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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Discover Puglia

Self-guided rail journey from London through Italy to Puglia, 12 days.

Illustration of Discover Puglia

Tailor Made Rail's Discover Puglia is a 12-day self-guided rail journey from London to southern Italy, opening with two days of scenic rail travel through continental Europe. You depart London on Eurostar, cross Brussels and the Black Forest via an ICE express, then traverse the Gotthard Base Tunnel past Alpine lakes en route to Milan and Parma. The heart of the trip lies in Puglia, where you spend four nights in Lecce, a Baroque city in the peninsula's tip, with stays along the way in Bari and Alberobello, home to conical stone Trulli houses recognised by UNESCO. Each city opens time on foot: Parma's medieval cathedral and historic theatre, Bari's Old Town and Romanesque cathedral, Lecce's piazzas and architecture. The return journey travels the length of Italy by Eurostar Italia, ending in Milan before Eurostar takes you home. You receive printed directions and travel documentation for independent navigation, making this suitable for first-time and seasoned rail travellers comfortable planning their own days.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a self-guided package with no group leader or hosted excursions; you navigate using provided directions and documentation.
  • Price from £1,699 (low season, November-March) covers rail and hotels with breakfast; optional extras like Milan extensions are booked separately.
  • Days 8-10 offer free time in Lecce with optional day trips to coastal towns; the final itinerary shape depends on which side trips you choose.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Brussels

    London to Brussels

    Eurostar to Brussels; afternoon wandering the guild houses, cobbled streets and chocolate shops of the Belgian capital.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Freiburg im Breisgau

    Brussels to Freiburg

    ICE train to Frankfurt, then a fast train through south-west Germany to Freiburg im Breisgau on the edge of the Black Forest.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Parma

    Freiburg to Parma

    Mid-morning train direct to Milan via Basel and the Gotthard Base Tunnel, with spectacular scenery past Lakes Lucerne and Lugano, then on to Parma by evening train.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Bari

    Parma to Bari

    Morning to explore Parma's 12th-century cathedral and Teatro Regio, then a Eurostar Italia Frecciabianca along the Adriatic coast into Bari for a 2-night stay.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bari

    Bari

    Explore Bari's medieval Old Town (Bari Vecchia), the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, the Romanesque cathedral and the Swabian Castle.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Alberobello

    Bari to Alberobello

    Regional train (or partial bus) through the Puglia countryside to Alberobello, home of the famous conical Trulli houses.

  7. Day 7overnight: Lecce

    Alberobello to Lecce

    Free morning exploring Alberobello's UNESCO-listed trulli townscape, then a private transfer to Lecce with an hour's stop in medieval Cisternino en route.

  8. Day 8overnight: Lecce

    Lecce

    Explore Lecce's Baroque architecture, the Piazza Sant'Oronzo and its Roman amphitheatre, and the Piazza del Duomo.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Lecce

    Lecce

    Further time in Lecce, or an optional day trip by local railway to the Salento Peninsula coastal towns of Gallipoli or Otranto.

  10. Day 10overnight: Lecce

    Lecce

    Further free time in Lecce, or an optional day trip to Leuca at the tip of the Salento 'heel'.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Milan

    Lecce to Milan

    Air-conditioned Eurostar Italia Frecciargento/Frecciabianca up the spine of Italy via the Apennines to Milan, with the evening free to explore the city centre.

  12. Day 12rail

    Milan to London

    Early departure via Milan Garibaldi for a direct TGV to Paris, crossing to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: mid-morning train direct to Milan via the Gotthard Base Tunnel passes Lakes Lucerne and Lugano before reaching Parma by evening.
  • Day 4Day 4: Eurostar Italia Frecciabianca runs along the Adriatic coast into Bari, journey of 12th-century cathedral and Teatro Regio in Parma.
  • Day 6Day 6: regional train through Puglia countryside to Alberobello, home to UNESCO-listed conical Trulli houses.
  • Day 8Day 8: explore Lecce's Baroque architecture, Piazza Sant'Oronzo with its Roman amphitheatre, and Piazza del Duomo.

Included

  • Standard class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 11 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Private transfer from Alberobello to Lecce via Cisternino
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations on all named trains: Eurostar London-Brussels, ICE Brussels-Freiburg, direct Milan service via the Gotthard, Eurostar Italia Frecciabianca Parma-Bari, and Eurostar Italia return Lecce-Milan.
Is this an escorted tour?
No. Tailor Made Rail operates this as a self-guided rail holiday. You receive comprehensive directions, easy-to-follow documentation, and tickets by email, post, or collection, but no guide travels with you.
What hotels are included?
Pullman Brussels Midi, Novotel am Konzerthaus Freiburg, NH Parma, iH Hotels Bari Oriente, Palazzo Scotto Alberobello, Risorgimento Resort Lecce, and Starhotels Anderson Milan. All 11 nights include breakfast.
When does it run?
Low season (November-March) from £1,699; high season (April-October) from £1,899 for two sharing a twin or double room. No specific departure dates are listed.
How much walking is involved?
Days include walking medieval old towns, exploring Baroque architecture in Lecce, and viewing UNESCO-listed hilltop villages. No strenuous hikes or high altitude is mentioned.
What is not included?
Meals other than breakfast, train supplements, visa costs, and travel insurance. Day trips from Lecce to Gallipoli, Otranto, or Leuca by local railway are optional extras. A private transfer is included from Alberobello to Lecce.

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