Centovalli Express: A Swiss-Italian Love Letter on Rails

It’s a jaw-dropping, gravity-defying, camera-demanding joyride through the wild heart of the Alps. This is the Centovalli Express. It’s a train that grabs you by the eyeballs and doesn’t let go. Think dizzying viaducts, postcard-perfect villages and 100 shades of green (and gold, depending on the season).

The Centovalli Express is all about taking it slow in the best possible way. It glides from Locarno in Switzerland’s Ticino region to Domodossola in Italy, through a sliver of railway that looks like it was stitched together by an alpine daydreamer with a passion for bridges, waterfalls and cliffside villages. And it’s been doing this since 1923. Yes, before Netflix, Google Maps and oat milk lattes existed.

The Centovalli line was a marvel during the time it was built. It is a narrow-gauge railway hugging the curves of the wild Valle Vigezzo, traversing 83 bridges and 31 tunnels in just under two hours.

What’s even more charming? This train doesn’t believe in playing favorites. It generously offers up scenic drama to both sides of the track: think moss-covered forests, sky-skimming viaducts and sleepy hamlets that look like they were designed by watercolor artists on holiday.

And in a plot twist worthy of a European indie film, the Centovalli Express is not technically “express” in the modern sense. No bullet speeds or red-eye deadlines here. The “express” is more of a poetic license. It’s a nod to the old-school luxury of leisurely travel.

Centovalli Express Seats

Second Class

In second class, the setup is cozy: 2+2 seating arranged in friendly bays of four. Think train-table chats, card games with friends or strangers-turned-travel-buddies. The legroom’s respectable, the windows are massive and the vibe is easygoing. While it doesn’t come with the elbow sovereignty of first class, second class still offers the same panoramic windows.

First Class

First class on the Centovalli Express is basically second class but with more space, fewer neighbors and a dash of “yes, I do deserve this.” Featuring a 2+1 seat layout, it gives you extra shoulder room, more personal space and just the right level of exclusivity. If you’re the kind of traveler who appreciates breathing room and the ability to spread out your book, snacks and existential travel thoughts, this is your carriage.

The Secret Seat

Now for the crown jewel: the front-facing solo seat next to the driver’s cabin. It’s not in the brochure, not bookable online, and definitely not guaranteed. But oh, is it worth the hustle? This unicorn of a seat gives you an unobstructed, cinema-worthy view straight down the tracks. It’s like piloting the train... without the license or the pressure.

Want it? You’ll need to board quickly and politely beat everyone else to the punch. Didn’t get it? Don’t fret, you can still stand behind it (respectfully, of course) and drink in the view through the panoramic windshield.

Centovalli Express Itinerary

Locarno to Domodossola

Let’s be honest, two hours on a train doesn’t usually sound like a transformative experience. But then again, most trains aren’t the Centovalli Express and most journeys don’t take you from the palm-fringed lakeside of Locarno, Switzerland, to the Renaissance-stone charm of Domodossola, Italy.

Covering just 52 kilometers, this route somehow manages to cram in a hundred valleys (yes, literally, Centovalli means “Hundred Valleys”) and more beauty than a Swiss chocolate commercial. It’s short on distance, long on drama. Now, let’s stop pretending this is just another scenic route.

Locarno

Welcome to the show. Locarno is where palm trees wave at snow-capped peaks and where Italian flavor blends effortlessly with Swiss timing. Sitting pretty on the north shore of Lake Maggiore, this town is known for its film festival, sunshine stats and ability to make you say “we should’ve stayed here longer” about six times.

S. Antonio

Barely out of Locarno and you’re already making your first stop. Don’t expect a tourist circus here, S. Antonio is small, sleepy, and superbly scenic. Think grapevines, garden plots, and the occasional curious cat blinking at the train like it’s judging your outfit.

Solduno

Another quiet exhale before things start getting vertical. Solduno is more of a wink than a wave. Technically a suburb of Locarno, but with just enough rustic charm to feel like its own postcard. The houses are stone, the hills are green, and the rhythm is distinctly “please slow down.”

San Martino

At San Martino, the train starts teasing you with its true potential. Hills rise, cliffs edge closer and suddenly that window seat feels like front-row access to a nature documentary. Blink a little slower, you’ll want to catch the shadows shifting on the rocks.

