Sicily and the Amalfi Coast by Rail

With your base at the eastern end of the Amalfi Coast in the fishing village of Vietri Sul Mare, you will have ample time to explore this local area, perhaps venturing as far west as Amalfi itself. The hotel can recommend some activities, or you can simply relax by the pool and gaze over the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.

TMR RECOMMENDS: We’ve allowed 2 nights for you in Vietri Sul Mare in order to get a taste of the region. However, if you wish to stay longer and perhaps base yourself further along the coast in Positano for instance, we can certainly arrange this for you.

Take a mid-morning train from Salerno station. This service runs down the western coast of Italy and right onto the “toe”, before arriving at the Straits of Messina. The train then runs onto a boat as you cross the Straits, seamlessly connecting with the Sicilian rail network and onwards down to Catania.

Upon arrival, check in at the centrally located Romano House Hotel (or similar), where you have a 4-night stay.

With three full days in Catania, on Sicily’s eastern coastline, you will have plenty of time to explore, including the possibility to visit the beautiful nearby towns of Taormina and Syracuse.

Catania is an ancient port city, dominated by the infamous Mount Etna, which you can climb for stunning coastal views. On weekdays, don’t miss the bustling fish market on the corner of Piazza del Duomo. You can, of course sample the fish on any day of the week at one of the city’s great seafood restaurants.

Hop on board one of the brand new Sicilian regional trains that winds its way through the interior of the island and arrives into the port-city of Palermo, your base for the next three days.

Make your way to the Quintocanto Hotel (or similar), right in the middle of town within easy reach of the main sights, and check in for a 3-night stay.

Sicily’s vibrant capital, Palermo, is an important southern Italian cultural centre boasting world-class museums, architecture and gastronomy. You have two full days here to explore the city to the full. You might also perhaps like to venture out to the popular seaside town of Cefalu, with its famous 12th-century cathedral.

Depart Palermo at lunchtime and settle into your comfortable private compartment for the journey all the way up to Milan. You’ll cross the Straits of Messina once again, then through Calabria and Lazio as the sun sets. Awake in northern Italy near the port of Genoa and arrive into Milan mid-way through the morning.

Board a comfortable EuroCity train that runs northbound to Turin. Stop overnight at the Starhotels Majestic (or similar), close to Porta Nuova station in the centre of the city. You arrive in the mid-afternoon here so you have time for a stroll around the heart of the city. Turin has been an important political centre since the middle ages and offers a wealth of grand architecture as well some world-class museums.

Leave early this morning and make your way to Porta Susa station for a TGV service to Paris. Arriving at the Gare de Lyon, connect with a Eurostar from the Gare du Nord back through the Channel Tunnel to London, arriving in the evening. If you’d rather have a leisurely start from Turin and extend your holiday, you might also like to consider spending a night in Paris on your way back to the UK. Please let us know if you would like to add this to your package.