I am planning on travelling from Varenna to Locarno then on the Centovalli railway to Domodossola. Is it worth staying a night in Domodossola or better to have a short stop here then move on into Switzerland?
Also unsure where to go after here in Switzerland. We fly out of Basel on the 30th so I was planning on a night at Luzern on the 28th and a night in Basel on the 29th but I wanted a couple of nights in some beautiful Swiss scenery beforehand. I was really hoping to go to Lauterbrunnen but it will be the 26th and 27th October and I am worried that everything will be closed and the weather will not be good. We enjoy hiking but nothing too strenuous so I had been looking at taking cable cars around the area and hiking between villages but I dont know if this will still be possible?
Any advice or suggestions to this itinerary would be great.
Also accommodation wise I am struggling finding anything nice that is affordable in Switzerland which is why I’m now spending more time in Italy! I thought that being off season prices would be lower but it’s still looking at over £200 a night for a family room with no private bathroom in Lauterbrunnen! So any suggestions of nice affordable accommodation would be much appreciated, 2 adults and one 16 year old.
Thank you for your help.
Posted by
Green Bay
22390 posts
I would suggest going directly from Locarno to Luzern on the scenic Treno Gottardo, then to Lauterbrunnen, and then to Basel.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2111 posts
For the last two years it's been raining the last week of OCT, and in 2024 they had snow mid-Sep.
https://planetski.eu/2024/09/12/more-autumn-snow-set-to-fall-in-the-alps/
Posted by
Nashville, TN
1073 posts
Definitely don't spend time in Domodossola. Don't even leave the train station.
I can't really tell from your post exactly how much time you have for this entire trip, but in general if you're on a budget -- the more you move the more expensive and hectic it's going to get. Are you saying you leave Varenna on the 26th and then have 4 nights to do Switzerland?
Posted by
Switzerland
293 posts
Here is the operating info for the Jungfrau Region. You will see that many routes have “365 days a year”. Of those who close you will see that:
- Schynige Platte closes Oct. 26
- Männlichen Oct. 26
- Harder Kulm Nov. 30
https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/live/operating-info/
Many things will be open during your dates, but even more if you can arrive even just one day earlier.
Posted by
OP
England
4 posts
Thank you all for your replies so far.
We fly to Pisa on the 20th October and was planning on :
2 nights in the Cinque Terra area,
2 nights in Camogli
then up to the Italian lakes for a night in Varenna then a boat to Como to pick up a train to Locarno for a night there then catch the Centovalli railway to Domodossola (which is supposed to be nice in Autumn?)
then heading into Switzerland before flying home from Basel on the evening of the 30th October.
Just not sure on what’s best for the Switzerland part of the journey? Or should we not bother with the Centovalli train and catch the other one from Varenna to Lucerne as suggested above, is that a more scenic journey? We could then have 2 nights in Varenna instead and yes it would make it less hectic.
Thank you all for your input.
Posted by
Munich
906 posts
I discovered Domodossola by chance last year when we were driving around Val Grande National Park on a rainy day. I found the little town very cute. And I would go back on my next vacation to Lago Maggiore – if only because we really enjoyed the lunch at the restaurant La Torre (Sardinian restaurant).
I'd rather stay overnight by the lake but I think Domodossola is a place you shouldn't miss because it's not typically touristy.
A rainy day in Domodossola: https://www.flickr.com/photos/calabrones/53759288751/in/album-72177720314342016
Posted by
OP
England
4 posts
Lovely photos, where did you stay on Lake Maggiore please?
Posted by
Munich
906 posts
Thanks a lot. We had booked an apartment in Cannobio but we were traveling by car.