Luxury Italy tailor-made rail holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by train
This 11-night holiday by train to the iconic Italian cities of Venice, Florence and Rome transports you by train from London via Paris to Zurich for the first night of the holiday. From here travel through Switzerland and the Alps south to Milan. Change here for the train to Venice where you spend three nights. Venice, la Serenissima, captivates and enchants with its gentle rhythm created by the lapping waters of the canals, its antiquated architecture and magnificent churches. You continue your journey by train to Florence, just two hours’ away, where you again have three nights. Florence is both a mediaeval and a vibrant city, flourishing in artisan trades as well as mighty works of art. Rome, the ancient capital of Italy, is your next destination and just two hours by train. From your centrally-located hotel it is easy to explore both the ancient and Baroque wonders of this city steeped in character, style and charm. At the end of your stay in Rome you return by train to Milan where you change trains for Lausanne. The last night of the holiday is spent on the shores of Lake Geneva before returning via Paris to London.
Highlights
Eurostar London to Paris return • Overnight stops in Switzerland both ways • Venice • Visit the islands of Murano and Burano • Visit the Guggenheim • Florence • Visit the Chapel of the Magi • Visit the Boboli gardens • Rome • Visit the Forum and the catacombs • Stroll in the gardens of the Villa Borghese
Day by day
You begin your rail touring holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by travelling on a morning Eurostar to Paris. Change stations in Paris and then take a TGV to Zurich where you spend one night.
Today's journey by train takes you south from Zurich through the alpine scenery to Milan where you change trains. From Milan it's a journey of about two and a half hours to Venice. Upon arrival you are met by a private water taxi and transferred to your hotel.
You have two full days in Venice. More than a city, Venice “La Serenissima” is an enchantress. Take the time to discover her winding streets, canals, quiet squares and lively waterfronts. To make the most of your time in Venice, it’s worth dividing the city into areas or themes. The obvious place to start is at St Mark’s Square, best appreciated whilst sipping a Venetian coffee at Florian’s. St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the Campanile can all be visited. The magnificent churches of Venice are worth seeking out: Santa Maria della Salute, Ss Giovanni e Paolo, and Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (with works by Titian), Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Gesuiti. The Jewish quarter can be found just off the Strada Nova to the north of the city and gives you a rare insight into the history of the Jewish community in Venice. There is a clutch of art galleries to be enjoyed including the Ca’ Pesaro, the Ca’ d’Oro, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Scuola di San Rocco and for modern art, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The streets of Venice also contain a treasure trove of tiny artisan shops selling glassware, masks, lace and silk, and shoes. To absorb the magic of Venice from the water, treat yourself to a ride in a gondola. Across the lagoon, and reached by vaporetto, are the islands of Burano, home to lace-making and fishermen, and Murano, where master craftsmen offer demonstrations of glass-making before you enter their shops.
A private water taxi will take you to Venice Santa Lucia station for your train to Florence. We will discuss timings with you as the journey is only about two hours. Once in Florence at Santa Maria Novella station, a private car will transfer you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring Florence and trying the local cuisine.
You have two full days to explore Florence, the ancient capital of the Medicis and home to a wealth of Renaissance treasures. A visit to see Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia is high on the list of things to do in Florence, along with the majestic architecture of the Duomo and the beautiful work of the silversmiths that line the Ponte Vecchio. In addition to the obvious of the Accademia and the Uffizi (a must for the Botticellis), visit the Bargello and the Chapel of the Magi in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi to marvel at the fresco by Benozzo Gozzoil. As well as the Duomo, there are many other, smaller churches of architectural and artistic significance including San Marco, with some fine works by Fra Angelico, Orsanmichele, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce and San Lorenzo. On the ‘other’ side of the Arno are the Boboli gardens and well worth a stroll. Florence is home to numerous artisan workshops and handcrafted leather, jewellery and paper goods are available throughout the city. For a panoramic view of the city, its rooftops and the valley of the River Arno, take a bus or taxi to Fiesole, perched on the hill above the city. If you have special interests in Florence, then let us arrange a private guide for you or let us book you seats at the opera or a concert.
We will discuss timings with you as the journey from Florence to Rome is only about two hours, and a private car will take you from your hotel to the station in Florence and meet you at Rome Termini station to take you to your centrally located hotel in Rome.
