Visas & entry
Switzerland is in the Schengen Area. EU/EFTA citizens can generally enter with a valid passport or national ID card; many visitors from the US, Canada, UK, Australia and similar visa-waiver countries may visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Rules and passport-validity requirements can change, so verify with the relevant Swiss authority before travel.
Getting in
- Geneva Airport: The most practical western gateway for Martigny, Sion and Verbier, with rail connections through Geneva and Lausanne into the Rhône valley. It is usually the best airport for a west-to-east Valais itinerary.
- Zurich Airport: A strong choice for Brig, Visp, Aletsch, Saas-Fee and Zermatt, with frequent Swiss rail connections. It is less convenient than Geneva for Martigny and Verbier but works well for eastern Valais.
- Milan Malpensa Airport: Useful for travelers entering or leaving via the Simplon corridor and eastern Valais, especially Brig; onward travel involves cross-border rail planning and is less straightforward for the western canton.
- Brig railway station: The key eastern-Valais rail hub for Zermatt, Saas-Fee and Aletsch connections, and a practical arrival point for travelers already moving through Switzerland or northern Italy.
- Martigny railway station: The useful western rail gateway for Verbier/Le Châble, lower Rhône wine country, Chablais and the Lake Geneva side of the canton.
Getting around
The main Rhône rail line is frequent and efficient, but it is only the spine: every major resort requires a branch connection. Use trains for Martigny, Sion, Sierre, Visp and Brig; use mountain railways for Zermatt and lifts for Aletsch; expect buses for Saas-Fee, Leukerbad and many valley villages. A car helps in quieter side valleys such as Anniviers and for flexible winery access, but it is unnecessary in Zermatt, awkward in resort centers, and must be left at Täsch for Zermatt.
Money
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF). Cards are widely accepted, including for small purchases, but carry a little cash for mountain huts, village kiosks and occasional rural situations; contactless payment is routine. Service is included, so tipping is modest—round up or leave a small extra for notably good service rather than applying North American percentages.
Daily budget · CHF
- Value
- CHF150–240
- Mid-range
- CHF280–500
- High-end
- CHF700–1,500+
- These figures exclude international transport and assume two people sharing a room.
- The real budget killers are resort hotel location, lifts and ski passes, restaurant alcohol, and taxis after the final bus—not museums.
- A Swiss Travel Pass can work for a multi-stop rail itinerary, but it is usually poor value for a single-resort stay because many mountain systems offer only discounts rather than full inclusion.
- Build major lift fares into the plan: excursions such as Gornergrat, Eggishorn and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise can add substantial daily cost.
Eating well
- Book better restaurants in Zermatt and Verbier in ski season and summer weekends.
- Arrange winery appointments rather than assuming walk-ins, particularly around Sierre and Salgesch.
- Use trains and buses for tastings, but note that the last connection can be early; taxis after a winery dinner can erase the savings of a valley base.
- Order raclette where it is scraped from the wheel rather than treated as a generic melted-cheese dish.
Book before you land
Zermatt Unplugged festival tickets and accommodation during the early-April festival · Verbier Festival performances and accommodation during the mid-summer festival
- Do not base yourself in Sion or Martigny and assume Zermatt, Saas-Fee and Aletsch are easy day trips; the final mountain connection sets the real travel time.
- In Zermatt, private cars stop at Täsch; transfer to the village by train or taxi.
- Check lift operating dates and last descent times before committing to a high trail, viewpoint or car-free resort stay; shoulder-season closures are common.
- Weather is not transferable across the canton: a hot, clear day in Sion can mean cloud, wind or storms above 2,500 m.
- Build a weather-buffer day into any Zermatt or Aletsch stay rather than buying expensive viewpoint tickets for a single fixed day.
- If tasting wine in the Sion–Sierre belt, plan your return transport before drinking; local buses can be sparse and late taxis are costly.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this region.