Brig in the Valais, Switzerland - your travel guide 

How to reach Brig by train

Brig is a train hub in the Valais. You can get there by several scenic trains, such as the Glacier Express, the Lötschberg Mountain Railway, and the Centovalli train.

From and to all directions, there are plenty of regular trains as well. These include direct trains to Brig from several major Swiss towns and from Italy. Examples:

• from Zurich: 2h10
• from Basel: 2h15
• from Bern: 1h05 via the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, 1h45 via the Lötschberg Mountain Railway
• from Geneva: 2h25
• from Milano: 2h10. Learn more about travel options between Swiss and Italian towns here.

Plan your journey to Brig with the Swiss timetable.

The 2 rail stations: Brig and Brig Bahnhofplatz

There are 2 adjacent rail stations in Brig. The main station is simply called "Brig". This is where most trains arrive and leave.

Directly in front of this station is "Brig Bahnhofplatz". This outdoor platform is where the Glacier Express stops. The local trains to Zermatt and Andermatt arrive and depart here too.

Both stations are right next to one another. So short transfer times are no problem.

How to reach Brig by car

If you want to travel to Brig by car, you'll often have to use a car train.

These are the main routes from northern Switzerland:

• If you travel from Basel or Bern in the north, you can best use the Lötschberg car train between Spiez and Visp. There's no alternative pass road. A road trip from Basel takes about 2h15.
• If you come from Zurich, it makes sense to travel via Altdorf (south of Lake Lucerne) and Andermatt. Then use the Furka car train to reach the Upper Rhone Valley and Brig.
• If you prefer to avoid car trains, you can make a detour. Travel via Vevey on Lake Geneva and Martigny in the western Rhone Valley. This journey takes 3h50 from Basel.

If you come from Italy, south of Brig, you can either drive over the Simplon Pass or use the Simplon car train.

How to get by in Brig

Brig is relatively small, and the rail station is adjacent to the old town. You'll reach the center in an easy 6-minute walk along the street "Bahnhofstrasse".

If your accommodation is in or near the town center, you can reach the rail station and shops on foot. Of course, there are frequent buses to the town center and to the less central parts of town.

Brig-Naters

Naters is just north of Brig, on the other side of the river Rhone. Buses operate between both towns. If you're located on the western side of Naters, you can reach the Brig train station on foot as well.

Brig-Glis

Glis is a southern district of Brig, with plenty of buses to the rail station and the center. A ride from the bus stop "Glis, Dorf" to the train station of Brig takes around 10 to 15 minutes.

Rail passes for a stay in Brig

I recommend a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card for a holiday in Brig, especially if you plan to explore several Swiss areas. 

The Matterhorn Gotthard Pass can be a sensible choice if you plan to travel across eastern Valais and western Graubünden for a couple of days.

Get help finding the right rail pass here.

A central base town year-long

Brig's central location comes in handy for all sorts of holidays in nearly all seasons, whether you plan summer hikes, mountain top visits, winter trips or train rides.

I especially recommend visiting Brig in early January to late October and late December.

Brig and surroundings in winter

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

Several ski resorts are within easy reach. Bettmeralp and Riederalp are about 0h40 by public transport. Zermatt, Saas-Fee, and Oberwald are 1h00 to 1h30 away by train or bus. 

I'd prefer January to early March for snow day trips from Brig. November to mid-December is slightly less suitable: 

• Snow in the nearby ski resorts isn’t guaranteed yet.
• Brig is relatively small and doesn’t have many Christmas events. The nearest large Christmas market is in Montreux, 1h05 to 1h20 away by train.

The Stockalper Palace

Don't forget to explore Brig itself. The historic town center is compact and attractive. A highlight is the Stockalper Palace, a 16th-century castle. You can join a guided tour to explore the entire site, or just roam the garden and courtyard on your own.

The castles of Sion

In Sion, at a 40-minute train ride from Brig, several medieval castles can be found. Two of them stand out on the hills of Valère and Tourbillon. Some of these sites can be visited independently, for others you can book a guided tour.

The Upper Rhone Valley

If you like traditional Swiss villages, pay a visit to the Upper Rhone Valley east of Brig. This is on the famous Glacier Express route.

We spent a holiday in Ulrichen and fell in love with this part of the valley. The traditional small towns with their Valais-style wooden chalets are gorgeous. Examples of other villages worth a visit are Münster-Geschinen and Oberwald.

Try to include trips to the tourist villages on the hills above the valley as well. The main ones are as Bettmeralp and Riederalp. On clear days, the fantastic views over the Valais reach as far as the Matterhorn.

The eastern Upper Rhone Valley makes for a good winter destination too.

Excursions to the Aletsch Glacier

Brig is close to the famous Aletsch Glacier. Learn how to reach it and how to get the best views here.

A day trip to Milan in Italy

A short one-day visit to Milan is possible from Brig. The quickest single train rides Brig-Milan take about 2 hours. So you'll be able to do some sightseeing in Milan if you leave early and return in the late afternoon or evening.