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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Lake Maggiore by First Class Rail

Eight-day first-class rail loop from London to Lake Maggiore and Turin

Illustration of Lake Maggiore by First Class Rail

Planet Rail's Lake Maggiore by First Class Rail is an eight-day tailor-made journey that chains six named trains across four countries, beginning at London St Pancras and ending in Turin. The itinerary balances structured rail days with unstructured leisure: you spend a day exploring Montreux and Lake Geneva by optional excursion, then settle into a four-night stay in Stresa on Lake Maggiore with your days free to relax, take local ferries to the Borromean Islands, or ride the narrow-gauge Centovalli Railway into Switzerland. All train travel runs first-class, and accommodation moves from a 4-star superior hotel in Montreux to a 3-star lakeside residence in Stresa to a 5-star hotel in Turin. This tour suits couples and repeat rail travellers who prefer a slower pace and are content to plan their own days once they arrive. Expect some walking on promenades and in town centres; most optional activities (like the Château de Chillon or steamboat cruises) carry a local charge.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most meals are not included; the package specifies light meals on Eurostar only. Day 2 and Days 5-6 have no meals listed. Budget for lunches and dinners at your own expense.
  • Optional excursions such as Château de Chillon, cogwheel train, lake cruises, and Centovalli Railway trips are not included and require separate payment.
  • Departures are listed as 'Throughout the year' but no actual departure calendar is published; confirm dates and availability with Planet Rail before committing.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Montreux

    By rail to Switzerland

    Make your way to London St. Pancras station and board the Eurostar Standard Premier Class service to Paris. On arrival at Gare du Nord, a private taxi transfer takes you across Paris to Gare de Lyon for your connecting TGV Lyria service. Travel through France to Lausanne, then change trains for the journey alongside Lake Geneva to Montreux. Check in to the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4-star superior), your hotel for the next two nights.

    Meals: Light meal on Eurostar

  2. Day 2railovernight: Montreux

    Montreux and the surrounding area

    A full day to explore the cosmopolitan resort of Montreux on the Swiss Riviera. Walk the stunning lakeside promenade lined with cypresses, magnolias and palm trees. Optional visits include the Château de Chillon, the cogwheel train up Rochers-de-Naye (2,042m), the Golden Panoramic Express towards Interlaken, the mountain train to Glacier 3000, or a steamboat cruise on Lake Geneva.

  3. Day 3overnight: Stresa

    Lake Geneva to Lake Maggiore

    Morning free to further explore Montreux and enjoy lunch overlooking the lake. Then board the Euro City service at Montreux station for the direct journey south to Stresa. Arrive in the afternoon for a four-night stay at Hotel La Luna nel Porto (3-star). Evening free to relax or explore.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Stresa

    Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Centovalli Railway, Locarno & Milan (Day 4 of 3)

    Allow yourself to unwind and soak up the unique atmosphere of Lake Maggiore and the pretty town of Stresa. Visit the old town, explore the waterfront, or hop on a ferry to discover the lake. Take a relaxing lake cruise (payable locally) to Isola Bella and the Borromeo Palace with its Italian gardens. Optionally travel by train to Domodossola to join the narrow gauge Centovalli railway into Switzerland, across viaducts and bridges through a hundred valleys to Locarno, then return by lake cruise to Stresa. Alternatively visit lesser-known Lake Orta or relax at the hotel.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Stresa

    Lake Maggiore (continued)

    Further days at leisure around Lake Maggiore, Stresa and the surrounding area. Options include lake cruises, visits to the Borromean Islands, excursions to Locarno via the Centovalli Railway, a day trip to Milan, or a visit to Lake Orta.

  6. Day 6overnight: Stresa

    Lake Maggiore (continued)

    Final full day at leisure in Stresa and around Lake Maggiore. Enjoy the scenery, local cuisine and atmosphere before departing for Turin the following morning.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Turin

    Lake Maggiore to Turin

    After a short walk to Stresa station, join the Euro City train to Milan, then change to the Eurostar Italia service to Turin. On arrival at Turin Porta Nuova station, make your own way to the Grand Hotel Sitea (5-star). Afternoon free to discover Turin: the Mole Antonelliana, Palatine Towers, Turin Cathedral, Palazzo Reale, Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, Botanical Gardens and the galleried shopping arcades. Evening: choose from a wide selection of restaurants for dinner.

