The Matterhorn base is expensive and busy, but nowhere else in the canton matches its concentration of high-altitude scenery, lifts and serious trails. Stay at least two nights so weather does not decide whether you see anything.

The best all-round valley base: an actual old town, Valère and Tourbillon castles, good restaurants and easy access to the central vineyards. It gives a Valais trip some texture beyond resort villages and cable cars.

A high-energy mountain base for big 4 Vallées skiing, Mont Fort and strong summer hiking, with quieter and cheaper alternatives in Le Châble or deeper in the Bagnes valley. Come for mountain time, not for a quick overnight.

Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp sit on car-free terraces above the Great Aletsch Glacier. It is the calmer choice for glacier viewpoints and panoramic walks, especially for travelers who do not need Zermatt's spectacle.

A practical western base rather than a dream resort town, but excellent for Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Roman remains, Fully wine country and access to Verbier or the Great St Bernard valleys. Use it to make the western end of Valais efficient.

Grimentz, Zinal, Saint-Luc and Chandolin offer dark timber villages, Lac de Moiry and more character than glamour. It rewards travelers willing to trade fast connections for proper high-valley atmosphere.

A car-free, high-altitude glacier resort with dependable snow and a more compact, family-oriented feel than Zermatt. Its dead-end valley location makes it worth staying in rather than treating as a stopover.

Evolène, Les Haudères and Arolla make a quieter, more traditional mountain world south of Sion, with Hérens cattle culture, the Grand Dixence Dam and rugged glacier country. It is a strong antidote to polished resort Valais.

A sunny resort plateau above Sierre with skiing, golf, lake walks and broad valley views. It works best for travelers who want resort comfort and easy access to Sierre and Salgesch wine country.

The useful eastern rail hub for Aletsch, Simplon and Goms, with Stockalper Palace giving it more substance than a pure transfer stop. It is a sensible one-night break between central Valais and the upper valleys.

The Matterhorn base is expensive and busy, but nowhere else in the canton matches its concentration of high-altitude scenery, lifts and serious trails. Stay at least two nights so weather does not decide whether you see anything.

The best all-round valley base: an actual old town, Valère and Tourbillon castles, good restaurants and easy access to the central vineyards. It gives a Valais trip some texture beyond resort villages and cable cars.

A high-energy mountain base for big 4 Vallées skiing, Mont Fort and strong summer hiking, with quieter and cheaper alternatives in Le Châble or deeper in the Bagnes valley. Come for mountain time, not for a quick overnight.

Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp sit on car-free terraces above the Great Aletsch Glacier. It is the calmer choice for glacier viewpoints and panoramic walks, especially for travelers who do not need Zermatt's spectacle.

A practical western base rather than a dream resort town, but excellent for Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Roman remains, Fully wine country and access to Verbier or the Great St Bernard valleys. Use it to make the western end of Valais efficient.

Grimentz, Zinal, Saint-Luc and Chandolin offer dark timber villages, Lac de Moiry and more character than glamour. It rewards travelers willing to trade fast connections for proper high-valley atmosphere.

A car-free, high-altitude glacier resort with dependable snow and a more compact, family-oriented feel than Zermatt. Its dead-end valley location makes it worth staying in rather than treating as a stopover.

Evolène, Les Haudères and Arolla make a quieter, more traditional mountain world south of Sion, with Hérens cattle culture, the Grand Dixence Dam and rugged glacier country. It is a strong antidote to polished resort Valais.

A sunny resort plateau above Sierre with skiing, golf, lake walks and broad valley views. It works best for travelers who want resort comfort and easy access to Sierre and Salgesch wine country.

The useful eastern rail hub for Aletsch, Simplon and Goms, with Stockalper Palace giving it more substance than a pure transfer stop. It is a sensible one-night break between central Valais and the upper valleys.