How To Get To Saas-Fee, Switzerland: Complete Transportation Guide

On By saar.decosterIn Europe, Switzerland

Planning a trip to Saas-Fee and wondering how to get there?

Saas-Fee is tucked away in the Swiss Alps, surrounded by dramatic mountains and some of Switzerland’s famous 4,000-metre peaks. Because of its location in the mountains, getting there takes a little more planning than visiting cities like Zurich or Geneva, but the journey is definitely part of the experience.

The easiest option for most travellers is to take the train to Visp and continue by PostBus to Saas-Fee. You can also get there by car, although there is one important thing to know: Saas-Fee is completely car-free.

I combined my own Saas-Fee trip with Milan and Lago Maggiore, which was such a fun combination because I got to experience both Italy and Switzerland in one trip. In this guide, I’ll explain the different ways to get to Saas-Fee, including trains, buses, airports and driving.

If you’re planning a full trip to Saas-Fee, check out my complete Saas-Fee Travel Guide for things to do, skiing, restaurants, nightlife and practical tips.

Where Is Saas-Fee?

Saas-Fee is located in the Valais region of southern Switzerland, close to the Italian border.

The village sits at around 1,800 metres above sea level and is surrounded by impressive Alpine scenery.

Because Saas-Fee is located in a mountain valley, there is no airport or train station directly in the village. Instead, most travellers first travel to Visp, which is the main transport hub for getting to Saas-Fee.

From Visp, you continue into the Saas Valley by PostBus.

The Easiest Way To Get To Saas-Fee

For most travellers, I would recommend travelling by train + bus.

The basic route is:

Train → Visp → PostBus 511 → Saas-Fee

There are train connections from major Swiss cities and international airports to Visp. From Visp, you can take PostBus 511 in the direction of Saas-Fee, which runs approximately every 30 minutes. The journey from Visp to Saas-Fee takes around 50 minutes.

This is the option I would choose if you’re travelling around Switzerland without a car. It’s straightforward, comfortable and you get some beautiful mountain scenery along the way.

If you’re planning your first ski trip, my guide on Skiing for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Ski Trip is a great place to start.

Want to know where to stay?

Here is my number one hotel in Saas-Fee:

Getting To Saas-Fee By Train

There is no train station in Saas-Fee itself, so your destination when booking the train should be Visp.

From Visp, you’ll change to the PostBus.

The route

Your starting point → Visp → PostBus 511 → Saas-Fee

Once you arrive at Visp train station, follow the signs towards the bus terminal. From there, take:

PostBus 511 → Saas-Fee

The bus takes you directly into the Saas Valley and the journey takes approximately 50 minutes.

1. From Zurich to Saas-Fee

If you’re flying into Zurich Airport or travelling through Zurich, you can take the train from Zurich towards Visp and then continue by PostBus to Saas-Fee.

The entire journey takes approximately three hours by public transport.

Zurich is therefore one of the easiest airports to use if you’re flying into Switzerland.

2. From Geneva to Saas-Fee

Geneva Airport is another good option.

From Geneva, you can take the train towards Visp and then change to PostBus 511 for Saas-Fee.

The total journey is approximately three hours by public transport.

This can be a good option if you’re also planning to visit Geneva, Lausanne or other parts of western Switzerland.

3. From Bern to Saas-Fee

If you’re already travelling through Switzerland, you can also reach Saas-Fee from Bern by train.

Take the train towards Visp and then change to PostBus 511.

The journey from Bern takes approximately two hours by public transport.

4. From Basel to Saas-Fee

Another option is Basel EuroAirport.

From Basel, travel towards Visp by train and then continue by PostBus to Saas-Fee.

The journey takes approximately three hours by public transport.

Getting To Saas-Fee From Milan

If you’re travelling through northern Italy, Milan is actually a great place to combine with Saas-Fee.

This is exactly what I did on my trip.

I combined:

Milan → Lago Maggiore → Saas-Fee

I loved this combination because I got to experience both Italy and Switzerland in the same trip, without having to spend ages travelling between destinations.

From Milan, you can travel towards Visp by train and then change to PostBus 511 for Saas-Fee.

The official Saas-Fee tourism website also lists Milan Malpensa Airport as one of the international airports with public transport connections to Visp. From Milan Malpensa, the journey to Saas-Fee takes around three hours by public transport.

For my own trip, I paid approximately:

  • 🚆 Train Milan → Visp: €40
  • 🚌 Bus Visp → Saas-Fee: €20

Prices can of course change depending on the season, availability and when you book, so always check the current connection and fare before travelling.

Wondering whether Saas-Fee is actually worth visiting once you get there? Read my Is Saas-Fee Worth Visiting? My Honest Review to see what I loved — and what I liked less.

