Rail Holidays in Italy

O ne of the world’s most popular holiday destinations with over 45 million visitors per year, Italy offers an amazing array of attractions from coastal resorts to historic cities and breathtaking countryside. Travelling around Italy by rail is a wonderful way to see the country unfold in comfort. From Piedmont and Lombardy in the north all the way down to Calabria and Sicily, there is a comprehensive rail network that can take you anywhere you want to go. Popular destinations such as the Italian Lakes of Como, Garda and Maggiore, as well as the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany and the Cinque Terre can be accessed very easily by rail, whilst Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome are all connected by high speed lines.

Recommended Holiday Ideas

Tailor Made Rail

Destination Italy

Whether you are intending to visit for the Roman history or the Renaissance art, for the vertiginous mountains or the sun-soaked beaches, for the food, the wine, or the fashion, ultimately we all go to Italy for the same reason: to get a slice of la dolce vita.

Many visitors to Italy spend the majority of their time in the country’s major cities, and with good reason. Thousands of years of world-shaping history echo your every step in Rome; beautiful works of art by Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci are dotted throughout Florence; and the canals, piazzas and squares of Venice are rightly world-famous. Each city offers incredible and varied food and whilst the south of the country is much warmer, the entire peninsula benefits from a beautiful Mediterranean climate. To only explore her cities would, however, overlook many of Italy’s greatest charms. The Dolomites form a formidable barrier to the North and provide fantastic skiing or hiking depending on the season. Tuscany’s rolling hills are home to charming medieval towns and castles, as well as terracotta-tiled farmhouses, and beaches on both the West and East coast offer the perfect chance to relax and enjoy seafood, freshly-made ice cream, or perhaps even a glass of prosecco!

Italy is very well connected to the rest of Europe, offering visitors an exciting choice of how and where to enter the country. If you are searching for that once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Orient Express runs from Venice to London and offers guests the ultimate luxury train experience. Alternatively, you might want to travel via one of the spectacular rail routes across the Alps, with stop en route in Germany, France or Switzerland. Once you have arrived, Italy has a good rail network with a mixture of high-speed and traditional trains enabling you to explore this beautiful country in ease and comfort.

Italy Highlights

Tailor Made Rail
Venice Beautiful and serene, the unforgettable city of Venice still draws visitors from all over the globe as it has done since the days of the Grand Tour in the 18th century. View More
Italian Lakes The Italian Lakes were formed at the end of the last Ice Age and have been attracting holidaymakers since the height of the Roman Empire. View More
The Amalfi Coast The Amalfi Coast comprises of dramatic cliffs and panoramic viewpoints, while the towns such as Amalfi and Positano cluster around tiny harbours. View More
Tuscany & Umbria With their verdant, ethereal landscapes and stunning, art-packed cities, the regions of Tuscany and Umbria are top of the list for a rail holiday to uncover the ‘real’ Italy. View More
Rome Lonely Planet describes Rome’s urban landscape as ‘the result of 3000 years of ad hoc urban development’. Historic buildings from ancient to ultra-modern jostle for space here. View More
Sicily The island of Sicily is just a short hop across the Straits of Messina from mainland Italy, using one of the last European rail routes where the train actually rolls onto a boat. View More

