Vals isn’t somewhere you randomly end up. It’s not on most people’s radar, and that’s exactly why it works. Tucked away in the Swiss Alps, this tiny village in Graubünden is for the traveler who’s tired of noise—online and offline—and just wants to breathe for a bit.

Spring here is that weird but lovely in-between season. There’s still snow up in the mountains, but crocuses are blooming in the valleys and you’ll hear water trickling everywhere as the ice melts. It’s peaceful without trying to be.

Most people come to Vals for one thing: the thermal spa. It’s minimalist, stone-built, and doesn’t need to impress you with flashy features. It just works. The quiet hits differently here. You sit in the warm water, look out over the Alps, and everything just slows down—your thoughts, your pulse, your expectations.

There’s not much else you have to do. Which, honestly, is the best part. Wake up when you want, walk through the village, eat something simple and good, and just let the days stretch a little longer. No planning, no pressure.

If you’ve been feeling overstimulated, tired of decision-making, or like your brain just needs a quieter environment to function—Vals is one of those places that helps.

Why Vals Is One of the Best Quiet Places to Visit in Switzerland in Spring

Vals isn’t somewhere you just stumble across. You have to decide to go there. It’s a conscious choice to step away from the usual—and honestly, that’s why it works. It doesn’t try to entertain you. It gives you space. Quiet. And room to actually feel like yourself again.

Spring in Vals has this in-between vibe that’s rare. You’re not in full winter anymore, but summer hasn’t kicked in either. What you get instead is stillness—just the sound of snowmelt running down the hills and the first signs of green pushing through.

You’ll want a sweater in the morning, but by afternoon you can sit outside with a tea and watch the mountains shift in the light. Most of the big ski crowds have moved on, which means it’s mostly locals and people who came here on purpose. Architects sketching. Writers reading. People walking without their phones out.

It’s not about taking a thousand photos or ticking off sights. It’s about slowing down enough to notice how good the air smells. How quiet your thoughts get after a couple of days here. How your body actually feels when you stop rushing it.

Therme Vals Review: What to Expect at Switzerland’s Most Peaceful Thermal Spa

Let’s be honest—CHF 80 for a spa sounds like a lot. But almost everyone who visits Therme Vals says the same thing: “It was worth every franc.”

Here’s why.

This isn’t some flashy resort where you’re greeted with prosecco and a photo wall. Therme Vals is calm in architectural form. It was designed by Peter Zumthor (an award-winning Swiss architect), using 60,000+ slabs of local quartzite, and it blends seamlessly into the mountain. You don’t come here to be seen—you come to disappear for a while.

The experience is simple but powerful. The thermal water flows from deep underground and stays at a constant 30–36°C (about 86–97°F), naturally rich in minerals like sulfur and iron. It’s not strongly scented or overwhelming—it’s just gently restorative.

Inside, you’ll move through a series of stone chambers with pools of different temperatures and lighting. Some are warm and quiet, some colder and invigorating. There’s even a cold plunge if you’re feeling bold. Many reviewers say the architecture itself becomes part of the therapy—the sound of water echoing off stone, the dim lighting, the silence. It feels sacred without trying too hard.

Outside, there's an open-air pool that faces the Alps. If you go in spring or late winter, steam will rise around you as snow still caps the mountains. It’s a surreal kind of beauty. Most visitors say they lost track of time just floating and watching the light shift across the peaks.

Important to know: phones aren’t allowed inside. So you’re not going to be scrolling Instagram between saunas. You’re actually going to rest. (Which, for many of us, feels rare and slightly radical.)

Go early. Doors usually open at 11:00 AM, and that’s your best bet for a quieter session. It does get busier midday, especially on weekends, so if you’re sensitive to noise or just want that almost-silent atmosphere, plan to be one of the first in.

You don’t need to stay at the attached hotel (7132 Hotel) to access the baths, but guests do get priority booking and slightly different time slots. If you're not staying there, book your day pass in advance online—walk-ins aren't always available, especially in spring and autumn when fewer people are skiing but still want to soak.

What to bring:

Swimsuit (required)
Towel and robe (can rent, but they're a bit pricey: bring your own if possible)
Water bottle (hydration is important: they don’t sell snacks or drinks inside)
A book, maybe… but honestly, you probably won’t even open it

Is Therme Vals Worth Visiting in Spring? Honest Thoughts

If you're expecting a flashy, amenity-heavy wellness resort, you might be underwhelmed. But if you’re craving stillness, solitude, and a sensory reset—this place delivers. People come here feeling anxious or overstimulated, and leave describing it as “emotional,” “healing,” “unlike any other spa.”