Rome is the capital city of Italy and as the capital city of the Roman Empire was widely regarded as the birth place of western civilization. The city has a unique atmosphere of any in Italy, due to its huge wealth of sites to see, dating back not just from the Roman era, but from mediaeval and Renaissance periods as well and you could spend a lifetime visiting all the historical and architectural sites the city has to offer. Most visitors come to Rome to see the foundations of the Roman Empire in the form of the Colosseum, The Forum and the Circus Maximus, to name but a few. However, visitors nearly always allow time for a visit to the Vatican Museum and the Basilica of St Peter, even if they choose not to visit any other non-Roman historical sites! The variety of places to visit in Rome can be overwhelming and it is best to plan in advance what you wish to see within the time you have and stick to it, rather than planning whilst you are there. The historic centre is perfectly manageable on foot as it is in fact quite compact although there is an underground system too. Other places worth including in your itinerary of Rome are the Campo de’Fiori food market, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona, home to Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. Afternoon tea is worth taking in the Caffe delle Arti inside the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, with a shady terrace in fine weather.
The journey from Rome to Lausanne is very straightforward with just one change in Milan. You can take a train at about 9.30 from Rome and be in Lausanne by 16.42. Plenty of time to check-in to your hotel and stroll this lakeside town before finding somewhere for dinner.
It's a journey time today of about four hours from Lausanne to Paris where you change trains and stations before taking the Eurostar back to London.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Price from £3,260 per person based on two people sharing a double room including second class rail travel. Luxury hotel option from £7,930 per person. Supplement £620 per person for first class rail travel.
Holiday Code ITBR04
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Italy tailor-made rail holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by train
You begin your rail touring holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by travelling on a morning Eurostar to Paris. Change stations in Paris and then take a TGV to Zurich where you spend one night.
Today's journey by train takes you south from Zurich through the alpine scenery to Milan where you change trains. From Milan it's a journey of about two and a half hours to Venice. Upon arrival you are met by a private water taxi and transferred to your hotel.
You have two full days in Venice. More than a city, Venice “La Serenissima” is an enchantress. Take the time to discover her winding streets, canals, quiet squares and lively waterfronts. To make the most of your time in Venice, it’s worth dividing the city into areas or themes. The obvious place to start is at St Mark’s Square, best appreciated whilst sipping a Venetian coffee at Florian’s. St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the Campanile can all be visited. The magnificent churches of Venice are worth seeking out: Santa Maria della Salute, Ss Giovanni e Paolo, and Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (with works by Titian), Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Gesuiti. The Jewish quarter can be found just off the Strada Nova to the north of the city and gives you a rare insight into the history of the Jewish community in Venice. There is a clutch of art galleries to be enjoyed including the Ca’ Pesaro, the Ca’ d’Oro, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Scuola di San Rocco and for modern art, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The streets of Venice also contain a treasure trove of tiny artisan shops selling glassware, masks, lace and silk, and shoes. To absorb the magic of Venice from the water, treat yourself to a ride in a gondola. Across the lagoon, and reached by vaporetto, are the islands of Burano, home to lace-making and fishermen, and Murano, where master craftsmen offer demonstrations of glass-making before you enter their shops.
A private water taxi will take you to Venice Santa Lucia station for your train to Florence. We will discuss timings with you as the journey is only about two hours. Once in Florence at Santa Maria Novella station, a private car will transfer you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring Florence and trying the local cuisine.
You have two full days to explore Florence, the ancient capital of the Medicis and home to a wealth of Renaissance treasures. A visit to see Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia is high on the list of things to do in Florence, along with the majestic architecture of the Duomo and the beautiful work of the silversmiths that line the Ponte Vecchio. In addition to the obvious of the Accademia and the Uffizi (a must for the Botticellis), visit the Bargello and the Chapel of the Magi in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi to marvel at the fresco by Benozzo Gozzoil. As well as the Duomo, there are many other, smaller churches of architectural and artistic significance including San Marco, with some fine works by Fra Angelico, Orsanmichele, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce and San Lorenzo. On the ‘other’ side of the Arno are the Boboli gardens and well worth a stroll. Florence is home to numerous artisan workshops and handcrafted leather, jewellery and paper goods are available throughout the city. For a panoramic view of the city, its rooftops and the valley of the River Arno, take a bus or taxi to Fiesole, perched on the hill above the city. If you have special interests in Florence, then let us arrange a private guide for you or let us book you seats at the opera or a concert.
