Venice to Paris by Rail | Self Guided Tour | 12 Days

DAY 1:                                   VENICE 

Arrive in Venice Airport or Railway Station, followed by a shared transfer by boat to Venice city centre, to reach the hotel of your stay. Rest of the day at disposal to discover Venice and its beautiful Lagoon. Overnight in Venice. (B) 

 
DAY 2:                                   VENICE 
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then spend the morning at leisure exploring Venice. In the afternoon, enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride with app-based commentary (included). Overnight in Venice. (B) 

 
DAY 3:                                   VENICE – MILAN 
After breakfast at your hotel, make your way to Santa Lucia Station to board the high-speed train to Milan. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Milan. (B) 

 
DAY 4:                                   MILAN – COMO – COMO LAKE – MILAN 
After breakfast, travel by regional train from Milan to Como, with the journey taking approximately 40 minutes. Enjoy a full day exploring Como and Lake Como at leisure. A day ticket is included for the public boats departing from Como, allowing stops at the lakeside villages along the route. Plan the day around the boat schedules, with time to explore the lakefront, browse the local boutiques and discover the charming streets of Como. Return to Milan by train in the evening. Overnight in Milan. (B)

 
DAY 5:                                   MILAN – TIRANO – ST. MORITZ 
Embark on a scenic journey from the Italian town of Tirano to the Swiss alpine resort of St. Moritz aboard the iconic Bernina Express*. This UNESCO World Heritage railway offers stunning views as it winds through the Swiss Alps, crossing the Bernina Pass at 2,253 metres and showcasing snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, and charming villages along the way. Upon arrival in St. Moritz, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight in St. Moritz. (B) 

* If Bernina Express seats are unavailable, the Bernina Red Train will be used instead. Both trains follow the same scenic route.

 
DAY 6:                                   ST. MORITZ – ZERMATT 
After breakfast, depart St. Moritz aboard the Glacier Express, one of the world’s most scenic train journeys. Travel across 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels, and over the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres, enjoying panoramic views of the Swiss Alps along the way. Arrive in the car-free village of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, with free time to explore its charming streets and alpine atmosphere. Overnight in Zermatt. (B) 

DAY 7:                                   ZERMATT (MATTERHORN GLACIER PARADISE) 
Today is dedicated to the spectacular Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. After breakfast, take the cable car to Europe’s highest station at 3,883 metres, where you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks. Visit the Glacier Palace or take in the scenery from the viewing platform. Return to Zermatt in the afternoon for free time to relax or explore at your own pace. Overnight in Zermatt. (B) 

 
DAY 8:                                   ZERMATT – GENEVA 
After breakfast at the hotel, begin your journey from the alpine village of Zermatt to Geneva by train. As you leave the iconic Matterhorn behind, enjoy scenic views of valleys, lakes, and traditional Swiss villages set against the stunning Alps. Upon arrival in Geneva, spend the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore the lakeside promenade, see the famous Jet d’Eau, or wander the vibrant international district. Overnight in Geneva. (B) 

 
DAY 9:                                   GENEVA – PARIS 
Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a train journey from Geneva to the romantic city of Paris. Once in Paris, the day is yours to explore at your leisure. Whether you choose to visit iconic landmarks like the Louvre Museum, stroll through the charming streets of Montmartre, or relax in one of the city’s many cafes, Paris offers endless opportunities for exploration and enjoyment. Overnight in Paris. (B) 

 
DAY 10:                                 PARIS 
After breakfast at the hotel, begin your discovery of Paris with a panoramic open-top bus tour, passing iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame while taking in the city’s stunning architecture. Continue your sightseeing with a scenic cruise along the Seine on a glass-enclosed boat, followed by a visit to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower for breathtaking views of the city. Overnight in Paris. (B) 

 
DAY 11:                                 PARIS – VERSAILLES – PARIS 
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the stunning Palace of Versailles (closed Mondays). Enjoy priority access before exploring the palace with a multilingual audio guide. Discover the spectacular Hall of Mirrors and State Apartments, which showcase the grandeur of the former royal residence. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore the extensive Versailles Gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre, before returning to Paris. Overnight in Paris. (B)