There are no massage jets. No hot tubs with music. Just heat, stone, silence, and time.

And in a world that never stops shouting for your attention, that might be the most luxurious thing of all.

Where to Stay in Vals: Boutique Guesthouses Near the Spa

Vals doesn’t have dozens of hotels, and that’s okay. It’s not trying to be a destination for everyone. The places to stay here are few, thoughtful, and made for people who want slow mornings, stillness, and the kind of comfort that doesn’t need to shout.

You won’t find resort pools or “wellness concepts.” You’ll find homemade breakfasts, rooms with big windows, and hosts who quietly make sure everything just works.

Brücke 49 Boutique Guesthouse

Good for: design lovers, solo travelers, quiet stays without feeling isolated

If you’re after peace without giving up comfort, Brücke 49 is the kind of guesthouse that gets under your skin in the best way. It's a beautifully restored village house with Scandinavian interiors and mountain views. Just calm, good design that helps you breathe a little deeper.

There are only a few rooms here, all furnished with natural materials, warm lighting, and just enough detail to make the space feel lived in - not styled. There’s no reception desk, no buffet. Breakfast is brought to your table with care: fresh bread, cheese, fruit, yogurt, and coffee that’s been made, not pushed out of a machine.

If it’s available, book Room 4! It has a soaking tub and a view that makes you pause.

You’ll take off your shoes at the door. You’ll probably leave your phone in your bag more than usual. And by day two, you’ll realize you haven’t felt this rested in a while.

Pension Alpina

Good for: low-key travelers, walkers, spa-goers who want a simple base

A family-run guesthouse with simpler rooms but unbeatable views and warm hospitality. — Alpina

Pension Alpina is the kind of place you book because you don’t need anything fancy - just somewhere quiet, close to everything, and run by people who care. It's family-owned, tucked a short walk from the thermal spa, and the kind of stay that feels easy the moment you get there.

The rooms are simple and clean, many with balconies overlooking the valley. You won’t find curated interiors or boutique touches here, but you’ll find the things that matter: good mattresses, fresh air, and the sound of water running in the distance.

Breakfast is straightforward and made with heart: warm porridge, fresh rolls, homemade jam, and strong coffee in real mugs.

Book one of the mountain-facing rooms if you can. Sitting out there with a sweater and a cup of coffee in the early morning feels like part of the trip.

Gentle Spring Walks in Vals: Scenic Trails Without the Sweat

You don’t have to be a hiker to enjoy Vals. Most of the trails around the village are gentle, well-marked, and made for wandering - not pushing yourself.

Vals Valley Trail (Valser Talweg)
Length: 1 to 4 hours, depending on how far you go
Follow the river through open fields, meadows, and old barns. The smell of pine and wet stone is everywhere in spring. Bring a pastry from the village bakery and stop by the water. There are plenty of places to sit and just… be.

Selva Forest Loop
A shorter path that loops through forest just outside the village. This one is ideal on a foggy morning when visibility is low and you just want to walk through quiet woods. After rain, it smells like moss and woodsmoke.

Difficulty: Easy
Length: Choose your own pace (1–4 hours)
Follow the Valser Rhine River as it snakes through meadows dotted with wildflowers and abandoned alpine barns. In spring, everything smells like pine, earth, and thawing stone.

Pack a snack from the local bakery (yes, we’re getting to that) and find a sunny stone to sit on near the water. You may not see another person for an hour.

What to Eat in Vals: Comfort Food, Spring Fondue, and Village Bakeries

Vals isn’t trying to impress you with plating. The food here is about warmth, tradition, and a sense of place.

Valser Gerstensuppe (Barley Soup)
You’ll find it at every Gasthaus in the village, and it’s different in each. Usually a mix of barley, root vegetables, and herbs - sometimes with ham, sometimes vegetarian. Either way, it’s hearty and perfect after a walk.

Spring Cheese Fondue
Some locals lighten up their fondue with fresh herbs like wild garlic and chives in the spring. If you see it on the menu, it’s worth trying - even if you thought fondue was just a winter thing. Head to Gasthaus Glenner (they have the best one!) The restaurant is located right on the main road. Cozy, family-run, wood-paneled. Ask for a window seat. If the herb salad is available, get it! It’s seasonal and foraged locally.

