Loving Italy by Rail | Self Guided Tour | 12 Days

DAY 1:                                      ROME 

Upon arrival to Rome Fiumicino airport, you will be transferred to the hotel by a private car. Rest of the day is at leisure to explore the Eternal City. Overnight in Rome. 

DAY 2:                                      ROME 

After breakfast, discover Imperial Rome on a group tour including the Forum and the magnificent Colosseum. The rest of the day is free to explore the city. Overnight in Rome. (B) 

DAY 3:                                      ROME – NAPLES – POMPEII – ROME 

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to Rome Termini station. Board the high-speed train to Naples; the journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Upon arrival, you will begin a full day excursion to visit Pompeii and Naples. You will first discover the famous archaeological site of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and then you will immerse yourself in the undisputed charm of the city of Naples. In the evening, return to Rome by train. Make your own way to the hotel. Overnight in Rome. (B) 

DAY 4:                                      ROME – FLORENCE 

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to Rome Termini station to board the high-speed train to Florence; the journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. After arriving, make your own way to your hotel. Free time to explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Florence. (B) 

DAY 5:                                      FLORENCE – CHIANTI AREA – MONTERIGGIONI – SIENA – SAN GIMIGNANO – FLORENCE 

After breakfast, enjoy a full day tour heading to the Chianti area and visiting Monteriggioni, with its still intact medieval walls. The tour continues to Siena, where you will discover the suggestive Piazza del Campo, Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, Palazzo Pubblico and the famous Torre del Mangia. After Siena, the tour will head to the walled town of San Gimignano, famous for its white wine, the world renowned Vernaccia, and its skyscrapers, also declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO! The tour will continue with a visit to Chianti area and a wine tasting experience of the Chianti red wine. Return to Florence in the evening. Overnight in Florence. (B) 

DAY 6:                                      FLORENCE – LA SPEZIA 

After breakfast at the hotel, make your way to the train station to board the regional train to La Spezia. The journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel. The two-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area, the use of regional trains and local buses that connect the villages. Overnight in La Spezia. (B) 

DAY 7:                                      LA SPEZIA – CINQUE TERRE – LA SPEZIA 

After breakfast, day is at leisure to visit the Cinque Terre with the train card. Overnight La Spezia. (B) 

DAY 8:                                      LA SPEZIA – MILAN 

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to the station and board the intercity train to Milan. The journey takes about 3 hours 20 minutes. Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel with free time to visit the city of Milan at your own pace. Overnight in Milan. (B) 

DAY 9:                                      MILAN – COMO – LAKE COMO – MILAN 

Breakfast at the hotel and then make your own way to the station to take the regional train to Como. The journey takes about 40 minutes. Discover the city of Como and its famous lake on your own. A day ticket is included for the hop-on / hop-off public boat, where you can choose to stop off for a walk according to the departures of the boats and the time of the train back to Milan. Enjoy some free time in Como to get to know the town and shop in the many local boutiques. Make your own way to the station and return to Milan in the evening. Overnight in Milan. (B) 

DAY 10:                                  MILAN – VENICE 

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to the train station and board the high-speed train to Venice. The journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. Upon arrival, make your own way to your Venice hotel. In the afternoon there will be a 30-minute gondola ride with commentary via an app on your mobile phone. Overnight in Venice. (B) 

DAY 11:                                  VENICE 

Breakfast at the hotel, then full day dedicated to Exploring Venice or its lagoon at your own pace. Overnight in Venice. (B) 

DAY 12:                                  VENICE 

Breakfast and check-out of the hotel. End of our services. (B) 

ACCOMMODATION (OR SIMILAR): 

STANDARD CLASS: 

ROME: Hotel Kennedy   

FLORENCE: Hotel Corona D’Italia   

LA SPEZIA: Hotel Corallo   

MILAN: Hotel Flora 

VENICE: Hotel Carlton Capri or Hotel Nazionale  

SUPERIOR CLASS: 

ROME: Hotel Gambrinus 

FLORENCE: Hotel Executive   

LA SPEZIA: Hotel The Poet   

MILAN: Nyx Hotel Milan 

VENICE: Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal or Hotel Amadeus or Hotel Principe 

INCLUDES: 

• 11 nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast in your choice of 3* or 4* hotels
• 1 Wine tasting in Chianti Area (Available on departures in 2025 only)
• Colosseum & Roman Forum Group tour (3hrs) – includes local guide/entrance ticket. Pick up from the hotel not included
• Full Day Tour to Naples and Pompeii from Naples railway station – includes transportation/local guide and entrance ticket to Pompeii. Pick up from hotel not included
• Full Day Tour (by coach) to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti Area from Florence – includes bus/multilingual assistant/wine tasting. Pick up from hotel not included
• 48hrs Cinque Terre Train Card
• One day free circulation ticket on the public boat on Lake Como – departure from Como – An unlimited number of trips are allowed between the ferry ports of Como and Bellagio, including intermediate stops
• Roundtrip ticket for the funicular Como – Brunate – Como, to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Como Lake and surrounding mountains (Available on departures in 2025 only).
• 30 minutes Gondola ride with commentary on app to be downloaded on your smart phone (English/Spanish) – gondola shared with other passengers
• Private arrival transfer from Rome Fiumicino Airport to hotel in Rome city centre
• Round-trip high-speed train tickets from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale – 2nd class
• 2nd class high speed train ticket from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station
• Regional train ticket from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station to La Spezia Centrale – 2nd class without seat reservation
• Intercity train ticket from La Spezia Centrale to Milan Centrale – 1st class
• Round-trip regional train tickets from Milano Centrale to Como Centrale – 1st class without seat reservation
• 2nd class high speed train ticket from Milano Centrale station to Venezia St. Lucia

EXCLUDES: 

• Transfers from/to the rail stations. Note: The hotels are located walking distance from the rail stations.
• Transfers (pick up and drop off) from hotel to tour meeting point as indicated on tours with a star listed above (*)
• Tourist city taxes, to be paid on the spot
• Entrance tickets to monuments and/or museums
• Lunches and dinners or any other meals not mentioned in the tour program
• Optional tours and experiences
• Extras, tips, porterage, and everything not expressly listed as inclusion is not included and to be paid on the spot

THINGS TO NOTE: 

• Accommodation is subject to change without notice.
• Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m.
• City taxes are not included and are to be paid directly to the hotel.
• The days of excursions may be modified for technical reasons. In any case, all visits and excursions mentioned on the itinerary will be guaranteed or replaced by similar ones.
• Child policy: Children aged 0-2.99 years travel free of charge, however, a seat on the train will NOT be provided. The seat on the train and the bed in the hotel will be shared with the parents. Baby cots are on request, and a supplement may need to be paid directly to the hotel.
• Class of rail ticket is based on 2^nd class unless the optional upgrade to 1^st class has been selected at the time of booking.
• Between La Spezia and Le Cinque Terre, clients must use the Cinque Terre card.