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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Paris to Venice via the Alps

Seven-day rail trip through Paris, Geneva, and Venice via the Alps

Illustration of Paris to Venice via the Alps

Railbookers operates this seven-day, six-night independent rail vacation from Paris to Venice, with a stop in Geneva along the way, using TGV Lyria, SNCF, and Trenitalia trains in standard class. The first two days are self-directed in Paris, with a skip-the-line visit to the Eiffel Tower, a Seine river cruise, and included Louvre Museum tickets, alongside a hop-on, hop-off pass. A train then carries travelers through the rolling French countryside to Geneva for one night, before the Simplon Pass crossing on day 4 traces the shores of Lake Leman and Swiss vineyards, with views of the Alps, on the way into Italy. The trip settles into Venice for three nights, with days built around St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, and a day on the water taking in Venice Lido's beaches and the glassblowing islands of Murano and Burano. This suits travelers who want an independent trip combining two capital cities with an extended stay in Venice.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator lists 18 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than fixed hotels, so the final hotel depends on the tier chosen; the Geneva sample ranges from the Hotel Cornavin to the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix.
  • Geneva gets only one night, versus two in Paris and three in Venice, the shortest stop on the trip.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Your Journey Begins in Paris

    Welcome to Paris! On arrival head to your hotel for a two-night stay, then get out to explore the city with your included Hop-on Hop-off pass.

  2. Day 2overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Included for you is a skip-the-line tour to the very top of the Eiffel Tower, a one-hour scenic seine cruise, and tickets to the world-famous Louvre Museum. You also have another day of exploring the city with your hop-on hop-off pass.

  3. Day 3overnight: Geneva

    Paris to Geneva

    Check out of your hotel after breakfast and take to the rails through the rolling French countryside to Geneva. On arrival, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay and set out to explore.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Venice

    Geneva to Venice

    After breakfast, depart Geneva in the morning and travel to Venice on one of the most scenic routes in Europe, the Simplon Pass. Relax while the train follows the shores of Lake Leman and across Swiss vineyards, with stunning views of the Alps in the background before crossing the border into Italy and arriving in Venice, for a three-night stay.

  5. Day 5overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Spend two full days exploring the sights of the lagoon-side sanctuary of Venice. Famous attractions not to be missed include St. Mark's Square with its sumptuous Basilica and imposing Campanile, and the nearby Doge's Palace.

  6. Day 6overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Make sure you spend some time out on the water. Venice Lido has some great sandy beaches and the islands of Murano and Burano are beautifully maintained fishing villages where you can watch the famous Venetian glassblowers in action.

  7. Day 7rail

    Depart Venice

    After breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and continue with your travels. If you wish to extend your journey, perhaps with an additional day in a different city, one of our Rail Specialists will be happy to assist you with the details.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A skip-the-line tour reaches the top of the Eiffel Tower, followed by a Seine river cruise and included tickets to the Louvre Museum.
  • Day 3The train from Paris to Geneva runs through the rolling French countryside.
  • Day 4The train from Geneva to Venice follows the Simplon Pass, tracing the shores of Lake Leman and crossing Swiss vineyards with views of the Alps before crossing into Italy.
  • Day 5St Mark's Square, with its Basilica and Campanile, and the nearby Doge's Palace anchor a full day of sightseeing in Venice.
  • Day 6A day on the water includes Venice Lido's sandy beaches and the glassblowing islands of Murano and Burano.

Included

  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Paris
  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Geneva
  • 3 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Venice
  • Train travel in standard class throughout
  • Skip the Line Eiffel Tower tickets
  • 2 Day Paris hop-on hop-off pass
  • Scenic Paris River Cruise
  • Louvre Museum tickets (closed on Tuesdays)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, in standard class throughout, on TGV Lyria and SNCF from Paris to Geneva on day 3, then Trenitalia after crossing into Italy on day 4 via the Simplon Pass.
Is this trip guided or independent?
Independent throughout, with a hop-on, hop-off pass for exploring Paris at your own pace.
How many nights are spent at each stop?
Two nights in Paris, one night in Geneva, and three nights in Venice, for a seven-day, six-night trip.
What hotels are used?
The operator lists 18 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than fixed hotels; the Geneva sample ranges from the Hotel Cornavin to the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix.
What is included besides rail travel and hotels?
Skip-the-line Eiffel Tower tickets, a two-day Paris hop-on hop-off pass, a scenic Seine river cruise, and Louvre Museum tickets.
How much does this trip cost?
Prices start from $1,559 per person, about $223 per day.

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