
Great Rail Journeys
Best of Switzerland
Eight-day independent Swiss tour on Bernina, Glacier and GoldenPass Express trains
Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Venice truly is like nowhere else on earth which is what makes a holiday here such a unique and unforgettable experience.
From London St Pancras International travel by Eurostar to Paris at up to 186mph, with a light meal and drinks served on board in Standard Premier Class. At the Gare du Nord a private taxi transfers you to the Gare de Lyon for the TGV through France into Switzerland, arriving at the attractive lakeside city of Zurich. Overnight at the comfortable, highly-rated Hotel Helmhaus (4 star).
After breakfast, perhaps a whistle-stop tour of Zurich's Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse and churches including the Grossmunster, Fraumunster and St Peterskirche. Then the scenic journey along the impressive Gotthard route through the Swiss Alps and the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest tunnel, continuing through the Italian Lakes to Milan. Change at Milan's imposing art-deco station for the Eurostar Italia service to Venice. From Venezia Santa Lucia a private water taxi transfers you to the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente (4 star) for four nights.
Step out in Venice and allow this unique and captivating city to carry you where it will. From St. Mark's Square to the Rialto Bridge, a gondola ride on the Grand Canal to a visit inside the stunning Doges Palace, wander amid the myriad of canals along blissfully traffic-free alleyways and campi.
Discover the city's luminous quality emanating from the colours of its painted palazzo, ornate stone bridges and Byzantine basilicas, all reflected against the tapestry of canals and lagoons. Enjoy Venice at dusk and after dark when the crowds have gone home.
A short boat ride leads to pretty islands on the lagoon, including Murano, home of glass-blowing, and colourful Burano, where lace and linen abound.
Your water taxi returns you to the station to board the Italo service for the First Class journey to Milan, then the comfortable EuroCity service into the Alps for the spectacular journey through the Simplon Pass to lakeside Montreux on Lake Geneva. Overnight at the belle epoque Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior), right next to the station.
Stretch your legs or take the trolley bus to the stunning medieval Chateau de Chillon (payable locally), one of the best-preserved 13th-century castles in Europe. Then the InterRegio train to Lausanne, the TGV back to Paris, a private taxi to the Gare du Nord and the Eurostar home in Standard Premier with light meal and drinks, arriving into London St. Pancras International.

Great Rail Journeys
Eight-day independent Swiss tour on Bernina, Glacier and GoldenPass Express trains

Great Rail Journeys

Planet Rail

Planet Rail