Ponte Brolla

Now we’re talking drama. Ponte Brolla hangs above gorges carved by the Maggia River, with sheer granite walls and swimming holes that double as local thrill-seeker playgrounds. The cliffs here are so striking, even the train seems to pause and stare. And yes, people do cliff dive here. And no, you shouldn’t unless your idea of a good holiday involves defying gravity.

Tegna

Just a short hop from Ponte Brolla, Tegna has weekend escape written all over it. Riverside beaches, mellow hiking trails, and that “we brought our own picnic” energy. You won’t be stopping long, but if peace and pine needles could be bottled, this would be the source.

Verscio

Art school meets alpine village. Verscio is home to the Teatro Dimitri, a performing arts school that churns out clowns, dancers and storytellers with a view. The vibe? Intellect in hiking boots. It’s the kind of place where someone might offer you organic goat cheese and a mime show.

Cavigliano

Cute? Check. Quieter than your thoughts after a long hike? Double check. Cavigliano is full of terraced hillsides and cozy homes with flower boxes that are, frankly, showing off. You’re not here long, but the vibe lingers.

Intragna

It’s got the tallest bell tower in Ticino (80 meters, and yes, the locals are proud), a rope bridge and stone houses that whisper old-world secrets. Intragna is where you start realizing: this train ride is less about getting somewhere and more about feeling somewhere.

Corcapolo

The train slows down and the trees part. You lean in. Corcapolo doesn’t make a fuss, it just hands you moss-covered roofs, deep valleys and the occasional cow chewing like it owns the place. The population is small, the charm is giant and the silence is loud in the best way.

Verdasio

Meet Verdasio, gateway to one of Switzerland’s most exclusive club memberships: villages you can only reach by cable car. This is your launch point for Rasa, a tiny, car-free hamlet perched high above the valley like it’s hiding from modern life and winning.

Palagnedra

This stop has drama in its DNA. Palagnedra sits near a dam, a lake and a backdrop of densely forested slopes that seem to wrap the village like a scarf. It’s wild and just remote enough to make your phone signal rethink its priorities. Oh, and the Palagnedra Dam? Built in 1952, it’s still doing the heavy lifting when it comes to hydropower and Instagrammable reflections.

Borgnone–Cadanza

Two names, one vibe: blink, breathe, marvel. This stop is a double act of sleepy stone villages tucked into the landscape like they’ve been gently pressed into place by a mountain god with impeccable taste. Blink too quickly and you’ll miss it. But slow down and you’ll catch glimpses of slate roofs, chestnut trees and shutters that haven’t changed since the 1800s.

Camedo

This is it: the final Swiss stop before you wave goodbye to chocolate-scented efficiency and glide into Italian flair. Camedo has a frontier-town feel without the tumbleweeds. Just tidy gardens, rolling fields and a small customs post that’s more symbolic than strict. It’s your last sip of Swiss air, so savor it.

Ribellasca

Ciao, Italia! Ribellasca sashays onto the scene. The hills soften, the buildings warm up and suddenly everything’s just a touch more golden. This stop is mostly rural with a side of “yes, that’s a vineyard.” You’re in Piedmont now, and even the clouds seem to relax.

Isella-Oglia

Isella-Oglia is all rustic charm and rolling farmland, tucked under layers of green. Don’t expect a cafe on every corner, expect silence, solitude and a view you won’t shut up about later.

Folsogno-Dissimo

More hyphen, more heritage. These twin villages are perched along the Vigezzo Valley, surrounded by thick woods and cobbled paths that look like they were designed for slow-motion film sequences. The train slows here, and so will your heartbeat (in the best way).

Re

Small name. Big miracle. In 1494, someone chucked a stone at a fresco of the Virgin Mary here. The painting bled. Bled. Naturally, they built a basilica over it and today, Re is a full-blown pilgrimage hotspot, with the Santuario della Madonna del Sangue as its centerpiece. Even if you’re not feeling spiritual, the dome alone is worth the neck strain.

Villette

Not to be confused with Parisian neighborhoods, this Villette is pure alpine poetry. Tiny, tidy and surrounded by chestnut trees, it’s the kind of village that makes you reconsider your relationship with concrete. Bonus points if you spot the local goats looking smug in their hillside kingdom.

Malesco

Finally, a proper village with shops, cafes and that low-key “I could totally live here” feeling. Malesco is the largest town in the upper Vigezzo Valley and a natural gateway to Val Grande National Park, Italy’s wildest and most untouched wilderness. Hikers love it, artists adore it and the Centovalli Express rolls through it like it’s the star of its own landscape painting.

