Great Rail Journeys
First-Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes
First-Class escorted rail tour of Swiss lakes, mountains and Italy's Lake Como
10 daysfrom $5,608
80% rail
Planet Rail · Tailor-made escorted rail holiday
Lake Como - Jewel of the Italian Lakes by First Class Rail
Discover the romance of Italy's most romantic and picturesque holiday destination with First Class rail travel throughout, including scenic journeys through the Gotthard and Simplon Passes, 4 nights in Lenno on Lake Como, and overnight stays in Zurich and Montreux.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Zurich
By rail to Switzerland
Depart London on the Eurostar service to Paris in Standard Premier Class. A taxi transfer takes you across Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon for your connecting TGV service to Zurich. Watch Paris' urban skyline give way to lush green pastures and the foothills of the Swiss Alps before arriving in Zurich. Take the tram or stroll to the Hotel Helmhaus (4 star) for your overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast not included, Light meal on Eurostar
- Day 2overnight: Lenno, Lake Como
Free time in Zurich – Through the Swiss Alps to Lake Como
After breakfast, explore Zurich's Old Town, the elegant Bahnhofstrasse, the Grossmünster, Fraumünster and St Peterskirche churches, and the shores of Lake Zurich. Return to Zurich station for the scenic journey along the Gotthard route through the Swiss Alps, through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (the world's longest tunnel), across the Swiss border and into Italy, arriving at Como. Take the ferry or taxi (payable locally) to Lenno and check in to the Hotel Albergo Lenno (4 star) for four nights.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 3railovernight: Lenno, Lake Como
Lenno, Bellagio, Como, Villa Carlotta, Varenna, Monte Bre, Brunate & Bergamo
Free days to explore at leisure. Visit Bellagio ('la perla del lago'), the town of Como and its Duomo, Villa Carlotta with its art collection and gardens, picturesque Varenna, the mountain village of Monte Bre by cog railway, Brunate by funicular, or medieval Bergamo.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 4overnight: Lenno, Lake Como
Free time on Lake Como
Continue to explore Lake Como and its surroundings at leisure. Enjoy relaxing at the hotel or visiting nearby attractions including Bellagio, Varenna, Villa Carlotta, Monte Bre, Brunate or Bergamo.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 5overnight: Lenno, Lake Como
Free time on Lake Como
Final full day to enjoy Lake Como. Stroll around Lenno along the Tremezzina coastal stretch, take a ferry across the lake, or revisit favourite spots.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 6overnight: Montreux
Lake Como to Montreux on Lake Geneva
Bid farewell to Lenno and travel by ferry or taxi to Como, then board the Euro City service to Milan Centrale. Change trains for the Euro City service through the Simplon Pass, through valleys and across mountain peaks, arriving at Montreux on Lake Geneva. Check in to the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior). Enjoy an evening stroll along the flower-lined promenade. Optionally visit Château de Chillon (payable locally).
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 7rail
Montreux to London – Homeward bound
After a leisurely breakfast, return to Montreux station for the Inter Regio service to Lausanne, connecting with the TGV through France to Paris. A taxi transfer takes you back to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar to London St. Pancras International, enjoying a light meal and drinks on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Light meal on Eurostar
Included
- Eurostar Standard Premier Class London to Paris
- Taxi transfer across Paris (Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon)
- TGV First Class Paris to Zurich
- First Class rail Zurich to Como via Gotthard Pass
- Euro City First Class Como/Milan to Montreux via Simplon Pass
- Inter Regio First Class Montreux to Lausanne
- TGV First Class Lausanne to Paris
- Taxi transfer across Paris (Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord)
- Eurostar Standard Premier Class Paris to London
- 1 night B&B at Hotel Helmhaus Zurich (4 star)
- 4 nights B&B at Hotel Albergo Lenno, Lake Como (4 star)
- 1 night B&B at Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Montreux (4 star superior)
Not included
- Ferry or taxi from Como to Lenno (payable locally)
- Ferry or taxi from Lenno to Como on departure day (payable locally)
- Château de Chillon entrance (payable locally)
- Trolley bus to Château de Chillon (payable locally)
- Cog railway to Monte Bre (payable locally)
- Funicular to Brunate (payable locally)
- Meals not specified as breakfast
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenditure
