The Centovalli Railway

The Centovalli Railway, also known as the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway or Centovallina, is a scenic, slow travel trip from Locarno, Switzerland, to Domodossola, Italy. The journey travels through remote Alpine landscapes, terraced hills, pine-covered ridges and narrow gorges.

The name Centovalli means ‘100 valleys’, named for the tributary ravines it crosses. It spans more than 80 bridges and 30 tunnels, featuring curves and steep gradients that deliberately slow the pace as it moves from the shores of Lake Maggiore into the Ossola plain.

Running since 1923, the 52-kilometre route was built to close a missing rail link between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. It serves as vital infrastructure for the communities along the line, as well as being the shortest link between the major trans-Alpine railways through the Simplon and Gotthard tunnels. Nowadays, it still connects the towns, villages and region it serves, but also plays an important tourist function in the area: letting travellers explore lesser-visited spots in the region away from the crowds (while soaking up the views).

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Centovalli Railway: onboard facilities, what kind of tickets to get, and what to expect as you travel through each section of this scenic train route (including stops worth getting off for).

NAC/CC BY-SA 4.0

The Centovall Railway train travelling over the River Loana.

The Centovalli Railway train

The Centovalli Railway runs for 52 km between Locarno and Domodossola, and is operated by Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi (FART) in Switzerland and Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie (SSIF) in Italy. The journey takes around one hour and 45 minutes. Trains run roughly once per hour in both directions, with 9 to 10 departures daily, operating year-round.

Onboard facilities

Three types of trains run along the Centovalli Railway. The older regional units have sliding windows and a basic layout. The newer Centovalli Express trains offer larger viewing windows and more modern interiors. The Panoramico trains (also known as Vigezzo Vision) include carriages with single-side seating and more windows for uninterrupted views. These panoramic seats are available for a small supplement of €1.50, payable on board. All trains typically consist of three to five carriages with a compact layout, and the views are the same regardless of train type.

Toilets are available on most services, and a buffet trolley operates on some departures, though you're welcome to bring a picnic. Luggage can be stored in overhead racks or behind the seats.

Tickets and flexibility

A standard one-way second-class ticket costs from CHF/Euro 23.50, and from CHF/Euro 40.00 for first class. Tickets are not flexible by default. A point-to-point ticket is only valid for the specific train and time you book, and you cannot hop off and reboard later.

For more flexibility, a tourist ticket is available, which costs CHF/Euro 30.00 and allows unlimited travel in one direction for a full calendar day. This lets you hop on and off freely if you want to explore a couple of stops along the line.

Seat reservations are not usually necessary, but are available for an extra CHF/Euro 4.00 fee. However, seat reservations are compulsory during the Christmas markets period and during the Raduno degli Spazzacamini (the chimney sweep festival) in Santa Maria Maggiore.

Interrail passes

For Interrail passholders, the Centovalli Railway is included. Passholders do not need a seat reservation (except during the busy Christmas period and the Raduno degli Spazzacamini festival), and can board second or first class carriages, depending on your pass type. If you choose a panoramic coach, you will still need to pay the CHF 1.50 supplement.

Interrail passholders can hop on and off the train at any stop during the day, as long as their pass is valid for that date and route.

Is stopping along the way worth it?

It can be, if you have the time (and are travelling light). Pausing at a few stops gives access to things the train can’t show you, like small museums, mountain trails, or lakeside walks, and offers a new perspective on the region. If you're only interested in the views, the full ride without breaks is still a rewarding experience.

Ed Webster/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

The Centovalli Railway journey

Locarno

Locarno is a lakeside town located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore in Ticino, Switzerland's Italian-speaking canton. It’s known for its Mediterranean feel, with palm-lined promenades, tiled piazzas and gelaterie. Before you board, take the funicular to Madonna del Sasso, a church perched on the cliff above town with views over the lake. If you’re staying the night before the journey, try Ristorante Sensi for lakefront seafood, or Al Torchio for Ticinese dishes like brasato al Merlot (beef braised in Merlot).