Zornasco

Zornasco is the kind of place that winks and vanishes. It’s tiny, tucked into a slope and known more for what surrounds it than what’s in it. Think forest shadows, stone barns and that crisp alpine hush that makes your phone feel unnecessary.

Prestinone

Another humble hillside hero, Prestinone isn’t here to shout. It’s here to hum, with old rooftops, mossy footpaths and views that look suspiciously computer-generated. It’s also the kind of place where you could spot a grandpa herding goats… or painting them.

Santa Maria Maggiore

Cue the spotlight. This is the cultural capital of the Vigezzo Valley. Santa Maria Maggiore brings life to the route with art museums, charming cafes and artisan boutiques. It’s home to the Chimney Sweeps’ Museum (yes, that’s a thing) and the whole town feels curated for daydreams. Step off here if you’re craving espresso, gallery-hopping or an argument with yourself about buying locally woven wool.

Buttogno

Buttogno is like the soft acoustic version of Santa Maria Maggiore. It’s smaller, quieter, cozier. The kind of place where everything moves slower, from the clouds to your own thoughts. If this stop had a motto, it’d be: “Shhh, we’re meditating.”

Druogno

With a few more people and a dash of bustle, Druogno feels like a proper mountain town. There are school, shops, hiking trails and enough open space to stretch your legs and existential questions. It’s also the site of local summer camps, so don’t be surprised if it smells faintly of sunscreen and childhood nostalgia.

Gagnone-Orcesco

Another charming double-act. Gagnone-Orcesco keeps things classic with narrow lanes, sloped rooftops and postcard views that make you mutter, “Okay, that’s it! I’m moving.” The hills roll, the trees wave and the train just keeps gliding like it owns the place.

Coimo

With its slate roofs and stone houses, Coimo feels frozen in time in the best possible way. It’s rustic, remote and refreshingly unbothered. If this stop had a scent, it’d be woodsmoke and cool fog. It’s quiet enough to hear your thoughts and scenic enough to want to write them down.

Marone

Marone is one of those “you had to be there” moments. The vibe? Earthy, authentic and untouched by tourism. It’s the kind of place you fantasize about stumbling upon during a wrong turn on a solo hike.

Verigo

A rustic curve in the line, Verigo is the last whisper of wilderness before the valley begins to open up. It’s humble, hilly and honest like a dog-eared page in a travel journal.

Trontano

Trontano starts turning up the tempo again. More houses, more locals, more signs that you’re nearing a bigger town. It’s a sweet rural hub that plays host to festivals, folk events and serious mountain pride. Trontano’s a reminder that this journey may be small in distance, but it’s huge in soul.

Creggio

Creggio is a blink, a breath, a whisper of stone and greenery. It may not come with bells and whistles, but it’s part of the rhythm. The homes here seem to grow from the hillside and the trees? Always standing at attention.

Masera

Just before you hit the finale, Masera rolls out the red carpet in the form of terraced vineyards and golden sunlight. This is where the valley floor stretches out, the peaks pull back and the wine starts talking. It’s a soft, scenic landing before the big arrival.

Domodossola

Here we are: Domodossola. The grand finale. Renaissance arches, cobbled streets, piazzas you’ll want to nap in. It’s a full-on Italian exhale. Sitting at the foot of the Alps, this cross-border market town is where cultures meet, trains converge and your Centovalli journey drops the mic.

Where Centovalli Train Will (and Won’t) Stop

The Centovalli Express might only run 52 kilometers, but it packs in a generous 33 stops along the way. Now, before you assume the train will be hitting the brakes at every single one, hold that thought. Only some of those stations are guaranteed full stops. Places like Locarno, Santa Maria Maggiore and Domodossola are on the must-stop list. The rest? They’re known as request stops.

Here’s how that works: if you're on the train and want to hop off at a smaller village (say, Verigo or Folsogno-Dissimo), just press the “stop on request” button in advance. If you're waiting on the platform, give the driver a friendly wave. If no one signals, the train glides through without stopping. No drama, no delay, just Swiss-Italian efficiency in action.

So yes, there are 33 stops, but unless someone speaks up or waves down the train, some of them are just scenic cameos. Want to get off? Hit the button.

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