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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Heart of Europe By Rail: Paris to Rome

Eleven-day escorted rail journey from Paris through Swiss Alps to Rome

Illustration of Heart of Europe By Rail: Paris to Rome

Vacations By Rail operates this 11-day escorted tour from Paris to Rome, combining five major European cities with guided experiences at each stop. Beginning with a Seine dinner cruise at the Eiffel Tower, you travel by Standard Class rail through the Swiss Alps to Lucerne, where you board a cogwheel railway to Mount Pilatus and cruise Lake Lucerne. The train then tunnels through the 35.5-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel into Venice, where a guided walking tour covers Saint Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, and Saint Mark's Basilica. In Florence, you explore the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, with a free day before an evening visit to a historic Tuscan wine estate near San Gimignano. The tour concludes in Rome with walking tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and a four-hour guided tour of Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout, and group luggage transfers connect all hotels. This trip suits first-time rail travellers seeking escorted comfort, history enthusiasts, and couples looking for guided experiences in classic European destinations.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; you arrive in Paris and depart from Rome independently.
  • The hotel in Venice Lido may be the Hotel Excelsior or the Hyatt Centric Murano depending on your departure date (May 17 and September 6 departures stay at Murano).
  • One full day in Florence (Day 8) is free time; the Tuscan wine estate visit occurs later that day.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    A scenic welcome to Paris

    Arrive independently and check into the hotel; meet the Tour Manager, then a dinner cruise along the Seine starting at the Eiffel Tower.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Paris

    Touring Paris' iconic sights

    Guided coach tour taking in Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Opera Garnier and the Champs-Élysées.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lucerne

    Into the heart of the Swiss Alps

    Rail journey from Paris via Basel to Lucerne, checking into a 500-year-old Old Town hotel; group dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lucerne

    Stunning views from Mount Pilatus

    Morning cruise on Lake Lucerne, disembarking at Alpnachstad for the world's steepest cogwheel railway to the summit of Mount Pilatus, then return to Lucerne by rail.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Venice (Lido; Murano for May 17 and September 6 departures)

    To the 'Floating City' of Venice by rail

    Train through the 35.5-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel to Venice; transfer by boat to the hotel on Venice Lido.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Venice

    Exploring atmospheric Venice

    Guided walking tour of Venice including Saint Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Florence

    Uncovering the Renaissance gems of Florence

    Train into Tuscany; walking tour of Florence including the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Florence

    An authentic Tuscan dining experience

    Free day in Florence, then a visit to the Tenuta Torciano estate near San Gimignano for a vineyard tour and dinner paired with estate wines.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Rome

    Arrival in the 'Eternal City' of Rome

    Scenic train to Rome; walking tour outside the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10overnight: Rome

    The art and history of Vatican City

    Four-hour guided tour of Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums; farewell group dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  11. Day 11

    Tour conclusion

    Tour concludes after breakfast; travel independently to Rome's international airport.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Day 1: Dinner cruise along the Seine starting at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
  • Day 4Day 4: Ascent on the world's steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad to the summit of Mount Pilatus.
  • Day 5Day 5: Train journey through the 35.5-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel into Venice.
  • Day 8Day 8: Vineyard tour and wine-paired dinner at the Tenuta Torciano estate near San Gimignano, dating from 1720.
  • Day 10Day 10: Four-hour guided tour of Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 10 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Standard Class rail travel is included: Paris to Lucerne via Basel, Lucerne to Venice via the Gotthard Base Tunnel, Venice to Florence, and Florence to Rome, plus the Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway and cruises on the Seine and Lake Lucerne.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. A Tour Manager accompanies you from start to finish, and all guided tours and excursions are included.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast is provided daily. Five dinners are included: one on the Seine in Paris, one in Lucerne, one in Venice, one at the Tenuta Torciano wine estate near San Gimignano, and one farewell dinner in Rome.
What hotels are on the itinerary?
Hotel Auteuil Tour Eiffel (Paris, 2 nights), Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann (Lucerne, 2 nights), Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido or Hyatt Centric Murano (Venice, 2 nights), Hotel Indigo (Florence, 2 nights), and Grand Hotel Palatino (Rome, 2 nights).
What physical demands are involved?
The operator rates this Mobility Level 3. Expect guided walking tours in Venice, Florence, and Rome; climbing stairs in historic sites; and ascending Mount Pilatus by cogwheel railway.
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, and cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Insurance can be arranged through the operator.

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