We will discuss timings with you as the journey from Florence to Rome is only about two hours, and a private car will take you from your hotel to the station in Florence and meet you at Rome Termini station to take you to your centrally located hotel in Rome.
Rome is the capital city of Italy and as the capital city of the Roman Empire was widely regarded as the birth place of western civilization. The city has a unique atmosphere of any in Italy, due to its huge wealth of sites to see, dating back not just from the Roman era, but from mediaeval and Renaissance periods as well and you could spend a lifetime visiting all the historical and architectural sites the city has to offer. Most visitors come to Rome to see the foundations of the Roman Empire in the form of the Colosseum, The Forum and the Circus Maximus, to name but a few. However, visitors nearly always allow time for a visit to the Vatican Museum and the Basilica of St Peter, even if they choose not to visit any other non-Roman historical sites! The variety of places to visit in Rome can be overwhelming and it is best to plan in advance what you wish to see within the time you have and stick to it, rather than planning whilst you are there. The historic centre is perfectly manageable on foot as it is in fact quite compact although there is an underground system too. Other places worth including in your itinerary of Rome are the Campo de’Fiori food market, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona, home to Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. Afternoon tea is worth taking in the Caffe delle Arti inside the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, with a shady terrace in fine weather.
The journey from Rome to Lausanne is very straightforward with just one change in Milan. You can take a train at about 9.30 from Rome and be in Lausanne by 16.42. Plenty of time to check-in to your hotel and stroll this lakeside town before finding somewhere for dinner.
It's a journey time today of about four hours from Lausanne to Paris where you change trains and stations before taking the Eurostar back to London.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Price from £3,260 per person based on two people sharing a double room including second class rail travel. Luxury hotel option from £7,930 per person. Supplement £620 per person for first class rail travel.
Holiday Code ITBR04
Our prices include
● Second-class travel on all trains, with standard class on Eurostar (first and standard premier can be booked at a supplement)
● Private return water taxi transfers from Venice Santa Lucia station to the hotel
● Private return car transfers from Florence Santa Maria Novella station to the hotel
● Private return car transfers from Rome Termini station to the hotel
● 1 night's bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Hotel Europe or a Comfort double at the Hotel St Gotthard in Zurich
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel Bisanzio in Venice
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Classic executive room at Hotel Brunelleschi or in a Classic room at the Bernini Palace in Florence
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel Mascagni in Rome
● 1 night's bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel Angleterre et Residence in Lausanne
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in Paris
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Italy tailor-made rail holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by train
The Romantik Hotel Europe in Zurich is a charming, boutique, family-run hotel with 39 rooms just two minutes’ walk from the shores of Lake Zurich and by the Opera House.
Classic room
Hotel St Gotthard is a sophisticated 4-star hotel in an excellent central location. Haute cuisine and stylish, comfortable accommodation make this an excellent spot to recuperate after enjoying the cultural delights of Zurich.
Comfort room
Hotel Bisanzio is an elegant 4-star hotel, which exudes historical charm, in an excellent position for exploring the main sights of Venice.
Classic room
Baglioni Hotel Luna is an award-winning, 5-star boutique hotel in an outstandingly convenient yet charming location. The award-winning restaurant and opulent Venetian style afford guests a luxurious retreat after a day soaking up the cultural and historical delights of Venice.
Classic room
The Hotel Brunelleschi is a luxury 4-star hotel, steeped in the history of Florence and yet offering contemporary comforts. The hotel is in the heart of the city just a few minutes' walk from the Duomo. Two restaurants (one with two Michelin stars) are on-site.
Classic executive room
The Bernini Palace is an elegant, historic 5-star hotel in the heart of Florence. Sumptuous interiors and delicious cuisine make this hotel the perfect base from which to relax after exploring the wonders of the city.
Classic room
The Hotel Savoy is an elegant and luxurious hotel in the centre of Florence. Sophisticated rooms often with city views, restaurant and outdoor terrace.
