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- A rail journey is the ideal way to see Switzerland’s different regions.
- The scenic Treno Gottardo runs on a historic rail line from the country’s north, over the Alps, and to a popular resort city in the south.
- Along the way, passengers will be treated to views of snowy mountains and picturesque villages.
One of the best ways to see Switzerland—to truly see its diversity of landscape and architecture—is to travel by train. The country is 15,940-square-miles in size and has an estimated 3,200 miles of rails, making it easy to travel from one point to another without having to rent a car or navigate highway signs in the country’s four official languages: French, German, Italian, and Romansh.
The Treno Gottardo is considered to be “the most beautiful connection between north and south.” It is a great choice if you want to see the shifting landscape of Switzerland—from the cities and cultural hubs of northern Switzerland to the sunny, mountainous south, where it feels almost Mediterranean.
The scenic Treno Gottardo runs over the historic Gotthard panoramic line as it makes its way over the Alps from three cities in the north—Zürich, Basel, and Luzern—to the Italian-speaking resort city of Locarno, in southern Switzerland.
Thomas Kessler Visuals/Travel Switzerland
The route, which ranges from three to 4.5 hours depending on your departure city, is known for showcasing the many sides of Switzerland. Over the course of just a few hours, the train passes through bustling cities lined with historic buildings and along deep-blue lakes, before carving through some of the country’s notorious mountain peaks and ending in the palm-tree laden, Mediterranean-style city of Locarno, sometimes called, “the sun-kissed corner of Switzerland.”
Sites along the route include the church of Wassen, a breathtaking baroque Catholic church that can be seen from three different angles during the journey, and the castles of Bellinzona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The real magic of the Treno Gottardo, however, is not just in where it goes but in how it gets you there. The train itself is outfitted with large panoramic windows that invite you to slow down and watch the landscape transform from snow-dusted peaks and forested valleys to tiny villages and vineyard-covered hillsides.
There are two bistro zones on the Treno Gottardo and a family area for those traveling with children.
The Treno Gottardo runs hourly to Locarno, with a stop in Bellinzona. The route between Luzern and Locarno is three hours and six minutes, while the route between Zürich and Locarno is three hours and 19 minutes. The longest option runs between Basel and Locarno over the course of four hours and 21 minutes.
The Treno Gottardo route is on the Swiss Travel Pass and GA travelcard.
