From Baverno to Locarno
Whilst staying in Baverno on Lake Maggiore for a few days in April 2017 my partner and I set aside a day to to this “must-take scenic railway journey” on Centovalli Scenic Train from Domodossola to Locarno, the southern Swiss town on the northern end of Lake Maggiore
Centovalli Scenic Train
We travelled in great anticipation and arrived in mild disappointment!
It certainly looked great on posters showing the train travelling through some stunning scenery. The reality is that in an enclosed train the perspective was rather different!
The passing scenery was pretty enough but nothing that I hadn’t seen on other train journeys through Italy and Switzerland, though the train travelled more slowly than ordinary trains.
The train was comfortable enough and clean but there is a surcharge of €1.50 per person to travel on this scenic train.
Had we stayed a couple of days longer we could have taken a day trip by boat from Baveno to Locarno instead. It cost about the same with a stop at Ascona! Unfortunately the service did not start until mid April
Locarno
Locarno was well worth a day trip. As soon as we got off the train we were right in the middle of the charming town.
Shrouded in distant mist with the Alps at the background and flowers everywhere Locarno was unmistakably Swiss! A lovely place to visit. There were plenty of outdoor restaurants and cafes to have a meal in relaxing surroundings
It would be a nice base exploring the north shore of Lake Maggiore.
The Lake
The shores
The town
Got the fridge magnet
