Exploring 10+ Attractions & Sights in Brig (A Quick Guide)
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Brig, located in the Rhône Valley, is at a crossroads for travelers exploring Switzerland or heading to and from Northern Italy. It is one of the closest cities to the Swiss Alps, which is a great starting point for adventures. With easy access to two of the most famous destinations in the region—Zermatt and the Jungfrau Region—Brig is a convenient base for exploring the Alps.
But there’s more to it than just location. Travelers looking for unique experiences and lesser-known attractions will find plenty to enjoy in Brig and its surroundings. Let me share some of the interesting places to explore.
Things to Do in Brig
Like other beautiful Swiss cities such as Lucerne, Thun, and Bern, the best way to experience Brig is by starting in the town center. Its cobblestone streets and historic buildings set against an alpine backdrop make simply walking around enjoyable. You can relax at a café with outdoor seating and take in the views of the city. For a meal with a view, the restaurants near and below Hotel de Londres are a great choice, offering a look at Brig’s main square.
But don’t stop there—keep exploring, and you’ll come across a picturesque castle, interesting museums, and more. Venture beyond the city, and you’ll find scenic drives, breathtaking hikes, and alpine villages full of outdoor activities. Below are the details (Don’t skip the Simplon Pass—it’s packed with unique places to discover).
If you’re looking for things to do in Brig, the Stockalper Palace is a great place to visit. Built in the 17th century as a private residence, it’s the town’s most famous building—and for good reason. It was commissioned by Kaspar Stockalper, one of the wealthiest men in Brig at the time. He was a successful merchant who employed 5,000 people and controlled the salt trade through the Simplon Pass.
The Stockalper Palace is famous for its three towers, each topped with a distinctive water-drop-shaped roof. Stockalper named them after the Three Wise Men from the Bible: Caspar, Melchior, and Baltazar. If you’re interested in architecture, you’ll enjoy the palace’s interior, especially the spacious courtyard. The arcades, designed in the Italian Renaissance style, are a key feature, along with the decorative balusters.
To explore the palace, you’ll need to join a guided tour. Inside, you’ll find a gallery featuring exhibits on the Stockalper family, the history of the Simplon Pass, and artifacts from the Upper Valais region. It offers an interesting look into the life of a wealthy merchant in the 17th century. One of the highlights is a painting of Stockalper, placed between two windows.
The palace is big, but not so much that it feels overwhelming. A visit usually takes about one to two hours. It’s right in the center of Brig, so if you’re staying in town, it’s just a short walk away. Be sure to take a souvenir photo in the southwest gardens, and if you need directions, Google Maps makes it easy to find.
If you’re in Brig, you should definitely check out the World Nature Forum — an interesting museum managed by the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This museum is well-respected in Europe and won the Sustainability Award at the European Museum Forum in 2019. In a nutshell, it highlights the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, the first UNESCO-recognized site in the Alps.
This museum is packed with information about the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch and gives you a real sense of what it’s like to be in the Alps. You can explore mountain photography, watch breathtaking landscapes on a panoramic screen, and even smell the fragrant flowers of the Swiss Alps. One of the highlights is the Jungfrau railway car, a replica of the wagon that first traveled to Jungfraujoch in 1912.
If you find an exhibit especially interesting, you can “collect” it using a badge. This lets you create a digital list of experiences you’d like to have in the Swiss Alps as you explore the museum. When you leave, you’ll get a printed copy of your selections to use as a guide for your trip. To learn more about the World Nature Forum, watch the video provided.
For more information, visit the museum’s official website. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you can enter for free.
If you love the outdoors or have already explored the World Nature Forum and Stockalper Palace, your next stop in Brig should be Simplon Pass. It may seem like just another road, but it’s actually one of Switzerland’s most famous scenic routes, stretching from Brig to the Swiss-Italian border. Along the way, you’ll pass several historical landmarks that make the drive even more interesting.
Be sure to check out the landmarks and attractions listed below to make the most of your visit:
Between two mountains you’ll see during your drive along the Simplon Pass, you’ll find Ganter Bridge, an impressive structure with a sleek, unbroken frame and a light color that makes it stand out.
Well actually, there are two versions of this bridge, known as the old and new Ganter Bridge. The new Ganter Bridge, larger than the original, is the first one you’ll see when coming from Brig. It sits ahead of the old Ganter Bridge, which is deeper in the valley. To reach the old bridge from the new one, just travel 800 meters east. Made of bricks, the old Ganter Bridge has a nostalgic feel, and there’s a pathway beneath it.
Both bridges offer incredible views, especially on a clear, sunny day. As you take in the sights, be sure to pause and appreciate the surroundings. The landscape is beautiful, and the fresh mountain air makes the experience even better.
As you make your way up the Simplon Pass, you’ll spot the iconic Simplon Adler, a granite eagle statue built during World War II as a symbol of vigilance. It was erected by the 11 Mountain Brigade to honor the “Watch of the Simplon.” The Simplon Adler is in a beautiful part of the pass, conveniently close to the tourist information center, a café, and a hotel. If you’re hiking, this is a great place to take a break and grab some refreshments.
To easily find the landmark, save the Google Maps location using this coordinates link.
A short distance from the Simplon Adler, as you continue south on the Simplon Pass, you’ll come across Altes Spittel. This five-story granite building, built by Kaspar Stockalper, once provided shelter for travelers and merchants. Despite its age, it’s still in use and can accommodate groups of 20 to 66 people.