Itineraries in Italy

Tailor Made Rail
10 Days
  • Paris
  • Lausanne
  • Brig
  • Venice
  • Innsbruck
  • Munich
  • Cologne
Take it easy on a rail holiday to Venice, stopping overnight in some stunning places en route, with shorter journeys and as few changes as possible. Hop across to Paris by Eurostar, then travel via Lake Geneva and the Simplon route to Venice, with a journey back via Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass.
From £1,649
Offer
11 Days
  • Strasbourg
  • Zermatt
  • St Moritz
  • Como
  • Basel
  • Brussels
Combine a visit to Italy's best loved lake resort with some of the world's most stunning rail journeys on this holiday to Switzerland and Lake Como, taking in the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gornergrat Mountain Railway. Enjoy a 3-night stay on lovely Lake Como before returning via Basel and the Rhine Gorge.
From £1,999
6 Days
  • Amsterdam
  • Venice
Savour an unforgettable journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, travelling the once-yearly route from Amsterdam to Venice with two nights in the Dutch capital before your departure and two nights in Venice on arrival.
From £4,199
7 Days
  • Zurich
  • Venice
  • Florence
  • Munich
Visit two of Italy's most popular cities in style with first class rail travel, transfers and stunning 5* hotels on this indulgent holiday, perfect for a special occasion.
From £1,899
5 Days
  • Zurich
  • Venice
Take a scenic journey through the Alps to Venice, with a night in the pretty Old Town of Zurich en route. Enjoy time at leisure in the City of Canals before joining the gleaming carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for an unforgettable journey back to London.
From £4,299
12 Days
  • Baden Baden
  • Innsbruck
  • Merano
  • Bressanone
  • Lienz
  • Munich
Enjoy a rail journey into the beautiful and fascinating region of Tyrol, straddling Austria, Germany and Italy, on this relaxing holiday. You'll have stops in Tyrolean capital Innsbruck, the pretty towns of Merano and Bressanone as well as East Tyrolean capital Lienz before heading home via Munich.
From £1,499
10 Days
  • Nice
  • Castelvecchio Pascoli
  • Turin
Head for the Tuscan Hills on this 9-night adventure including rail travel to Pisa, 7 days' car hire and hotel accommodation in a stunning rural setting. There's plenty of time to explore this beautiful region of Italy, with Lucca and the Tuscan coast both only an hour away. Return to the UK with a night in Turin en route.
From £1,399
13 Days
  • Turin
  • Naples
  • Taormina
  • Valletta
  • Siracusa
  • Milan
  • Basel
Travel by train from the UK through France and Italy to the island of Sicily, then hop on a boat and travel across the Mediterranean to Malta on this great island-hopping itinerary. Your holiday includes nights in Turin, Naples and Taormina on Sicily along with 3 nights in historic Maltese capital Valletta.
From £1,549
6 Days
  • Zurich
  • Venice
  • Montreux
Visit the unforgettable city of Venice during Carnival time, when the city shakes off its winter slumber and comes alive in a whirlwind of masked balls, pageants, music and food. 
From £1,199
Offer
21 Days
  • Munich
  • Venice
  • Rome
  • Vietri sul Mare
  • Catania
  • Naples
  • Florence
  • Como
  • Zurich
This epic exploration of Italy's finest cities and most beautiful countryside takes you from Venice down to Sicily and back. En route, visit the elegant cities of Rome and Florence, relax on the Amalfi Coast and cruise on Lake Como.
From £2,399
14 Days
  • Lausanne
  • Stresa
  • Positano
  • Siena
  • Venice
Enjoy luxurious stays in stunning destinations including Lake Maggiore, Tuscany and Amalfi Coast. Then round off your holiday in style with a homeward journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice back to London.
From £6,099
9 Days
  • Venice
  • Amalfi
  • Lausanne
Take the classic journey from London to Venice on the unforgettable Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and then head for the Amalfi Coast to soak up some Italian sunshine before returning to the UK via lakeside Lausanne.
From £5,399
6 Days
  • Lausanne
  • Verona
  • Munich
Enjoy first class rail travel and luxury hotels along with an unforgettable performance at the Arena di Verona's annual opera festival on this magical holiday, which also includes two stunning rail journeys through the Alps.
From £2,699
6 Days
  • Paris
  • Venice
  • Munich
Take the trip of a lifetime aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express en route to the City of Canals. After time at leisure here, return through the Brenner Pass Alpine route with a night in the Bavarian city of Munich.
From £4,499
10 Days
  • Cannes
  • Sestri Levante
  • Amalfi
  • Bologna
  • Munich
Travel by train in comfort to the stunning Amalfi Coast via Cannes and Sestri Levante on the Ligurian Coast. After a full four days to relax and unwind, transfer to Naples and return home via Munich and the Brenner Pass.
From £1,999
Offer
12 Days
  • Freiburg
  • Parma
  • Bari
  • Alberobello
  • Lecce
  • Milan
Travel by rail down through Italy to discover the sun-kissed region of Puglia with its white-washed villages, olive groves and Mediterranean vistas. Your journey takes you via Freiburg in the Black Forest to Parma, Bari and Alberobello.
From £1,599
Offer
11 Days
  • Dijon
  • Stresa
  • Positano
  • Bolzano
  • Innsbruck
Combine two of Italy's most popular and picturesque holiday regions. Travel via Dijon to Lake Maggiore and then continue by train down the spine of Italy en route to the magnificent Amalfi Coast. Return via the Italian Dolomites with stops in the Tyrollean cities of Bolzano and Innsbruck.
From £1,599
Offer
6 Days
  • Zurich
  • Venice
  • Munich
Take the train from London to Switzerland and stay overnight in Zurich before travelling through the Gotthard Pass to Venice. Return with a stop in the historic city of Turin and then an onward journey via Paris to the UK.
From £1,049
Offer
7 Days
  • Dijon
  • Stresa
  • Strasbourg
Take a stunning rail journey through the Jura Mountains and the Simplon Pass to Stresa on Lake Maggiore and then return via the beautiful French city of Strasbourg.
From £1,099
Offer
13 Days
  • Zurich
  • Vietri sul Mare
  • Catania
  • Palermo
  • Turin
Combine two sizzling hot regions in the south of Italy - the stunning Amalfi Coast and the fascinating and historical island of Sicily. Then return via overnight train and beautiful Alpine scenery.
From £1,599
Offer
9 Days
  • Nuremberg
  • Venice
  • Rome
  • Florence
  • Nice
Italy’s three most popular cities in one itinerary. Travel to Italy via Nuremberg and the Brenner Pass, before experiencing the canals of Venice, the rich history of Rome and the culture of Florence.
From £1,299
Offer
6 Days
  • Lucerne
  • Florence
  • Turin
Take the scenic route to Florence by rail, with an overnight stop in Lucerne, Switzerland and then the Gotthard Pass through the Alps and into Italy. After two full days to explore, return to the UK via a night in historic Turin en route.
From £999
Offer
8 Days
  • Lausanne
  • Sirmione
  • Munich
Italy's largest lake is waiting to be explored. Travel south via the stunning Simplon Route high in the Alps and spend 5 nights at beautiful Sirmione on the lake shore, before returning via the Brenner Pass and Munich.
From £1,099
Offer
10 Days
  • Munich
  • Florence
  • Siena
  • Lucca
  • Turin
Travel across the Alps to Florence with a stop in Munich on the way. Then, spend time exploring the narrow lanes of Siena and Lucca before returning via Pisa and Turin on this Tuscan adventure by rail.
From £1,199
10 Days
  • Basel
  • Florence
  • Sorrento
  • Naples
  • Turin
Travel by train to Florence, the stunning capital of Tuscany, with a night in the cultural city of Basel en route. Then, head south for some Italian sunshine on the Sorrentine Peninsula. At the end of your holiday, return through Italy to Turin before speeding through France to Paris and on to London.
From £1,399
Offer
8 Days
  • Turin
  • Desenzano
  • Venice
  • Zurich
Combine the unique city of Venice on the Adriatic, with a stay on the shores of Italy's largest and most popular lake on this essential Italian holiday by rail. Stop en route in the historic city of Turin and then return via Zurich.
From £1,299
12 Days
  • Zurich
  • Florence
  • Perugia
  • Spoleto
  • Rome
  • Nice
Travel down to Florence via Zurich and the Gotthard Pass route through the Alps. Then enjoy a leisurely journey south through the stunning scenery of Umbria to Rome, with stops in Perugia and Spoleto. Return via the Italian Riviera to Nice, before catching a TGV to Paris and Eurostar back to London.
From £1,549
Offer
8 Days
  • Frankfurt
  • Lake Orta
  • Paris
Discover one of Italy's hidden gems before the word gets out! Travel by rail via Frankfurt and the Swiss Alps and spend 5 nights on lovely Lake Orta before returning with a night in Paris to break your journey home.
From £1,099
Offer
7 Days
  • Freiburg
  • Rapallo
  • Cannes
Travel to Italy via the spectacular Rhine Gorge and Gotthard Pass routes then spend three full days exploring the Ligurian coastline and Cinque Terre region.
From £799
Offer
7 Days
  • Bern
  • Rome
  • Nice
Take the train to the historic capital of Italy, via the historic capital of Switzerland on this exciting rail adventure, including 3 full days in Rome before you return via the Côte d'Azur in France.
From £999
Offer
7 Days
  • Cologne
  • Innsbruck
  • Venice
  • Turin
Make your journey to Venice part of the holiday, with a scenic train ride through the fantastic scenery of the Austrian Tyrol, via the Rhine Gorge and the Brenner Pass. Spend 3 nights in the unforgettable city of Venice before returning via historic Turin.
From £999
Offer
8 Days
  • Chur
  • Como
  • Freiburg
Travel out to one of Italy's most sought-after holiday regions, majestic Lake Como. Take the train via Paris to Chur in Switzerland, then make your entrance in style via the Bernina Express and boat.
From £1,149
Offer
7 Days
  • Chur
  • Brig
  • Venice
  • Munich
Make the journey part of the holiday with train travel from London to Switzerland, a night in Chur and then a spectacular ride aboard the Glacier Express en route to the stunning city of Venice.
From £1,249
Offer
7 Days
  • Turin
  • Venice
  • Vienna
Combine two fabulous destinations with the stunning Semmering Pass rail route across the Alps on this 6 night holiday to Venice and Vienna. Our suggested itinerary includes a night en route in Turin and an exciting overnight sleeper journey from Vienna back to Cologne.
From £999

