Marvellous Escapes
Grand Italian Rail Adventure
16 daysfrom $5,140
Planet Rail · Independent tailor-made rail holiday
A trio of the best Italian Lakes by First Class rail
Explore Italy’s stunning lakes on a luxurious rail experience. Travel in first-class comfort through beautiful scenery, visiting Como, Garda, and Maggiore.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Zurich
By rail to Switzerland
From London St Pancras International board the Eurostar to Paris, with a light meal and drinks served at your seat in Standard Premier Class. In Paris a private taxi transfers you to the Gare de Lyon for the high-speed TGV to Zurich. Overnight at the popular Hotel Helmhaus (4 star), with time for a whistle-stop tour of the Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse, the Grossmünster, Fraumünster and St Peterskirche.
- Day 2overnight: Lenno, Lake Como
Through Switzerland to Lake Como
From Zurich station join the Euro City service along the spectacular Gotthard route, past soaring mountain peaks and through the Gotthard Tunnel into Italy. From Como station take a taxi or a picturesque ferry (payable locally) along the lake to Lenno, for four nights at the highly-rated Hotel Albergo Lenno (4 star) with glorious views over Lake Como.
- Day 3overnight: Lenno, Lake Como
Exploring Lake Como
A full day to relax at your hotel or stroll around Lenno; perhaps take a ferry to nearby Bellagio with its narrow cobbled streets, breath-taking views and glorious villas, or visit Villa Carlotta with its luxurious interiors and over 500 species of plants.
- Day 4overnight: Lenno, Lake Como
Exploring Lake Como
Travel by ferry to the lovely town of Como to visit the Duomo and wander the historic walled centre, or to picturesque Varenna with its steep winding alleys, ancient castle, Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero.
- Day 5railovernight: Lenno, Lake Como
Exploring Lake Como
Take the cog train to Monte Bre for views of Lake Lugano, ride the funicular up to Brunate for breath-taking views of Lake Como and the Alps, or visit medieval Bergamo with its Piazza Vecchia.
- Day 6railovernight: Desenzano, Lake Garda
Lake Como to Lake Garda
Return down the lake to Como station (payable locally) and join the train south to Milan. At Milan’s art-deco Centrale station change to the Eurostar Italia service to Desenzano on Lake Garda, where a private taxi transfer takes you to the stylish Park Hotel (4 star) overlooking the lake for four nights.
- Day 7overnight: Desenzano, Lake Garda
Exploring Lake Garda
See Lake Garda at its best on a relaxing lake cruise (payable locally); ferry destinations include Limone, Riva del Garda or Malcesine in the north and Torri del Benaco, Lazise or Sirmione in the south, the latter with narrow medieval streets and a 13th century castle.
- Day 8overnight: Desenzano, Lake Garda
Exploring Lake Garda
Relax in Desenzano with its inter-connected squares, shops, ice cream parlours and pavement cafés, plus a medieval castle and the ruins of a Roman villa.
- Day 9railovernight: Desenzano, Lake Garda
Exploring Lake Garda
Take advantage of the local rail network to explore further afield: timeless Venice, the charming walled city of Verona and Bolzano in the heart of the Dolomites are all easily accessible by train.
- Day 10railovernight: Stresa, Lake Maggiore
Lake Garda to Lake Maggiore
A private taxi transfer returns you to the station for the Eurostar Italia service to Milan, connecting with the Euro City northwards to Stresa on Lake Maggiore, a short distance from the charming Hotel La Luna Nel Porto (3 star), your base for four nights.
- Day 11railovernight: Stresa, Lake Maggiore
The Lake Maggiore Express (supplements apply)
Optionally discover more of Lake Maggiore on the Lake Maggiore Express: ferry to Locarno on the Swiss part of the lake, then the wonderfully scenic Centovalli Railway across viaducts and bridges, past ravines and waterfalls to Domodossola, connecting back to Stresa by rail.
- Day 12overnight: Stresa, Lake Maggiore
Stresa and Lake Maggiore
Unwind in Stresa’s old town and picturesque waterfront, or hop on a ferry to the islands including Isola Bella with the gorgeous Borromeo Palace and its Italian gardens (lake cruise payable locally).
- Day 13overnight: Stresa, Lake Maggiore
Stresa and Lake Maggiore
A further day to explore: perhaps travel west to lesser-known, utterly charming Lake Orta, or relax at your hotel with its lovely views of the lake.
- Day 14railovernight: Montreux
Stresa to Montreux on Lake Geneva
Board the Euro City service from Stresa as the train snakes through the spectacular scenery of the Swiss Alps to Montreux on Lake Geneva. Overnight at the belle époque Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior) next to the station; if time permits visit the nearby Château de Chillon.
- Day 15rail
Homeward bound
Join the Inter Regio train to Lausanne, connect with the TGV to Paris, then a private taxi transfer to the Gare du Nord for the Eurostar back to London St. Pancras International, with light meal and drinks in Standard Premier.
Included
- First Class rail travel throughout (Standard Premier on Eurostar)
- 3/4 star accommodation throughout
- Lake views at all hotels in Italy (subject to availability and prices)
- Private taxi transfers (across Paris between stations; Desenzano station-hotel)
Not included
- Como station to Lenno transfer (taxi or ferry, payable locally)
- Lake Garda cruises (payable locally)
- Lake Maggiore island cruises (payable locally)
