Search

Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

Lake Garda via the Swiss Alps

Eight-day independent rail journey from London to Lake Garda through the Swiss Alps

Illustration of Lake Garda via the Swiss Alps

Tailor Made Rail's Lake Garda via the Swiss Alps is an eight-day independent rail holiday spanning London, Lausanne, and Munich, with five nights based at Sirmione on Italy's largest lake. The journey combines famous European trains: you depart London on Eurostar, cross France on a high-speed TGV through the Jura Mountains, descend into Italy via the Simplon Tunnel and Lake Maggiore, and return across the dramatic Brenner Pass through the Austrian Tyrol. All rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations, and seven nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast are included. The itinerary balances travel days with free time: Day 1 reaches Lausanne, Day 2 arrives at Sirmione, and Days 3 through 6 are yours to explore the lake by ferry, visit Malcesine and Riva del Garda, climb Monte Baldo, or take an optional day trip to Venice. This suits independent travellers and first-time rail passengers who want a structured multi-country route without daily guided activities, as well as couples seeking an extended lakeside base. Pricing starts at £1,099 in low season and £1,299 in high season.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed as 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation may differ from those named.
  • Pricing excludes any upgrades to First Class (available from £150 per person) and single-room supplements.
  • The route from Munich back to London on Day 8 requires a change in Brussels; the itinerary does not specify the total journey time.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Agora Swiss Night Hotel (or similar), Lausanne

    London to Lausanne

    Depart London St Pancras mid-morning on the Eurostar to Paris, connect at the Gare de Lyon onto a high-speed TGV through Dijon and the Jura Mountains into Switzerland, arriving into Lausanne.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Olivi Hotel (or similar), Sirmione

    Lake Garda via the Simplon Route

    Board a train via Brig and Milan, passing Lake Geneva, the Upper Rhône Valley, the Simplon Tunnel and Lake Maggiore, changing in Milan for Peschiera del Garda, then a taxi to Sirmione.

  3. Day 3overnight: Olivi Hotel (or similar), Sirmione

    Lake Garda

    Explore Lake Garda by ferry from Sirmione, visiting Malcesine, Riva del Garda and Gardone Riviera, or take the funicular up to Monte Baldo.

  4. Day 4overnight: Olivi Hotel (or similar), Sirmione

    Lake Garda

    Further day exploring Sirmione's medieval centre and Scaliger Castle, and the wider lake.

  5. Day 5overnight: Olivi Hotel (or similar), Sirmione

    Lake Garda

    Further day at leisure around Lake Garda; option to visit Venice, an hour and a half away, on a direct line from Peschiera del Garda.

  6. Day 6overnight: Olivi Hotel (or similar), Sirmione

    Lake Garda

    Final full day exploring Lake Garda.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Courtyard Munich City Centre

    Lake Garda to Munich via the Brenner Pass

    Taxi back to Peschiera del Garda for a regional train to Verona, connecting with an Austrian EuroCity service over the Brenner Pass through the Tyrol into Munich.

  8. Day 8rail

    Munich to London

    Depart Munich on a German ICE train north to Frankfurt, change for Brussels, then board the Eurostar back to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Eurostar at London St Pancras mid-morning, connect onto a TGV through the Jura Mountains, and arrive in Lausanne on Lake Geneva.
  • Day 2Travel via the Simplon Tunnel and Lake Maggiore, then by train to Peschiera del Garda and taxi to Sirmione on Lake Garda.
  • Day 3Take a ferry from Sirmione across Lake Garda to Malcesine, Riva del Garda, and Gardone Riviera, or ride the funicular up Monte Baldo.
  • Day 7Return by EuroCity over the Brenner Pass through the Austrian Tyrol into Munich.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 7 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. All rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations, and easy-to-follow travel documentation are included. First Class upgrades are available for an additional fee.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is an independent rail holiday. You travel on your own; accommodation and rail are booked, but daily activities are self-directed except for the ferry and optional excursions mentioned.
How many nights are spent at Lake Garda?
Five nights, all at the Olivi Hotel and Spa in Sirmione, with breakfast included each morning.
What is included in the price?
All rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations, seven nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast, travel documentation, email ticket despatch, and rerouting assistance if strikes occur.
When does this trip run?
Tailor Made Rail does not publish fixed departure dates; you arrange your own travel dates. Low-season pricing (November-March) starts at £1,099 per person; high-season (April-October) starts at £1,299.
Can I add Venice or other destinations?
Yes. An optional direct train from Peschiera del Garda to Venice (1.5 hours away) is available. Tailor Made Rail also offers alternative return routes via Innsbruck and the Arlberg Pass, and can add extra nights and destinations.

Similar journeys