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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Top to Toe of Italy

Escorted 15-day rail journey from Venice through Florence and Rome to Sicily

Illustration of Top to Toe of Italy

Vacations By Rail's Top to Toe of Italy is a 15-day escorted journey covering Italy from Venice in the north to Mount Etna in Sicily. A professional tour manager leads groups of like-minded travelers through Italy's most celebrated destinations: the floating city of Venice, Renaissance Florence, ancient Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna. The itinerary balances guided tours with independent exploration. Days 1 and 2 are spent in Venice visiting St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace by private boat; days 3 to 5 explore Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Lucca by rail; days 6 to 8 feature Rome's Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Trevi Fountain. The route then travels south by 1st Class rail to Sorrento, where guests cruise the Amalfi Coast and visit Pompeii by local train. Day 12 is a notable rail experience: the train is shunted onto a ferry across the Strait of Messina to reach Sicily. The final days include a ride on the Circumetnea Railway around Mount Etna and a tour of Taormina's ancient Greek theater. The trip suits travelers seeking guided comfort, cultural immersion, and a comprehensive overview of Italy's regions, with 4 and 5-star hotels and five included dinners.

What to know before you look closer

  • One reviewer noted the itinerary packs many sites into 15 days, suggesting some travelers prefer more time in individual locations
  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; arrange independently to reach Venice and depart from Taormina

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Venice

    Arriving on Italy's east coast in Venice

    Private boat to your five-star hotel on Lido. Meet the Tour Manager and travel group this evening for dinner in the hotel restaurant.

  2. Day 2overnight: Venice

    Touring Venice, the 'Floating City'

    Guided tour via boat transfer to Cornoldi Pier, through backstreets past Vivaldi's birthplace church, the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace and Caffè Florian. Free time to explore independently.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Florence

    Arrival in the Renaissance city of Florence

    Private boat transfer then First Class rail to Florence. Guided tour featuring the Duomo, Giotto's campanile, Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria, and the Ponte Vecchio.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Florence

    Looking to traditional Tuscany in Siena

    Day trip by rail to Siena: guided tour from the Fortress of Santa Barbara, the church of San Domenico, the Baptistery, the Duomo, via di Città, Tolomei Square and Piazza del Campo. Return to Florence by rail.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Florence

    Another look at Tuscany in Pisa and Lucca

    Local rail to Pisa for a guided tour of the Field of Miracles, the Romanesque cathedral, Baptistry and Leaning Tower. Continue by train to the walled city of Lucca for independent exploration. Return to Florence.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Rome

    To the Eternal City, Rome

    Free morning in Florence, then First Class rail journey to Rome. Check in and sightsee independently before joining the group for dinner.

  7. Day 7overnight: Rome

    Discovering La Dolce Vita in Rome

    Guided tour to the Colosseum exterior, the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, the Roman Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, ending in Piazza Navona. Free afternoon and evening.

  8. Day 8overnight: Rome

    A free day in the ancient Italian capital

    Full free day in Rome, with optional visits to Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese Park.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Sorrento

    To Sorrento, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast

    First Class rail to Naples, then coach to Sorrento, stopping at a family-run agriturismo for a lunch of fresh produce, homemade limoncello and mozzarella. Orientation tour of Sorrento on arrival.

  10. Day 10overnight: Sorrento

    Cruising the Amalfi Coast and an authentic pizza-making experience

    Boat cruise on the Tyrrhenian Sea along the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting Amalfi and Positano with free time in each. Return to Sorrento.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Sorrento

    Pompeii: A city captured in time

    Local train to Pompeii for a guided tour of the streets, shops, villas, baths, temples, restaurants and amphitheater of this UNESCO World Heritage site, preserved by the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Giardini Naxos

    Traveling to Sicily by train

    Transfer to Salerno for a First Class train along the Calabrian Coast; the train is shunted onto a ferry across the Strait of Messina at Villa San Giovanni, continuing by rail to Taormina and coach to Giardini Naxos.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Giardini Naxos

    Exploring Mount Etna: Europe's most active volcano

    Coach to Rifugio di Sapienza, the highest point of vehicular access on Mount Etna, viewing the Silvestri Craters. Afternoon ride on the narrow-gauge Circumetnea Railway from Adrano to Randazzo around the volcano's base.

  14. Day 14overnight: Giardini Naxos

    Touring the ancient Greek city of Taormina

    Coach to Taormina for a two-hour guided tour of the Greek theater (3rd century B.C., seating up to 5,000). Tour concludes at a pasticceria for a cannolo tasting. Final three-course dinner together.

  15. Day 15rail

    Tour conclusion

    Final breakfast in Sicily, then check out and travel home, transferring independently to the airport or railway station in Taormina.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided boat tour of Venice's backstreets past Vivaldi's birthplace, the Bridge of Sighs, and St. Mark's Square
  • Day 4Day trip by rail to Siena to tour the Piazza del Campo and the Duomo, returning to Florence the same day
  • Day 10Boat cruise along the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting Amalfi and Positano
  • Day 11Guided tour of Pompeii's streets, shops, villas, and temples, preserved by the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius
  • Day 13Afternoon ride on the narrow-gauge Circumetnea Railway from Adrano to Randazzo around Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 14 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • 1st & Standard Class rail travel on local rail networks
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Venice to Taormina
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, 1st and Standard Class rail travel on local networks is included, including Trenitalia routes connecting Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Salerno, and Sicily, plus the Circumetnea Railway around Mount Etna
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes, Vacations By Rail provides a professional tour manager from start to finish, and travelers journey with a group of like-minded travelers
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily, one lunch (farm-to-table at a family agriturismo on the Sorrento Peninsula), and five dinners
What hotels are used?
Four and five-star hotels: Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort (5-star, 2 nights), Hotel Cellai in Florence (3 nights), Bettoja Hotel Mediterraneo in Rome (3 nights), Hilton Sorrento Palace (3 nights), and Hellenia Yachting Hotel in Giardini Naxos (3 nights)
How much walking is involved?
Guided tours include walking through city streets and historic sites; the activity level is rated as Mobility Rating 4, combining boat transfers, guided city walks, and coach travel to remote sites
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, and cancellation and travel insurance are not included

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