  8. Day 8rail

    Turin to London – Homeward bound

    After a leisurely breakfast, make your own way by taxi or public transport (payable locally) to Turin Porta Susa station. Board the TGV for the first-class journey back to Paris, travelling north-west through the Alps past Mont Blanc. On arrival at Gare de Lyon, a taxi transfer takes you across Paris to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar service back to London St Pancras International.

    Meals: Light meal on Eurostar

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Eurostar Standard Premier from London St Pancras to Paris, then connect via TGV Lyria to Lausanne and a Swiss regional train to Montreux, arriving lakeside on Lake Geneva
  • Day 2Walk the lakeside promenade in Montreux lined with cypresses, magnolias and palm trees; optional visits include Château de Chillon or a cogwheel train to Rochers-de-Naye at 2,042 metres
  • Day 3Travel by Euro City train south from Montreux to Stresa on Lake Maggiore, arriving in the afternoon for a four-night stay
  • Day 4Take an optional lake cruise from Stresa to Isola Bella and the Borromeo Palace with its Italian gardens, or ride the narrow-gauge Centovalli Railway from Domodossola into Switzerland
  • Day 7Depart Stresa by Euro City train to Milan, change to Eurostar Italia for Turin, arriving at Turin Porta Nuova for a night at the five-star Grand Hotel Sitea

Included

  • First Class rail travel throughout
  • Eurostar Standard Premier Class London St Pancras to Paris (outbound)
  • TGV Lyria Paris Gare de Lyon to Lausanne
  • Train Lausanne to Montreux
  • Euro City Montreux to Stresa
  • Euro City Stresa to Milan and Eurostar Italia Milan to Turin
  • TGV Turin to Paris (return)
  • Eurostar Paris to London St Pancras (return)
  • Private taxi transfer Paris Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon (outbound)
  • Private taxi transfer Paris Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord (return)
  • 2 nights at Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Montreux (4-star superior)
  • 4 nights at Hotel La Luna nel Porto, Stresa (3-star)
  • 1 night at Grand Hotel Sitea, Turin (5-star)
  • Complimentary light meal and beverages on Eurostar

Not included

  • Lake cruise on Lake Maggiore (payable locally)
  • Taxi or public transport from hotel to Turin Porta Susa station (payable locally)
  • Optional excursions (e.g. Château de Chillon, cogwheel train, Golden Panoramic Express, steamboat cruise)
  • Meals not specified
  • Travel insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes first-class rail travel throughout: Eurostar Standard Premier (London to Paris outbound), TGV Lyria (Paris to Lausanne), Swiss regional train (Lausanne to Montreux), two Euro City trains (Montreux to Stresa, Stresa to Milan), Eurostar Italia (Milan to Turin), and TGV (Turin to Paris return).
What hotels are included?
Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic in Montreux (4-star superior) for 2 nights, Hotel La Luna nel Porto in Stresa (3-star) for 4 nights, and Grand Hotel Sitea in Turin (5-star) for 1 night.
Which trains will I ride?
Eurostar Standard Premier (London-Paris), TGV Lyria (Paris-Lausanne), Swiss regional train (Lausanne-Montreux), Euro City (Montreux-Stresa and Stresa-Milan), Eurostar Italia (Milan-Turin), TGV (Turin-Paris), and optionally the Centovalli narrow-gauge railway (Domodossola-Locarno).
Is this escorted or independent?
Independent. You make your own way between most destinations. Private taxi transfers are included in Paris (both directions), but transport from your hotel to Turin station is payable locally.
What is not included?
Most meals (light meals on Eurostar only), optional excursions (Château de Chillon, cogwheel train, lake cruises, Centovalli Railway), local transport from hotels to stations (except in Paris), and travel insurance.
When does this trip run?
Planet Rail offers departures throughout the year, with pricing from GBP 1,595 per person (based on two travellers in low season). Confirm specific departure dates directly with the operator.

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