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Euroventure · Self-guided rail holiday

Best of Italy: 2 Weeks

Self-guided rail journey through six Italian cities, Milan to Rome.

Illustration of Best of Italy: 2 Weeks

Euroventure's Best of Italy is a 14-day self-guided rail journey linking six of Italy's most visited cities: Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and a day trip to Pisa. The trip begins in Milan, where you have two nights to explore the Duomo and Sforza Castle, then moves to Venice by high-speed train for three nights of wandering canals and squares. You continue by train to Bologna for two nights, tasting local tagliatelle al ragu, then Florence for three nights to see Michelangelo's David and Renaissance art. A day trip by train reaches the Leaning Tower of Pisa before you head to Rome for the final three nights, visiting the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Vatican. All train tickets and seat reservations are included, along with centrally located hotel or hostel accommodation, directions, and a personalised travel pack. This suits first-time rail travellers and independent explorers who want the structure of booked hotels and trains without a guide, moving between cities on journeys of no more than 2.5 hours.

What to know before you look closer

  • Accommodation is in hostels or hotels your choice after booking; the operator tests locations but the final hotel may vary by tier and city.
  • Train tickets are included only for the main route between cities; any extra journeys are your responsibility.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Milan (2 nights)

    Milan

    Italy's fashion and design capital. Highlights: the Duomo, Sforza Castle, shopping.

  2. Day 3railovernight: Venice (3 nights)

    Milan/Venice

    2.5-hour train to Venice. Highlights: St Mark's Square, getting lost in the canal alleyways, a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal.

  3. Day 6railovernight: Bologna (2 nights)

    Venice/Bologna

    1.5-hour train to Bologna. Highlights: medieval towers, tagliatelle al ragu, the Quadrilatero food district.

  4. Day 8railovernight: Florence (3 nights)

    Bologna/Florence

    1-hour train to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Highlights: Michelangelo's David, Renaissance chapels and churches, gelato.

  5. Day 10railovernight: Florence

    Pisa (day trip)

    1-hour train each way to Pisa. Highlights: the Leaning Tower, Piazza dei Miracoli and the Pisa Cathedral, a walk along the Arno river.

  6. Day 11railovernight: Rome (3 nights)

    Florence/Rome

    2-hour train to Rome. Highlights: the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, real Italian coffee, ice cream and pizza, and the Vatican.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 32.5-hour train arrival in Venice; a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal.
  • Day 61.5-hour train to Bologna to taste tagliatelle al ragu in the Quadrilatero food district.

Included

  • Train tickets from the first to the last city on the route
  • All possible seat reservations, not just the compulsory ones
  • Accommodation in top-rated, centrally located hostels or hotels, tested by the operator
  • Walking or public transport directions between stations and accommodation
  • Travel Disruption Protection (alternative travel if strike or similar disruption)
  • 24hr emergency phone number
  • A personalised travel pack with travel times, accommodation info, directions, language guides and things to see and do
  • Exclusive discounts on attractions across Europe
  • 1GB of free eSIM data, with the option to add more

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Euroventure includes all train tickets along the route from Milan to Rome, plus all seat reservations.
Is this an escorted tour or self-guided?
Self-guided. You travel independently between cities. A 24-hour emergency phone line and personalised travel pack with directions are included, but there is no group leader or daily itinerary.
Which trains are used?
The itinerary uses high-speed trains; all journeys are 2.5 hours or less.
What is included in the price?
Train tickets, seat reservations, accommodation in centrally located hostels or hotels, walking directions to your hotel, Travel Disruption Protection, a personalised travel pack with language guides and attraction information, and 1GB of free eSIM data.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Plan for city walking tours in each destination and navigation between stations and hotels. Day trips and attractions require walking around historic sites.
What is not included?
Meals, attraction entrance fees, and activities beyond the walking directions in the travel pack are not included. Euroventure does offer exclusive discounts on attractions.

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