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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Grand Tour of Europe by Rail

Self-guided rail journey through 11 European cities in 29 days

Illustration of Grand Tour of Europe by Rail

Tailor Made Rail's Grand Tour of Europe by Rail is a 29-day self-guided journey linking 11 destinations across France, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary and the Netherlands. Departing London, the tour travels by Standard Class rail to Amsterdam, Berlin, Krakow, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Locarno and Basel before returning to London via Paris. Each city gets 2 to 3 nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast included. The itinerary mixes free exploration days with named rail journeys: the Eurostar across the Channel, InterCity service through Germany, the 4-hour RailJet from Prague to Vienna, the scenic climb through the Semmering Pass into Italy and arrival on Venice's Grand Canal, and high-speed Frecciarossa and TGV services linking Florence, Switzerland and Paris. Day 2 in Amsterdam offers the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank's House or canal cruises. Berlin days include the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Berlin Wall Memorial. Krakow's UNESCO Old Town and optional Auschwitz day trip appeal to history-focused travellers. Prague, Budapest and Vienna showcase grand squares, castles and palaces. Venice, Florence and Locarno emphasise art and lakeside leisure. The journey suits first-time and experienced rail travellers seeking independent city exploration with the planning already done.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a self-guided tour, not escorted; you navigate between hotels and attractions independently
  • The low-season price of GBP 3,199 applies November to March; high-season (May to September) pricing starts at GBP 3,499
  • Accommodation options are listed by specific hotel name; final booking will depend on availability and tier selected

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Amsterdam

    London to Amsterdam

    Eurostar direct to Amsterdam for a 2-night stay; UK connections from your local station can be added if travelling the same day.

  2. Day 2overnight: Amsterdam

    Amsterdam

    Free day: the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank's House, a canal cruise, or hire a bike.

  3. Day 3overnight: Berlin

    Berlin

    Direct Intercity service (under 6 hours) to Berlin, for a 3-night stay.

  4. Day 4overnight: Berlin

    Berlin

    Explore the Brandenburg Gate, TV Tower, Reichstag, Tiergarten and the Berlin Wall Memorial.

  5. Day 5overnight: Berlin

    Berlin

    Further time in Berlin, including the German History Museum or the DDR Museum.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Krakow

    Krakow

    Direct train through Germany and across the Polish border to Krakow, for a 3-night stay.

  7. Day 7overnight: Krakow

    Krakow

    Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, the Cloth Hall, and the historic Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz; optional day trip to Auschwitz or the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

  8. Day 8overnight: Krakow

    Krakow

    Further time in Krakow.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Prague

    Prague

    Direct train to Prague, for a 3-night stay.

  10. Day 10overnight: Prague

    Prague

    Explore the Old Town, the Astronomical Clock tower, Prague Castle and the Old New Synagogue.

  11. Day 11overnight: Prague

    Prague

    Further time in Prague.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Budapest

    Budapest

    High-speed train across the border into Hungary, for a 3-night stay.

  13. Day 13overnight: Budapest

    Budapest

    The Hungarian Parliament, Chain Bridge, Heroes' Square, Fisherman's Bastion, and a thermal bath.

  14. Day 14overnight: Budapest

    Budapest

    Further time in Budapest.

  15. Day 15overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

    4-hour Railjet journey into Austria, for a 2-night stay.

  16. Day 16overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

    Museums, the Spanish Riding School, grand palaces and elegant cafés.

  17. Day 17railovernight: Venice

    Vienna to Venice via the Semmering Pass

    Scenic rail journey through the Semmering Pass and via Tarvisio into Italy, arriving directly on the Grand Canal for a 3-night stay.

  18. Day 18overnight: Venice

    Venice

    St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and a boat trip to Murano or the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.

  19. Day 19overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Further time in Venice.

  20. Day 20overnight: Florence

    Florence

    High-speed Frecciarossa to Florence, for a 3-night stay.

  21. Day 21overnight: Florence

    Florence

    The Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, the Boboli Gardens, and the Basilica of Santa Croce.

  22. Day 22overnight: Florence

    Florence

    Further time in Florence.

  23. Day 23railovernight: Locarno

    Locarno

    Rail journey north through Italy into Italian-speaking Switzerland, for 2 days based in lakeside Locarno.

  24. Day 24overnight: Locarno

    Locarno

    Further time exploring Locarno and Lake Maggiore.

  25. Day 25overnight: Basel

    Locarno to Basel

    Scenic journey via the Gotthard Pass, including its famous engineering and the Church of Wassen, for a 2-night stay.

  26. Day 26overnight: Basel

    Basel

    The Old Town, the red sandstone Minster, and views across the Rhine from the Pfalz terrace.

  27. Day 27railovernight: Paris

    Paris

    Direct high-speed TGV back across the French border to Paris, for a 2-night stay.

  28. Day 28overnight: Paris

    Paris

    The Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, a bateau mouche cruise, or the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.

  29. Day 29rail

    Paris to London

    Return Eurostar journey from Gare du Nord to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 17Scenic rail journey through the Semmering Pass and via Tarvisio into Italy, arriving directly on the Grand Canal in Venice
  • Day 25Scenic rail journey from Locarno north through Italy into Swiss-Italian territory via the Gotthard Pass, passing the Church of Wassen
  • Day 7Explore Krakow's UNESCO-listed Old Town, Cloth Hall, and historic Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz with optional day trip to Auschwitz
  • Day 15Four-hour RailJet journey into Austria, arriving in Vienna for 2 nights

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 28 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Standard Class rail with seat reservations is included for all named trains: Eurostar (London to Amsterdam), InterCity (Amsterdam to Berlin), RailJet (Prague to Vienna), Frecciarossa (Venice to Florence), and TGV (Basel to Paris), plus all intermediate rail legs.
Is this tour escorted or self-guided?
It is self-guided. Tailor Made Rail provides easy-to-follow travel documentation and despatch tickets by email. You arrange your own sightseeing and navigation between cities.
What is included in the price?
Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations, 28 nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast, travel documentation, email ticket despatch, and proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions.
What hotels are used?
Hotels include JL No 76 in Amsterdam, Intercity Hotel am Hauptbahnhof in Berlin, Golden Tulip Krakow Kazimierz, Boutique Hotel Constans in Prague, Three Corners Lifestyle Hotel in Budapest, Zeitgeist Hotel in Vienna, Hotel Bisanzio in Venice, Hotel Kraft in Florence, Hotel & Lounge Lago Maggiore in Locarno, Gaia Hotel in Basel, and Le Marceau Bastille in Paris.
How much walking is involved?
Each city day includes walking tours of historic centres and neighbourhoods. Specific distances are not stated, but sites include stairs (the Reichstag, Prague Castle, the Doge's Palace) and boat trips are mentioned as options.
Can I add UK rail connections?
Yes. UK rail connections from your local station to London can be added if you are travelling to Amsterdam the same day as departure.

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