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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Around Europe by Train

35-day independent rail grand tour across 9 European countries

Illustration of Around Europe by Train

Railbookers operates this 35-day, 34-night independent rail vacation across 9 European countries, from Amsterdam to Munich. The route moves through Brussels, Paris, and Barcelona before a run of Swiss mountain scenery: Montreux, Interlaken, Lucerne, Zermatt, and St Moritz, linked by three named panoramic trains, the GoldenPass Express, the Glacier Express, and the Bernina Express, plus day trips to Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat, Europe's two highest-altitude railway points. From there the trip crosses into Italy for Milan, Rome, Florence, and Venice, then north to Vienna, Prague, and Berlin, ending with three nights in Munich that include day trips to Dachau and Neuschwanstein Castle. Along the way, included tours cover sites such as the Colosseum, the Sagrada Familia, and the Doge's Palace. Because it is independent rather than fully escorted, travelers move between the 17 stops on their own between the included guided moments. It suits experienced travelers ready for a long, train-centered grand tour of Europe rather than a shorter regional trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • No hotel names are given in the evidence, only nights with breakfast per city; confirm specific hotels with Railbookers.
  • The evidence's itinerary is missing a day 27 entry (the second of two nights in Vienna); confirm what's planned for that day with Railbookers.
  • The Mount Pilatus day trip on day 15 is listed as seasonal, May through October; confirm timing if traveling outside that window.
  • No specific departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm current availability directly with Railbookers.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Amsterdam

    Your Journey Begins in Amsterdam

    Check into your hotel and start exploring; Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, or the Stedelijk.

  2. Day 2overnight: Amsterdam

    Amsterdam

    Stroll through Oost, photo at the 'I Amsterdam' letters, discover the Begijnhof.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Brussels

    Amsterdam to Brussels

    IC train from Amsterdam to Brussels; visit the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  4. Day 4overnight: Brussels

    Brussels

    Église Notre-Dame du Sablon, St-Gilles Town Hall, Place du Jeu-de-Balle Flea Market, chocolate and pistolet.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Paris

    Brussels to Paris

    High-speed direct train to Paris; explore with your hop-on hop-off pass and a Seine cruise.

  6. Day 6overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Skip-the-line tour to the top of the Eiffel Tower; explore with the hop-on hop-off pass.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Barcelona

    Paris to Barcelona

    High-speed train through the Pyrenees to Barcelona; check in for a three-night stay.

  8. Day 8overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Multi-day hop-on hop-off tour: Sagrada Familia, the Medieval Gothic Quarter, Casa Batllo, Montjuic.

  9. Day 9overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Skip-the-line Sagrada Familia tour; stroll Las Ramblas.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Montreux

    Barcelona to Montreux

    Train journey via Lyon and Geneva to Montreux; evening stroll along the lake.

  11. Day 11overnight: Montreux

    Montreux

    Boat ride across Lake Geneva to Chillon Castle, included entrance.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Interlaken

    The GoldenPass Express to Interlaken

    Scenic GoldenPass Express with breakfast box; Harder Kulm funicular for views of Interlaken and the Jungfrau.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Interlaken

    Day Trip to Jungfraujoch

    Climb to Europe's highest-altitude railway station via Kleine Scheidegg and Eigergletscher.

  14. Day 14railovernight: Lucerne

    Interlaken to Lucerne

    Train past Lake Brienz and Meiringen to Lucerne; evening gourmet dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne.

  15. Day 15railovernight: Lucerne

    Day Trip to Mount Pilatus

    Cruise on Lake Lucerne then the steepest rack railway in the world to Mount Pilatus (seasonal, May-Oct).

  16. Day 16railovernight: Zermatt

    Lucerne to Zermatt

    Train via Bern, then via Visp to Zermatt for a two-night stay.

  17. Day 17railovernight: Zermatt

    Day Trip to Gornergrat

    Europe's highest climbing mountain railway, from 5262ft to 10138ft, with Matterhorn views.

  18. Day 18railovernight: St. Moritz

    The Glacier Express to St Moritz

    Panoramic red carriages across Switzerland to St Moritz.

  19. Day 19railovernight: Milan

    The Bernina Express to Milan

    Bernina Express south to Tirano, Italy, then local train to Milan.

  20. Day 20railovernight: Rome

    Milan to Rome

    Direct high-speed train to Rome; evening walking tour with local cuisine.

  21. Day 21overnight: Rome

    Rome

    Guided tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

  22. Day 22railovernight: Florence

    Rome to Florence

    Train to Florence; evening private Florentine gondola ride along the river Arno.

