One of Italy’s most spectacular fall rail journeys is returning in 2026. From October 10 through November 15, the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway will once again offer its popular Foliage Train experience, connecting Domodossola in Piedmont with Locarno in Switzerland through 52 kilometers of mountains, forests, villages and deep valleys.
The railway itself has been operating between the 2 countries since 1923, but autumn gives the route an entirely different character. Birch, chestnut and beech forests turn shades of yellow, orange and red as the train climbs through the Vigezzo Valley before crossing the Italian-Swiss border and descending through the Centovalli toward Lake Maggiore.
The full trip takes just under 2 hours each way. From Domodossola, the railway climbs to more than 800 meters above sea level, passing Santa Maria Maggiore and Re before entering Switzerland. Travelers eventually arrive in Locarno, one of Ticino’s best-known lakeside destinations.
Special Foliage Train tickets include a round trip between Domodossola and Locarno, or the reverse route, with the possibility of making 1 intermediate stop during either the outbound or return journey.
For 2026, second-class tickets cost €36 on weekdays and €42 on Saturdays and Sundays. First-class fares are €46 during the week and €51 on weekends. Children from age 6 to under 16 receive a 50% discount, while children under 6 can travel free when they do not occupy their own seat.
The railway operates throughout the year, but these 37 autumn days have become its signature season. Combining Italian Alpine villages, Swiss landscapes and one of Europe’s most colorful natural spectacles, the journey offers an unusual way to experience fall without ever leaving the train.
