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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Venice by First Class Rail

Seven-day First Class rail loop from London through Swiss Alps to Venice

Illustration of Venice by First Class Rail

Planet Rail's Venice by First Class Rail is a 7-day tailor-made itinerary from London to Venice and back, designed for independent travellers who want premium rail comfort without a group escort. You depart London on Eurostar, cross France by TGV to Zurich, then journey through the Swiss Alps via the Gotthard Base Tunnel and Italian Lakes to Milan, boarding the Eurostar Italia for Venice. There you spend four nights at the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente, a 4-star property, with your days unstructured to wander the Grand Canal, visit St. Mark's Square and the Doges Palace, and take a boat to the glass-blowing island of Murano and the colourful lace-making island of Burano. On the return, you travel by Italo and then EuroCity through the dramatic Simplon Pass to lakeside Montreux, with a final night at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic before the journey home. All daytime trains are in First Class, and private transfers are arranged in Paris and Venice. The trip suits repeat rail travellers seeking First Class rail scenery, couples looking for a romantic self-guided escape, and independent explorers who prefer to set their own pace in each city.

What to know before you look closer

  • The featured itinerary is priced from £1,495 (around $1,997 USD); an alternative routing via Turin and Milan starts from £1,395.
  • This is a tailor-made package, not a group tour; Planet Rail will custom-arrange your bookings but confirm final hotel availability and train times before payment.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zurich

    By rail to Switzerland

    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).

  2. Day 2railovernight: Venice

    Through Switzerland to Milan and onwards to Venice

    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.

  3. Day 3overnight: Venice

    Venice

    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.

  4. Day 4overnight: Venice

    Venice

    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.

  5. Day 5overnight: Venice

    Venice

    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.

  6. Day 6overnight: Montreux

    Venice to Lake Geneva

    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.

  7. Day 7rail

    Free time in Montreux - Montreux to London - Homeward bound

    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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The scenic Gotthard route through the Swiss Alps and the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest tunnel, continues through the Italian Lakes to Milan.
  • Day 3Arrive in Venice and explore St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Grand Canal by gondola.
  • Day 5A short boat ride to the lagoon islands of Murano, known for glass-blowing, and Burano, famous for lace and linen.
  • Day 6The EuroCity train climbs through the Simplon Pass into the Alps, arriving at lakeside Montreux on Lake Geneva.

Included

  • First Class rail travel on daytime trains throughout
  • 4 Star accommodation
  • Private taxi transfers in Paris
  • Private water taxi transfers in Venice

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included in the price?
Yes. The price includes First Class rail travel on all daytime trains: Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV (Paris to Zurich), trains through the Gotthard route to Milan, Eurostar Italia (Milan to Venice), Italo (Venice back to Milan), EuroCity (Milan to Montreux via the Simplon Pass), InterRegio (Montreux to Lausanne), TGV (Lausanne to Paris), and Eurostar (Paris to London).
Is this a guided tour or independent?
Independent and self-guided. Planet Rail tailor-makes the itinerary and books your trains and hotels, but there is no escorted group or guide. You have free time to explore each destination at your own pace.
Which hotels are included?
The featured itinerary includes Hotel Helmhaus (4 star, 1 night in Zurich), Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente (4 star, 4 nights in Venice), and Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior, 1 night in Montreux). An alternative routing via Turin and Milan is also available at a lower starting price.
How much free time is there in Venice?
You have four full days (days 3, 4, 5, and part of day 2) in Venice. The itinerary suggests walks to St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Doges Palace, a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, and a boat trip to the lagoon islands of Murano and Burano.
What is not included?
The Chateau de Chillon visit near Montreux on day 7 is optional and payable locally. Meals other than breakfast are not mentioned as included.
When does the trip run?
Planet Rail publishes no specific departure dates. Confirm available dates and book your preferred travel dates directly with Planet Rail.

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