Valais: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
A total of 45 four-thousand-meter peaks make the Swiss canton of Valais the ultimate mountain paradise. Hikers and climbers find routes of all difficulty levels here, and winter sports enthusiasts find the highest ski areas in the entire country, promising snow-sure fun. Charming places with traditional architecture lie at the feet of the mighty Valais mountains.
Table of contents
Valais - The most beautiful cities
Zermatt
In summer, Zermatt offers a wealth of activities. Explore picturesque hiking trails with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, linger on the sun terraces of mountain restaurants, or ride a mountain bike through rugged terrain. In the Hinterdorf district, the traditional larch wood barns take you back to Zermatt's past. In the cold season, Zermatt transforms into a true winter wonderland. Enjoy skiing and snowboarding on numerous world-class slopes, go ice climbing or ice skating, or experience an exciting toboggan ride. After an eventful day on the slopes, the cozy atmosphere of the mountain huts and après-ski hotspots beckons.
Verbier
As part of the 4 Vallées, Verbier is part of the largest Swiss ski area. A total of 410 kilometers of slopes of all difficulty levels guarantee skiers and snowboarders lots of fun and action amidst a spectacular mountain backdrop. Travelers with children appreciate the family paradise La Tzoumaz, which offers several ski schools, beginner slopes, a children's area, and childcare. In summer, athletes also find plenty of activities in Verbier. The community's bike park offers downhill fun on diverse trails that overcome up to 1,000 meters in altitude. You can also go high with tandem flying, which provides you with overwhelming views of the Valais mountain world with the La Chaux glacier.
Saas-Fee
From mountain hikes to the 18 four-thousand-meter peaks in the area and mountain bike trails to climbing tours and paragliding, there is much for adventurers to do in Saas-Fee. The Mattmark Reservoir invites you to swim, and the cheese dairy on Alp Hannig brings you closer to the traditions of the Saas Valley. In the cold season, Saas-Fee is a true paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. The ski area offers a variety of slopes for skiers and snowboarders. Cross-country skiers can use the well-groomed trails, and winter hiking, sledding, and ice skating are also popular activities. Après-ski and wellness complete the winter experience.
Crans-Montana
The extensive network of hiking trails brings you closer to the entire beauty of the landscape around Crans-Montana, from the Valais vineyards over the Rhone Valley to the glacier plateau Plaine Morte. Adventurous individuals can engage in sports such as paragliding, canyoning, or water skiing. In summer, the five bathing lakes near the village are popular excursion destinations. Golf enthusiasts can tee off on the internationally renowned 18-hole Severiano Ballesteros course against a picturesque mountain backdrop. Families are drawn to the fun park with mascot "Bibi" or the adventure forest. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing on well-groomed trails around Crans-Montana or have lots of fun snow tubing and sledding.
Grächen
The alpine village located in the Mattertal impresses with its family-friendly atmosphere. Well-developed hiking trails lead into the surrounding mountain world or to the idyllic Grächensee. A special fun for young and old are scooter descents from the Hannigalp down to the mountain village. Numerous downhill trails are sure to make the hearts of mountain bike fans beat faster. The fun fairy tale gondola takes families to the Hannigalp, where a true children's paradise unfolds with a fun park, play path, climbing garden, forest playground, and much more. But even in the cold season, the alp with four age-graded children's parks is a popular excursion destination for big and small snow fans.
Leukerbad
With the hiking areas Gemmipass and Torrent, Leukerbad is a good starting point for tours to the picturesque Daubensee or the surrounding mountains. At Daubenhorn, the longest and most challenging Swiss via ferrata provides adrenaline kicks. In winter, the ski and cross-country trails around Leukerbad invite you to enjoy the slopes and snow tours. After physical activity, you can rejuvenate in one of Leukerbad's hot thermal springs. Even the ancient Romans used the hot springs as a place for relaxation. The most famous thermal bath is the Alpentherme Leukerbad. Several saunas and the heated outdoor area with Alpine views make it easy to unwind from everyday life.