  23. Day 23overnight: Florence

    Florence

    Skip-the-line Accademia Gallery (Statue of David) and Uffizi Gallery.

  24. Day 24railovernight: Venice

    Florence to Venice

    Train to Venice for a two-night stay; stroll the canals.

  25. Day 25overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Small group tour of the Doge's Palace and Golden Basilica, plus a guided walking tour.

  26. Day 26railovernight: Vienna

    Venice to Vienna

    Direct train from Venice Santa Lucia to Vienna for a two-night stay.

  27. Day 28railovernight: Prague

    Vienna to Prague

    Train from Vienna to Prague for a two-night stay; stroll the Old Town and Astronomical Clock.

  28. Day 29overnight: Prague

    Prague

    Prague Castle and a food walking tour.

  29. Day 30railovernight: Berlin

    Prague to Berlin

    Direct train to Berlin via Dresden; visit the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate.

  30. Day 31railovernight: Berlin

    Around Europe By Train

    Explore Berlin: East Side Gallery, Brandenburg Gate, included walking tour.

  31. Day 32railovernight: Munich

    Berlin to Munich

    High-speed ICE train from Berlin to Munich for a three-night stay.

  32. Day 33overnight: Munich

    Day Trip to Dachau Concentration Camp

    Half-day guided tour of Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site from Munich.

  33. Day 34overnight: Munich

    Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle

    Guided tour through Bavarian countryside to Neuschwanstein Castle.

  34. Day 35

    Your Journey Ends in Munich

    Check out and continue onward travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 13The trip climbs to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest-altitude railway station, via Kleine Scheidegg and Eigergletscher.
  • Day 17The Gornergrat mountain railway climbs from 5,262 to 10,138 feet, Europe's highest climbing mountain railway, with views of the Matterhorn.
  • Day 18The Glacier Express crosses Switzerland to St Moritz in panoramic red carriages.
  • Day 19The Bernina Express runs south to Tirano, Italy, before a local train continues to Milan.
  • Day 21A guided tour covers the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in Rome.

Included

  • Rail travel as per itinerary
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Amsterdam
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Brussels
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Paris
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Barcelona
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Montreux
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Interlaken
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Lucerne
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Zermatt
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast in St Moritz
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Milan
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Rome
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Florence
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Venice
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Vienna
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Prague
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Berlin
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Munich
  • 15-Day Swiss Pass
  • Multi-day Hop-on, Hop-Off tour in Paris with River Cruise
  • Tickets for the Eiffel Tower with Priority Entrance and Summit
  • Barcelona Hop-on, Hop-off Tour
  • Skip The Line: Sagrada Familia Tour
  • Return Boat Journey from Montreux to Château de Chillon with Admission
  • Harder Kulm Funicular Excursion
  • Day Trip from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch
  • Lake Lucerne Gourmet Cruise
  • Day Trip to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne
  • Day Trip to Gornergrat from Zermatt with Priority Boarding
  • Reservation fees for the GoldenPass Express, Glacier Express, and Bernina Express
  • Small-Group Rome Food Walking Tour at Night
  • Small-Group Tour of Rome with the Roman Forum and Colosseum
  • Private Sunset Florentine Boat Ride in Florence
  • Small-Group Walking Tour of Florence with the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries
  • Small-group Walking Tour of Venice with the Doge's Palace and St Marks Basilica
  • Vienna Explorer Pass - Choice of 3 Attractions including Schönbrunn Palace Tour, Imperial Treasury, and Hop-on, Hop-off Tour
  • Multi-day Hop-on, Hop-Off tour in Prague with River Cruise
  • Multi-day Hop-on, Hop-Off tour in Berlin
  • Small-Group Walking Tour of Berlin
  • Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich
  • Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. "Rail travel as per itinerary" is in Railbookers' included list, using Renfe, Swiss Railways, SNCF, Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn, plus the GoldenPass Express, Glacier Express, and Bernina Express.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent rail vacation. It includes numerous guided tours and skip-the-line entries along the way (the Colosseum, Sagrada Familia, Doge's Palace, and more), but travelers move between the 17 stops on their own.
How many cities does the trip visit?
17: Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Montreux, Interlaken, Lucerne, Zermatt, St Moritz, Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, and Munich.
Which scenic trains are included?
Three named panoramic Swiss trains: the GoldenPass Express (Montreux to Interlaken), the Glacier Express (Zermatt to St Moritz), and the Bernina Express (St Moritz to Tirano).
When does the Mount Pilatus day trip run?
It is listed as seasonal, May through October.
What is the starting price?
From $9,749 per person, which works out to about $279 per day, according to Railbookers' listed price.

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