Essentials
- City
- Sion, Canton of Valais, Switzerland
- Population
- 35,000
- Internet Speed
- Standard 100 Mbps; Fiber available up to 10 Gbps via Swisscom
- Currency & Banking
- Swiss Franc (CHF). 1 CHF ≈ 1.13 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality Alpine spring water
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J (three-pin) and Type C compliant
- SIM Card
- Swisscom, Salt, or Sunrise. Prepaid SIMs from CHF 20
- Banking for Expats
- UBS, BCV (Banque Cantonale du Valais), Neon, or Revolut
- Accommodation
- Local agencies like Comptoir Immobilier or Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- High; cards and TWINT mobile app accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Visionapartments, or local aparthotels like Castel appartements
- Budget Accommodation
- Sion Youth Hostel (Auberge de Jeunesse) starting at CHF 45/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Vieille Ville (Old Town) near Rue du Grand-Pont
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Champsec or near the Gare de Sion for transit access
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- there-place (Rue de l'Industrie 2); Daily rates from CHF 35
- Best Cafe for Work
- Le Grand Pont (Rue de l'Eglise 1) - spacious with good Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- The Ark Foundation events at Energypolis campus for tech startups
- Social Events for Expats
- Glocals Valais group and 'Expats in Valais' Facebook community
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited), Taxi Sion (+41 27 322 32 32)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- PubliBike (Station at Gare de Sion); rentals from CHF 3 per 30 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- Les Îles Adventure Park (Sion); lakeside beach and swimming
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Glaciers (charters); SWISS via Geneva Airport
- Top International Airline
- Air France, KLM, Emirates (via Geneva or Zurich airports)
- Highway Access
- A9 Motorway (Autoroute du Rhône) connecting to Lausanne and Simplon
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Sion (SBB/CFF/FFS Railway Station)
- Public Transport Passes
- Swiss Half Fare Card (CHF 120/year) or Valais Pass
- Regional Travel
- CFF Trains to Martigny (15 mins) or PostBus (CarPostal) for mountain villages
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hôpital de Sion (Avenue du Grand-Champsec 80)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Sion (Rue de l'Industrie 11); Drop-in CHF 25
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Let's Go Fitness Sion (Avenue de la Gare 27); Membership from CHF 79/month
- Laundry Services
- Salon de Lavoir (Rue de l'Eglise); CHF 6 per wash
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Just Eat Switzerland, Smood.ch
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Raclette du Valais AOP at Café de Tous les Vents
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- L'Enclos de Valère (Garden setting with plant-based options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Boulangerie Zenhäusern at the Gare; try the 'Pain de seigle' sweets
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Denner or Lidl for budget groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Galaxus.ch, Digitec.ch, Amazon.de (with customs consideration)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rue du Grand-Pont for terrace bars and evenings
- Local Brewery
- Brasserie de la Dranse (Local craft beer found in local bars)
- Wine Bars
- Le Verre à Pied (Rue du Grand-Pont) specializing in Valaisan AOC wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Friday Market in Old Town (Marché de Sion) for local cheese and sausages
- Popular International Cuisine
- Restaurant Thai Sion (Rue de Lausanne 19)
- Grocery Delivery
- Coop.ch or Migros (LeShop.ch)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Castles of Valère and Tourbillon
- Museums & Art Venues
- Musée d'Art du Valais (Place de la Majorie)
- Historical Sites
- Sion Cathedral (Notre-Dame-du-Glarier)
- Religious Sites
- Basilique de Valère (contains the world's oldest playable organ)
- Annual Events
- Sion Festival (Classical music in August/September)
- Cultural Districts
- Vieille Ville (Medieval district)
- Theater Venues
- Théâtre de Valère (Rue du Vieux-Collège 22)
- Local Markets
- Grand Marché de Sion (Every Friday, 8:00 - 14:00)
- Music Scene
- Le Port Franc (Concert venue for contemporary music)
- Street Art
- Murals near the railway underpass and industrial zone
- Cooking Classes
- Ecole-club Migros Sion
- Art Galleries
- Galerie de la Grenette
- Historic Buildings
- Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) with its ornate wooden doors
- Local Heritage
- Valaisan Wine culture and traditional 'Combat de Reines' (Cow fights)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Derborence Valley (nature reserve) 30 mins drive
- National Parks Nearby
- Pfyn-Finges Nature Park (Parc Naturel Pfyn-Finges)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Rhône Route (Cycling Path No. 1); flat path along the river
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Place de la Planta or the top of Tourbillon Castle
- Birdwatching Locations
- Poutafontana Marshlands near Grône
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Domaine des Îles public BBQ pits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Die Post (Swiss Post); main branch at Place de la Gare
- Tech Repair Services
- Mobilezone (Avenue de la Gare)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Park de la Planta
- Language Classes
- Ecole-club Migros (French courses for expats)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Médiathèque Valais (Rue de Lausanne 45)
- Community Centers
- Centre de Jeunesse de Sion
- Gaming Lounges
- Checking local associations like 'L'Octogone' for tabletop gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino de Crans-Montana (30 mins drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 10,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CHF 420,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 8,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CHF 328,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 10,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CHF 600,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 7,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CHF 468,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 9,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CHF 760,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 7,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CHF 576,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 12-14% (Valais is competitive within Switzerland)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 35% (Refundable for residents via tax returns)
- Tax System
- Three-tiered (Federal, Cantonal, Municipal); Worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 35-40% (combined total rates)
- VAT
- 8.1% (Standard rate in Switzerland)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules like EU, but anti-abuse provisions apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Wealth Tax on property and Cantonal Real Estate tax (0.1% approx)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Mutation tax (Droits de mutation) approx. 1% to 1.5% in Valais
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Non-residents taxed only on Swiss income; lump-sum taxation available for wealthy individuals