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Back to Martigny

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Voykit pocket guide · Switzerland

Martigny

Spend a half‑day to see the Roman Forum and Bâtiaz Castle; add a morning for the Gianadda art centre – total 4–6 h.

Martigny is a small French‑speaking town in Valais, a rail hub on the Geneva‑Brig line. Its main draws are Roman ruins, Bâtiaz Castle on the hill, the Fondation Pierre Gianadda art museum and the Saint‑Bernard dog museum. All sights are within walking distance, so a single day is enough unless you want a leisurely pace.

GenevaAarauAlbinenAndermattAppenzellArosaAsconaAvenchesBadenBaselBellinzonaBernBielBrigMartigny50 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Switzerland
Best months
May–September
Avoid
December–February (cold, limited opening hours)
Stay
1 night

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
CHF
Money
Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; euros are sometimes taken with change in francs.
Daily spend
Budget CHF 80–120 excl. bed · Mid CHF 120–180 excl. bed · High CHF 180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.
Emergency
Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · Rega (air rescue) 1414
Plugs
Types J, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Swiss three-pin sockets are recessed: thin two-pin (type C) plugs fit, but thick German Schuko plugs do not — bring a Swiss adapter.
Tipping
Restaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.; Café or bar: Round up.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Optional; CHF 2–5 for porters.; Mountain guide: CHF 20–50 for a day, optional.
Water
Tap and fountain water is excellent. Restaurants usually charge for bottled water; ask for 'Hahnenwasser' / 'eau du robinet'.
Toilets
Station toilets cost CHF 1–2; restaurants and department stores are free for customers.

What things cost

ItemPrice
CoffeeCHF 4–6
Fondue at Café du MidiCHF 22
Saint‑Bernard museum entryCHF 12
Train Geneva → MartignyCHF 55

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

GVA · Geneva Airport
Direct train to Martigny about 1 h 45 min, hourly.

Typical fares

Geneva Airport → Martigny train
about CHF 55, 1 h 45 min (check)
Mont Blanc Express Martigny → Chamonix
about CHF 30, 45 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Town is walkable; main attractions are 5–15 min on foot from the station. Trains run every 30 min on the Geneva‑Brig line; the Mont Blanc Express connects to Chamonix hourly.

See and do

Known for

  • Roman Forum Claudii Vallensium
  • Bâtiaz Castle
  • Fondation Pierre Gianadda
  • Museum of St. Bernard dogs

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Chamonix (France)Mont Blanc Express hourly, about 45 min≈1 h total
OrsièresRegio train from Martigny, 20 min≈30 min
FinhautRegio train via Finhaut stop, 30 min≈45 min

Sleep

Martigny Boutique‑Hôtel
Close to the main station; single CHF 135, double CHF 200 per night.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryEntschuldigungEntschuldigung
Thank youMerciMerci
How much is it?C’est combien?C’est combien?
Where is the train station?Où est la gare?Où est la gare?

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting in shops
  • Punctuality: Be exactly on time; avoid: Running for the train expecting it to wait
  • Language: Greet in the local language, then ask for English; avoid: Speaking German in Geneva as a default
  • Quiet: Low voices in trains; quiet carriages are marked; avoid: Speakerphone calls
  • Money: Keep financial talk discreet; avoid: Asking people's salaries
  • Recycling: Separate PET, glass and cans; avoid: Leaving rubbish in hotel or flat bins unsorted

Scams and watch-outs

  • Winter opening hours of museums may be reduced; check before visiting.
  • Last regional train from Martigny to Geneva departs around 23:00.

Martigny is safe for tourists; typical Alpine risks are mountain weather changes and occasional stray dogs – keep an eye on trail signs.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Martigny yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Roman Forum Claudii Vallensium
  • Bâtiaz Castle
  • Fondation Pierre Gianadda
  • Museum of St. Bernard dogs

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Martigny

À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

US consulate in Geneva; Swiss embassy in Washington, D.C.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/martigny). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.