Getting to Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains), with the best hot spring baths in the Swiss Valais Alps, is easy by car or public transportation (train and bus) from the Lake Geneva region and the rest of Switzerland.
Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains), an all-year resort town in the Swiss Valais Alps, is famous for its thermal waters and claims to be the highest and largest Alpine thermal baths spa resort in Europe. Fast highways and the Rhone Valley railway allow easy transportation to Leukerbad from the Lake Geneva region, while the Lötschberg tunnel allows travelers by train and car to reach Leukerbad easily too from central Switzerland and regions to the north of the Alps.
Leukerbad Transportation at a Glance
- By train: Travel to Leuk station, then take the bus to Leukerbad.
- Leuk–Leukerbad bus: Around 30 minutes.
- By car: Around 25 minutes / 15 km uphill from Leuk.
- From Geneva Airport: Around 3 hours by public transportation or car.
- From Zürich Airport: Around 3½ hours by train or car.
- From Bern by car: The Lötschberg car train via Kandersteg–Goppenstein is usually fastest.
- Nearest railway station: Leuk.
Where is Leukerbad in Switzerland?
Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) is beautifully located in the mountains of the Swiss Canton Valais (Wallis). The picturesque town and hot water spring resorts are at 1411 m, with cable cars transporting hikers and skiers higher up the Alps.
It is possible to drive up to Leukerbad year-round. By public transportation, transfer at Leuk in the Rhone Valley to the local bus for the final half-hour drive up to the mountain village.
Leukerbad is on the right-hand side of the Rhone River and thus on a south-facing Alpine slope. From many parts of Leukerbad, visitors enjoy panoramas of the highest peaks in the Alps separating Switzerland and Italy.
Driving to Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) in Valais (Wallis)
Getting to Leukerbad by car is easy with roads accessible year-round. The 25-minute drive (15 km) from Leuk (731 m) in the Rhone Valley to Leukerbad (1411 m) in the Alps is along a winding mountain road but requires no special skills. The road is cleared in winter and used by the full-size shuttle buses linking Leukerbad with the SBB railway station in Leuk.
From the Lake Geneva region, follow the A9 motorway up the Rhône Valley to Sierre, then continue toward Leuk on the main road.
From Leuk, follow the signposting through the small town to Leukerbad. Two routes are available from Leuk to Leukerbad — the main road goes via Inden, with the alternative route via Albinen (best avoided in winter).
Driving times and distances to Leukerbad are from:
- Lausanne: 1h50 (150 km)
- Montreux: 1h30 (110 km)
- Sion / Sitten: 0h50 (45 km)
- Geneva (via A1): 2h15 (200 km)
- Evian: 2h00 (130 km)
From Swiss cities to the north of the Alps, it is fastest to use the car transport train Kandersteg-Goppenstein via the Lötschberg tunnel. The one-way fare for a car is CHF28 Monday to Thursday and CHF31 Friday to Sunday and on public holidays, with slightly cheaper tickets available online. Book at BLS — check for discount offers and return deals.
Driving times and distances to Leukerbad via the Lötschberg train tunnel (or via Montreux) are from:
| City | Via Tunnel | Via Montreux |
|---|---|---|
| Bern | 2h10 (100 km) | 2h20 (200 km) |
| Basel | 3h00 (190 km) | 3h15 (290 km) |
| Zurich | 3h45 (200 km) | 3h30 (320 km) or via Furka 4h00 (233 km) |
From Milan and Italy, various tunnels and auto-loading trains are available to reach the Rhone Valley and Leukerbad. Milan to Leukerbad is around 240 km (3h30).
Public Transportation to Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains)
Getting to Leukerbad by public transportation is easy too. The basic procedure is a train to Leuk and then by bus to Leukerbad.
The closest railway station to Leukerbad is Leuk, which is in the Rhone Valley. From here, frequent LLB buses take half an hour to reach Leukerbad (Swiss Half Fare Card & Junior Card valid).
SBB sells through tickets all the way to Leukerbad, so passengers normally do not need to buy a separate bus ticket. Saver fares may be available when booking in advance.
The Leukerbad, Busterminal bus stop is in the heart of the town near the Leukerbad Therme — many hotels offer free pickups if necessary for guests.
RailAway discounts are often available, giving a saving on train and bus transportation as well as discounted admission to the spa baths in Leukerbad. Enquire at train stations or online from Swiss Railways.
Trains from Geneva to Leuk
Inter-Regio trains run generally hourly from Geneva Airport towards Brig, stopping en route at Leuk. (Try avoiding traveling at times requiring extra transfers or long waits for the bus at Leuk.)
Typical travel time (including the bus from Leuk) to Leukerbad on this route is around:
- Geneva Airport – 3h00
- Genève Cornavin – 2h50
- Lausanne – 2h00
- Vevey – 1h45
- Montreux – 1h35
- Sion – 1h00
Trains from Bern and Zürich to Leuk
Passengers traveling from Bern and Zürich generally travel through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, change trains in Visp for Leuk, and then take the bus from Leuk to Leukerbad.
Typical travel times by train and bus to Leukerbad are from:
- Bern – 2h00
- Basel – 3h15 (usually requires a train change in Bern)
- Zurich Hbf – 3h10
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) – 3h10 to 3h30 (sometimes a change is required at Zurich Hauptbahnhof, but many trains go directly to Visp.)
If staying overnight, compare hotels close to the Leukerbad bus terminal and thermal baths — most attractions are within easy walking distance.
Airports for Travel to Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) in Switzerland
Geneva Airport (GVA) has traditionally been the airport of choice when traveling to Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains). By train, however, journey times from Geneva, Zürich, and Basel airports are around three to three-and-a-half hours.
For drivers, Geneva Airport remains the better choice. Get online quotations for transfers, but the train will work out much cheaper for most.
For More on Leukerbad
- Visit Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) — Thermal Baths Spa Resort in the Swiss Alps
- Top Day Spas and Hotels in Leukerbad
- Exclusive Walliser Alpentherme & Spa Leukerbad (previously Lindner Alpentherme)
- Family-Friendly Leukerbad Therme (previously Burgerbad)
- Transportation to Leukerbad – Getting to Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) by car or train and bus from the Lake Geneva region and the rest of Switzerland.
- See how Tripadvisor users rate hotels in Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) or book accommodation — mid-week out-of-season can be a good deal.
- Other Top Hot Mineral Water Thermal Baths near Lake Geneva — mostly in Switzerland but also some in France.
Best Hot Water Spring Resorts and Spas in the Lake Geneva Region
- The Best Hot Mineral Water Thermal Baths near Lake Geneva — mostly in Switzerland but also some in France
- Leukerbad — the best weekend getaway in the Alps. Fantastic family-friendly thermal baths and many good hotel options.
- Les Bains de Lavey — Hottest Mineral Waters in Switzerland
- Aquaparc – Water Fun Park with Slides on Lake Geneva near Montreux
- Les Bains de la Gruyère in Fribourg — near medieval Gruyères and the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory.
- Yverdon-les-Bains on Lake Neuchâtel