How much does it cost?

From £1,795 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,425 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes. Rail Tours provides a Tour Manager who accompanies the group from departure at London St Pancras through the entire journey.

What sightseeing is included?

Guided walking tours of Rome (Roman Forum, Colosseum) and Florence (Duomo, Ponte Vecchio); a sightseeing tour upon arrival in Venice; and a full-day excursion by rail to Pisa and Lucca. Other days are at leisure.

How many nights are included?

The tour includes 10 nights: one in Mulhouse, three in Rome, three in Florence, two in Venice, and one in Turin.

Rail Tours · Train Tour

Italian Explorer

Escorted rail journey from London through France to Italy's great cities

Rail Tours' Italian Explorer is an 11-day escorted journey from London to Turin, mixing guided group experiences with independent exploration in five of Italy's most visited cities. Travellers depart from London St Pancras on Eurostar, cross France by TGV to Mulhouse, then travel south through high-speed rail to Rome, where a guided walk covers the Roman Forum and Colosseum before two free days. The tour continues by train to Florence for a guided walk of the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio plus a free day, includes a full-day rail excursion to Pisa and Lucca, and finishes with two nights in Venice and one in Turin before the return journey to the UK by TGV and Eurostar. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout, and hotels are included at each stop. This trip suits first-time rail travellers and history enthusiasts who want the structure of group guidance combined with time to wander.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £1,795 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The itinerary does not specify which high-speed trains operate between Italian cities; confirm specific train services with Rail Tours before booking
Hotel names and star ratings are not published; contact the operator for accommodation details
Day 4 in Rome and Day 6 in Florence are entirely free with no included activities; the tour is a mix of guided and independent time

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Mulhouse
Depart for Mulhouse
Meet your Tour Manager at Rail Discoveries' dedicated Departure Office in London St Pancras, we take the Eurostar to Paris and join the onward train to Mulhouse where you stay for one night.
Day 2overnight: Rome
To Rome
Continue to Rome.
Day 3overnight: Rome
Sightseeing in Rome
Discover the wonders of ancient Rome on a guided walking tour, with sights including the Roman Forum, the former civic centre of Roman public life. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this incredible city; the mighty Colosseum should not be missed.
Day 4overnight: Rome
Free day in Rome
Day 4 is also at leisure.
Day 5railovernight: Florence
Florence
Travel by high-speed train to the artistic city of Florence, and this afternoon enjoy a guided walking tour of the city's main sights, including the 14th century Ponte Vecchio bridge, and the magnificent Duomo with its distinctive red-tiled dome.
Day 6overnight: Florence
Free day in Florence
Day 6 is free for you to explore here.
Day 7railovernight: Florence
Pisa and Lucca
Today's full-day excursion by rail heads firstly to Pisa, known for its famous Leaning Tower, which you have free time to admire. This afternoon, continue to the delightful walled city of Lucca.
Day 8overnight: Venice
To Venice
Travel to Venice and on arrival, embark on a sightseeing tour.
Day 9overnight: Venice
Exploring Venice
You are at leisure to explore the magic of the Floating City of Venice today. Perhaps take a gondola ride along the aptly named Grand Canal, the main artery of crystal blue that runs through the heart of this refined city.
Day 10railovernight: Turin
Turin
Today you travel by high speed rail to Turin, for an overnight stay.
Day 11rail
Return home
You bid a fond farewell to the glories of Italy, beginning your journey home by high-speed TGV to Paris then returning to the UK by Eurostar, where your tour concludes on arrival.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Guided walking tour of Rome's Roman Forum and the Colosseum, followed by free time to explore ancient sites
Day 5High-speed train to Florence with an afternoon guided walk past the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo's distinctive red-tiled dome
Day 7Full-day rail excursion to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, then onward to the walled city of Lucca
Day 8Travel to Venice by high-speed train and embark on a sightseeing tour of the Floating City

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,795 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,425 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes. Rail Tours provides a Tour Manager who accompanies the group from departure at London St Pancras through the entire journey.
What sightseeing is included?: Guided walking tours of Rome (Roman Forum, Colosseum) and Florence (Duomo, Ponte Vecchio); a sightseeing tour upon arrival in Venice; and a full-day excursion by rail to Pisa and Lucca. Other days are at leisure.
How many nights are included?: The tour includes 10 nights: one in Mulhouse, three in Rome, three in Florence, two in Venice, and one in Turin.