Located at the foot of the Simplon Pass, this Swiss town is an important Alpine railway hub with a 17th-century Stockalper Palace and direct trains to both Italy and Germany.
Brig, a town of 13,000 residents in Switzerland's Valais canton, sits at the foot of the Alps where multiple railway lines converge. Walk through its Italian-influenced old town to find the 17th-century Stockalper Palace with its three distinctive towers, or take a cable car ride for views of the 23-kilometer Aletsch Glacier. You can swim in the 34°C waters of Brigerbad's thermal pools or catch a train to the surrounding mountains for skiing and hiking.
Getting to Brig by Train
Brig functions as a major railway hub where lines from Geneva, Zurich, and Milan intersect. The train station connects directly to the Simplon Tunnel, which leads to Italy, and serves as a stop on the scenic Glacier Express route. You'll find trains departing every hour to Zermatt, Andermatt, and Disentis, making it easy to explore nearby mountain destinations.
Walking Through the Old Town
The compact old town extends from the train station along Bahnhofstrasse. Look up to see Italian-style houses with green and blue shuttered windows and red geraniums in wooden flower boxes. The car-free zones and medieval street layout create an intimate atmosphere, with stone-paved alleys leading to small squares where locals gather at café terraces.
Exploring Stockalper Palace
The baroque Stockalper Palace stands in the town center, its three towers rising 23 meters high. Salt trade merchant Kaspar Stockalper built this residence between 1658 and 1678. You can visit the inner courtyard and gardens daily from 8:00 to 19:00. Join a guided tour to see the merchant's private chambers, the chapel, and the grand hall with its original wooden ceiling.
Day Trips from Brig
Take a train to Fiesch (20 minutes) and a cable car to reach Eggishorn at 2,869 meters for views of the Aletsch Glacier. From the viewing platform, you can see the entire 23-kilometer ice mass stretching across the Alps. Walk the marked trail from Fiescheralp to Riederalp (two hours) through Alpine meadows past grazing cattle and the small Märjelen lake.
Thermal Springs and Recreation
At Brigerbad, 5 kilometers from Brig, you'll find indoor and outdoor thermal pools with water temperatures between 34°C and 36°C. The complex includes a sports pool, children's area, and wellness center with saunas and steam rooms. Medieval documents show that people have bathed in these springs since 1471, until a landslide buried them. Today's modern facility operates year-round, with extended hours during summer months.
