Is train travel included in the price?

Yes. Marvellous Escapes includes all train journeys between Geneva, Venice, Florence, Manarola, and Rome, as well as local rail within Cinque Terre via the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card. The from-price is GBP 2,899.

Is this trip escorted or independent?

It is a tailor-made independent journey between destinations with guided excursions at each stop (walking tours, museum visits, and archaeological tours). Marvellous Escapes provides 24-hour on-trip support.

Which trains are used?

The itinerary names Eurostar (London to Paris as a gateway option), high-speed trains from Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome, and regional trains in Tuscany and Cinque Terre. Specific train names for all segments are not provided.

What accommodation is included?

One night in Geneva, two nights in Venice, three nights in Florence, three nights in a private apartment in Manarola, and three nights in Rome. Breakfast is included at all hotels except Manarola.

How much free time do I have?

You have unguided time on Day 4 in Florence and your first evening in Rome. Days 8 and 9 in Manarola are entirely at leisure with a rail card to explore the five villages independently.

What guided excursions are included?

A Venice walking tour and gondola ride; a full-day Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa tour with wine tasting; a small-group Uffizi Gallery tour; a Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum tour; and a semi-private Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica tour (maximum 15 people).

Marvellous Escapes · Tailor-made rail holiday

Alps to the Eternal City

Rail journey from Geneva through Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre to Rome

Alps to the Eternal City is a 13-day tailor-made rail holiday operated by Marvellous Escapes that takes you from Geneva through Switzerland and Italy to Rome, with extended stays in Venice, Florence, the Cinque Terre village of Manarola, and Rome. The journey balances guided cultural experiences with independent exploration. You begin with a night in Geneva, then travel by train to Venice for two nights of walking tours past St. Mark's Basilica and gondola rides. Next, a high-speed train carries you to Florence for three nights, where you explore Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery and take a full-day excursion to the Tuscan towns of Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa. You then spend three nights in Manarola, a clifftop village in Cinque Terre, with leisure time to explore five colourful coastal towns by local train. Finally, a scenic rail journey south brings you to Rome for three nights, where guided tours include the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Vatican. All train travel between cities, hotel accommodation with breakfast, and major guided excursions are included; Marvellous Escapes provides 24-hour on-trip support throughout.

What to know before you look closer

The from-price of GBP 2,899 is stated for the holiday package; confirm whether train fares beyond the included segments are added separately or covered in the final booking.
Day 13 offers a choice: return to the UK by flight or extend your stay by rail; the itinerary does not detail additional costs or logistics for the rail extension option.
The trip includes a mix of guided group tours (capped at 15 for the Vatican) and unguided time; confirm your personal preferences for independence versus structured activities before booking.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Geneva
Geneva
Board the Eurostar from London to Paris, then take a direct train to Geneva. On arrival, head to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 2overnight: Venice
Venice
Travel through Swiss and Italian countryside to the romantic city of Venice. Enjoy your first evening soaking up the atmosphere, perhaps with a stroll through St. Mark's Square or along the Grand Canal.
Day 3overnight: Venice
Venice
Immerse yourself in the magic of Venice with a guided walking tour past St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Rialto Bridge, then step aboard a traditional gondola for a serene canal ride.
Day 4railovernight: Florence
Florence
Board a high-speed train from Venice to Florence. Arriving in the birthplace of the Renaissance, explore at your own pace, perhaps visiting the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, or a traditional trattoria.
Day 5overnight: Florence
Florence
A guided group tour of Siena including its stunning Cathedral, followed by a Tuscan lunch and wine tasting at a farm near San Gimignano, then a visit to San Gimignano's medieval streets and Pisa's Leaning Tower.
Day 6overnight: Florence
Florence
A small group guided tour of the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery with skip-the-line access, exploring Renaissance masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
Day 7railovernight: Manarola
Manarola
Travel by train through Tuscany to La Spezia, then a short regional train to Manarola, one of the five villages of Cinque Terre. Settle into your own apartment and receive your Cinque Terre card. Enjoy a wine cellar tasting in the afternoon.
Day 8railovernight: Manarola
Manarola
Day one of two full days at leisure in Manarola with your Cinque Terre Treno MS Card, exploring Riomaggiore, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare by train.
Day 9railovernight: Manarola
Manarola
A second day at leisure in Manarola and the Cinque Terre villages, using your rail card to explore at your own pace.
Day 10railovernight: Rome
Rome
Travel south via La Spezia to a fast train to Rome. Your first evening is free to soak in the Eternal City, perhaps admiring the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, or the Trevi Fountain illuminated at night.
Day 11overnight: Rome
Rome
An exclusive tour of the Colosseum's Arena, followed by Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, exploring the heart of ancient Roman public life.
Day 12overnight: Rome
Rome
A semi-private tour (maximum 15 people) of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, including the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Baldachin.
Day 13rail
Return home
Check out of your hotel today and head to the airport for your flight back to the UK. Alternatively, extend your stay to explore more of Italy by rail.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Guided walking tour past St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, then a traditional gondola ride through Venice's canals.
Day 5Full-day excursion to Siena Cathedral, San Gimignano's medieval streets, and Pisa's Leaning Tower, with Tuscan lunch and wine tasting at a farm.
Day 6Small-group guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery with skip-the-line access to see Renaissance masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael.
Day 7Arrive in Manarola, one of the five villages of Cinque Terre, settle into your own apartment, and enjoy a wine cellar tasting.
Day 11Guided tour of the Colosseum's Arena, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum, exploring the heart of ancient Rome.

Included

Overnight hotel accommodation in Geneva with breakfast included
2-nights hotel accommodation in Venice with breakfast included
3-nights hotel accommodation in Florence with breakfast included
3-nights apartment stay in Manarola
3-nights hotel accommodation in Rome with breakfast included
Flights to and from the UK (or a roundtrip train journey from London St. Pancras with extra night in Milan/Turin)
Venice Walking Tour & Gondola Ride
Full Day Tour To Siena, San Gimignano And Pisa With Lunch And Wine Tasting
Small Group Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour With Skip The Line Ticket
Guided Tour To Roman Forum, Palatine Hill And Colosseum With Gladiators' arena
Semi-private Tour Of Vatican Museums And St. Peter's Basilica

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?: Yes. Marvellous Escapes includes all train journeys between Geneva, Venice, Florence, Manarola, and Rome, as well as local rail within Cinque Terre via the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card. The from-price is GBP 2,899.
Is this trip escorted or independent?: It is a tailor-made independent journey between destinations with guided excursions at each stop (walking tours, museum visits, and archaeological tours). Marvellous Escapes provides 24-hour on-trip support.
Which trains are used?: The itinerary names Eurostar (London to Paris as a gateway option), high-speed trains from Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome, and regional trains in Tuscany and Cinque Terre. Specific train names for all segments are not provided.
What accommodation is included?: One night in Geneva, two nights in Venice, three nights in Florence, three nights in a private apartment in Manarola, and three nights in Rome. Breakfast is included at all hotels except Manarola.
How much free time do I have?: You have unguided time on Day 4 in Florence and your first evening in Rome. Days 8 and 9 in Manarola are entirely at leisure with a rail card to explore the five villages independently.
What guided excursions are included?: A Venice walking tour and gondola ride; a full-day Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa tour with wine tasting; a small-group Uffizi Gallery tour; a Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum tour; and a semi-private Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica tour (maximum 15 people).