Where is Verbier Switzerland?
The village and ski resort of Verbier is in the Val de Bagnes, canton of Valais, southwest Switzerland.
The Verbier ski resort is 160km east of Geneva airport (2hr by road, 3hr by train), and a 1½hr hour drive from either Chamonix, Aosta (via the Great St. Bernard Tunnel) or Brig .
Verbier has only one access road which starts in the town of Le Châble. Access to Le Châble by road is via Sembrancher from either the south and the Great St. Bernard Pass (Italy) and or west from Martigny and the rest of Switzerland. Other sectors of the 4 Vallèes ski area can be reached by road via Sion.
The St Bernard Express train from Martigny is the recommended mode of transport to Verbier.
Flights to Verbier Ski Resort
The best international gateway airport is Geneva (GVA), which has easy transfers to Verbier via train/bus, rental car or private shuttles. Sion (SIR) airport is close (ish) to Verbier and is an option for travellers from London or Zurich, or any squillionaire with their own jet, or anyone wanting to charter a private plane! Some international travellers may find it easier flying into the excellent Zurich (ZRH) airport. The overland journey to Verbier from Zurich is around 1½hr longer than if landing in Geneva.
Search for a great deal on a flight to Geneva, Sion or other airport here.
Airport & Hotel Transfers
The Powderhounds recommend taking the train from the airport to Verbier as you can upgrade to the comfort of first class for most journeys. However, if you cannot abide public transport, are in a larger group of 3+ people or just have the cash to splash, the quickest way to Verbier from the airports is a private transfer.
Search & book your private transfer to Verbier.
Rail & Bus transport to Verbier
Within Switzerland
A fabulous & affordable way to get to Verbier & the 4 Vallees is by train. Train access from anywhere in Europe, including direct from Geneva airport and Brig, can be easily achieved via Martigny.
To get to Martigny, the IR90 train runs direct from Geneva airport every 30min for a journey time of around 1¾hr. From Brig, 2 to 3 services per hour make the journey to Martigny in 50 to 70min depending on the number of stops. If flying into Sion, the airport is a 2km walk or taxi ride to the train station. Regular trains from Sion can reach Martigny in as little as 12min.
From Martigny to Verbier, the St Bernard Express runs every 30min to Le Châble, where a gondola, bus or taxis will whisk you up to the ski resort village. The Verbier gondola station is next to the recently renovated Le Châble train station. A Post Bus (the 251) heads up to Verbier during & after hours.
Other 4 Vallèes ski areas (Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon et al) can be accessed via bus or taxi from the train station at Sion.
Search & book train tickets to Le Chable & Verbier.
Train Travel from France
The Mont Blanc Express railway provides a train option from France to Verbier via the Chamonix valley. The scenic route ends at Martigny, where one transfers to the St Bernard Express which terminates at the Verbier gondola station in Le Châble
Bus Travel from Aosta
Whilst the train provides the most comfortable and effective means of mass transit to Verbier, one bus line of note is the route to/from Aosta in Italy. The service runs daily from Monday to Friday. From Aosta the bus runs in the afternoon via the Grand St Bernard tunnel to Sembrancher railway station where it links with the St Bernard Express to Le Chable and hence Verbier. A morning bus from Sembrancher runs in the opposite direction to Aosta.
Driving to Verbier
Driving to Verbier can be from France via the Chamonix valley, from Italy via the Aosta valley or from within Switzerland via Martigny. No route presents serious driving challenges except perhaps on occasions if driving from Chamonix, with ice near the Col des Montets, the shaded sections near the border crossing and the hairpins above Martigny .
From Italy, via the Grand St Bernard Pass, the journey to Verbier goes over considerably higher terrain, but the road is covered by a roof for all of the way (yes, a roof) from Crevacol. The only challenge is to your wallet when paying the exorbitant fee for the Grand St Bernard Tunnel.
No matter where one starts, after Sembrancher, enter the Val de Bagnes, where the final section of road from Le Chable to Verbier goes up a hefty 700m vertical. If conditions are icy and one is not confident, park for free and take the gondola or Post Bus up to the village.
For hints, tips & warnings about getting to Swiss ski resorts in winter, see our Travel in Switzerland page.
Car Rental & Hire
All major airports and cities have car hire available, however for many skiers and snowboarders, a car will only be necessary when skiing Verbier if intending to seek out some of the surrounding ski resorts. The closest car rental companies to Verbier are in Bex, Aigle, Montreux & Lausanne, all north of Martigny and all accessible by train. Limited cars are also available at Sion airport and downtown. The best place to rent a car in Switzerland is at the major airports of Geneva & Zurich. Be wary of expensive security deposits.
Search & book here for all rental cars.
Getting Around Verbier
Verbier village itself is small enough to be explored on foot, but free buses (navette) run throughout the resort regularly throughout the day.
Nearby Ski Resorts
The location of Verbier in the Valais put it within reach of several small, medium & gargantuan ski resorts in Switzerland, Italy & France.
In Switzerland, a crop of small ski resorts provides a refreshing change to Verbier in the Pays du St Bernard. Liddes, Champex & La Fouly are best accessed by car. From Martigny the train to Sion and beyond allows access to isolated Evolene & Arolla, plus medium sized resorts like Grimentz Zinal, Crans Montana, and St Luc-Chandolin. The gargantuan Portes du Soleil is a few train rides away north of Martigny direct to Champery ski resort.
In Italy, via the Grand St Bernard Tunnel, several delightful Aosta valley ski resorts like Crevacol and Pila are less than an hour by car from Le Chable at Verbier.
The closest French ski resort is the Chamonix valley's Balme Tour Vallorcine, 50min drive away via Martigny