Must-knows about Brig

  • Brig is located in the Rhone Valley. This is in the southern Swiss canton of Valais.
  • It’s is a less than 2-hour train ride from Milano in Italy.
  • Brig is often overlooked. But it’s a strategically located base with excellent train connections to many areas.
  • You can easily reach Zermatt, Saas-Fee and other mountain villages such as Bettmeralp and Riederalp.
  • There’s a direct scenic train connection to Thun and Bern in northern Switzerland: the Lötschberg Mountain Railway.
  • The town center is small but attractive. It features the 16th-century Stockalper Palace.
Region: Valais
Recommended season: early January to late October and late December
Altitude: 691 m (2267 ft)
Town size: Medium
Local language: German
There is a train station

What to see and do from Brig Copy link to clipboard

Find activities near Brig

Glacier Express scenic train at the Furka Pass
Glacier Express
Scenic train tripMin. time required: 8:00
The Glacier Express is the most famous scenic train across the Swiss Alps, between Zermatt and St. Moritz. Check our must-read info about the route, …
Centovalli train seen from Intragna
Centovalli Railway
Scenic train tripMin. time required: 2:00
The Centovalli Railway offers a unique train journey across remote valleys in northern Italy and southern Switzerland. Learn how to plan your trip between Domodossola …
RegioExpress Lötschberger between Lalden and Brig
Lötschberg Mountain Railway
Scenic train tripMin. time required: 2:00
The Lötschberger trains cross the Swiss Alps and connect Bern in the north to Brig in the south. It's an impressive route with many tunnels …
Aletsch Glacier seen from Bettmerhorn
Aletsch Glacier
Hiking, Mountains, NatureMin. time required: 2:00
The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier of Switzerland and even of the Alps. We explain how to get the best views from mountaintops in …
Brigerbad Ticket
Brigerbad Ticket
WellnessDay tour
The Brigerbad awaits you with hot springs that have temperatures between 21 °C and 50 °C. The water contains lithium, sodium, calcium and sulphates. It alleviates rheumatism and arthrosis complaints in particular.

Offered by Swiss Activities: www.swissactivities.com

  • Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
  • Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
This list includes external links to our trusted partners.

The Stockalper Palace

Don't forget to explore Brig itself. The historic town center is small and attractive. A highlight is the Stockalper Palace, a 16th-century castle. You can join guided tours to explore the site.

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

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

Villages on the hills above the valley, such as Bettmeralp and Riederalp, are highly recommended as well. On clear days, the views over the Valais reach as far as the Matterhorn.

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 quick one-day visit to Milan is possible from Brig.  A single train ride Brig-Milan takes just under 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.

Travel tips and town map Copy link to clipboard

SBB|CFF|FFS
From
To
Via (optional)
Via (optional)
Departure date
Example: 01.07.= 1 July
Departure time
Example: 13:15=1:15 PM

How does the timetable work?

How to reach Brig by train

Brig is a train hub in the Valais. The Glacier Express stops here, as well as regional trains to Zermatt and Andermatt. In addition, there are direct trains to Brig from several major Swiss towns and from Italy. Examples:

Plan your journey to Brig with the Swiss timetable. We explain how to use it here.

The 2 rail stations: Brig and Brig Bahnhofplatz

There are 2 adjacent rail stations in Brig. The main station is simply called "Brig", and 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.

It's easy to get from one station to the other, as they're 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 when traveling 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, which is 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 quickly reach the Brig train station on foot as well.

Brig-Glis

Glis is a southern district of Brig. There's no train station, but there are excellent and quick buses to Brig. A ride from the bus stop "Glis, Dorf" to the train station of Brig takes around 15 minutes.

Rail passes for a stay in Brig

We usually recommend a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card for a holiday in Brig, especially if you plan to explore other Swiss areas too. 

The Adventure Card is a sensible choice if you plan to travel across the eastern Valais and western Graubünden for a couple of days.

Get help finding the right rail pass here.

Map of the town Brig

Maps are available to members only
Check out all the benefits members have access to
Create a free account
Map

Travel guides for the Valais Copy link to clipboard

Regional Tilo train Italy-Ticino

Italy to Switzerland

How to take the quick trains from Milan and other Italian towns to Switzerland, and which scenic routes to choose. …

When to visit Brig Copy link to clipboard

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.

We 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 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 to mid-December isn’t the ideal winter period to visit Brig:

  • 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, about 1h20 away by train.

Weather in Brig Copy link to clipboard

Temperatures in summer and winter

The Rhone Valley is a relatively warm and sunny region. Temperatures of 25°C to 35°C are no exception in summer. Winters are pretty mild.

If you want to experience snow during the winter months, you can better travel to villages at higher altitudes in the mountains, such as Zermatt or Saas-Fee.

5-day weather forecast for Brig

Weather reports are available to members only
Check out all the benefits members have access to
Create a free account
Weather forecast

Why Brig is so strategically situated

Where is Brig located?

Brig lies on the river Rhone, in a wide sunny section of the Upper Rhone Valley. This is in the canton Valais in southern Switzerland. Brig is close to Zermatt, Saas-Fee, and the Aletsch Glacier.

Trains to Italy and several parts of Switzerland

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. You can reach Milano in less than 2 hours.

Many trains to various destinations in Switzerland stop in Brig as well. Examples are:

  • The Glacier Express to Andermatt, Chur and St. Moritz.
  • The Lötschberg mountain train. It allows you to reach Spiez, Thun, Bern and Interlaken in the north of Switzerland. Even quicker is the Lötschberg Base Tunnel connection to Spiez.
  • The connection to Montreux on Lake Geneva.
  • The regional trains to Oberwald and other villages in the Upper Rhone Valley.
  • The regional trains to Zermatt.
  • The buses to Saas-Grund and Saas-Fee.

The pros and cons of Brig

It’s not directly in the mountains

Brig is one of the larger towns in the Rhone Valley, but it isn’t a well-known 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.

It’s a strategic location to explore the Valais

We feel that 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.

Brig offers all facilities you need

Brig has a nice little town center with a lively atmosphere. There are many shops and restaurants.

Other websites of interest

Itineraries including Brig Copy link to clipboard

Jungfrau, Breithorn, Tschingelhorn and Lauterbrunnen valley from Männlichen

Best of the Alps

This extremely varied trip includes the famous Jungfrau, cogwheel train rides, cable cars, the Rhine Falls, Zurich and more: the …
Swiss passroad in the Schöllenen gorge

Pass road tour

This self-guided 8-day driving tour offers the absolute best of Switzerland’s spectacular pass roads. It's most suitable for June to …

More about the Valais Copy link to clipboard

Matterhorn and Zermatt at dusk

Zermatt

Zermatt is a car-free, luxurious alpine village at the foot of the Matterhorn. Zermatt is somewhat secluded, but you can …
Aletsch Glacier seen from Moosfluh in September

Valais

The Valais is a spectacular region in southern Switzerland, home to the famous Aletsch Glacier and the Matterhorn. There are …
Aerial view of Saas-Fee and mountains

Saas-Fee

Saas-Fee is a car-free village in the Valais, surrounded by some of Switzerland's highest peaks. Enjoy mountain rides, skiing, hiking …

About MySwissAlps

We’re passionate tourists and locals. We share tips about how to plan a trip to Switzerland. MySwissAlps was founded in 2002.

Get a free account for a worry-free trip

  • Join our 10600 members and ask us questions in the forum
  • Access to member-only promotions
  • Detailed maps and weather forecasts

Planning your first Switzerland adventure?

Get a jump-start with Annika’s 20-minute e-mail course, “Switzerland for beginners”. Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock the course.

Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.