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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Classics of France, Switzerland, and Italy

Independent rail trip through Paris, the Swiss Alps, and Italy

Illustration of Classics of France, Switzerland, and Italy

Railbookers runs Classics of France, Switzerland, and Italy as a 14-day, 13-night independent rail vacation that begins in Paris and ends in Rome. Three nights in Paris, with skip-the-line Eiffel Tower entry and time at Notre Dame and the Sacre-Coeur, are followed by a high-speed train to Geneva to see the Jet d'Eau fountain. A three-day Swiss Pass then carries travelers to Zermatt, home to the Matterhorn, before the Glacier Express crosses to St. Moritz on an eight-hour ride over 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. The Bernina Express continues south the next day, crossing the Brusio Spiral Viaduct on the way to Venice, where a walking tour and gondola ride are included over three nights. Trenitalia trains then link Florence, with its Uffizi Gallery, to a final two nights in Rome, taking in the Vatican Museums and the Trevi Fountain. Because it is sold as an independent package, Geneva, Zermatt, and St. Moritz are each a single quick stop between the longer stays.

What to know before you look closer

  • The hotels listed are a set of 41 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than a fixed list of stays; which hotel you get depends on the tier and city you choose.
  • Geneva, Zermatt, and St. Moritz are each a single overnight stop, so those legs involve checking in and out quickly around the Glacier and Bernina Express travel days.
  • The evidence available does not list current departure dates for this trip; confirm availability with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Your Journey Begins in Paris

    Begin your journey in Paris, where you'll check in to your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay.

  2. Day 2overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Sightseeing in Paris using your skip-the-line Eiffel Tower tickets. Visit the Arc de Triomphe or Notre Dame Cathedral.

  3. Day 3overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Check out the Champs-Élysées, Marché des Enfants Rouges, Ile Saint-Louis, Rue des Martyrs, and Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Geneva

    Paris to Geneva

    High-speed train from Paris to Geneva. Explore the world's highest fountain, the Jet d'Eau, and enjoy a lakeside meal or boat trip.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Zermatt

    Geneva to Zermatt

    Train to Zermatt, beginning your included three-day Swiss Travel Pass. Marvel at the Matterhorn and visit the Matterhorn Museum.

  6. Day 6railovernight: St. Moritz

    Zermatt to St. Moritz

    The famous Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, an eight-hour journey crossing 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Venice

    St. Moritz to Venice

    Board the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Venice, a four-hour journey through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges including the Brusio Spiral Viaduct, with a change onto a high-speed train in Milan.

  8. Day 8overnight: Venice

    Venice

    A walking tour and gondola ride down the Grand Canal; option to visit the Doges Palace and Golden Basilica.

  9. Day 9overnight: Venice

    Venice

    An additional day discovering Venice's museums, art galleries, the Rialto Markets, and the islands of Murano and Burano.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Florence

    Venice to Florence

    Board a Trenitalia train from Venice to Florence, check in for a two-night stay, and stroll along the River Arno and Ponte Vecchio.

  11. Day 11overnight: Florence

    Florence

    Visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo Basilica, and churches such as Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Rome

    Florence to Rome

    A quick Trenitalia train ride from Florence to Rome, check in for a two-night stay, and explore via your 2-day Hop on Hop off sightseeing pass.

  13. Day 13overnight: Rome

    Rome

    Visit the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel, the Capitoline, or the Borghese Gallery. In the evening, throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain.

  14. Day 14

    Your Journey Ends in Rome

    This morning, check out of your hotel and continue with your onward travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Sightseeing in Paris using skip-the-line Eiffel Tower tickets.
  • Day 6The Glacier Express runs an eight-hour journey from Zermatt to St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels.
  • Day 7The Bernina Express crosses the Brusio Spiral Viaduct on a four-hour journey through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges from St. Moritz to Venice.
  • Day 8A walking tour and gondola ride down the Grand Canal in Venice.
  • Day 13A visit to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, with an evening coin toss at the Trevi Fountain.

Included

  • Rail travel as per itinerary
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Paris
  • 1-night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Geneva
  • 1-night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Zermatt
  • 1-night hotel accommodation with breakfast in St. Moritz
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Venice
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Florence
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Rome
  • 3-day Standard class Swiss Pass
  • Reservation onboard Glacier Express
  • Reservation onboard Bernina Express
  • Rome sightseeing Hop on Hop off 48hr card
  • Admission to Eiffel Tower: Priority Entrance
  • Venice walking tour and Gondola ride

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in this trip?
Yes. Rail travel is included as per the itinerary, along with a 3-day Swiss Pass and reservations on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express.
Is it escorted or independent?
It is sold as an independent rail vacation, so travelers explore each stop on their own between the train connections and included tours Railbookers arranges.
Which trains does the trip use?
TGV Lyria from Paris to Geneva, the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Venice via Milan, and Trenitalia trains linking Venice, Florence, and Rome.
What hotels are used?
The trip draws from a set of 41 accommodation options across seven cities, including the Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix in Geneva.
How much walking does the trip involve?
The trip includes a Venice walking tour and gondola ride, Uffizi Gallery and Duomo visits in Florence, and a Vatican Museums tour in Rome, plus self-managed luggage across seven stops.

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