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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Florence and Lake Garda via the Alps

Geneva to Sirmione on Lake Garda, then Florence, by rail

Illustration of Florence and Lake Garda via the Alps

Railbookers runs Florence and Lake Garda via the Alps as a 7-day, 6-night independent rail vacation, with hotels and rail travel booked in advance but no group escort along the way. The trip starts with one night in Geneva, then crosses into Italy by train on the Simplon Pass, following Lake Leman and Swiss vineyards with the Alps in view before a change in Milan. Two nights follow in Sirmione, a lakeside town on Lake Garda, with free days for the beach or a ferry to nearby Riva or Desenzano. The train continues through Milan to Florence for the final three nights, where the days are unstructured: time for the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, the frescoed Duomo Basilica, and a walk along the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio. No guided tours are built into the package, so travelers plan each day themselves from a mix of galleries, churches, and city walking. It suits independent travelers who want a scenic Alpine rail leg, a lake stop, and unhurried time in Florence without a set sightseeing schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • The day-by-day text describes a two-night stay in Geneva and later both a two-night and a three-night stay in Florence, but the included list confirms one night in Geneva and three nights in Florence, the counts used here.
  • Unlike some similar Railbookers itineraries, this package includes no guided tours beyond rail travel and breakfast, so sightseeing in Sirmione and Florence is self-directed.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Geneva

    Your Journey Begins in Geneva

    Your journey begins in Geneva, where you will check in at your hotel for a two-night stay. Make the most of your time in Geneva - spend the evening enjoying a tasty meal at a local lakeside restaurant, or take a relaxing boat trip out on the lake and admire the city's cosmopolitan feel and the stunning backdrop of the Alps and the Jura mountains. (Overnight in Geneva)

  2. Day 2railovernight: Sirmione

    Geneva to Sirmione

    Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and then head to the station for your train through the famous Simplon Pass. This scenic journey runs along Lake Leman and passes scenic Swiss vineyards, with stunning views of the Alps in the background. The Simplon Pass boasts some of the most stunning views of the Alps in the entire region. Travel further south after crossing the border into Italy with a change in Milan, before arriving in Desenzano in the afternoon. Transfer to Sirmione and check in at your hotel for a two night stay. (Overnight in Sirmione)

  3. Day 3overnight: Sirmione

    Sirmione

    After breakfast this morning, spend the day in Sirmione at your leisure. Relax at one of the city's stunning beaches and cool off with an invigorating dip in the lake before lunch at a nearby trattoria. Alternatively, why not take a ferry to a nearby town such as Riva or Desenzano and discover more of this idyllic region at your own pace. (Overnight in Sirmione)

  4. Day 4railovernight: Florence

    Sirmione to Florence

    After breakfast, check out of the hotel, transfer to Desenzano and take the train to Florence via Milan. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel for a two-night stay. On arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy a three-night stay. Once settled in, why not head to the popular Uffizi Gallery and see the Renaissance works of great artists such as Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo. (Overnight in Florence)

  5. Day 5overnight: Florence

    Florence

    Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before spending the day in Florence at your leisure. Why not see the largest palazzo in Florence, the Pitti Palace and then relax in the stunning Boboli gardens. Admire the wonderful frescoes that adorn the interior of the Duomo Basilica or alternatively visit more of Italy's famous churches such as the San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce. (Overnight in Florence)

  6. Day 6overnight: Florence

    Florence

    Spend another full day exploring this magnificent city, perhaps enjoying a famous gelato as you stroll through the city's lively piazzas. Admire the charming views along the River Arno and cross the city's oldest bridge, the 14th century Ponte Vecchio. (Overnight in Florence)

  7. Day 7rail

    Depart Florence

    After breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and continue with your travels. If you wish to extend your journey, perhaps with an additional day in a different city, one of our Rail Specialists will be happy to assist you with the details.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The train from Geneva to Sirmione follows the Simplon Pass, tracing Lake Leman and Swiss vineyards with views of the Alps before crossing into Italy.
  • Day 3A free day in Sirmione allows time at the town's beaches on Lake Garda, with an optional ferry to Riva or Desenzano.
  • Day 5Florence's Pitti Palace and the adjoining Boboli Gardens are on the day's list, along with the frescoed interior of the Duomo Basilica.
  • Day 6A walk along the River Arno crosses the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's 14th-century bridge.

Included

  • Rail travel in standard class throughout
  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Geneva
  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Sirmione
  • 3 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Florence

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, Railbookers includes standard-class rail travel throughout, from Geneva to Sirmione on Lake Garda and on to Florence.
Is it escorted or independent?
It's an independent rail vacation, with no guided tours built into the package.
Which trains are used?
The Simplon Pass route from Geneva to Sirmione, via a change in Milan, then a train from Desenzano through Milan to Florence.
What is included besides rail and hotels?
Just rail travel and breakfast at each hotel; no extra guided tours are listed in the package's inclusions.
How many nights are spent in each city?
One night in Geneva, two nights in Sirmione, and three nights in Florence, across 7 days and 6 nights.
What is the starting price?
From $1,099 per person, about $157 a day.

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