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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

The Best of Italy, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily

15-day independent rail trip: Venice, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Sicily

Illustration of The Best of Italy, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily

Railbookers operates this 15-day, 14-night independent rail vacation through Italy, starting in Venice and traveling by Trenitalia to Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Taormina, and Catania. After two nights each in Venice, Florence, and Rome, including a gondola ride, a Tuscany wine-tasting day trip, and a guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the trip moves south to Sorrento for three nights, with a private driver stop at Pompeii, a sail to Capri for the Blue Grotto, and a day exploring the Amalfi Coast. From Naples, the train to Sicily boards a boat to cross the Straits of Messina before reaching Taormina, where a Sicilian cooking class and a tour of the Greek Theatre fill three nights. The trip ends in Catania with a half-day jeep trip up the slopes of Mount Etna. Because it is mostly self-guided, with select guided tours built in, travelers set their own pace between the pre-booked trains, hotels, and excursions across this long, varied route.

What to know before you look closer

  • The hotel list gives multiple named hotel options for each city, for example three for Venice and four for Taormina, rather than one fixed hotel per stop, so the specific hotel booked depends on the tier chosen.
  • The Capri Blue Grotto visit on day 8 is weather permitting, so it is not guaranteed.
  • The evidence lists no current departure dates for this package.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Venice

    Your Journey Begins in Venice

    Private transfer from Venice airport to your hotel for a two-night stay.

  2. Day 2overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Gondola ride through the historic canals, Doge's Palace, and St. Mark's Basilica.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Florence

    Venice to Florence

    Train to Florence for a two-night stay, strolling piazzas and crossing the Ponte Vecchio.

  4. Day 4overnight: Florence

    Florence and Tuscany

    Full-day excursion to Pisa, a Chianti winery for lunch and wine tasting, San Gimignano, and Siena.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Rome

    Florence to Rome

    Train to Rome for a two-night stay, exploring Europe's largest open-air museum.

  6. Day 6overnight: Rome

    Rome

    Guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum, with free time near the Trevi Fountain.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Sorrento

    Rome to Sorrento Via Naples and Pompeii

    Train from Rome to Naples, then a private driver along the coastal drive to Sorrento, stopping at Pompeii.

  8. Day 8overnight: Sorrento

    Capri and The Blue Grotto

    Sail to Capri and experience the Blue Grotto (weather permitting).

  9. Day 9overnight: Sorrento

    Sorrento

    Full day in the Amalfi Coast; stroll to Piazza Tasso and visit the Chiesa di San Francesco.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Taormina

    Sorrento to Taormina Via Naples

    Driver to Naples Centrale station for a train to Sicily; the train boards a boat across the Straits of Messina then continues to Taormina for a three-night stay.

  11. Day 11overnight: Taormina

    Taormina

    Meet a regional expert chef, visit a local market, and take a Sicilian cooking class with wine tasting.

  12. Day 12overnight: Taormina

    Taormina

    Full day exploring Taormina, including the Greek Theatre, the 13th-century Cathedral of Saint Nicola, and the Palace of the Dukes of San Stefano.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Catania

    Taormina to Catania

    Short train to Catania for a two-night stay; explore the ancient Roman Rotonda, Palazzo Conte Federico, and the Pescheria food market.

  14. Day 14overnight: Catania

    Catania

    Half-day 4x4 jeep trip up the slopes of Mount Etna, exploring a lava cave and hiking to the edge of a side crater.

  15. Day 15

    Your Journey Ends in Catania

    Driver transfer to Catania airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A gondola ride through Venice's historic canals, plus visits to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica.
  • Day 6A guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum, with free time near the Trevi Fountain.
  • Day 8A sail to Capri to experience the Blue Grotto, weather permitting.
  • Day 10The train from Naples to Taormina boards a boat to cross the Straits of Messina before continuing on to Sicily.
  • Day 14A half-day 4x4 jeep trip up the slopes of Mount Etna, including a lava cave and a hike to the edge of a side crater.

Included

  • Rail travel in standard class throughout
  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Venice
  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Florence
  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Rome
  • 3 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Sorrento
  • 3 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Taormina
  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Catania
  • Private airport transfers upon arrival in Venice and departure in Catania
  • Private transfer from Naples station to your Sorrento hotel with a guided tour of Pompeii along the way
  • Gondola ride in Venice
  • Day trip to Tuscany with wine tasting from Florence
  • Sightseeing tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum
  • Sightseeing tour of Capri and the Blue Grotto
  • Local market tour and cooking class in Taormina
  • Jeep tour of Mount Etna from Catania

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, standard class Trenitalia rail travel is included throughout, including a train from Naples to Taormina that boards a boat to cross the Straits of Messina.
Is it escorted or independent?
It is mostly an independent, self-guided rail vacation, with select guided tours included, such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum tour and the Pompeii stop.
Which places does the trip visit?
Venice, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Taormina, and Catania, with day trips to Tuscany, Capri, and Mount Etna.
What hotels are included?
The evidence lists multiple named hotel options for each city, including the Hotel Metropole Venice, the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, the Hilton Sorrento Palace, and the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel.
Is the Capri Blue Grotto visit guaranteed?
No, the itinerary notes that the Blue Grotto visit on Capri is weather permitting.
How long is the trip and what does it cost?
15 days and 14 nights, priced from $3,969 per person, about $265 a day.

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