Locarno is served by train from Zurich via Bellinzona (about 2.5 hours) and from Milan via Bellinzona (about 1.5 hours). The main railway station sits at the edge of the old town, a five-minute walk from Piazza Grande. There is no airport in Locarno itself; the nearest airports are Milan Malpensa (about 80 km south) and Lugano Airport (about 45 km southeast), though the latter has limited connections. Most visitors arrive by train.
The Centovalli Railway — one of Switzerland's most scenic lines — runs west from Locarno through the Valle Centovalli to Domodossola in Italy, where it connects to the main line toward Milan and the Simplon Pass. The journey takes about 1.5 hours and passes through remarkable alpine scenery.