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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Parma & the Prosecco Hills

10-day Northern Italy rail tour from London through Piedmont and Veneto

Illustration of Parma & the Prosecco Hills

Tailor Made Rail's 10-day Parma & the Prosecco Hills holiday connects London and Lyon by train, spending nights in Turin, Parma, Padua, Milan, and Lyon. The journey uses Eurostar and high-speed TGV trains across France and into Northern Italy, then regional services between Italian cities. Day 2 offers leisure time in Turin to visit the Mole Antonelliana and Egyptian museum. Day 4 provides a free day in Parma for the Cathedral and Palazzo della Pilotta, plus local food specialities. Padua's UNESCO frescoes and ancient university occupy Day 6, with an optional Venice half-day excursion just 30 minutes away by train. Day 7 features a coach-based Prosecco Hills wine-tasting tour that includes lunch at a family winery and a Cartizze tasting at a second estate. Day 8 brings a short train journey to Milan before the final leg to Lyon on Day 9. Accommodation spans 3-4 star hotels with breakfast included. This itinerary suits repeat rail travellers, history enthusiasts, food-and-wine explorers, and couples seeking a mix of independent city wandering and curated experiences.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most hotels are listed as 'or similar,' so your final accommodation may differ from the named properties
  • Day 5 involves a train journey of around 4 hours with a change in Milan; a prolonged stopover in Bologna for lunch can be arranged but is not automatic
  • On Day 7 the Prosecco Hills tour uses a coach pick-up rather than train travel

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Turin

    London to Turin

    Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and connect with a high-speed TGV service through France and across the Italian border, arriving into Turin late evening. Check in for a 2-night stay at the Starhotels Majestic (or similar), near Porta Nuova station.

  2. Day 2overnight: Turin

    Turin

    A day at leisure in Turin, the historic capital of the Piedmont region and former capital of Italy, known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed palaces, its cuisine, and the film museum housed in the Mole Antonelliana, plus the second largest museum of Egyptology after Cairo.

  3. Day 3overnight: Parma

    Turin to Parma

    After breakfast, head to Porta Nuova station for the onward journey to Parma (around 4 hours, with an easy change in Milan). Check in for a 2-night stay at the Hotel Stendhal (or similar), in a city famous for its historic buildings, food and museums.

  4. Day 4overnight: Parma

    Parma

    A free day exploring Parma, including the 11th century Cathedral with its frescoes, the 16th century Palazzo della Pilotta (with an archaeological museum and the Teatro Farnese), and local specialities including prosciutto di Parma and parmesan cheese.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Padua

    Parma to Padua, via Bologna

    Head back to the station for a train to Bologna (a prolonged transfer for lunch in Bologna can be arranged), continuing on to Padua for a 3-night stay at Le Camp Suite & SPA (or similar).

  6. Day 6railovernight: Padua

    Padua

    Padua lies on the river Bacchiglione and is one of the oldest cities in Northern Italy, with the oldest botanical gardens in the world and one of the world's oldest universities. UNESCO World Heritage-listed 14th century frescoes are scattered across eight historic buildings. Venice is a half-hour rail journey away for an optional day trip.

  7. Day 7overnight: Padua

    Day trip to the Prosecco Hills

    A pick-up from the hotel for a tour of the countryside around the hills of Valdobbiadene and the Prosecco DOCG, visiting the Molinetto dell Croda water mill and the Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria di Follina, with wine paired with appetisers at a family-run winery for lunch and a final tasting of Cartizze at a second winery.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Milan

    Padua to Milan

    Travel by train from Padua to Milan, staying at the Hotel Berna (or similar), not far from the station. A short journey leaves time to wander central Milan, including the cathedral roof and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

  9. Day 9overnight: Lyon

    Milan to Lyon

    Free time in Milan before heading to the station in the mid-afternoon for a direct service to Lyon, arriving mid-to-late evening. Check in at the Radisson Blu Lyon (or similar) for an overnight stay.

  10. Day 10rail

    Lyon to London

    A leisurely morning exploring Lyon before returning to the station for a TGV service to Paris, then an easy metro change to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A full day at leisure in Turin to explore palaces, the Mole Antonelliana film museum, and Egypt's second-largest museum of Egyptology outside Cairo
  • Day 4Free time in Parma to see the 11th century Cathedral and 16th century Palazzo della Pilotta, and taste local prosciutto di Parma and parmesan cheese
  • Day 6Padua's UNESCO World Heritage frescoes across eight historic buildings, with the world's oldest botanical gardens; optional half-day trip to Venice is a 30-minute train ride
  • Day 7Prosecco Hills day trip visiting Molinetto della Croda water mill and Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria di Follina, with wine paired with appetisers at a family winery for lunch and a Cartizze tasting at a second winery

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 9 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Day trip to the Prosecco Hills including wine tasting
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. The price includes Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations on Eurostar, TGV, and Italian regional trains from London St Pancras to Lyon and back.
Which trains are used?
Eurostar from London to Paris, TGV from Paris to Turin and Lyon to Paris, and Italian Regional/Intercity trains connecting Turin, Parma, Bologna, Padua, and Milan.
What hotels are included?
Tailor Made Rail books hotels including Starhotels Majestic in Turin, Hotel Stendhal in Parma, Le Camp Suite & SPA in Padua, Hotel Berna in Milan, and Radisson Blu Lyon, each marked 'or similar'.
What is included in the price?
Standard Class rail travel with reservations, 9 nights in hotels with breakfast, a Prosecco Hills day trip with wine tasting and lunch, comprehensive directions, and travel documentation.
How much walking should I expect?
Each city offers free days for self-guided exploration, including walks through historic centres. The Prosecco Hills tour is by coach with stops at wineries and a water mill.
Can I visit Venice?
Yes, an optional half-day trip to Venice is available from Padua, a 30-minute train journey away.

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