused on silence, inner peace, and deeper presence.
Badehaus – a wellness oasis for body and soul
The hotel has direct access to the spa, which is free for hotel guests. The large, modern wellness center offers something for everyone and invites you to relax. On the ground floor, you will find a swimming pool lined with natural stone (originally from 1972!), on the first floor you can treat yourself to a massage, and on the top floor you will find a complete oasis of well-being: Finnish, bio, and infrared saunas, a steam bath, and a relaxation room with a magnificent view of the treetops—the ideal place to relax and the perfect retreat after a day in the mountains or on a hike. Admission is for ages 16 and up.
The best part is that you can comfortably walk to the Badehaus from your room in a soft bathrobe, which you will find in your room along with a towel and a sauna sheet. So you really don’t have to worry about a thing.
Rooms at Schweizerhof Flims
And speaking of rooms: I had a cozy room on the third floor with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. Just a little tidbit – you won’t find any water in the minibar! Instead, guests are provided with a carafe that they can fill with tap water without hesitation, as it comes from a mountain spring.
Virtual tour of the Schweizerhof Flims hotel
But let me not leave you without seeing the other areas of the hotel: on every floor, in every corner, you will find reminders of its history – whether family photos, original washbasins and jugs from the rooms (because bathrooms were not built in every room until the 1960s), original stucco, carved details in the winter veranda, part of which was converted into a restaurant over the years because the original capacity was no longer sufficient.
Hotel restaurant
The food in the hotel restaurant is absolutely top-notch. The breakfast and dinner menus were consistently excellent. The evening menu tasted great and was served with great care. The chef and the entire team deserve great credit—the ingredients are local, and the quality is exceptional. The waiting staff are charming, yet highly professional.
Tips on what to do in the area
I would particularly like to highlight the hotel’s excellent location: a quiet spot yet still in the center of the action, with easy access to hiking trails. For example, to Lake Caumasee, which is about a 15-minute walk away. I will write about my hike here in my next article.
Summary of my weekend stay at Schweizerhof Flims Romantik Hotel & Spa
My stay was short but delightful. I would particularly like to highlight the staff. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful.
I would like to say hello to the friendly waiter at dinner and also to Stefan, the bartender, who even knows a few words of Czech. As a guest, you really feel welcome here, which made my stay even more enjoyable.
When I checked out, they asked me what could be improved — and my answer was: nothing. I am happy to recommend this hotel to you.
Thank you for a wonderful stay.
Pin This for Later
