Trenino Verde

The Trenino Verde, or Little Green Train, is one of Sardinia’s most distinctive travel experiences. These narrow-gauge trains run on a network of secondary railway lines that were built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and they offer a way of seeing parts of the island that roads and coaches simply cannot reach.

A railway built for another era

The lines were constructed to connect inland communities with the coast, at a time when most Sardinians had no other reliable means of long-distance travel. Many of the routes fell out of regular use as road transport took over, but a number of sections were kept alive specifically for tourist services. Today the trains are operated as heritage and excursion services rather than as everyday public transport.

What makes the journey special

The carriages are small and the pace is slow, which is precisely the point. The routes thread through terrain that is difficult to access by any other means: granite mountains, deep valleys, cork oak woods and remote villages where very little has changed. Some of the most celebrated stretches pass through the Gennargentu range and the Supramonte, and the line from Mandas towards the Ogliastra coast is among the best known.

Because the trains are open to the landscape on both sides, the experience is as much about the journey as the destination. Passengers often describe the bridges, tunnels and viaducts as highlights in themselves, along with the long stretches where the only sign of human activity is a distant shepherds’ hut.

Practical considerations

Services do not run all year, and timetables vary by route and season. The most popular departures are in the warmer months, and some journeys are long enough to fill most of a day. It is worth checking departure points carefully, as several routes begin at inland stations rather than at the coast, and connections with other transport are limited.

Tickets are generally sold for specific journeys rather than as a general pass, and some services must be booked in advance. On certain routes the train is paired with a bus link or a guided element, so it is worth confirming exactly what is included before travelling.

Who it suits

The Trenino Verde works best for travellers who are happy to trade speed for scenery and who do not mind a slower, more old-fashioned way of getting around. It is a good option for walkers, photographers and anyone interested in the island’s industrial and rural history. Families with young children tend to enjoy it as well, though the longer routes can be demanding for very small passengers.

For those who want to combine the railway with time on the coast or in the interior, the trains can be worked into a longer itinerary, but they are best treated as an attraction in their own right rather than as a simple means of getting from one place to another.