Blogs About Italy

3 Apr, 2019
Depending on whether you are looking for the quickest, most cost-effective or most scenic route, there are many different routes that will deliver you seamlessly into the heart of Italy.
3 Apr, 2019
A good holiday, for me, always starts with a good train journey. However, when time is short, a quick flight has to do. Emily takes the Brenner Pass route through the Alps to Venice from Munich.
1 Jun, 2020
One of the most romantic and charismatic cities in the world, Rome is a vibrant mix of architecture, art and exciting street life. Three thousand years of urban development are apparent in world-famous landmarks like the Colosseum, Pantheon, St Peter’s Basilica and the Castel Sant’Angelo.
2 Apr, 2019
The Orient-Express (first called by its French moniker, Express d’Orient) began in 1883 as a long distance passenger service from Paris to what was then Constantinople, now Istanbul.
3 Apr, 2019
The cream and brown liveried carriages of the British Pullman looked rather out of place on a Saturday morning in London Victoria station. This though was where we were beginning our luxurious train journey to Venice, an over-dressed group of commuters waiting at Platform 2.
4 May, 2020
The Amalfi Coast stretches along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula from the Gulf of Naples to the Gulf of Salerno. It’s been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1997 and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy.
15 Jun, 2020
The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda sits to the west of the beautiful city of Verona and lies within the states of Veneto and Lombardy.  It is a popular destination with visitors from across the world thanks to the scenery, cuisine and culture.