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Tailor Made Rail · Rail & self-drive holiday

Tuscany Rail-Drive Holiday

London to Turin: rail through France and Italy's coast, then seven days driving Tuscany.

Illustration of Tuscany Rail-Drive Holiday

Tailor Made Rail's Tuscany Rail-Drive Holiday merges guided rail comfort with independent self-drive exploration over 10 days, beginning with Eurostar from London to Paris and continuing by high-speed train through France to Nice on the French Riviera. Day 2 brings a scenic coastal rail journey from Nice eastward through Monte Carlo, Menton, and the cliffside villages of Cinque Terre to Pisa, where you collect a compact car and drive into the Tuscan Hills. Seven days of self-drive time follow at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa, from which you explore rural wineries, the spa town of Bagni di Lucca, and optional excursions to Viareggio and the Versilia Coast beaches. The return journey takes you by car back to Pisa, then by InterCity train through Cinque Terre to Turin for a final night before the TGV carries you over the Alps to Paris and Eurostar home. This package suits couples and independent explorers who enjoy blending guided transport legs with unstructured leisure time, and those new to rail travel who want comfortable exposure to European trains without committing to an escorted group.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package mixes rail travel and self-drive; train legs total about four days over the 10-day span, so independence and driving confidence are required for half the trip.
  • The from-price (GBP 1,399) applies only in low season (November-March); high-season departures (April-October) cost GBP 1,799.
  • Most hotels are listed as 'or similar', meaning your final accommodations depend on availability and tier selections at booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Nice (Excelsior Hotel or similar)

    London to Nice

    Eurostar to Paris, then a high-speed service from the Gare de Lyon down to the French Riviera, arriving into Nice in the evening.

  2. Day 2overnight: Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar)

    Nice to Tuscany

    A scenic journey east along the Mediterranean coast through Monte Carlo and Menton, crossing into Italy along the Ligurian coast to Genoa, then through the Cinque Terre region to Pisa, where you collect your rental car and drive into the Tuscan Hills (just over an hour from Pisa).

  3. Day 3overnight: Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar)

    Tuscany

    Explore the wineries and beauty spots around the resort, including the spa town of Bagni di Lucca in the Garfagnana region.

  4. Day 4overnight: Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar)

    Tuscany

    Further time to explore, or relax by the pool and enjoy a spa treatment at the resort.

  5. Day 5overnight: Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar)

    Tuscany

    Optional drive to the resort town of Viareggio or the unspoilt villages and beaches of the Versilia Coast, just over an hour away.

  6. Day 6overnight: Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar)

    Tuscany

    Further time at leisure exploring rural Tuscany by car.

  7. Day 7overnight: Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar)

    Tuscany

    Further time at leisure exploring rural Tuscany by car.

  8. Day 8overnight: Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar)

    Tuscany

    Final full day in the Tuscan Hills.

  9. Day 9overnight: Turin (Starhotels Majestic or similar)

    Tuscany to Turin

    Return the hire car in Pisa (with a possible morning glimpse of the Leaning Tower), then an InterCity service north along the Cinque Terre coastline to Turin.

  10. Day 10rail

    Turin to London

    An early TGV train across the Alps to Paris, then the RER or a taxi to the Gare du Nord for the afternoon Eurostar back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar departs London to Paris, then a high-speed train from the Gare de Lyon carries you south to Nice on the French Riviera, arriving in the evening.
  • Day 2A scenic coastal train climbs east from Nice through Monte Carlo and Menton into Italy along the Ligurian coast, passing through the Cinque Terre region before reaching Pisa, where you collect your rental car and drive into the Tuscan Hills.
  • Day 9After a morning in Pisa with an optional glimpse of the Leaning Tower, you board an InterCity train north along the Cinque Terre coastline to Turin.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel including seat reservations
  • 9 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • 7 days car-hire (Compact – Opel Corsa 4-5 door or similar)
  • Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
  • All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail includes all Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations, from Eurostar through France to Nice, the coastal journey to Pisa, and the return leg via Turin to London.
How much of the trip involves a rental car?
Seven days. You collect a compact car (Opel Corsa 4-5 door or similar) in Pisa on Day 2 and return it there on Day 9 before the train journey to Turin.
What is included in the accommodation?
Nine nights in three hotels: one night in Nice (Excelsior Hotel or similar), seven nights in the Tuscan Hills (Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa or similar), and one night in Turin (Starhotels Majestic or similar). Breakfast is included.
Can I upgrade to First Class?
Yes. Optional upgrades are available from GBP 150 per person for all rail journeys, or you can upgrade individual train legs.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
It is independent. Rail legs are unguided; the car-hire days are entirely at your own pace. No group activities or guides are mentioned in the package.
When does this trip run?
Tailor Made Rail offers departures year-round, with pricing divided into low season (November-March, from GBP 1,399) and high season (April-October, from GBP 1,799).

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