Arrival & Departure
The Summer School opens on the afternoon of Monday, 31 August 2026. The first lecture is scheduled at 15:30, leaving participants the full morning to travel, check in to their accommodation, and settle in. Please note that lunch on arrival day is not included in the programme.
The school concludes on Friday, 5 September 2026. Lunch will be provided and runs until 13:30, after which participants are free to depart. We recommend booking return trains or flights from the afternoon of Friday, 5 September onwards.
Please note that ECTS credits will be awarded only to participants who attend the full duration of the Summer School.
How to Arrive
The Summer School takes place at EPFL Valais–Wallis in Sion, located in the heart of the Rhône Valley in the canton of Valais. Sion is well connected by train from both Geneva and Zurich international airports, the two main entry points for international participants. The map below illustrates both routes.
From Geneva Airport (Genève-Aéroport)
Geneva Airport offers the most convenient connection to Sion. A direct train departs from Genève-Aéroport station, located inside the terminal, with no changes required.
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Genève-Aéroport → Sion · Direct
Journey time: approx. 2h05 · 2nd class: from CHF 56.00 · 1st class: from CHF 96.00
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Trains run regularly throughout the day. For arrival on Monday 31 August, a departure from Geneva Airport around 09:55–12:00 will comfortably allow you to reach Sion, check in, and be ready for the first session at 15:30.
From Zurich Airport (Zürich Flughafen)
Zurich Airport has frequent national rail connections, but the journey to Sion requires a change — either via Berne and Visp, or via Lausanne. Travel time varies depending on the connection.
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Zürich Flughafen → Sion · 1 change (via Berne–Visp or Lausanne)
Journey time: 2h50 to 4h00 · 2nd class: from CHF 105.00 · 1st class: from CHF 170.40
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We recommend checking schedules on the SBB website (Swiss Federal Railways) to find the best connection for your arrival day.
| Tip: Swiss train tickets are always daily point-to-point tickets valid for a specific date. Booking ahead is recommended, as SBB offers a Super Saver fare at a significantly lower price — however, these tickets are limited in availability and tied to the specific train you book. Once the allocated seats are sold, only the standard fare remains. No seat reservations are required for standard intercity journeys in Switzerland. |