Brig

Facts about Brig

• Location: in the Alps, central
• Region: Upper Rhone valley (Valais)
• Brig can be reached by train
• Popular attractions: Glacier Express, Lötschberg Mountain Railway, Centovalli railway
• Town size: town
• Elevation: 678 m (2224 ft)
• Travel time from Zurich: 2h10 by train, 3h25 by car

Strategically situated town

Brig lies along the river Rhone, in a wide sunny section of the Upper Rhone valley. The Simplon Pass to Italy starts in Brig, so travelers to and from Italy have been passing through Brig for centuries.

Brig is the border station for trains to and from Italy. Many trains to various destinations in Switzerland stop in Brig as well, including the Glacier Express.

Pros and cons of Brig

Brig is one of the larger towns in the Rhone valley, but it isn't a big tourist center. Many tourists prefer the various smaller villages up in the mountains, like Rosswald, Rothwald, Blatten and Belalp. These villages are situated amidst beautiful alpine scenery and make a great base for local hiking and winter sports.

Brig is the best base if you prefer to explore a wider region though. You can easily take trains and buses all over the Valais and thus see and do a lot in little time. Also, Brig has a nice little town center with many shops and restaurants.

Brig as a base town in winter

Brig is at the bottom of the Rhone valley, so snow in and around town is not likely. But Brig can be a base town for a varied winter holiday.

Several ski resorts are within easy reach of Brig. Bettmeralp and Riederalp can be reached by public transportation in about 40 minutes. Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Verbier and Oberwald are 1h to 1h30 away by train or bus. January to early March is the perfect season for snow day trips from Brig.

November-December isn’t the ideal winter period to visit Brig. Snow in the nearby resorts isn’t guaranteed yet. Brig is relatively small and doesn’t have many Christmas events. The nearest large Christmas market is in Montreux, about an hour away by train.