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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail holiday

The French Riviera and Italian Ligurian Coast

Eleven-day escorted rail journey from London through Nice, Monaco, Genoa, Cinque Terre to Strasbourg

Illustration of The French Riviera and Italian Ligurian Coast

The Railway Touring Company's 11-day escorted rail holiday travels from London to Strasbourg along the French Riviera and Italian Ligurian coast. Departing London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus, the journey continues by TGV to Nice for a three-night stay with a full free day to explore the French Riviera at your own pace. From Nice, a day trip takes you by train to Menton and Monaco's glamorous Monte Carlo, famed for its casino and harbour. The route then follows the Ligurian shore on a three-hour coastal train to Genoa, where you spend five nights in Italy's historic port. During those days you ride the city's 1929 Balbi scenic lift, explore Genoa's funiculars and rack railways with a guide, cruise the harbour, and make a spectacular seaside railway journey to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. A separate day trip visits all five villages of the Cinque Terre by train and foot. The final leg carries you First Class through the Swiss Alps to Strasbourg, where you take a 75-minute sightseeing river cruise and enjoy two nights before Eurostar returns you to London. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout, and ten nights in quality hotels with breakfast, six dinners, and all included rail travel and local transport passes keep the itinerary unburdened.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed: November 2026.
  • The from-price (GBP 2,595) includes Eurostar Plus and First Class rail from London; a 'ground only' option from Nice costs GBP 2,345 and excludes UK rail and airport transfers.
  • Day 2 in Nice and parts of Days 5 and 10 are free time; the itinerary is not fully guided throughout.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Nice

    London to Nice by high speed rail

    Travel with Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord before a direct afternoon TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice Ville. Arrive in Nice in the evening and check into your hotel, where dinner is served.

  2. Day 2overnight: Nice

    Tramways and leisure in Nice

    A full free day to experience the French Cote d'Azur at your own pace, aided by a complimentary 1-day rover ticket for the local tram network. Dinner is served at the hotel in the evening.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Nice

    Cote d'Azur scenery at Menton and Monte Carlo

    Travel by train from Nice Ville to the seaside town of Menton, near the Italian border, then continue by train to Monaco to visit its capital, Monte Carlo, famous for its casino and yacht-filled harbour. Return to Nice for a free evening.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Genoa

    Seaside railway trip from Nice to Genoa, Balbi scenic lift in Genoa

    A scenic 3-hour train journey from Nice to Genoa, changing at Ventimiglia, along sandy beaches and the picturesque Ligurian shore. Check into your hotel at Genoa's Piazza Principe station, receive a public transport rover ticket, and ride the Balbi scenic lift (1929). Buffet dinner served at the hotel.

  5. Day 5overnight: Genoa

    Panoramic mountain railways and funiculars of Genoa, seaside splendour at Nervi

    A guided tour on Genoa's historic rack railways and funiculars using the public transport pass, with the afternoon free to explore or visit the seaside esplanade at Nervi. Dinner is served at the hotel.

  6. Day 6overnight: Genoa

    Genoa Old Town, harbour cruise, aquarium and historic ships in the Porto Antico

    A harbour ferry trip from Porto Antico to Molo Archetti, passing ocean liners, with the chance to visit the Aquarium or Maritime Museum with the historic Nazario Sauro submarine. Evening free at leisure.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Genoa

    Train trip to Pisa, visit to the Leaning Tower

    One of the world's most spectacular seaside railway journeys along the Ligurian coast, passing Sestri Levante and Levanto, to Pisa for the Leaning Tower and cathedral, then return to Genoa along the scenic coastal route.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Genoa

    Seaside railway and villages of Cinque Terre

    Travel from Genoa to Monterosso al Mare and onward to Vernazza, hopping on and off to visit all five Cinque Terre villages including Manarola and Riomaggiore. Return to Genoa by direct train from La Spezia. Dinner at the hotel.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Strasbourg

    Rail journey through the Italian hills and Swiss Alps to Strasbourg

    A Trenitalia First Class service from Genoa via Alessandria to Milano Centrale, then a scenic EuroCity train past Swiss lakes and the Alps to Basel, then TER service to Strasbourg for a two-night stay opposite the station. Dinner served at the hotel.

  10. Day 10overnight: Strasbourg

    Scenic river cruise, sightseeing and tramways in Strasbourg

    A 75-minute sightseeing cruise on one of Strasbourg's open-top panoramic riverboats, cruising past timber-framed houses and stately palaces, followed by free time to explore Cathedral Square and the 'Petite France' district.

  11. Day 11rail

    From Strasbourg via Paris to London

    After a free morning, depart Strasbourg on a direct First Class TGV to Paris Est, then transfer to Paris Nord for the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus to Paris, then continue on a direct TGV to Nice Ville, arriving in the evening on the French Riviera.
  • Day 3Travel by train from Nice to Menton near the Italian border, then onwards to Monaco to visit Monte Carlo and its yacht-filled harbour.
  • Day 4Journey for three hours along the Ligurian coast from Nice to Genoa, passing sandy beaches and picturesque shoreline; ride the Balbi scenic lift, built in 1929.
  • Day 7One of the world's most spectacular seaside railway journeys passes Sestri Levante and Levanto en route to Pisa for the Leaning Tower and cathedral.
  • Day 8Travel from Genoa to the Cinque Terre, hopping on and off to visit all five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore and the fifth accessible by train.

Included

  • 10 nights accommodation with breakfast at centrally located, quality hotels
  • 6 Dinners
  • Eurostar Plus travel on Eurostar services
  • First Class travel on French TGV and TER trains, as well as FS Trenitalia InterCity services
  • First Class SBB EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps
  • Standard Class travel on local trains when First Class is not available
  • Complimentary public transport rover tickets in Nice, Genoa and Strasbourg
  • Sightseeing river and canal cruise in Strasbourg
  • Harbour cruise in Genoa
  • Museum and site admissions to all the attractions as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. Eurostar Plus from London to Paris, First Class TGV to Nice, First Class Trenitalia InterCity to Milan, and First Class SBB EuroCity through the Swiss Alps to Basel are included. Local trains in Italy and TER service in France are also covered.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A Tour Manager travels throughout the 11 days. Some days, such as Day 2 in Nice and Day 5 afternoon in Genoa, are free time.
What is included in the price?
Ten nights in quality hotels with breakfast, six dinners, all rail travel as described, complimentary public transport rover tickets in Nice, Genoa and Strasbourg, a sightseeing river cruise in Strasbourg, a harbour cruise in Genoa, and museum and site admissions to attractions detailed in the itinerary.
How much walking is there?
Days include guided tours on Genoa's rack railways and funiculars, harbour cruises, and self-guided exploration of cities. You will climb stairs to visit the Leaning Tower in Pisa and walk to visit the five Cinque Terre villages.
When does this trip run?
The only listed departure is November 2026, priced from GBP 2,595 for the full package with Eurostar Plus.

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