Plizio Visual Lab

Vals

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

—°9

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Practical info — Vals

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

To enjoy the famous 7132 Therme spa in peace, make sure to book your slot well in advance, especially for night bathing sessions, as spots are very limited.
The Postauto bus is the main public transport in the valley. Check the schedule as services are not very frequent, but they are punctual and connect to all major hiking trailheads.
Notice the unique architecture using local quartzite stone all over the village. It's the same material used in the spa, giving the place its distinctive character.
Vals is a well-suited starting point for hikes. An easy yet rewarding trail leads along the Valser Rhine river to the alpine pastures.
Drink the famous Valser water directly from the village fountains, which are supplied with fresh spring water.

🍽 Food

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Capuns

Try this hearty Graubünden specialty of spätzle dough wrapped in chard leaves. Look for it in a traditional inn (Gasthaus) in the village center.

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Bündnerfleisch

Enjoy this air-dried beef as part of a 'Bündner Platte' (local platter) with local cheese at one of the mountain restaurants with a view.

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Valser cheese

Buy fresh alpine cheese directly from a dairy or a farm shop in the valley for an authentic taste of the region.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

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Farm Shops (Hofladen)

Visit one of the small farm shops in the village or surrounding area to buy local products like cheese, dried meat, and honey.

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Valser Quartzite Products

In a few small shops, you can find souvenirs and design objects made from the famous local stone.

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Zervreila Lake

Take a Postauto bus trip up to the Zervreila reservoir. The landscape around this artificial lake is dramatic and very quiet, first-rate for a walk.

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Trails away from the village

Pick any of the numerous hiking trails leading away from the village. After just a few minutes, you'll leave civilization behind and immerse yourself in the silence of the Alps.

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St. Zeno Chapel

A short walk takes you to this small, peaceful chapel above the village, offering beautiful views of the valley.

Vals is situated at 1250 meters in a deep valley of the Adula Alps. The village gained international fame through the Therme Vals, a masterpiece designed by architect Peter Zumthor using 60,000 layers of local quartzite. Here, raw mountain nature meets minimalist luxury. The mineral-rich water emerges directly from the ground at a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. Visitors appreciate the authenticity of the old Walser houses with their typical stone-slab roofs. Agriculture still plays a major role, evidenced by numerous dairies and the famous Valser mineral water bottled on-site. In summer, the valley is a paradise for hikers ascending to the Zervreila reservoir or over the Tomül Pass. Culinary highlights in Vals include local specialties like pizokel and alpine cheese. Arrival is typically via Chur and Ilanz by postal bus through the spectacular Valser Rhine gorge. The best time to visit is winter for wellness and skiing, or late summer for high-alpine trekking tours.

Location: Switzerland
Top sights: Therme Vals · Wallfahrtskapelle St. Maria · Kapelle St. Nikolaus
Nearby: Laax (21 km)
Population: ~1.006