Classic room
Hotel Mascagni is a small and cosy 4-star hotel, close to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. The hotel's location is perfect for guests wanting to catch as many of Rome's landmarks as possible.
Classic room
The Hotel de Russie is a magnificent, 5-star hotel in a typically Roman building with a stunning courtyard and terraced garden. Charm and tradition meet contemporary flair.
Classic room
Hotel Angleterre et Résidence is a charming, traditional, Swiss-style, 4-star hotel in a prime location. Delicious cuisine, exceptional service and immaculate grounds offer guests a truly relaxing and indulgent experience.
Classic room
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Price from £3,260 per person based on two people sharing a double room including second class rail travel. Luxury hotel option from £7,930 per person. Supplement £620 per person for first class rail travel.
Holiday Code ITBR04
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Italy tailor-made rail holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by train
About Florence
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Florence is one of the ‘must see’ places of all art lovers. Florence is the centre of the Renaissance movement and the Uffizi Gallery houses a phenomenal collection of painting from this era, as does the Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s statue of David. However, it is the atmosphere of the city which is overwhelmingly Renaissance as everywhere you turn there is yet another reminder of the period either artistic or architectural and this creates a superb museum like ambience to the historic centre. All the sites are easily reached on foot from the Ponte Vecchio to the Church of Santa Maria Novella, to the Accademia, to the Duomo and it is by visiting on foot that you can soak up the amazing atmosphere of the city.
Highlights of Florence
The markets in Florence are great for browsing for leather bags and shoes, but be prepared to haggle the price, as these markets are now really geared up for tourists and you can end up paying more than you need to. Fiesole can be reach by train or bus and has lovely views of the city. The Boboli gardens are an enchanting place to spend a few lazy hours and can be reached on foot over the other side of the River Arno from the main sites. Hire a car and visit Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano, Chianti, Montepulciano, Perugia and many more fascinating mediaeval towns nearby.
Cultural highlights of Florence
The Duomo, The Battistero, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, the mausoleum of the Medici family in the Medici Chapel, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, The Piazza della Signoria.
Festivals in Florence
There are a wide range of fashion shows held in Florence in January, which can make finding hotel availability difficult during the show period. Otherwise, Florence holds any wonderful festivals throughout the year including the Scoppio del Carro or the explosion of the cart on Easter Sunday, which is really a firework display, but the atmosphere is tremendous. Calcio in Costume in June is a fun spectacle and a slightly different take on ‘Calcio’ or football! Alternatively, in September there is the Festa della Rificolana where children carrying candlelit lanterns converge on the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata to celebrate the eve of the birth of the Virgin Mary. The most notable festival in the area however, is of course the Palio in Siena, just south of Florence and easily reachable by train, which takes place in July and August. Early booking is essential.
Gastronomy in Florence
Florence is famous for its food, namely Bistecca alla Fiorentina and many grilled meats and game dishes, but of course it is the centre of the Chianti wine producing region and thereby has access to some of the most prestigious wines from Chianti and the hearty reds of Southern Tuscany. Olive oil is also in abundance here and is used with everything, from cooking to dipping and even tasting!
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Italy tailor-made rail holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by train
About Rome
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Rome is a trip to the capital city of Italy and, as the capital city of the Roman Empire, a place which was widely regarded as the birth place of western civilisation. The city has a unique atmosphere of any in Italy, due to its huge wealth of sites to see, dating back not just from the Roman era, but from mediaeval and Renaissance periods as well and you could spend a lifetime visiting all the historical and architectural sites the city has to offer. Most visitors come to Rome to see the foundations of the Roman Empire in the form of the Colosseum, The Forum Romanum and the Circus Maximus, to name but a few. However, visitors nearly always allow time for a visit to the Vatican Museum and the Basilica of St Peter, even if they choose not to visit any other non-Roman historical sites! The variety of places to visit in Rome can be over whelming and it is best to plan in advance what you wish to see within the time you have and stick to it, rather than planning whilst you are there. The historic centre is perfectly manageable on foot as it is in fact quite compact. However, there is a comprehensive metro system that runs around the historic centre, rather than through it (for obvious reasons), with its intersection at the main Rome Termini station. The two lines of the metro are easy to navigate and can be a swift and inexpensive way of reaching monuments or museums which are further away from each other.