If you’re planning a trip through northern Italy, I would definitely consider adding Saas-Fee to your itinerary. Milan and Lago Maggiore make a really fun combination with the Swiss Alps.

You can read more about my Italy travels here:

→ Italy Travel Guide

Getting To Saas-Fee By Plane

Saas-Fee doesn’t have its own airport, so you’ll need to fly into a nearby international airport and continue by train and bus.

The main airports to consider are:

1. Zurich Airport

Zurich Airport (ZRH) is one of the easiest airports to use when travelling to Saas-Fee.

The airport has its own train station, so you can continue your journey by train towards Visp and then take PostBus 511 to Saas-Fee.

The total journey takes approximately three hours by public transport.

Best for: travellers flying into Switzerland or combining Saas-Fee with Zurich and central Switzerland.

2. Geneva Airport

Geneva Airport (GVA) is another convenient option.

From the airport, take the train towards Visp and then change to PostBus 511.

The journey to Saas-Fee takes approximately three hours.

Best for: travellers combining Saas-Fee with Geneva or western Switzerland.

3. Basel EuroAirport

Basel EuroAirport (BSL/MLH/EAP) is another option worth checking, especially if you find a significantly cheaper flight.

From Basel, continue by public transport towards Visp and then take the bus to Saas-Fee.

The journey takes approximately three hours.

4. Milan Malpensa Airport

If you’re already travelling through Italy, Milan Malpensa (MXP) is a really interesting option.

You can travel from the airport towards Visp and then continue by PostBus to Saas-Fee.

This is a particularly convenient option if you’re planning to combine Saas-Fee with other stops in Northern Italy, like I did. I combined my Saas-Fee trip with a few Italian destinations, making it an easy way to include both Italy and Switzerland in the same trip.

Getting To Saas-Fee By Bus

The most important bus connection to remember is:

PostBus 511: Visp → Saas-Fee

This is the final public transport connection into the village.

The bus runs approximately every 30 minutes and takes around 50 minutes from Visp to Saas-Fee.

So don’t worry if your train doesn’t take you all the way to Saas-Fee. Visp is where you change from the train to the bus.

For most visitors, there is no need to arrange an expensive private transfer from Visp.

Getting To Saas-Fee By Car

Driving to Saas-Fee can be a great option if you’re doing a European road trip, travelling with friends or carrying lots of luggage.

However, there are two important things you need to know before choosing this option.

Saas-Fee Is Completely Car-Free

First of all:

You cannot drive your car into Saas-Fee.

Saas-Fee is a completely car-free village, so you have to leave your car at the parking facilities at the entrance to the village.

There is a covered car park as well as outdoor parking available.

If you’re staying at a hotel, it’s worth checking whether they offer a luggage or hotel transfer from the parking area. Not every hotel offers this service.

!!!Watch Out For Swiss Car Trains

There is another thing I would definitely check before starting your road trip, especially if you’re driving from another European country.

Depending on the route your navigation system chooses, you may be directed onto a car train (Autoverlad).

This means you don’t drive your car through a mountain tunnel. Instead, you drive your car onto a special train, and the train transports both you and your vehicle through the mountain.

For example, if you approach Saas-Fee from the north via Bern, you can be routed through the Lötschberg car transport between Kandersteg and Goppenstein. The BLS car trains operate daily, approximately every 30 minutes.

And yes, you have to pay for this separately.

This is something I would really keep in mind when planning your road trip. Your navigation app might simply show the car-train route as the fastest route without making it obvious that you’re going to have to pay an additional fee.

So before leaving, I would recommend checking your exact route and looking specifically for:

“car transport”, “car train” or “Autoverlad”.

There are also car-train routes from other directions. From the east, you can use the Furka car transport, while from the south you can reach the region via the Simplon Pass or the Simplon car transport.

Is driving still worth it?

It can be!

Especially if you’re travelling with several people, the flexibility of having your own car can be really useful.

Just make sure you calculate the real cost of driving, including:

  • Petrol
  • Swiss motorway vignette if applicable
  • Car-train/Autoverlad fees
  • Parking in Saas-Fee
  • Any additional transport you need once you leave your car

The parking in Saas-Fee is also paid. The official parking garage currently charges CHF 15 for up to 24 hours, with different rates for longer stays.

So don’t automatically assume that driving will be cheaper than taking the train.

How To Get Into Saas-Fee After Parking

Once you’ve parked your car at the entrance to the village, you can continue into Saas-Fee from there.

If you’re staying at a hotel, check beforehand whether they offer a transfer from the parking area.

This is especially useful if you’re travelling with large suitcases or ski equipment.

Also keep in mind that Saas-Fee itself is designed to be explored without a car, so once you’re there, you won’t really miss having your vehicle.

