Place to visit
Via Francigena, Switzerland: what it is and when to go
A stretch of the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route linking Canterbury with Rome. This section crosses Franche-Comté from Besançon to the Swiss border, where the route enters the canton of Neuchâtel. Hills, forest and small villages, without big climbs. The best time to visit is May to October. In June there are 15 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 21. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Ancient road · Hiking
- Where
- Switzerland
- Best time
- May to October.
- Nearest airport
- GVA Geneva, 70 km as the crow flies
- Website
- viefrancigene.org
- Trail network
- International
- From
- Besançon
- To
- Swiss border
- Coordinates
- 46.82425, 6.43865
What you will see here
- The way out of Besançon along the Doubs valley
- The villages of the French Jura that dot the route
- The European cultural route signage, with the pilgrim and the letters VF
- The border crossing to the Swiss side of the route
It's a multi-day route, not a stroll: check in advance where you'll sleep, because between stages there's little to choose from.
What it is and where
Via Francigena is an ancient road in Switzerland (Buttes).
It is in Buttes, where this site lists 28 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 46.82425, 6.43865; the nearest main airport is Geneva International Airport (GVA, Geneva), 70 km as the crow flies. How to get around Switzerland (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
- Trail network
- International
- From
- Besançon
- To
- Swiss border
It is one of the Hiking places in Switzerland. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
The best time to visit Via Francigena is May to October.
It's walked from spring to autumn. In winter some stretches have snow and mud, and much of the route's accommodation closes.
- JanPossible8:44
- FebPossible10:03
- MarPossible11:36
- AprPossible13:21
- MayBest time14:50
- JunBest time15:39
- JulBest time15:19
- AugBest time14:01
- SepBest time12:19
- OctBest time10:37
- NovPossible9:06
- DecPossible8:21
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 15 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 21. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
When to go to Switzerland in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to Switzerland
To enter Switzerland there are 7 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid Spanish ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the Switzerland checklist. Currency: Swiss franc (CHF); plugs: Type J · 230 V · 50 Hz (the European type C fits; the three-pin Schuko doesn't); emergencies: 112 · 117 police · 144 ambulance · 1414 air rescue (Rega).
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- Mont des CerfsMountain in Switzerland3.5 km
- Aiguilles de BaulmesNature · Mountains4.5 km
- Musée d'automates et de boîtes à musiqueMuseum in Sainte-Croix (Switzerland)4.9 km
- Via FrancigenaAncient road5.8 km
- Le CochetMountain in Switzerland6.1 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Switzerland guide.
More in Switzerland: Hiking
- Camino de Santiago: Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Säntis: peak in northeastern Switzerland
- Lake Baldegg: lake in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
- E1 European long distance path: walking path
- Monte Rosa Hut: mountain hut
- Tour du Mont Blanc: long distance hiking route in France, Italy and Switzerland
Every Switzerland place under Hiking, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Via Francigena?
It is an ancient road in Switzerland.
When is the best time to visit Via Francigena?
May to October. In June there are 15 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 21.
How do you get to Via Francigena?
The nearest main airport is Geneva International Airport (GVA), 70 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around Switzerland is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Switzerland map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Mont des Cerfs, Aiguilles de Baulmes, Musée d'automates et de boîtes à musique. The rest is in the Switzerland guide.
Keep reading
- Buttes28 places to see in and around Buttes, Switzerland: Le Chasseron, Aiguilles de Baulmes, Crêt du Cervelet. Best time: December to February and May to October.
- Hiking1112 places for hiking in Switzerland, from Camino de Santiago to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: May to October. Each with its own season by altitude and dayligh
- SwitzerlandBefore travelling to Switzerland: 7 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. Switzerland is in Schengen but not in the EU or the European Economic Area, and tha…
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about Via Francigena on Wikipedia. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.