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Rail Tours (rail-tours.co.uk) · Train Tour

Italian Explorer

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

Illustration of Italian Explorer

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.

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

  1. 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.

  2. Day 2overnight: Rome

    To Rome

    Continue to Rome.

  3. 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.

  4. Day 4overnight: Rome

    Free day in Rome

    Day 4 is also at leisure.

  5. 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.

  6. Day 6overnight: Florence

    Free day in Florence

    Day 6 is free for you to explore here.

  7. 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.

  8. Day 8overnight: Venice

    To Venice

    Travel to Venice and on arrival, embark on a sightseeing tour.

  9. 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.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Turin

    Turin

    Today you travel by high speed rail to Turin, for an overnight stay.

  11. 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

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price includes Eurostar from London to Paris, TGV trains from Paris to Mulhouse and Turin to Paris, and high-speed trains between Italian cities.
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.
What is the starting price?
From GBP 1,795 per person, or approximately USD 2,397.

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