Traveling to Saas Almagell

Saas Almagell is the last village on the road, where Switzerland comes to an end. Beyond this point, it’s all mountains, and the only way to continue past Saas Almagell is on foot, with a scenic walk leading you into Italy. 😊

Furusandstrasse 9
3905 Saas Almagell
Switzerland
Google Maps

By car

Use Google Maps or your preferred navigation app to follow the directions. For a rough estimate, the drive takes about 3.5 hours from Zurich, Basel, Geneva, or Milan Malpensa.

A few important points to note:

Road Tax: Every vehicle on Swiss highways must display a road-tax sticker (vignette) on the windshield. You can purchase one at gas stations before entering Switzerland for about CHF 40. If you don’t have one, border control may stop you, potentially causing delays.

Car Trains: You will likely need to take a car train to pass through the mountains, avoiding longer, winding mountain roads. You drive onto the train and stay in your car for the trip. Check the BLS route planner for timing, as car trains do not operate 24/7. The cost is approximately CHF 25 per car.

• From Bern, take the Lötschberg route (Kandersteg-Goppenstein)
• From Milan, take the Simplon route (Iselle (IT) – Brig (CH)).

Winter Tires (October to April): While winter tires are not legally required, they are strongly recommended. If you drive with summer tires in winter conditions (snow, ice, or slush), and have an accident, you may be held liable, and fines could apply. Your insurance may also not cover such incidents. Snow chains are a good alternative in challenging areas.

Parking: The house has space for 3 to 4 cars. Alternatively, there is paid parking nearby, at approximately CHF 10 per day, within walking distance.

By Public Transport

Use the official SBB route planner, which is excellent.

Take the train to Visp, which has direct connections from major cities across Switzerland. If you’re coming from abroad, transfer in cities like Basel, Zurich, Bern, or Geneva to reach Visp.

Once in Visp, hop on Bus 511, which takes you to Saas Grund in about 30 minutes. There, transfer to the Bus 513 for the final 10-minute bus ride to Saas Almagell. Get off at Dorfplatz, and it’s just a 150-meter walk to the chalet.

Be aware that Swiss trains can be expensive. Locals often use a ‘half-fare travel card’ for a 50% discount on tickets. Without this card, a one-way trip will cost around CHF 110 per adult, but deals can sometimes be found online with a bit of research.

By Air

For those traveling from farther away, fly into Zurich, Geneva, Basel, or Milan Malpensa. From there, you can either rent a car or take a direct train to Visp. When renting a car, be sure to select the option for winter tires or ensure snow chains are included.