Backerei Peng Vals
Small bakery, very local. Excellent dark rye bread, buttery croissants, and seasonal fruit tarts. The owner usually knows when you'll be back for a second pastry before you do. Grab a warm roll in the morning and take it on your walk.

How to Get to Vals, Switzerland by Train and Bus (Without a Car)

You can’t just hop off a major highway and arrive in Vals. It takes some effort, which fits the vibe. This is the kind of place that starts resetting your brain on the way there.

From Zurich:

Train to Chur (~1 hr 15 min)
Train to Ilanz (~30 min)
Postbus from Ilanz to Vals (~45 min)

That final leg is the most scenic. Winding roads, alpine cliffs, villages that look hand-painted. Sit on the right side of the bus for the best views. The drive is a bit curvy- if you get motion sick, bring ginger chews or something similar.

Is Vals Worth Visiting? What Makes This Swiss Village So Restful

Only if you're okay with doing... not much. With long mornings and no big plans. With sitting in warm water while the snow melts quietly around you. Vals isn’t a place for ticking off sights. It’s for slowing down, clearing your head, and maybe remembering what you actually enjoy when no one’s watching.

You don’t come here for action. You come to feel like yourself again.

And if that’s the kind of reset you’re craving right now? Vals is exactly where you should be.

More Quiet Places for Slow Travelers

If Vals felt like the kind of place you could stay longer than planned, you’re probably always on the lookout for destinations that offer that same sense of calm, space, and presence. Here are two more places we love that carry that same feeling: different landscapes, same slow rhythm.

🟡 Southern Greece in Spring
Wild cliffs, olive groves, and old stone villages untouched by mass tourism - the Mani Peninsula in Greece is a perfect spring alternative to the usual island crowds. It’s the kind of place where time slows naturally, and a walk to the local taverna can be the highlight of your day.

🟢 The French Countryside (With Just Enough Structure)
If your version of a reset includes gentle yoga, local markets, and long walks past bookshops and bakeries, this mindful weekend itinerary in rural France might be exactly what you need. It's quiet without being remote, and cozy without being staged.

Want more alpine hideaways and soulful spring escapes?
Join our Cozy Travel Club for slow itineraries, mountain retreats, and digital detox destinations across Europe. Thoughtfully curated, always cozy.

FAQs About Visiting Vals, Switzerland

Where is Vals located in Switzerland?
Vals is a small mountain village in the canton of Graubünden, eastern Switzerland. It's about 2.5–3 hours from Zurich by train and bus. It’s remote, but that’s the point.

How do I get to Vals from Zurich?
Take the train to Chur, transfer to Ilanz, then hop on the Postbus to Vals. The last stretch is curvy but beautiful: plan on around 3 hours total. If you’re driving, it’s about 2.5 hours from Zurich.

Is Therme Vals worth visiting?
Yes. Especially if you prefer quiet over flashy. It’s not a luxury spa with champagne flutes - it’s calm, architectural, and deeply relaxing. Go right when it opens for the most peaceful experience.

Can you visit Vals as a day trip?
Technically yes, but it’s not ideal. The travel time is long enough that you’ll only get a couple of hours before heading back. One or two nights is better, so you’ll actually get to settle in and feel it.

What’s the best time to visit Vals?
Spring and autumn are amazing if you want fewer people and softer weather. The valley is still waking up in April, with crocus blooms and snowmelt everywhere. Summer’s great too, but more popular. Winter is stunning if you're into snow, but some hiking trails are closed.

Are there restaurants or cafes in Vals?
Yes, but not many. A few family-run Gasthauses, a cozy bakery, and some hotels that serve dinner. It’s more about simple, hearty meals than gourmet dining. Reservations are a good idea in peak weeks.

Is English spoken in Vals?
Mostly yes, especially at the hotels and Therme. But a few German or Romansh phrases go a long way - people appreciate it.

Do you need hiking experience to enjoy Vals?
Not at all. There are plenty of easy walking paths right from the village, like the Valser Talweg and Selva Forest Loop. It’s more about wandering than trekking.

Is Vals touristy?
Not in the way you’re thinking. There are visitors, especially on weekends, but it’s still a quiet place. No big tour groups, no flashy resorts. It’s a low-key, intentional kind of tourism.

Where should I stay in Vals?
If you want cozy and beautiful, Brücke 49 is the go-to. For something simpler and more budget-friendly, Pension Alpina is warm and welcoming with amazing views. There are also a few Airbnbs and guesthouses.

Vals, Switzerland in Spring: Thermal Baths, Quiet Trails, and a Slow Travel Reset