Highlights of Rome
If the monuments, museums and historical sites become too overwhelming then Rome is also the perfect place for a spot of retail therapy, particularly shoes and clothes. The Apian way just outside the city is where a large proportion of the Roman catacombs are, as well as the baths of Caracalla. There are also numerous famous gardens in and around Rome namely the Borghese Gardens, The Gardens of Villa Doria Pamphili, Villa Torlonia, Villa Ada and the Park of Aqueducts.
Cultural highlights of Rome
The Colosseum, The Forum, The Pantheon, Circus Maximus, Domus Aurea, Trajan’s Market, The Vatican Museum, The Basilica of St Peter, The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, The Capitoline Museum, The Borghese Gallery.
Festivals in Rome
The Estate Romana is a festival which lasts throughout the summer months and encompasses many cultural activities including concerts and street performances. The Noantri Festival is at the beginning of July and has its roots in early Christianity. The statue of the Vergine del Carmine is carried through the streets of the Trastevere district of Rome and there is much feasting and merriment. There are numerous arts and antiques fairs which take place in the autumn in Rome and the city attracts a wide range of musicians and art collections throughout the year.
Gastronomy in Rome
The gastronomy of Rome is hearty but simple, based on numerous ways of cooking fresh vegetables, particularly artichokes and courgettes (zucchini), salt cod, hearty soups and meat sauces and various pasta shapes and tomato sauces, particularly using garlic and chilli. The most famous wines of the area are the Frascati wines, however the area to the south also produces excellent Cesanese wines.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Italy tailor-made rail holiday to Venice, Florence and Rome by train
About Venice
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Venice is the chance to visit an enchanting and historical city. Venice, or ‘La Serenissima’ as it has been known for centuries, is truly unique and must be visited at least once in a lifetime. It is essentially a floating museum and was the main centre of trade for the north of Italy from the 13th century right through until the 17th century. The Venetian Republic was one of the richest in Europe and was presided over by the Doge who was elected by the Council of Ten, or the most powerful members of the governing families. The art and architecture that can be seen throughout the city is really a tribute to centuries of patronage and wealth. The Venetian lagoon also has numerous other islands, inhabited and uninhabited which used to grow crops and produce to feed Venice itself and which also used to house some of the cities’ industries such as glass making and lace making.
Cultural highlights of Venice
St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, The Grand Canal, Accademia, Museo Correr, Rialto Bridge, La Fenice theatre, The Church of the Redentore, The Church of Santa Maria della Salute.
Festivals in Venice
Venice’s most famous festival is the Carnevale in February, the actual dates of Carnevale vary from year to year, but it generally spans three to four weeks ending on Shrove Tuesday. Costumed and masked people parade around the streets of Venice and there are numerous private parties and dances, but the atmosphere on the final night of Carnevale itself is electric. Alternatively, there is the Regata Storica on the first Sunday in September, when boats and gondolas race against each other along the Grand Canal, or the Feast of the Redentore in mid-July to celebrate the end of the plague in the 16th century. A makeshift bridge is constructed to link the Giudecca island with the Dorsodouro island and there is a huge firework display.
Gastronomy in Venice
Venetian food is naturally fish and sea food orientated and popular dishes include the sweet and sour ‘sardee in saor’ or sardine salad, cuttlefish risotto with its black ink and ‘caparossoi a scota deo’, which are large clams cooked with lemon and pepper. Liver is also popular as are several sweet fried delicacies or ‘fritole’, popular particularly around festival time. This area is famous for its Prosecco and is the home of the ‘Bellini’ cocktail.
Travel around Venice
Gondola rides are always popular, but are expensive. The vaporetto and motoscafo services are good and will take you from A to B and are essential to reach the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello in the lagoon unless you hire a private water taxi. The services can be disrupted at high tide or ‘Aqua Alta’, which usually occurs in the autumn, or if the lagoon is particularly choppy. To cross the Grand Canal the precarious ‘traghetti’ are like large Gondolas, but you are expected to stand up in order for the maximum number of passengers to board, so it is an art, as well as an experience to remember!
