Search

Rail Tours (rail-tours.co.uk) · Train Tour

Tuscany and Venice

Escorted rail journey through Tuscany and Venice from London in 10 days

Illustration of Tuscany and Venice

Rail Tours operates a 10-day escorted journey through Tuscany and Venice, departing from London St Pancras via Eurostar and regional trains. The tour starts in the French Alps at Chambery, then moves into Italy via Montecatini, where you stay for four nights and take a guided walking tour in Florence to see the Renaissance Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. Day trips by rail visit the medieval walled city of Lucca and Pisa's Field of Miracles. The second half of the tour is Venice, where a high-speed train carries you across northern Italy and a guide leads you through the winding streets from St Mark's Square on arrival. Three nights in Venice allow leisure time to explore at your own pace, with the option to ascend the Campanile di San Marco for panoramic views. A final night in Turin precedes the return journey to London via Paris on Eurostar. The tour is suited to first-time rail travellers, couples, and history enthusiasts who prefer the structure of a tour manager while enjoying free time in Venice.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 4 in Montecatini is unguided; the tour provides no scheduled activities or excursions that day.
  • Day 1 involves travel from London St Pancras to Paris and then onward to Chambery; the itinerary does not detail the Paris stopover duration or activities.
  • Hotels are listed by location and nights only; individual hotel names and star ratings are not published.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Chambery

    To Chambery

    Meet your Tour Manager at Rail Discoveries' dedicated Departure Office in London St Pancras, then travel on to the French capital of Paris. On arrival, continue to Chambery, where you overnight.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Montecatini

    To Montecatini

    Continue to beautiful Montecatini by rail, where you stay overnight.

  3. Day 3overnight: Montecatini

    Florence

    Today, head to Florence for a guided walking tour of this beautiful city. Known for its alluring Renaissance architecture, picturesque narrow streets and squares, and spellbinding art works. During the tour, you visit the vast Duomo with its distinctive orange-tiled dome, and the unique Ponte Vecchio Bridge.

  4. Day 4overnight: Montecatini

    Free day in Montecatini

    You are at leisure in Montecatini today.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Montecatini

    Lucca and Pisa

    You travel by rail to Lucca, a hidden gem of Tuscany. A beautiful walled city that features numerous Roman and medieval buildings, this is a great place to escape the tourist crowd. Later, continue to Pisa, where you find the famed Field of Miracles and the Leaning Tower.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Venice

    To Venice

    Take a short coach transfer to Florence Station where you catch the high speed train to the floating city of Venice, where you take a guided tour on arrival. Starting from the beautiful St Mark's Square, enjoy a walking tour around the winding streets, viewing the numerous pretty bridges and waterways that make the city so beloved by all.

  7. Day 7overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Enjoy two days at leisure to explore iconic Venice.

  8. Day 8overnight: Venice

    Venice

    With so much to see, you are spoilt for choice. Perhaps take the opportunity to journey up the Campanile di San Marco, which offers incredible bird's eye view over the terracotta roofs of the city.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Turin

    To Turin

    Leave Venice today and travel by high-speed rail to Turin, one of northern Italy's lesser known highlights. You overnight here.

  10. Day 10rail

    Return home

    Bid farewell to beautiful Italy, and take the high-speed train service to Paris. From here, take the Eurostar back to London, where your tour concludes.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Guided walking tour in Florence visits the Duomo with its distinctive orange-tiled dome and the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.
  • Day 5Rail journey to Lucca, a walled city with Roman and medieval buildings, followed by a visit to Pisa's Field of Miracles and Leaning Tower.
  • Day 6High-speed train to Venice followed by a guided walking tour starting from St Mark's Square through winding streets and waterways.
  • Day 8Optional journey up the Campanile di San Marco for views over the terracotta roofs of Venice.

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price includes Eurostar from London to Paris, regional rail from Chambery to Montecatini, Florence to Lucca and Pisa, and high-speed trains to Venice and Turin, plus the return Eurostar to London. Some transfers are by coach.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. A Tour Manager from Rail Tours accompanies the group throughout the 10 days.
What is included in the daily itinerary?
Guided walking tours in Florence and Venice are included. Day 4 in Montecatini and days 7 and 8 in Venice are at leisure. Other days involve rail or coach transfers between cities.
How many nights are in each city?
One night in Chambery, four nights in Montecatini, three nights in Venice, and one night in Turin.
What is the physical demand?
The tour includes guided walking tours in Florence and Venice with navigation of winding streets, narrow passages, and bridges. Most activity is moderate city walking.
When does the tour depart?
Departure dates are not listed in the available information. Contact Rail Tours directly to confirm available dates.

Similar journeys