<p>How to reach Verbier by plane, train and car.</p>
Photo: verbier.ch/Melody Sky

How to Get to Verbier

How to reach Verbier by plane, train and car.

Advice
Published at: 3 Nov 2020
Last updated at: 13 Feb 2023

Explore several modes of transport to get to this stunning Swiss resort

Serena Norton
Serena Norton

Where is Verbier?

Luxury Chalets in Verbier

Located on the eastern side of the Val de Bagnes in the canton of Valais, the Swiss ski resort of Verbier is at the heart of the 4 Vallées. Situated on a sunny plateau in the southwest of Switzerland, Verbier is within the French-speaking part of the country close to the borders of France and Italy.

Flying to Verbier

At 160 km away, Geneva is the nearest international airport to Verbier with Milan the next closest at 250 km. At just 50 km from Verbier, Sion Airport is the nearest airport but many airlines do not fly to Sion and there tend to be fewer choices of flight times. However, Sion is a good choice for those flying by private jet or helicopter since Verbier does not have its own airstrip or helipad. For flying private we recommend Vertis Aviation, a private jet company founded in 2010 with headquarters in Switzerland. Once you have landed at Sion, it is just a 50-minute drive to the resort. Those arriving by helicopter can also land at Le Châble, before taking a 15-minute road transfer up to the resort.

With frequent flights and a wide range of airlines to choose from, flying to Geneva is, in our opinion, the most straightforward way to reach Verbier. Once in Geneva, you can either hire a car and self-drive to the resort or book an airport transfer. The drive takes around 2 hours, depending on weather conditions, with scenic views of Lake Geneva’s northern shore and the UNESCO-protected Lavaux Vineyard terraces.


private jet on runwayPhoto: Vertis Aviation
Interior of a private jetPhoto: Helmut Harringer/JetPano.net
front of a private planePhoto: Vertis Aviation

Airport Transfers

When booking a transfer from the airport, you can opt for a private transfer or a shared transfer. Prices will vary depending on the number of people, time of day and whether you are travelling in a peak week. Be aware that shared transfers, whilst cheaper, usually involve longer waiting and travel times with stops along the way to drop people off. A private transfer is much more convenient and a good option for larger groups staying in the same chalet who can share the cost. Once you have booked your chalet with us we are happy to organise and advise on any transfers you may need. There are many transfer companies to choose from but below are options that we would recommend.

Black Tesla with mountains in the backgroundPhoto: Tesla Transfers

Alpine Xpress:
The largest provider of shared and private transfers to Verbier, Alpine Xpress operates a fleet of modern vehicles, including VW Caravelle 4x4 vans, VW Crafter buses and Mercedes Sprinter minibuses, with plenty of space for your skis and luggage. In peak season buses depart approximately every two hours starting at 8 am. Private transfers drop-off directly at your chalet and the team can cater to special requests - i.e if you needed to stop off en-route. Alpine Express serves Geneva, Sion and Zurich Airports, as well as Martigny train station.

May Taxi Limousine:
Established in 1962, this family-led company has a fleet of Mercedes vehicles at its disposal with capacity from 1 to 17 passengers. With a personalised service plus reliable and comfortable vehicles, you can be sure of a smooth ride up to Verbier.

Tesla Transfers:
Using zero-emission vehicles, Tesla Transfers provide a greener option when travelling to Verbier luxury chalets. Passengers travel in the Tesla Model S which seats four passengers and boasts a panoramic sunroof. There is plenty of room for luggage in the back and front (where the engine normally lives) and a roof box can be added at no extra cost for excess luggage.


Heli Transfers

Helicopter flying over mountainsPhoto: Heli Alps

If you are short on time, then a heli-transfer could be an option. From Sion, it is around a 20-minute flight to Le Châble.

Heli Alps:
Based in Sion, Heli Alps operates a fleet of state-of-the-art helicopters carrying up to seven passengers. Equipped with a leather interior, soundproofing system and air conditioning, you are sure to have comfortable flight.

Arriving by Train

Aside from being scenic and eco-friendly, travelling by train also allows you to carry excess luggage without additional charges. Whilst Verbier doesn’t have its own train station, Le Châble does. As we already mentioned, it is just a 15-minute drive to Verbier from Le Châble, or you can take the gondola directly into the resort.

If flying to Geneva, the train station is just a three-minute walk from the arrivals hall with half-hourly services to Martigny taking 90 minutes. From Martigny you can either take a 40-minute transfer up to Verbier or board the 30-minute train to Le Châble. If flying in to Zurich or Milan, you will need to change at Visp and then Martigny. The journey takes around 4 hours from Zurich and 4 hours 15 minutes from Milan. Trains from Sion take around an hour and a half and require you to change at Martigny.

If you’re travelling from the UK, catch the Eurostar to Paris and take a high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lausanne where you change onto a regional train to Martigny. From Martigny you board a final train to Le Châble. It takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes to reach Paris and a further 5 to 6 hours to reach Martigny.

Driving to Verbier

car driving in snowy verbierPhoto: pxfuel.com

When driving to Verbier, it is important not to underestimate the challenges of winding round icy roads up a mountain. The one piece of advice we would give is to make sure you have winter tyres on your vehicle and carry snow chains with you. Keep momentum going if you can up the steeper sections and try to drive in as high gear as possible to avoid wheel spin. It is also important to read up on the Swiss rules of the road, including speed limits and breakdown procedures.

If driving from the UK, you can cross the English Channel by ferry or on the Eurotunnel. There are also ferries from Portsmouth, Poole and Hull. From Calais it takes around 9 hours to reach Verbier. French tolls cost around EUR 60 each way and to drive on Swiss motorways you will require a vignette (sticker) or face large fines. These are available at most border crossings, petrol stations and post offices and the price is currently CHF 40.