The nearest, and best, campsite to Sion is the five-star Des Iles (027/346 43 47, fax 346 68 47), 4km west of the centre near the airport and open year-round. A good HI hostel is just behind the station, at 2 Rue de l’Industrie (027/323 74 70, fax 323 74 38; a; closed Jan, Nov & Dec) – modern, clean and well run, with dorms for Fr.26.

There are a few inexpensive hotels within Sion. The Elite, 6 Avenue du Midi (027/322 03 27, fax 322 23 61; b), doesn’t look like much, but it’s recently been redone inside and is quite serviceable. In the Old Town, La Channe, at 9 Rue Porte-Neuve (027/322 32 71, fax 322 32 89; b), is a quiet unassuming place that’s pleasant and well kept, with a choice of en-suite or shared-bath rooms. The luridly decorated Du Midi is on the busy Place du Midi (027/323 13 31, fax 323 61 73; b), while nearby is the cinder-block Du Rhône, Rue du Scex 10 (027/322 82 91, fax 323 11 88; c), a definite step up in quality and service. Sion’s best is the Europa, a business hotel out near the airport at 19 Rue de l’Envoi (027/322 24 23, fax 322 25 35; c).