Sion

Sion (German: Sitten) is the capital of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. With a population of 35,000, it is the biggest city in the canton and a regional centre. The cantonal administration as well as many of the higher schools are located here.

Get in
The train is probably the easiest way to make it into Sion. Half-hourly trains arrive to from Brig and Geneva passing through all major towns in Valais. Regional trains also depart half-hourly in either direction. Eurocity trains on the Geneva - Milan line and seasonal TGV trains from Paris stop here at irregular intervals.

Sion lies on the A9 highway and has two exits (Sion-Est and Sion-Ouest) either of which can be used to access the city centre.

Get around
There are public buses running around the city, however, the frequencies are not that great and a big part of the historical core of the city is not accessible by bus. The city is largely walkable and as such walking might be the most convenient way of getting around the city.

See
The Basilique de Valère and the Château de Tourbillon are the two most prominent sights in Sion. They stand on two neighbouring hills and can be see from far. Nevertheless they are relatively easy to walk to from the city centre and the views are breathtaking.



Do

 * Football: FC Sion were promoted in 2024 so they play soccer in Swiss Super League, the top tier. Their home ground Stade Tourbillon (capacity 14,300) is 1 km west of city centre. In 2025 it hosts games in the UEFA Women's Euro Finals.

Buy
While Sion might seem like a bit of a backwater town to outsiders, it is actually the biggest city in the region. Here you can find a couple of the very few departmental stores of the Valais as well as well stocked supermarkets. If you rented a self-catered apartment in the mountains and count on cooking anything with non-basic ingredients, this will be the place for you to stock up.

Eat
Most of the traditional restaurants are located within the old town around the pedestrian area. However there are also quite a few choices outside the centre or closer to the railway station, so it pays of to have a walk around.

Sleep
Plan wisely, this area can be a little expensive depending on the time of year. And during the winter months many Hotels and Hostels will be closed so if one is planning on making Sion more than a day trip, try to come after April.

Go next

 * Anzère is a mountain resort 15 km north of Sion. Take the bus from Sion main station (40 min) for skiing in winter or hiking in summer.
 * Crans Montana is the larger resort further east.
 * Venture further up the main valley into the German speaking towns of Visp and Brig.
 * Montreux is an attractive town on Lake Geneva, with Chillon Castle perched on an islet.