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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Discover Ticino: Italian Switzerland

Italian-speaking Swiss canton by train: lakes, castles, and Alpine scenery.

Illustration of Discover Ticino: Italian Switzerland

Tailor Made Rail's Discover Ticino is an 11-day self-guided journey from London to Paris that explores Switzerland's Italian-speaking canton and its two principal lakes. The route departs London by Eurostar and TGV, crosses into Ticino via the Gotthard Base Tunnel on a Swiss tilting train, and spends time in Bellinzona, the canton's capital ringed by three UNESCO-listed castles; in Lugano, which sits beneath San Salvatore Mountain on a lake of the same name; and in Locarno, a glamorous resort on Lake Maggiore. A complimentary Ticino Ticket, provided on check-in, allows unlimited local train and bus travel throughout the canton, enabling independent exploration of mountain passes, lakes, and valleys. The return journey features the scenic Centovalli Railway across the Italian border and the historic Simplon Tunnel. All rail travel, seat reservations, and 10 nights in hand-picked city-centre hotels with breakfast are included; the itinerary suits independent rail travellers seeking a mix of transport heritage and Alpine-Mediterranean scenery without a guide.

What to know before you look closer

  • The trip is priced per person sharing a twin or double room; single travellers booking alone will pay a higher rate not listed here.
  • Strasbourg and Lausanne offer optional hotel upgrades; the base price covers handpicked three and four-star properties in city centres.
  • Days 5 and 6 in Lugano and Day 9 in Locarno are unguided; activities depend on your own choices within Ticino.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg

    London to Strasbourg

    High-speed Eurostar to Lille, changing onto a TGV to Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace. Evening sampling local delicacies such as Flammekueche.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Bellinzona

    Strasbourg to Bellinzona via the Gotthard Base Tunnel

    Regional train through the Alsace to Basel, then a Swiss tilting train through the Gotthard Base Tunnel into the canton of Ticino, collecting a complimentary Ticino Ticket on check-in.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Bellinzona

    Bellinzona

    Full day exploring Ticino's capital and its three UNESCO-listed castles, with the Ticino Ticket covering unlimited local rail and bus travel, including a possible trip to the Gotthard Pass at Airolo.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lugano

    Bellinzona to Lugano

    Short ride on the Ticino Ticket to Lugano on its lake shore beneath San Salvatore Mountain, for a 3-night stay, with an evening stroll along Via Nassa.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lugano

    Lugano

    Explore Lugano's traffic-free historic centre, Italianate Lombardy-style buildings and the lakeside Parco Civico.

  6. Day 6overnight: Lugano

    Lugano

    Further time to soak up Lugano's Mediterranean-style squares, arcades and museums.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Locarno

    Lugano to Locarno

    Local train via Giubiasco onto the Locarno line, arriving in the glamorous lakeside city of Locarno on Lake Maggiore for a 3-night stay.

  8. Day 8overnight: Locarno

    Locarno and Lake Maggiore

    Take the funicular to Cardada/Cimetta for a panorama of Lake Maggiore, or use the Ticino Ticket to explore the lake shore or valleys such as the Verzasca.

  9. Day 9overnight: Locarno

    Locarno and Lake Maggiore

    Further time around Locarno and Lake Maggiore, known for its international Film Festival.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Lausanne

    Locarno to Lausanne via the Centovalli Railway

    The scenic Centovalli railway to Domodossola across the Italian border, then a direct train through the Simplon Tunnel, the upper Rhône Valley and along Lake Geneva to Lausanne.

  11. Day 11rail

    Lausanne to London

    Morning at the shores of Lake Geneva before a TGV via the Jura Mountains and Dijon to Paris, then the Eurostar back to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Swiss tilting train passes through the Gotthard Base Tunnel into Ticino, with a complimentary Ticino Ticket for unlimited local travel included on check-in.
  • Day 3Explore Bellinzona, Ticino's capital, and its three UNESCO-listed castles, or ride to the Gotthard Pass at Airolo using the Ticino Ticket.
  • Day 4Short local train ride to Lugano, arriving on the shore of Lake Lugano beneath San Salvatore Mountain.
  • Day 10The scenic Centovalli Railway crosses into Italy at Domodossola, then a direct train climbs through the Simplon Tunnel and descends along Lake Geneva to Lausanne.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • Ticino Ticket – free travel around the entire canton throughout your stay
  • 11 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast in city-centre locations
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail includes all rail journeys in Standard Class, seat reservations, and the Ticino Ticket for unlimited local transport within the canton during your stay.
Which trains are used on this route?
Eurostar (London to Lille), TGV (Lille to Strasbourg and return via Paris), a Swiss tilting train through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, and the scenic Centovalli Railway from Locarno to Domodossola.
What hotels are included?
Maison Rouge in Strasbourg (1 night), Internazionale Hotel & Spa in Bellinzona (2 nights), Villa Sassa Hotel & Spa in Lugano (3 nights), Hotel Garni au Lac in Locarno (3 nights), and Agora Swiss Night Hotel in Lausanne (1 night).
Is this trip escorted or self-guided?
Self-guided. Tailor Made Rail provides easy-to-follow travel documentation and tickets by email, plus proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions.
Can I upgrade my accommodation or rail class?
Yes. Optional upgrades include First Class rail from £150 per person, and hotel upgrades to the Sofitel Grand Ile in Strasbourg or Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne.
What is the price and when does it run?
From £1,549 per person in low season (November to March) and £1,749 in high season (April to October), for two sharing a room with Standard Class rail and breakfast included.

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