Brig
Brig is 214 km from Geneva Airport, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes by road through the Rhône valley, with no border to cross. It is the last town of any size in the Upper Valais, the crossroads where the Simplon road leaves for Italy and where several mountain railways meet. A private transfer with AirportsTransfers.ch takes you straight from the arrivals hall to your hotel or office in Brig-Glis.
- Distance from GVA: 214 km
- Drive time: about 2 h 20
- Route: Lake Geneva motorway, then the Rhône valley via Martigny and Sion
- Signature sight: the Stockalper Palace with its three onion-domed towers
- Best for: rail journeys, the Aletsch Glacier, crossing the Simplon to Italy
The drive from Geneva Airport
Leaving the airport, your chauffeur follows the motorway along the northern shore of Lake Geneva, past Lausanne and Vevey, before the road bends east into the wide valley of the Rhône. The journey then runs upstream for well over an hour, through orchards, vineyards and the old towns of Martigny and Sion with their castle hills. Past Sierre the valley becomes German-speaking and narrower, and Brig appears where the valley closes in at the foot of the Simplon.
The run is straightforward in all seasons, although the Friday evening and Saturday traffic of the ski season can add time between Lausanne and Martigny. If you are travelling onward to Italy, the same vehicle can continue over the Simplon Pass, which links Brig to Domodossola.
A town built on trade over the Simplon
Brig's history is tied to the pass that rises behind it. In the seventeenth century a merchant named Kaspar Stockalper controlled much of the trade in salt and goods across the Simplon, and the palace he built is still the town's landmark. Its arcaded courtyard and three towers topped with golden onion domes make it one of the largest private baroque residences in Switzerland, and the courtyard and gardens are pleasant to wander through even without a guided tour.
Around the palace, the compact old town has narrow lanes, a sloping main square with cafés, and a lively atmosphere on market days. Brig and the neighbouring commune of Glis merged long ago, and the pilgrimage church in Glis is another historic building worth a look.
Rail hub of the Alps
For many visitors Brig is first a station. Main-line trains from Geneva and Lausanne arrive here, the Lötschberg line connects it to Bern, and the Simplon tunnel carries trains into Italy. In front of the station, the red trains of the Matterhorn Gotthard railway leave towards Zermatt in one direction and towards the Furka and Andermatt in the other, and the Glacier Express passes through on its scenic journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
That makes Brig a useful meeting point: some travellers come by car to start a rail trip here, while others end a rail holiday in Brig and want a direct, luggage-free ride back to Geneva Airport for their flight.
Day trips and things to do nearby
- Aletsch Arena: cable cars from the Rhône valley rise to car-free plateaus with views over the Great Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Simplon Pass: a high road with a large stone eagle monument at the summit and views of glaciers and peaks
- Brigerbad: outdoor thermal pools just outside town
- Zermatt and Saas-Fee: both reachable within about an hour by road or rail
In summer the area is full of hikers and cyclists; in winter, Brig is often used as an alternative base for skiers who want lower-cost accommodation and easy train access to several resorts.
Tips for planning your stay
Hotels are concentrated around the station and the old town, so most addresses are within walking distance of each other. If you plan to visit the Aletsch Arena or the car-free resorts, check how you will get your bags from the valley station; a van with room for skis and suitcases avoids juggling luggage on trains. Evenings are calm, and restaurants serve Valais dishes such as raclette, cholera (a vegetable pie) and local wines.
How to book your transfer to Brig
Booking with AirportsTransfers.ch takes a few minutes online. You see a fixed price for the whole vehicle before confirming, then pay securely by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. On arrival, your chauffeur is waiting with a name sign, having followed your flight in real time; any delay is covered with no extra waiting charge. Mercedes E-Class and S-Class sedans suit up to three travellers, the V-Class takes up to seven with ten bags, and a Sprinter minibus is available for larger groups. Ask for child seats when you book and mention any skis or bulky equipment. Our team answers by phone and WhatsApp on +41 78 346 56 77, day and night.
