Getting to know Sion: Old Town districts, offices

The heart of Sion is the Old Town (Vieille Ville) at the foot of the Valère and Tourbillon hills. Here you live within easy reach of shops, the market and offices, often in older buildings without a lift. Around the centre lie residential districts such as Champsec, home to the chapel of Vissigen. To the west adjoins the industrial area of Pont de la Morge, while to the east the city extends as far as Uvrier, where the Lienne flows into the Rhône.

Former villages also belong to the municipality: Bramois merged with Sion in 1968, Salins in 2013 and Les Agettes in 2017. They lie somewhat outside and on the slopes above the valley. If you want vines on your doorstep, you will find them almost everywhere – Sion has the third-largest area under vines in Switzerland. Which location suits you depends on your commute and type of housing; we check access and parking space individually for each address.

As the capital of Valais, Sion is the seat of the cantonal administration. Sion Hospital is one of the canton's most important hospitals and, according to Wikipedia, treats around 40 per cent of acute patients in Valais. The city is also home to Provins, the largest wine producer in Switzerland, and a branch of the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. Well-known wines of the area are Fendant, Pinot Noir and Dôle.

In everyday life, climate and language shape the city: Sion is considered, together with Zermatt, the sunniest place in Switzerland and on average has the most days above 30 degrees in the country. In everyday life and at the authorities, mainly French is spoken; only a few per cent speak German as their first language. The city lies on the Simplon line, the A9 has two junctions, and there is a small regional airport to the west. City buses and PostBus (PostAuto) serve the districts and slopes.

Fair and transparent: for a 4-room flat you pay from €1,279, for 3 rooms from €889, for 2 rooms from €605 and for 1 room from just €349. For houses and villas we always prepare an individual quote, as requirements vary greatly here. For long-distance moves we charge from €3.95 per kilometre. It is best to clarify all the details as part of a free survey.

Whether it is a small move or a large villa – what always counts is volume, distance (from €3.95/km), floor and lift. A parking restriction zone may also be needed. We are also happy to advise you on furniture assembly and part load.

We are based in Berlin and handle your move to Switzerland as well as the way back to Germany. Our page Move from Berlin to Sion describes the route and customs. Further destinations can be found in the locations overview.

Sitten is called Sion in French, which is why you will find the French terms in the city's official documents. Registration is handled by the Contrôle des habitants (residents' registration office) at Espace des Remparts 6. According to sion.ch, it is open to walk-in visitors every morning from 8:30 to 11:30. The reception desk (Guichet citoyen) is at Rue de Lausanne 23 and is also open in the mornings from 8:30 to 11:30. The Contrôle des habitants also accepts applications to convert a residence permit (L to B or B to C).

Under the cantonal law on residents' registration, the registration deadline is 14 days; the page does not state the documents required for EU citizens. So ask before the move by phone on 027 324 11 11 or by email to [email protected].

After registering, newcomers receive an invitation to a free welcome event (séance de bienvenue), held several times a year. The Pass Bienvenue for new arrivals in Sion and Sierre is valid for one year from issue. Information is available from the Accueil et Intégration (welcome and integration) department on 027 324 15 41 or [email protected].

We describe comparable moves to French-speaking Switzerland (Romandie) in the guide to moving to Lausanne and the guide to moving to Geneva. For transport from Germany, our international move is the right service.

For lorries and cars on moving day, it is worth looking at the city's parking page. According to sion.ch, there are pay zones with parking meters; tariffs and times are summarised in a PDF table from the city. For car parks, the city lists tariffs for Planta, Scex, Cible, Roches-Brunes and St-Guérin as well as the Echutes et Potences park-and-ride.

For residents and long-term parkers, the page lists the following offers:

• Vignettes for extended parking (vignettes de parcage prolongé)
• Season ticket for a space in the underground car parks
• Long-term parking (stationnement longue durée)
• Spaces for people with disabilities

The parking page does not say whether the city provides a reserved parking space or access to the Vieille Ville for moves. Clarify this directly with the city (Hôtel de Ville, Rue du Grand-Pont 12, telephone 027 324 11 11) and have the vehicle size and date to hand.

The Guichet citoyen (Rue de Lausanne 23) is open in the mornings from 8:30 to 11:30, and you can also reach the city by email at [email protected]. The city covers bulky waste under “Déchets” (waste) with an A–Z of waste; you will need to look up the details on bulky items there. Our furniture assembly helps with setting up at the destination. For longer interim storage of your furniture, our storage service is suitable.