Valais is the Switzerland of great peaks: valleys covered in vineyards, chalet villages and, at the very end, the Matterhorn. I spent a weekend there in October 2025, with Sion as a base.
Sion, the capital of Valais
Sion is a handy base, with sunrise over the Alps from the Rhône valley. For dinner, Arlequin on Rue des Cèdres: lovely decor and delicious food.
Zermatt and the Gornergrat
Zermatt is free of combustion-engine cars: you park in Täsch and finish by train. From Zermatt, the rack railway climbs to the Gornergrat, at 3,089 metres, facing the Matterhorn and the glaciers: one of the finest views in the Alps.
On the way: Lavaux and Interlaken
- Épesses, in the terraced Lavaux vineyards above Lake Geneva, for a Swiss wine tasting.
- Interlaken, between Lakes Thun and Brienz, and the GoldenPass Express panoramic train.
Practical info
- Bring warm clothes: it is cold at the Gornergrat even in autumn.
- Take the Gornergrat train early in the morning for better visibility.
- Valais combines well with Gruyère, about two hours’ drive away.
