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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Bregenz and Verona Opera Festivals by First Class Rail

Nine days of First Class rail through Alps to opera in Bregenz and Verona

Illustration of Bregenz and Verona Opera Festivals by First Class Rail

Planet Rail's Bregenz and Verona Opera Festivals by First Class Rail is a 9-day, self-guided journey for opera lovers and rail enthusiasts. Beginning in London and ending in Lausanne, you travel by Eurostar and First Class rail across six countries, threading through the Alps via two legendary scenic routes: the Arlberg from Bregenz to Innsbruck, and the Brenner Pass from Innsbruck to Verona. The itinerary centres on two operatic evenings: one on the Bregenz floating lakeside stage overlooking Lake Constance, and one by candlelight inside Verona's Roman amphitheatre. Along the way, you stay four nights in Zurich, Bregenz, Verona, and Montreux, all 4-star hotels with daily breakfast. The pacing is relaxed, with two full days of free exploration in Bregenz (including an optional cable car ascent of Pfänder mountain) and Verona (with options to visit Valpolicella vineyards or Lake Garda). Tailor-made by Planet Rail and unescorted, it suits couples, culture-minded travellers, and independent explorers seeking the marriage of high opera and Alpine rail travel.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of £2,895 per person assumes two people travelling together; the single-supplement cost is not stated in the pack.
  • Room upgrades are available but subject to availability and likely carry an extra charge.
  • Château de Chillon entrance fee on Day 9 is payable locally and not included.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zurich

    London to Switzerland by First Class rail

    From London St Pancras travel by Eurostar to Paris at speeds of up to 186mph, with a light meal and drinks served on board in Standard Premier Class. A private taxi transfer takes you across Paris to the Gare de Lyon to continue by TGV through France into Switzerland, arriving in the attractive lakeside city of Zurich. Overnight at the comfortable, highly-rated Hotel Helmhaus (4 star), a short walk from the station.

  2. Day 2overnight: Bregenz

    Through Switzerland to Austria and onwards to Bregenz

    After breakfast make a whistle-stop tour of Zurich: the Old Town either side of the River Limmat, the shops of Bahnhofstrasse, the baroque Rathaus and the Grossmünster, Fraumünster and St Peterskirche churches. Then join the comfortable EuroCity service along Lake Zurich and east through picturesque mountain scenery into Austria and on to Bregenz. Three nights at the stylish Hotel Schwarzler (4 star).

    Meals: breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Bregenz

    Bregenz and a night at the Bregenz Opera

    Explore the picturesque old town on foot, from the Martinsturm Tower to the Gothic Church of St Gallus, then stroll the Lake Promenade on idyllic Lake Constance. This evening take your seat at the magnificent open-air auditorium to admire the floating Lake Stage, the largest in the world and a location in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, for a mesmerising operatic performance.

    Meals: breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Bregenz

    Bregenz

    A full day to explore. Walk (2 to 3 hours) or take the cable car (6 minutes) up the Pfänder mountain for a 360 degree view across Lake Constance, with a mountain-top restaurant, alpine wildlife park and birds of prey show. Alternatively choose from a variety of Lake Constance boat cruises including the three-country cruise, the Flower Island of Mainau and the city of Konstanz, or swim, hike or cycle.

    Meals: breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Verona

    Bregenz to Verona via Innsbruck

    After breakfast board your train for the spectacular journey south-east along the scenic Arlberg route to Innsbruck. Change trains for the journey along the Brenner Pass with breath-taking views of the Italian Dolomites, arriving into Italy and on to Verona. Three nights at the richly evocative Hotel Accademia, close to Piazza Bra.

    Meals: breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Verona

    Verona, the surrounding area and a night at the Verona Opera

    Stroll this attractive walled city famous for Romeo and Juliet: Piazza Brà, San Zeno Maggiore, Piazza dei Signori and Piazza Erbe close to Juliet's balcony. This evening join the crowds inside the wonderfully preserved Roman amphitheatre as thousands of candles light the spectacle; the Arena di Verona provides the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable night at the Opera.

    Meals: breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Verona

    The Roman city of Verona and the surrounding area

    A further day to enjoy Verona. For a change of scene venture out to the Valpolicella vineyards, the Palladian delights of Vicenza or take to the waters of stunning Lake Garda.

    Meals: breakfast

  8. Day 8railovernight: Montreux

    Verona through the Alps to Lake Geneva

    After breakfast board the Eurostar Italia service at Verona Porta Nuova for the First Class journey to Milan, then join the EuroCity service snaking into the Alps for the spectacular journey through the Simplon Pass to lakeside Montreux on Lake Geneva. Overnight at the recently refurbished belle époque Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star), right next to the station.

    Meals: breakfast

  9. Day 9rail

    Free time in Montreux - Montreux to London - Homeward bound

    This morning perhaps visit the stunning medieval Château de Chillon (payable locally), one of the best-preserved castles in Europe. Then join the InterRegio train to Lausanne, change onto the TGV to Paris, and after a taxi transfer to the Gare du Nord board the Eurostar home, with light meal and drinks in Standard Premier service, arriving into London St Pancras International.

    Meals: breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3An evening at the Bregenz Opera Festival on the floating Lake Stage (the world's largest open-air stage) on Lake Constance
  • Day 5The scenic Arlberg route from Bregenz to Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass journey south into the Italian Dolomites
  • Day 6An operatic performance in the Roman Arena di Verona by candlelight, one of the world's best-preserved amphitheatres
  • Day 8The EuroCity train through the Simplon Pass in the Alps connecting Milan to Montreux on Lake Geneva

Included

  • Eurostar Standard Premier Class return service between London and Paris
  • First Class rail travel from Paris to Zurich, Zurich to Bregenz, Bregenz to Verona, Verona to Montreux and Montreux to Paris
  • 8 nights' accommodation in 4 star hotels with breakfast each day, including 3 nights in Bregenz and Verona and overnight stays in Zurich and Montreux
  • Category 2 tickets for the Bregenz Opera festival lakeside stage and poltroncine centrale di gradinata tickets for the Verona Opera festival
  • Taxi transfers in Paris

Not included

  • Château de Chillon entrance (payable locally)

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. Eurostar Standard Premier Class London to Paris and back, plus First Class rail throughout the route from Paris via Zurich, Bregenz, Innsbruck, and Verona to Montreux, Lausanne, and back to Paris are all included.
Are the opera tickets included?
Yes. Category 2 tickets for the Bregenz Opera lakeside stage and poltroncine centrale di gradinata (central front-block) tickets for the Verona Opera are both included.
What hotels are included?
Hotel Helmhaus (4-star) in Zurich for 1 night, Hotel Schwärzler (4-star) in Bregenz for 3 nights, Hotel Accademia (4-star) in Verona for 3 nights, and Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4-star) in Montreux for 1 night. Breakfast is included each day.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
This is a self-guided, tailor-made itinerary by Planet Rail. There is no escort; you travel and explore at your own pace.
Which named trains will I travel on?
Eurostar (London to Paris and return), TGV (Paris to Zurich and Lausanne to Paris), EuroCity (Zurich to Bregenz and Milan to Montreux), trains on the Arlberg and Brenner Pass routes (Bregenz to Innsbruck and Innsbruck to Verona), Eurostar Italia (Verona to Milan), and InterRegio (Montreux to Lausanne).
How much free time is built in?
Day 4 in Bregenz is entirely free to walk, take a cable car, enjoy boat cruises, swim, hike or cycle. Day 7 in Verona offers optional activities such as visits to the Valpolicella vineyards, Vicenza, or Lake Garda.

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