DAY 12:                                 PARIS 
Breakfast at the hotel. End of services. (B) 

ACCOMMODATION (OR SIMILAR): 

STANDARD CLASS:  

VENICE: Hotel Carlton Capri 

MILAN: Hotel Flora 

ST. MORITZ: Hotel Languard 

ZERMATT: Hotel Continental 

GENEVA: Hotel Bernina Geneva 

PARIS: Hotel Terminus Lyon 

SUPERIOR CLASS:  

VENICE: Hotel Amadeus 

MILAN: Hotel Nyx 

ST. MORTIZ: Art Boutique Hotel Metropol 

ZERMATT: Hotel Simi 

GENEVA: Hotel Royal Geneva 

PARIS: Hotel CitizenM Paris Gare de Lyon 

INCLUDES:  

• 11 night’s accommodation in standard or superior class hotels
• Meals as per itinerary
• Arrival transfer by shared shuttle boat in Venice, from Venice Marco Polo Airport or Venice Santa Lucia Station to designated stops in Venice city centre.
• 30-minute Gondola Ride with multilingual commentary via an app to be downloaded on your smartphone (English, Spanish, Russian or French). Gondola shared with other passengers.
• 2nd class high-speed train ticket from Venezia Santa Lucia Station to Milano Centrale Station.
• Return regional train tickets from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni, 2nd class, without seat reservation.
• One-day public boat pass on Lake Como, with departure and arrival in Como.
• One-way regional train ticket from Milano Centrale to Tirano, 2nd class, without seat reservation.
• Swiss Travel Pass* – 4 consecutive days, one per guest, valid on days 5-8.
• Red Bernina Train from Tirano to St. Moritz, one-way, 2nd class, including seat reservation. Panoramic seats are not guaranteed.
• Glacier Express Train from St. Moritz to Zermatt, one-way, 2nd class, including seat reservation. Panoramic seats are not guaranteed.
• Return cable car ticket from Zermatt to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
• 2nd class train ticket from Zermatt to Geneva, one-way, with one change en route.
• 2nd class train ticket from Geneva to Paris, one-way.
• Half-day group tour of Paris, including a panoramic coach tour of the city, Eiffel Tower visit to the 2nd floor, and a 1-hour Seine River Cruise.
• Versailles tour from Paris by coach, including return transportation by air-conditioned bus, priority access to the Palace of Versailles, and an audio guide available in 11 languages.

*SWISS TRAVEL PASS 
Discover Switzerland with just a single ticket: The Swiss Travel Pass takes international guests to the most beautiful places in the country on flexible and affordable public transport. The Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited travel by train, bus and boat, as well as many other advantages:  

• Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat (thematic tours not included)
• Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains (seat reservation fees and/or surcharges apply)
• Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns & cities
• Free admission to more than 500 museums.
• Mountain excursions included: Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos
• Discount of up to 50% on other mountain excursions
• The Swiss Travel Pass has been developed for guests from abroad. It is available to persons permanently resident outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

PLEASE NOTE: Please check the inclusions of this package carefully. The Swiss Travel Pass includes transportation and discounts on activities and excursions. If these excursions are not included in the package but only suggested in the itinerary, it will still be possible to book them (with a supplement) through Destination Italia. Alternatively, customers can book them independently using their Swiss Travel Pass code to get the discount. 
 

EXCLUDES: 

• Transfers from/to the rail stations are not included except where specifically reported
• Transfers (pick up and drop off) from hotel to tour meeting point
• Tourist city tax, to be paid on the spot
• Lunches and dinners
• 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.
• 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.
• The itinerary of the tour and 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.
• If seats on the Bernina Express are not available, the Red Bernina Train will be booked as an alternative. This train covers the same route.
• Name changes are not permitted for these itineraries. A name change may result in the loss of ticket availability and/or other services and/or an increase in fares.
• The package price is based on 2026 train fares. Should the train operator increase its fares, the package price will be adjusted accordingly.