Things to do in Sion

Sion is the capital of Valais, a low-altitude town on the Rhône plain roughly 1h30-2h from Geneva by direct train, with two castle-topped hills, Valère and Tourbillon, rising straight out of the old centre.

It works best as a stopover rather than a final destination: half a day covers the historic core, the fortified Basilique de Valère and the ruined Château de Tourbillon, plus a look at the surrounding Valais vineyard terraces. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; summer brings dry, often intense heat typical of this sheltered, continental corner of the Alps.

Unlike Verbier or Zermatt further up the valley, Sion has no direct access to glaciers or high peaks, so it suits travellers breaking a longer journey toward those resorts rather than those chasing alpine panoramas.