Getting Around Saas-Fee Without A Car

One of my favourite things about Saas-Fee is that you don’t actually need a car once you arrive.

The village is completely car-free, which makes walking around much more pleasant.

You can walk through the village and use public transport to explore other parts of the Saas Valley.

Depending on your accommodation and the season, you may also receive the SaastalCard, which can include free use of the PostBus in the Saas Valley and other benefits during your stay.

So even if you’re doing a road trip through Switzerland, I’d still recommend leaving the car parked once you arrive.

How Long Does It Take To Get To Saas-Fee?

Here are some approximate public transport journey times to give you an idea:

Starting pointApprox. travel time
Visp~50 minutes
Bern~2 hours
Zurich~3 hours
Geneva~3 hours
Basel~3 hours
Milan~3 hours

These are approximate journey times and can vary depending on your exact connection, waiting times and travel date. The official Saas-Fee tourism website lists around three hours by public transport from Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Milan Malpensa.

My Recommendation: The Best Way To Get To Saas-Fee

If you’re asking me which option I would choose, I’d go by train and bus.

It’s easy, you don’t have to worry about parking or driving through the mountains, and the scenery along the way is beautiful.

For my own trip, I travelled:

Milan → Visp → Saas-Fee

And it worked really well.

If you’re flying into Switzerland, I’d look at Zurich or Geneva first and compare flight prices.

If you’re already travelling around northern Italy, definitely check Milan Malpensa or Milan. Combining Milan, Lago Maggiore and Saas-Fee makes for such a fun trip, and this is exactly what I did.

If you’re doing a bigger European road trip with friends or family, driving can also make sense. Just make sure you check your route carefully for any car-train/Autoverlad sections and additional fees before you leave.

Final Tips For Getting To Saas-Fee

Book your train tickets in advance.
Check the SBB website or app for connections and look out for Supersaver tickets, which can offer cheaper fares.

Remember Bus 511.
Visp is your main connection point. From there, PostBus 511 takes you directly towards Saas-Fee.

Check your driving route carefully.
Your navigation app may send you through a Swiss car-train route. Check whether you need an additional ticket before setting off.

Remember that Saas-Fee is car-free.
You need to park your car at the entrance to the village.

Ask your accommodation about luggage transfers.
Some hotels can pick you up from the car park or bus terminal, but this isn’t offered by every accommodation.

Combining Italy and Switzerland?
Consider combining Milan, Lago Maggiore and Saas-Fee. This is exactly what I did and it made for a really fun itinerary.

Travelling in winter?
Check the weather and road conditions before driving into the Alps. Mountain conditions can change quickly.

Check your guest card.
Depending on your accommodation and travel dates, the SaastalCard can give you useful benefits for public transport and mountain transport.

Planning a full ski holiday? You might also find my Ski Trip Packing List and How to Ski in Europe on a Budget useful when planning your trip.

So, What Is The Best Way To Get To Saas-Fee?

For most travellers, the easiest route is:

Fly or take the train to Zurich, Geneva, Basel or Milan → train to Visp → PostBus 511 → Saas-Fee.

You don’t need a car to visit Saas-Fee, and personally, I wouldn’t rent one just for this trip. The public transport connections are easy, the journey is beautiful and once you arrive, the car-free village makes exploring Saas-Fee much more enjoyable.

Planning Your Next Trip to Switzerland?

Planning a trip to Switzerland can feel overwhelming, especially with so many beautiful destinations, mountain villages and ski resorts to choose from.

That’s why I’ve created my Switzerland Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, travel tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Switzerland.

→ START HERE: Switzerland Travel Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions About Getting To Saas-Fee

What is the easiest way to get to Saas-Fee?
The easiest way to get to Saas-Fee is by train to Visp, followed by PostBus 511 to Saas-Fee. The bus journey from Visp takes around 50 minutes, making public transport a convenient option even without a car.

What is the nearest airport to Saas-Fee?
Saas-Fee does not have its own airport. The closest major airports include Milan Malpensa, Zurich, Geneva and Basel. From these airports, you can continue by train to Visp and then take the PostBus to Saas-Fee.

Can you drive directly to Saas-Fee?
No, Saas-Fee is a car-free village. If you drive, you need to leave your car in one of the parking areas at the entrance to the village and continue from there. If you’re driving from elsewhere in Europe, also check your route for Swiss car-train sections, as these require a separate ticket.

How do you get to Saas-Fee from Italy?
If you’re travelling through Italy, you can travel towards Visp by train and then continue to Saas-Fee by PostBus. Milan Malpensa Airport is also a useful option if you’re flying into northern Italy. This makes Saas-Fee relatively easy to combine with an Italy trip.

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