Ffestiniog Travel
Christmas & New Year in Switzerland
14 daysfrom $5,182
Tailor Made Rail · Independent rail holiday
Grand Tour of Italy
Visit all the highlights of Italy by rail in one grand tour, including Venice, Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Stuttgart
London to Stuttgart
Eurostar to Paris, then a direct TGV service across the German border to Stuttgart.
- Day 2overnight: Bolzano
Stuttgart to Bolzano
An ICE service to Munich, then on into the Austrian and Italian Tyrol to bi-lingual Bolzano, just over the Italian border.
- Day 3overnight: Venice
Bolzano to Venice
Through the Tyrol along the Brenner Pass, via Verona, crossing the lagoon into Venice, then Vaporetto down the Grand Canal to a 2-night stay.
- Day 4overnight: Venice
Venice
A full day exploring St Mark's Square, the Accademia art collection, or a boat ride to Murano or Burano.
- Day 5railovernight: Rome
Venice to Rome
A train of just under 4 hours to Rome, arriving in the afternoon for a 3-night stay.
- Day 6overnight: Rome
Rome
Exploring the Colosseum, Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.
- Day 7overnight: Rome
Rome
Visit the Vatican City including St Peter's Cathedral and the Sistine Chapel.
- Day 8railovernight: Vietri sul Mare
Rome to Vietri sul Mare
A direct train of less than 2 hours to Salerno, then a short taxi ride to Vietri sul Mare at the eastern end of the Amalfi Coast, for a 2-night stay.
- Day 9overnight: Vietri sul Mare
Vietri sul Mare
Explore the Amalfi Coast at leisure, with visits to Positano and Amalfi.
- Day 10railovernight: Catania
Amalfi Coast to Sicily
A mid-morning train down the western coast of Italy to the Straits of Messina, where the train runs onto a boat to cross to Sicily, connecting onward to Catania for a 4-night stay.
- Day 11overnight: Catania
Catania, Sicily
Explore the historic port city of Catania, including its cathedral and the Castello Ursino museum.
- Day 12overnight: Catania
Catania, Sicily
Optional tour to Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, with jeep safaris and trekking available.
- Day 13overnight: Catania
Catania, Sicily
Further time at leisure in Catania.
- Day 14railovernight: Naples
Catania to Naples
A direct train from Catania to Naples, arriving in the afternoon, for an overnight stay on a quiet hilltop overlooking Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.
- Day 15railovernight: Florence
Florence
A short train journey from Naples to Florence, the capital of Tuscany, for a 3-night stay.
- Day 16overnight: Florence
Florence
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage listed historic centre, the cathedral and the Boboli Gardens.
- Day 17overnight: Florence
Florence
Optional day trip to Pisa and the Cinque Terre, a collection of pastel-coloured villages on the Ligurian coastline.
- Day 18overnight: Como
Lake Como
Travel from Florence to Lake Como via an easy platform change in Milan, checking in on the waterfront for a 3-night stay.
- Day 19overnight: Como
Lake Como
Explore the town of Como, or take a boat to Cernobbio and its millionaires' villas.
- Day 20overnight: Como
Lake Como
Visit smaller resorts such as Moltrasio or Faggeto Lario for an authentic Lake Como experience.
- Day 21overnight: Zurich
Lake Como to Zurich
A scenic journey through the Gotthard Pass, high in the Alps, to Zurich for the final night.
- Day 22rail
Zurich to London
A high-speed train from Zurich to Paris, then transfer to the Gare du Nord for the Eurostar back to the UK.
Included
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 21 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
