How much does it cost?

From £3,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,726 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes, First Class rail travel is included throughout, along with Eurostar Plus service with light meals from London to Paris and back, and the Bernina Express from Tirano to St Moritz.

Is it escorted or independent?

Escorted. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group throughout.

What hotels are used?

10 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels, including a night in Turin, three nights in Montecatini Terme, two nights at the Grand Hotel di Parma, three nights in Lake Como at either the Hotel Barchetta Excelsior or Palace Hotel Como, and a night in Chambéry.

The evidence lists 4 departures, in April, May, June and September 2027.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance, and a visit to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, which must be booked in advance separately.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Best of Tuscany, Bologna, Como & Bernina Express

Eleven-day escorted tour through Tuscany, Bologna, Como and the Bernina Express

Great Rail Journeys operates this 11-day escorted tour from London through France, Italy and Switzerland, with a UK Tour Manager accompanying the group throughout. The journey begins on the Eurostar Plus to Paris, continues by First Class rail to Turin, and settles into three bases in turn: Montecatini Terme for Tuscany, Parma for Emilia-Romagna's food cities, and Lake Como. Days combine guided city tours, such as Florence's Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David and Bologna's medieval markets, with hands-on food experiences including a pizza-making lesson near San Gimignano and a Parma ham factory tasting in Langhirano. A boat cruise crosses Lake Como to Bellagio before the tour crosses into Switzerland on the Bernina Express, riding First Class panoramic carriages over the Bernina Pass, and finishes with a night in the French city of Chambéry. It suits travelers who want a mix of Renaissance art, regional food and a scenic Alpine rail crossing in one trip.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £3,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Lake Como accommodation is one of two named hotels, the Hotel Barchetta Excelsior or the Palace Hotel Como, so which one you get is not fixed in the evidence.
Several days include free time for independent exploration rather than a guided activity, for example the afternoon in Florence on day 3 and the free afternoon in Parma on day 6.
A visit to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is listed as an optional extra that must be booked in advance and is not included in the tour price.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Turin
From London to Turin
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and join the Eurostar Plus service with a light meal en route to Paris, then switch trains across France to Turin, the first capital of Italy. Check in to the hotel and gather for dinner.
Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Montecatini Terme
A morning in Turin and onwards to Tuscany
A free morning to explore Turin, then a First Class rail journey to Florence followed by a coach transfer to Montecatini Terme, the base for the next three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Montecatini Terme
Exploring Tuscany's Renaissance capital, Florence
Travel by rail to Florence for a guided tour taking in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Piazza della Signoria, the Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Repubblica, plus the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David. The afternoon and evening are free.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4overnight: Montecatini Terme
Pizza, wine and old-world charms in San Gimignano
Visit Tenuta Torciano, a family-run wine estate outside San Gimignano, for a pizza-making lesson, lunch and wine tasting, then explore the medieval hill town of San Gimignano before returning to Montecatini.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5overnight: Parma
An indulgent journey in Italy's culinary capital
Travel north to Bologna for a guided tour of Piazza Maggiore, Neptune's Fountain and the leaning 'Two Towers', followed by a gastronomic tour of a medieval market, artisan shops and a chocolate factory. Continue to Parma for a two-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Parma
Getting to know the charming city of Parma
A morning walking tour of Parma taking in Palazzo Ducale, the Baptistery, Piazza Garibaldi and the Duomo, followed by a visit to a Parma ham factory in Langhirano to see prosciutto being made and enjoy a tasting and lunch.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7overnight: Como
Milan's stunning Duomo and Alpine views in Lake Como
Travel towards Como via Milan, with a guided tour of the Gothic Duomo (including rooftop admission), Castello Sforzesco and Montenapoleone. Continue by coach to Como and check in to the hotel ahead of a group dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8overnight: Como
Cruising the picturesque waters of Lake Como to Bellagio
A guided walk through Como's Old Town and Gothic Duomo, then a boat cruise across Lake Como to Bellagio, the 'Pearl of Lake Como', with a free afternoon before cruising back to Como for a free evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9railovernight: Como
Crossing the Swiss Alps on the Bernina Express
Transfer by coach to Tirano and board the Bernina Express in reverse, from Tirano to St Moritz, crossing the Bernina Pass and Ospizio Bernina above 7,300 feet. Free time in St Moritz before returning to Como for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10railovernight: Chambéry
To the idyllic French city of Chambéry
A slow morning at Lake Como before a coach to Milan's railway station for a four-hour train journey to Chambéry, France, crossing the Alps. Check in and enjoy the final dinner of the holiday.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11rail
Homeward bound
Walk to Chambéry's station to join the train to Paris, switching to Eurostar Plus seats with a light meal en route to London St Pancras.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3A guided tour of Florence takes in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Piazza della Signoria, Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio and the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David.
Day 4At the Tenuta Torciano wine estate near San Gimignano, the tour includes a pizza-making lesson and wine tasting followed by lunch.
Day 6In Langhirano, the tour visits a Parma ham factory for a tasting, followed by a lunch featuring local products.
Day 8A boat cruise crosses Lake Como to Bellagio, known as the 'Pearl of Lake Como'.
Day 9The Bernina Express crosses the Swiss Alps in panoramic First Class carriages, passing the Brusio corkscrew viaduct, the Palü Glacier and Ospizio Bernina at more than 7,300 feet.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
10 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Plus First Class rail travel
All rail, boat and coach travel throughout your tour
Eurostar Light Meals
Breakfast each day, 2 lunches, 6 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,726 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes, First Class rail travel is included throughout, along with Eurostar Plus service with light meals from London to Paris and back, and the Bernina Express from Tirano to St Moritz.
Is it escorted or independent?: Escorted. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group throughout.
What hotels are used?: 10 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels, including a night in Turin, three nights in Montecatini Terme, two nights at the Grand Hotel di Parma, three nights in Lake Como at either the Hotel Barchetta Excelsior or Palace Hotel Como, and a night in Chambéry.
When does it run?: The evidence lists 4 departures, in April, May, June and September 2027.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance, and a visit to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, which must be booked in advance separately.