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Min. time required: 2:00
Season: all year
Recommended season: early April to late October
Max. altitude: 836 m (2743 ft)Prices, tickets and reservations 
Centovalli 2024 ticket prices
A single journey Domodossola-Locarno via the Centovalli line costs CHF 47 in 2nd class. The journey is discounted or even free with several rail passes.
Reservations
- Reservations for the Centovalli Railway are possible, but mostly not required.
- A reservation costs CHF 5 per person.
- It's recommended to reserve seats for busy summer days and for the period in which Christmas markets are held. Note that it's not allowed to travel standing (without a seat) on the panoramic trains. So in case of doubt, you'd best reserve seats just to be sure.
- Groups of 10 or more have to make reservations in advance.
Surcharge for the Vigezzo Vision train
The panoramic Vigezzo Vision trains require a small surcharge of CHF 1.50. This can be paid on board or at the Italian train stations on the route.
Where to buy tickets
You can get your Centovalli tickets online, through any of the ticketing machines in Switzerland, and at the train station of Locarno. They're also available at the Italian train stations of Domodossola and Santa Maria Maggiore.
Get your tickets for the Centovalli train
Offered by Swiss Activities: www.swissactivities.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by Official SBB shop: swissrailways.com
- Official webshop of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), operated by Switzerland Travel Centre (STC)
- Instant delivery through e-mail in 5 minutes
- Free cancellation until 1 day before travel, if you choose the FLEX OPTION. No questions asked.
- Extra Support: MySwissAlps can answer most questions regarding your order as well.
Offered by MySwissAlps: www.myswissalps.com
- Offer from one of our best partners.
- Extra Support: MySwissAlps can assist if you have questions about your order.
Promotions
Scenic rail journeys (with guaranteed seat reservations), self-drive holidays, journeys to famous mountain peaks, and more. Choose your preferred hotels, number of nights, and excursions in each town. Apply the promo code AFFMYSWISSALPS for a 5% discount.
Discounted Centovalli tickets with your rail pass
The rail passes below offer discounted or even free Centovalli train rides. This does not include optional seat reservations or the obligatory surcharges for the Vigezzo Vision trains.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Day Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
| Eurail Global Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
| Interrail Switzerland Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
| Saver Day Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
| Swiss Half Fare Card |
Discount 50%:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
| Swiss Travel Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
| Ticino Ticket |
Free:
Camedo to Domodossola: no discount. Seat reservations: no discount. |
The Centovalli Railway route in detail, with map
The scenic Centovalli route connects Domodossola in Italy to Locarno in Switzerland. Trains run in both directions.
The FART station in Locarno
The end or start station in Locarno is called "Locarno FART" (this is the abbreviation for the Italian rail company "Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi"). Please find more details in our Locarno travel section.
What the scenery is like
The scenic route runs through the Centovalli (meaning "100 valleys" in Italian) and shows another side of Switzerland and of northern Italy: rocky gorges, quaint stone villages, and many waterfalls. There are no high mountains, but beautiful green hills.
The route in detail
- Domodossola is the capital of Valle d'Ossola (Ossola valley). It's the start or end of the Centovalli line, and easy to reach from the Swiss town of Brig by train. The altitude at the departure station is 204 m, but the train will soon wind its way up the slopes to Trontano at about 500 m.
- It then continues into the Valle Vigezzo (Vigezzo valley) to S. Maria Maggiore at 836 m. After this relatively steep climb, the train will gradually descend.
- It proceeds through Valle Vigezzo and then the Centovalli ('100 valleys') region, before ending in Locarno on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
Map of the Centovalli train route Domodossola-Locarno
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
Centovalli Railway operation dates
The Centovalli trains ride all year long.
Planning your journey with the timetable
You can consult the Centovalli timetables here. All Centovalli trains can be found in the general Swiss timetable too. Enter these names as your departure and destination stations:
- "Domodossola (I)"
- "Locarno FART"
Best months for Centovalli
Any season can be great if the sky is clear enough to enjoy the views. We prefer early April to late October. Details:
- Springtime (late March to mid-June) is attractive because of the waterfalls along the route.
- In summer (July-mid September) the scenery looks green and Mediterranean.
- Fall (late September-early November) is beautiful because of the autumn colors.
We think winter and early spring (mid-November to March) are the least interesting. This area typically does not get much snowfall in winter and there can be grey, cloudy days instead.
Weather info and forecasts
You can ride the Centovalli Railway in any type of weather. Services will only be suspended in extreme conditions. Of course sunny weather is best. But as long as there's no heavy rain, fog or snow, you'll be able to enjoy views of the valleys and mountains.
Forecasts for the Centovalli area
Details about the trains: Vigezzo Vision and Centovalli Express
There are two types of trains that travel this route. The most attractive one is the modern Treno Panoramico Vigezzo Vision. Additionally, there is the more standard train named Centovalli Express.
Both trains run quite slowly, so you can soak up the views and take pictures. Snacks and beverages can be purchased on board. Audioguides with information about the route are available too.
The Treno Panoramico Vigezzo Vision offers one special seat situated beside the driver in the first train carriage. Great for photographers and video makers!
Which side of the train is best
Overall, we recommend sitting on the right side of the Centovalli train, assuming you travel from Domodossola to Locarno. Suggestions per section:
- Domodossola – Trontano: no major difference
- Trontano – Druogno: left
- Druogno – Malesco: no major difference
- Malesco – S. Martino: right
- S. Martino – Locarno: no major difference
How to combine the Centovalli ride with town visits and hikes
The Centovalli ride is relatively short: about 2 hours. You can get off the train for these villages and hikes:
- Stop at the town of Re for a visit to a spectacular church: the Sanctuary of our Lady of Blood.
- Numerous hikes into the valleys can be started from the stops along the route. A popular route starts in Verdasio with a cable car ride to the car-free town of Rasa. The hike then goes to Corcapolo or Intragna.
- Get out at Tegna or Pontre Brolla for a stroll along the Maggia river.
You can also explore Locarno and its nearby excursions. Or travel to Brig in the Valais and spend some time there.
How to combine Centovalli with other scenic trains
The Centovalli line can be combined with other scenic trains. These combined rides provide wonderful trips between the Ticino region and other areas:
- Brig is a quick train ride away from Domodossola. From Brig, you can connect to the Lötschberg Mountain Railway to Spiez, Thun, and Bern.
- Brig is also on the Glacier Express route.
- From Locarno, you can proceed to Lugano to board the Gotthard Panorama Express to Lucerne.
Other websites of interest
Schedules
- www.vigezzinacentovalli.com: Centovalli train timetables
Prices
- www.vigezzinacentovalli.com: Centovalli ticket prices
- www.vigezzinacentovalli.com: e-mail address for reservations
Our guides for connecting panoramic trains
Gotthard Panorama Express
Lötschberg Mountain Railway
Glacier Express
About Locarno, Brig, and their surroundings
Locarno
Ticino