While it’s unclear if visitors are allowed inside, the exterior alone is worth seeing. Like the Simplon Adler, it sits in a breathtaking location. Visiting a historic site like this lets you step away from the present and imagine life in a different era—almost like being in a movie set in the past.
Take a moment to soak it all in and enjoy the experience.
Back when Altes Spittel was a refuge for merchants and travelers, they made their way through the Simplon Pass on a mule track, now known as Stockalperweg—or the Stockalper Trail in English.
If you want to explore the Simplon Pass more deeply, hiking the Stockalperweg is a great option. The trail is still open to the public, and while it’s no longer used for trade, it has become a popular route for leisurely hikes. According to the official Brig-Simplon Tourismus website, the trail is divided into three stages.
If you’re planning to hike the Simplon Pass, you’ll pass through these scenic sections of the route:
First Stage: Brig to Simplon Pass
- Hike Duration: 6 hours
- Distance: 11.9 kilometers
- Overall Elevation Gain: 1606 meters
- Sceneries to see: Saltinaschlucht Gorge, Taverntal valley, Simplonpass
- Landmarks to see: Stockalper Palace, Hospice
Second Stage: Simplon Pass to Simplon Dorf
- Hike Duration: 3.25 hours
- Distance: 9 kilometers
- Overall Elevation Gain: -540 meters
- Sceneries to see: Small Alp settlements and hamlets, Simplon Dorf Village, Alpine cultural landscape
Third Stage: Simplon Dorf to Gondo (Swiss-Italian Border)
- Hike Duration: 3 hours
- Distance: 8.6 kilometers
- Overall Elevation Gain: -850 meters
- Sceneries to see: Gondoschlucht gorge, Old Army Barracks perched in breathtaking mountain scenery, Gondo Stockalperturm Hotel Restaurant
Hiking would only be tiring during the first stage. However, the pass has several bus stops. You can skip all the steep parts of the Simplon Pass if you want.
As you travel through the scenic Simplon Pass in Switzerland, you’ll come across small villages surrounded by beautiful countryside. One of them is Simplon Dorf, home to a unique museum called Museo Sempione.
This museum features a collection of artifacts from the Simplon Pass and photographs showcasing the lives of local residents. It’s a great place to learn about the region’s history and a hidden gem for those who enjoy discovering lesser-known historical sites.
For your convenience, here are the map coordinates of Museo Sempione. Enjoy your exploration!
Fort Gondo is another museum you can check out in the Simplon Pass. It was once a defense station protecting Switzerland from potential invasions. Today, it showcases what military life was like in the past.
Inside, you’ll find machine guns that you can even hold for a selfie and get a chance to step through the metal doors of the heavily fortified barracks. Walking through Fort Gondo might even feel like preparing for a zombie apocalypse, with the mountains as your last refuge.
The museum has a variety of exhibits, from military kitchens to underground escape tunnels. For more details, visit the official Switzerland Tourism website.
When you’re in Brig, you don’t have to go far for an outdoor adventure. Just hop on bus #632 to the Ried Brig, Rufigraben bus station. From there, it’s a short walk to the Ried Brig cable car station, which takes you straight to Rosswald.
This small, car-free village sits on a mountaintop and offers incredible views of the Swiss Alps. It’s also a great spot for outdoor activities while you’re in Brig. In the winter, Rosswald turns into a snowy paradise, with cozy chalets and wooden houses that look amazing against the white landscape.
If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll love the Kinderland Rosswald event. The village transforms into a giant snow playground where children aged 2 and up can have fun.
For more details, visit the official Switzerland Tourism website.
After a day of outdoor activities in the city or at Simplon Pass, a visit to Brigerbad is a great way to relax. This open-air hot spring, the largest in Switzerland, is one of the best things to do in Brig.
Brigerbad’s warm waters are packed with minerals like lithium, sodium, calcium, and sulfate. The temperature ranges from 21 to 50 degrees Celsius, making it perfect for soothing sore muscles and even helping with certain health conditions. In fact, the waters are known to benefit people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disorders, chronic bronchitis, and cardiovascular diseases.
But Brigerbad isn’t just a hot spring. It also features a thermal spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a wellness and beauty center, and a restaurant. Best of all, it’s open every day of the year.
For more details, visit the official Thermalquellen Brigerbad website.
Best Day Trip from Brig
If you’re staying in Brig for a few days and want a great day trip nearby, Kandersteg is a fantastic choice. It’s only a 30- to 40-minute train ride from Brig. The thing is, this village is incredibly scenic and offers plenty to do, from Toboggan Runs to beautiful hikes around Lake Oeschinen, plus a few hidden gems. Don’t miss it!
Cities Similar to Brig
As I mentioned earlier, Brig is one of the closest cities to the Swiss Alps. It’s a great place to start exploring the region, but there are other options too. There’s Lucerne, Thun, Interlaken, Montreux, and more! If you want a city experience or an easy way to reach the Alps, my suggestions below will help you plan your trip to Switzerland.
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Discover the Best of Switzerland
Brig is just the beginning of the amazing adventures and unforgettable memories you’ll create in Switzerland. For a better idea of what’s in store, check out WanderInEurope’s 2-week Swiss Alps itinerary or this 1-week Central Switzerland itinerary, which focuses on the cantons of Bern and Lucerne. Two of the best places to visit are Zermatt and the Jungfrau Region, home to the heaven on earth Lauterbrunnen Valley.
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