Search

Tailor Made Rail · Rail holiday

Venice and Lake Garda by Rail

London to Zurich via Venice and Lake Garda by rail in eight days

Illustration of Venice and Lake Garda by Rail

Tailor Made Rail's eight-day rail holiday links London and Zurich via Italy's Lake Garda and the canals of Venice. The journey departs London St Pancras on Eurostar, switches to a TGV in Paris to cross the Alps into Turin, then continues south to Desenzano del Garda on Italy's largest lake. After three leisurely days lakeside, visiting the historic town of Sirmione by boat or relaxing at the marina, you travel by rail into Venice for two nights of exploring St Mark's Square, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Arsenale. The final leg crosses northern Italy and the 22-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel into Switzerland, arriving in Zurich in time for dinner. All five named trains run in standard class, and seven nights of handpicked hotels with breakfast are included. This itinerary suits first-time rail travellers seeking a mix of lakeside leisure and city exploration, as well as couples seeking romantic Alpine scenery and Italian art and culture.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 1 originates in London; passengers from outside the UK will need separate transport to London St Pancras.
  • The itinerary names hotels as 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation may differ depending on availability and the booking tier.
  • Day 8 is a travel day with no overnight stay; the journey ends in London in the afternoon.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Turin

    London to Turin

    Board a Eurostar at London St Pancras bound for Paris. On arrival make your way to Gare de Lyon, where your TGV service awaits, taking you across the border into Italy at speeds of up to 200mph before continuing through the picturesque French and Italian Alps, arriving in Turin shortly after 8pm.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Desenzano del Garda

    Turin to Desenzano del Garda

    Spend a free morning in Italy's first capital city, with its fine architecture and museums, including the Egyptian Museum. After lunch, board a Eurostar Italia Frecciarossa and zoom across the north of Italy, passing Milan and Brescia, before alighting at Desenzano del Garda / Sirmione station and making your way to the Hotel Villa Rosa (or similar), right on the shore of the lake.

  3. Day 3overnight: Desenzano del Garda

    Lake Garda

    A full day at this beautiful Italian lake. Relax at one of the pavement cafés or bars at the marina in Desenzano, or take a boat to the iconic town of Sirmione and along the eastern and western shores of the lake to Riva del Garda in the mountainous north.

  4. Day 4overnight: Desenzano del Garda

    Lake Garda

    A second full day to explore Lake Garda, whether relaxing lakeside or taking the regular boat services to Sirmione or Riva del Garda.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Venice

    Desenzano to Venice

    Rejoin the rail network for the journey into Venice, just over an hour, passing through Verona and the flat arable land around the Po delta before crossing the causeway into Venice and arriving at Santa Lucia station. Take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal to the Duodo Palace Hotel (or similar) for a 2-night stay.

  6. Day 6overnight: Venice

    Venice

    A full day in Venice. Beat the crowds at St Mark's Square, visit the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, wander the Arsenale district, and perhaps take a boat trip to Murano or visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Zurich

    Venice to Zurich

    Travel back across northern Italy to Milan on a high-speed Italian train, then change onto a Swiss EuroCity service which passes Como and Lake Lugano before crossing into Switzerland through the 22-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel. Arrive alongside Lake Lucerne and into Zurich in time for dinner. Check in at the Hotel Adler (or similar).

  8. Day 8rail

    Zurich to London

    Two trains complete the holiday: a TGV Lyria service to Paris in 4 hours, followed by a Eurostar to London in 2 hours 30 minutes, with complimentary metro tickets and directions provided for the change of station in Paris.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Eurostar at London St Pancras, switch to the TGV in Paris, and travel at speeds of up to 200mph through the French and Italian Alps, arriving in Turin after 8pm.
  • Day 2Take the Eurostar Italia Frecciarossa across northern Italy, passing Milan and Brescia, to Desenzano del Garda on the shore of Lake Garda.
  • Day 5Travel by rail from Desenzano through Verona and the Po delta, cross the causeway into Venice, and arrive at Santa Lucia station for a vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal.
  • Day 7Cross the 22-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel on the EuroCity service from Milan, passing Como and Lake Lugano before arriving in Zurich alongside Lake Lucerne.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 7 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. All rail journeys in standard class are included, along with seat reservations where required. First Class upgrades are available for an additional charge from £200 per person.
Which trains are used on this trip?
Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV (Paris to Turin), Eurostar Italia Frecciarossa (Turin to Desenzano del Garda), EuroCity (Milan to Zurich via the Gotthard Base Tunnel), and TGV Lyria (Zurich to Paris).
How many nights does the holiday last?
Seven nights across eight days: one night in Turin, three in Desenzano del Garda, two in Venice, and one in Zurich. All hotels include breakfast.
What is included in the price?
All rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations, seven nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast, travel documentation, email ticket despatch, and proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions.
When does this trip run?
The operator does not publish a schedule of departure dates. Contact Tailor Made Rail directly to check availability and book your preferred dates.
Are there guided tours at each stop?
The itinerary does not mention guide services. Days in Turin, Lake Garda, and Venice appear to be free time; confirm the level of guidance or escorted activities with the operator before booking.

Similar journeys