Great Rail Journeys
Iconic Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome
10 daysfrom $4,139
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour
First-Class Italian Riviera & Portofino
Enjoy a First Class escorted holiday to the beautiful Italian Riviera by train. Visit Portofino, Cinque Terre, Camogli, Pisa and the walled city of Lucca.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Turin
London to Turin by rail
Meet at London St Pancras and join the Eurostar service to Paris, enjoying a light meal at seats. Change trains in Paris and continue on a scenic rail journey through France, crossing the Alps to Turin. Transfer by coach to overnight hotel. First dinner together. Note: due to engineering works on the 17th May departure, travel by rail from Paris to Grenoble, then connect to Turin via coach transfer.
Meals: Eurostar light meal, Dinner
- Day 2railovernight: Sestri Levante
Down the coast to Sestri Levante
Free time to explore Turin after breakfast. In the mid-afternoon, continue by rail. From Genoa, the route clings to the coastline through tunnels and over viaducts. From Chiavari, a short coach ride transfers to Sestri Levante. Check in to the customer-favourite hotel in the Old Town next to the Bay of Fairytales, owned by the Cerruti family for more than 50 years. Dinner this evening. Note: for selected departures, stay at the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi and all dinners will be at local restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 3overnight: Sestri Levante
A free day to explore Sestri
Free day to explore Sestri Levante at your own pace or unwind at the hotel. Visit the historic old town with cobbled caruggi streets, the Basilica Santa Maria di Nazareth, the Bay of Fairytales (named for Hans Christian Andersen), and the Bay of Silence (Portobello), considered one of the best sandy beaches in Italy.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 4railovernight: Sestri Levante
Visiting the Cinque Terre villages from the water
Travel by train with a local guide to Riomaggiore, the southernmost Cinque Terre village. Explore before sailing to Vernazza (passing Manarola and Corniglia), then on to Monterosso, the largest of the five villages. Time to explore and grab lunch before returning to Sestri by rail for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 5railovernight: Sestri Levante
Cruising to Portofino and San Fruttuoso Abbey
Train trip to Portofino, a picturesque fishing village set in a natural harbour. Guided tour and lunch at a restaurant with harbour views. Sail to San Fruttuoso, a cove accessible only by foot or boat, dominated by a 10th-century Benedictine abbey and the underwater statue of 'Christ in the Abyss'. Return to Rapallo then train back to Sestri. Note: if weather prevents landing at San Fruttuoso, visit Santa Margherita instead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6railovernight: Sestri Levante
At leisure in the Italian Riviera
Free day to explore the Italian Riviera independently. Option to catch the train to nearby Chiavari (shops, cafés, 17th-century cathedral) or Rapallo (palm-lined promenade, literary history). Sestri Levante is on the main coastal rail line.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 7overnight: Sestri Levante
Touring historic Genoa and a pesto-making lesson in Sestri
Coach to Genoa for a walking tour of the old town including the Doge's Palace and views from Castelleto Levante. Return to Sestri Levante in the afternoon for free time. Evening visit to a nearby trattoria for a pesto-making lesson following a traditional Genoese recipe, followed by dinner of pasta and local specialities.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 8railovernight: Sestri Levante
Discovering Camogli, a Riviera gem
Train to the fishing village of Camogli. Guided tour of the characterful port village with pastel-hued buildings, 12th-century church, 14th-century Dragonara Castle, and narrow caruggi. Free time to explore and enjoy lunch. Return by train to Sestri Levante for final dinner on the Italian Riviera.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 9railovernight: Saint-Raphaël
To Saint-Raphaël: From the Italian to the French Riviera
Leave Sestri Levante by train, travelling around the coastal arch of the Ligurian Sea through Genoa to Ventimiglia, then into France to the Côte d'Azur resort of Saint-Raphaël. Check in to hotel overlooking the marina. Note: for 17th September departure, travel via Chambery, staying at the Mercure Chambery. For 3rd October departure, travel via Nice, staying at the Doubletree by Hilton Nice Centre Iconic hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 10rail
Homeward bound
Leave Saint-Raphaël in the morning, board the train and journey through France alongside the coast, up the Rhône to Lyon, through Burgundy to Paris. Transfer to Eurostar for the final leg, arriving back in London this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar light meal
Included
- Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
- 9 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
- Eurostar Plus travel
- First Class rail travel throughout
- All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
- Eurostar light meals
- Breakfast each day
- 1 lunch
- 7 dinners
- All guided tours and excursions
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