Brig
Brig is a stop on the Glacier Express, which connects the ski resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz. Visitors can reach northern Italy via the Simplon Pass. In addition to Zermatt and Saas-Fee, the Bernese Oberland with the legendary peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau is also a hiking destination. Hiking and mountain biking trails lead from Brig, for example, to the Rosswald viewing plateau. In winter, you can quickly reach the tranquil Rosswald ski area with its 25 kilometers of slopes or the larger Aletsch ski arena from the mountain village. After active days, a visit to the Briger thermal baths is particularly soothing.
Riederalp
From the car-free Riederalp, you have direct access to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Aletsch Glacier. At 23 kilometers long, it is the largest glacier in the Alps. Numerous hiking trails lead from Riederalp around the glacier and the adjacent Aletsch Forest. At Villa Cassel, you can obtain extensive information about the region. In winter, it invites you to ski and snowboard. The network of the three ski areas Riederalp, Bettmeralp, and Fiescheralp offers slopes for every difficulty level. Enjoy the advantage of exploring Riederalp directly on skis. Winter hikers can enjoy the panoramic trail from Moosfluh to Villa Cassel.
Valais - 5 most beautiful natural sights
Aletsch Glacier
The Aletsch Glacier is an impressive 20 km long. 10 billion tons of ice form the 79 square kilometer natural paradise. The UNESCO World Heritage site spans 23 municipalities. The Finsteraarhorn, at 4,273 meters, is the highest peak in the region. You can conveniently reach the Aletsch Glacier at various points with the mountain railways. You are only allowed to enter the Aletsch Glacier as part of a guided tour. You have an unobstructed view from four viewpoints. One of them is at the Eggishorn at an altitude of 2,869 meters. Only 200 meters from the mountain station, the Bettmerhorn viewpoint is located. Nearby, a mountain restaurant invites you to stop by.
Durnand Gorge
The Durnand Gorge between the Swiss mountains Pointe Ronde and Catogne forms an impressive backdrop: Steep rock walls rise up, and crystal-clear water bubbles in the depths. You can walk about a kilometer into the gorge. Wooden stairs and walkways lead past 14 waterfalls of the wild river. Over 330 steps, you overcome about 200 meters in altitude. The deeper you penetrate into the Durnand Gorge, the more spectacular the view of the roaring masses of water becomes. It is not uncommon for a colorful rainbow to appear in the fine mist of water spray. For the return journey, you can choose a forest path.
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn, at 4,478 m, is one of the highest Alpine peaks and forms part of the Swiss-Italian border. It is legendary for the difficulty of its ascent. The easiest route up is the Hörnli Ridge, which leads from Zermatt via the Hörnli Hut. A beautiful view of the Matterhorn can be seen from the Klein-Matterhorn. This is separated from the Matterhorn by the Theodul Pass and is part of the year-round open ski area Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. A popular excursion destination is the Stellisee, where the giant mountain is reflected in its crystal-clear water. In the holiday resort of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, the Matterhorn Museum attracts visitors with materials on the history of Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
Rhone Glacier
The Rhone Glacier is one of the landmarks of the Goms district in the easternmost part of the Swiss canton of Valais. Since the opening of the road over the Furka Pass in the late 19th century, the unique mountain panorama with the Rhone Glacier has been one of the most visited attractions in Switzerland. At the foot of the glacier, there is an ice grotto. It is located at an altitude of 2,300 m and is accessible to visitors. A glacier educational trail runs through the entire ice tunnel, which is about 100 m long. From the viewing platform of the former Hotel Belvédère, you have a wonderful view over the mountain peaks and the Rhone Glacier.
Saastal
Nowhere else in the Alps is there a higher concentration of peaks over 4,000 m than in the Saas Valley and the neighboring Matter Valley. Around 350 km of hiking trails lead along scenic routes through the holiday region. You can easily reach the 4,027 m high Allalin with the Metro Alpin. As the year comes to an end, the Saas Valley transforms into a snow paradise. Look forward to 150 kilometers of perfectly groomed slopes. The Saas-Fee ski area is located at 3,600 m. The brave test their balance on the winter via ferrata. The 6 km long toboggan run over the Sonnenberg down to the valley provides variety.
Valais - Climate
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.