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Tailor Made Rail · Rail holiday

Venice via the Gotthard Pass

London to Venice via Swiss Alps and Gotthard Pass, six days

Illustration of Venice via the Gotthard Pass

Tailor Made Rail's Venice via the Gotthard Pass is a six-day independent rail journey starting in London and ending in Munich. The trip opens with Eurostar and TGV travel across France to Zurich, where you spend an evening in the Old Town. Day 2 is the centrepiece: a scenic rail crossing of the Alps via the Gotthard Pass, descending through the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino and past Lake Lugano before arriving in Venice. You spend three full days in Venice with time to visit St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and optional day trips to Murano, Burano, or the Lido. The return journey takes you by rail across the Austrian border through the Brenner Pass to Munich for one night, then back to London via Frankfurt and Brussels. Standard Class accommodation includes four nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast and comprehensive travel documentation. This itinerary suits travellers seeking a measured pace through European cities and two celebrated alpine rail routes.

What to know before you look closer

  • The itinerary shows three nights in Venice (days 2, 3, 4 overnights) but highlights mention a night in Turin en route back, which does not appear in the day-by-day breakdown; confirm the exact routing on the return leg with Tailor Made Rail.
  • Hotel names followed by (or similar) in the itinerary mean the final hotel may vary by availability and booking tier.
  • The from-price is GBP 1,049 in low season (November to March); high season (April to October) starts at GBP 1,199.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zurich

    London to Zurich

    Catch a Eurostar service to Paris, crossing to the Gare de Lyon and continuing through eastern France to Switzerland. Check into the Hotel Adler (or similar) in Zurich, with time in the evening to wander the Old Town.

  2. Day 2overnight: Venice

    Zurich to Venice

    The highlight of the journey: cross the Alps via the Gotthard Pass, through the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino via Lake Lugano and down into Italy. On arrival at Venice Santa Lucia station, check in at the Giorgione Hotel (or similar) for a 3-night stay. TMR recommends the slower route over the Gotthard Pass (rather than the fast base tunnel) for more mountain scenery, requiring a change in Bellinzona and Milan.

  3. Day 3overnight: Venice

    Venice

    A full day in Venice: views from the Campanile in St Mark's Square, a guided tour of the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, or the Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim galleries.

  4. Day 4overnight: Venice

    Venice

    A second full day to discover Venice, with time to extend to islands such as Murano and Burano, or the sandy beaches of the Lido.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Munich

    Venice to Munich

    A scenic rail journey across the Austrian border and through the Alps via the Brenner Pass to Munich. Check in for an overnight stay at the Eurostars Book (or similar).

  6. Day 6rail

    Munich to London

    After breakfast, travel via Frankfurt to Brussels, then board a Eurostar for the return journey to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day 2: the rail service crosses the Alps via the Gotthard Pass, descending through the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino past Lake Lugano into Italy.
  • Day 3Day 3: views from the Campanile in St Mark's Square and a guided tour of the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs in Venice.
  • Day 5Day 5: a scenic journey across the Austrian border through the Alps via the Brenner Pass to Munich.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 4 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations covers all journeys: Eurostar London to Paris, TGV Paris to Zurich, the Gotthard Pass route to Venice, and the Brenner Pass route to Munich plus return Eurostar to London.
What hotels are included?
Four nights' accommodation: one night in Zurich (Hotel Adler or similar), three nights in Venice (Giorgione Hotel or similar), and one night in Munich (Eurostars Book or similar). All include breakfast.
Is this trip guided or independent?
Independent. Tailor Made Rail provides comprehensive directions to your hotels and easy-to-follow travel documentation, but you travel at your own pace between stations.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. You navigate between stations and hotels, and Venice involves city walking. Day 3 and 4 offer optional activities including climbing the Campanile, gallery visits, and boat trips to islands.
When does this trip run?
Year-round, with two price tiers: low season November to March at GBP 1,049, and high season April to October at GBP 1,199.
Can I upgrade?
Yes. Optional extras include First Class rail upgrades from GBP 150 per person, luggage transfers, and extension nights in Venice.

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