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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Lake Garda via the Alps

Independent rail trip from Geneva to Lake Garda via the Alps

Illustration of Lake Garda via the Alps

Railbookers sells Lake Garda via the Alps as a 6-day, 5-night independent rail vacation, starting in Geneva and ending in Sirmione on Lake Garda. Travelers spend the first two days in Geneva, taking in sights such as the Jet d'Eau fountain and the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross, before a scenic train ride on day 3 carries them through the Swiss Alps, past snowy mountain passes and vast viaducts, to Milan and on to Desenzano, with a transfer to Sirmione. The remaining three nights are spent by Lake Garda, where the itinerary describes swimming, trattoria lunches by the harbor, and a ferry trip past towns such as Desenzano and Riva. With no guide built into the schedule, the trip suits travelers who are comfortable planning their own days and want a single Alpine rail journey linking a Swiss city stay with an Italian lake resort.

What to know before you look closer

  • Railbookers lists several hotel options in both Geneva (including Hotel Cornavin, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, and the InterContinental Geneva) and Sirmione (including the Grand Hotel Terme); the specific hotel included depends on which tier you choose.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Geneva

    Your Journey Begins in Geneva

    Upon your arrival in Geneva, make your way to your hotel for a two-night stay. Spend the first evening enjoying a tasty meal at a local lakeside restaurant, or take a relaxing boat trip out on the lake.

  2. Day 2overnight: Geneva

    Geneva

    After breakfast this morning, enjoy an additional day discovering Geneva. Not to be missed are the world's highest fountain, the Jet d'Eau, and the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Sirmione

    Geneva to Sirmione

    After breakfast this morning, take the train from Geneva and journey through the scenic Swiss Alps to Milan and then on to Desenzano. Glide past snowy mountain passes, over vast viaducts and alongside shimmering lakes. On arrival in Desenzano, pick up a transfer to your hotel in Sirmione and check in for a three-night stay.

  4. Day 4overnight: Sirmione

    Sirmione

    Thanks to its beautiful Alpine setting and unspoiled, stunning beaches, Sirmione attracts visitors from all over the world who come to relax on its sandy shores. As the heart of southern Garda, Desenzano's Piazza Malvezzi and Piazza Matteotti are the perfect places to enjoy a drink and soak up the atmosphere.

  5. Day 5overnight: Sirmione

    Sirmione

    After breakfast this morning, enjoy more of stunning Sirmione. Take a refreshing swim in Lake Garda before taking a break for lunch at one of the quaint trattorias by the harbor. Take a ferry trip to discover the real beauty of Lake Garda, passing by charming towns such as Desenzano and Riva.

  6. Day 6

    Depart Sirmione

    After breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and continue with your travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1An evening at a lakeside restaurant in Geneva, or a relaxing boat trip on the lake.
  • Day 2A day in Geneva taking in the Jet d'Eau, the world's highest fountain, and the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
  • Day 3The train from Geneva crosses the Swiss Alps to Milan and on to Desenzano, passing snowy mountain passes and vast viaducts before a transfer to Sirmione.
  • Day 5A ferry trip on Lake Garda passing towns such as Desenzano and Riva.

Included

  • 2 nights hotel stay with breakfast in Geneva
  • 4 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Sirmione

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Day 3 of the itinerary includes a Trenitalia train from Geneva through the Swiss Alps to Milan and on to Desenzano, with a transfer to the hotel in Sirmione.
Is it an escorted tour or independent travel?
It is an independent rail vacation from Railbookers. Travelers plan their own days, and no guide is mentioned in the itinerary.
Which hotels are used?
Railbookers lists several options, including Hotel Cornavin, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, and the InterContinental Geneva in Geneva, and the Grand Hotel Terme in Sirmione. The hotel you get depends on the tier you select.
How many nights are spent in each place?
Two nights in Geneva and three nights in Sirmione on Lake Garda.
What is there to do in Sirmione?
The itinerary mentions swimming in Lake Garda, lunch at harbor trattorias, and a ferry trip past towns such as Desenzano and Riva.
What is the starting price?
From $1,449 per person, about $242 a day.

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