The Centovalli train departs from the narrow-gauge platform next to the mainline station. As you leave Locarno, the train begins a sharp ascent into the mountains, weaving past chestnut terraces and hill farms. Within minutes, the lake disappears behind and the route enters narrower, steeper terrain.

Michael Görög

Locarno.

Intragna to Palagnedra

This stretch offers some of the most technically impressive parts of the line. Just before Intragna, the train crosses the Isorno Bridge, one of Switzerland’s most impressive railway viaducts at around 80 metres. It’s narrow and exposed, giving an unobstructed look down the gorge.

Ilario/CC BY-SA 4.0

Isorno Bridge.

Intragna, the largest municipality in the Centovalli region, has a tall 17th-century bell tower and a small historical museum, alongside hiking trails and views over the valley. From here, the line threads through forests, with glimpses of remote settlements high above.

Just past Verdasio station, keep an eye out to the right for the cableway leading up to the isolated mountain village of Rasa. The train then curves around Lago di Palagnedra, a reservoir ringed with hiking trails. The area is best visited in late October, when chestnut harvesting is underway in stone drying huts throughout the woods.

Patrick Federi

Intragna.

Re to Santa Maria Maggiore

The Italian border is crossed just before Re, where the train pulls in beside the large dome of the Santuario della Madonna del Sangue. It’s visually striking and home to a 15th-century fresco.

The line continues into Valle Vigezzo, also known as the ‘Painters’ Valley’ due to the number of 19th-century artists who lived there. It’s known for its long, open meadows and slopes dotted with birch and larch trees, which turn golden in autumn. This is the gentler stretch of the journey, and the train moves through fields and scattered hamlets.

Walter Caielli/CC BY 2.5

Valle Vigezzo from Monte Torriggia.

Santa Maria Maggiore sits on a flat basin surrounded by wooded hills. It’s the largest town in the valley and a worthwhile stop. The Museo dello Spazzacamino (Chimney Sweep Museum) is small but personal, with firsthand accounts, tools, and portraits. It tells the stories of chimney sweeps who left the valley each year to find work in Turin, Milan and beyond, often working in harsh conditions. The town also has shops, a weekend market, and good bakeries (try Mattonella Vigezzina, a soft cake with chestnuts and apricots at Pasticceria Bonetti La Roba Ducia). Walking trails loop around the surrounding forests, or you can follow a short circuit to neighbouring Crana and back.

Alessandro Vecchi/CC BY-SA 3.0

Santa Maria Maggiore.

Santa Maria Maggiore to Domodossola

Past Santa Maria Maggiore, the train continues along the valley floor, with views of timber yards and grazing fields. Then the train descends, entering narrower gorges again, with several small bridges appearing almost suddenly.

The Vigezzo Viaduct, just before Trontano, crosses the Melezzo river and opens into the Ossola plain. This wide valley flattens out dramatically after all the climbing and switchbacks. It's a patchwork of farm fields and stone villages, with the River Toce cutting through the middle.

Alexandr Nadtoka

Outside of Domodossola.

Domodossola

Crossing the River Toce, the train pulls into Domodossola. The station is a regional hub, with mainline services heading in several directions. Domodossola itself is a historic market town, and its Borgo della Cultura is a ten-minute walk from the station and lined with second-hand bookshops, including Libreria Grossi, which carries 20th-century Italian poetry and regional histories. A short walk brings you to the Via Briona, a medieval street still paved in local stone.

Gianluca Oberoffer

Domodossola.

Onwards from Domodossola

From Domodossola, you can take a Trenitalia regional train south to Milan (90 minutes) or north to Brig via the Simplon line. In Brig, you can travel along the Glacier Express route, heading towards Zermatt, or cross into the Bernese Oberland via Spiez and Interlaken. Eastwards, local services connect through Lake Orta and the hills of upper Piedmont.

Take a slow travel trip through Switzerland with the Centovalli Railway, and check out more holidays to Switzerland and Italy by train.

Short on time? Take the Centovalli Railway as a side trip from Milan on one of our bite-sized excursions.

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