Rail Journeys

Beginning in Milan, this sixteen-day rail journey moves through Italy's most storied cities and coastlines, trading the fashion arcades and gothic grandeur of the Duomo for the pastel harbour fronts of the Ligurian Riviera. Santa Margherita and Portofino offer their particular charm, cobbled and unhurried, before the clifftop villages of Cinque Terre appear along one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic stretches of coast. Florence follows, its Renaissance galleries and terracotta skyline demanding more than a single day, and Rome delivers the ancient city in full, from the Colosseum and the Vatican to the baroque theatre of the Trevi Fountain. Venice brings the journey north again, a city of canals and bridges navigated best on foot or by gondola, and Verona, often passed over for louder destinations, rewards the curious with its Roman amphitheatre, narrow medieval streets and the enduring pull of Shakespeare's most famous setting. The final leg returns to Milan for onward departure.

Milan to Rome (North Route) This Four City Explorer enables you to visit four of Italy's best and well known cities including Milan, Verona, Venice and Rome. You will travel on board the modern and stylish Italo trains by Prima Class, offering comfortable seats, spacious leg room and complimentary hot drinks and snacks throughout your journey.

Your rail journey will begin in the chic and cosmopolitan fashion capital of Milan, where art, style and design are a life form. It is home to the beautiful and decadent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade, filled with designer boutiques, world famous fashion brands and plenty of restaurants and cafes to keep you energised after a day of shopping. The Duomo is possibly Milan's most famous attraction, with its gothic architecture and impressive steeples, you should make a point to stop and admire from the outside or venture inside to see some fantastic works of stain glass art and the most impressive views of the city below from the cathedrals rooftop.

Nothing says history and romance quite like Verona. It is the setting where poet and playwright, William Shakespeare chose to set his famous tragedy, Romeo & Juliet and each year sees thousands of tourists flock to Juliet's balcony from the plays famous scene. Verona may often be overlooked by some of Italy's more well-known cities but it has some stunning bridges, narrow streets and an impressive amphitheatre now used for theatrical productions and world class operas. You will also stop off at Venice, a city built on water, it is a metropolis of winding canals and beautiful bridges, including the beautiful Rialto Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Venice. Sail back on a gondola down narrow waterways or take in the sights of St Marks Square. Each year the city welcomes hordes of international travellers for the annual Venice Carnival, a colourful spectacle of masque parades and characters dressed in traditional fashion of days gone by.

No trip to Italy would be the same without a visit to its ancient capital, Rome. Once the centre of politics, the city today is a modern world built against an ancient backdrop, including the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican, home to Michelangelo's outstanding work of art, the Sistine Chapel. A visit to the famous baroque Trevi Fountain should not be missed and don't forget to throw a coin into the water to guarantee your return to Rome in the future.

(South Route - Via Liguria Riviera and the Cinque Terre) Start your rail journey in Milan, renowned for being the fashion capital of Italy and one of the wealthiest cities in the country. A stylish metropolis, filled with high-end fashion stores, luxury boutiques and an impressive decadent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade, home to some of the biggest brands in fashion. A visit to the Duomo Cathedral is a must to either stop outside and admire the exquisite gothic architecture or step inside to witness the wonder of stain glass windows, imposing pillars and venture to the steepled roof to get a panoramic view over the city and bustling square below.

Your next stop will take you to Santa Margherita on the Liguria Riviera. A picture-perfect seaside fishing-village with a quaint promenade for watching yachts sail in and out of the harbour. Discover the pastel-colored houses of Portofino with its small cobbled square over looking the harbour adorned with delicious seafood restaurants or stop off at one of the colourful five villages of Cinque Terre in Sestri Levante, set amongst some of the most dramatic coastal scenery which has held UNESCO World Heritage status since 1997. Your rail tour will take you further north to discover Florence, the capital of Italy's Tuscany region. It is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, including The Uffizi Gallery exhibiting works of art by Botticelli and The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo's 'David' sculpture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, an impressive terracotta gothic style cathedral. Completed in 1436, the Duomo stands tall over the city proudly and houses some of the best mosaics in all of Italy. Florence also has a whole host of different sights to see, including the Boboli Gardens, the church of Santa Maria Novella, the Cathedral, the Bargello, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Pitti Palace. With so much in one place, it is easy to see why Florence attracts such a large number of visitors each and every year. No trip to Italy would be the same without a visit to its ancient capital, Rome where your rail journey ends. Once the centre of politics, the city today is a modern world built against an ancient backdrop, including the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican, home to Michelangelo's outstanding work of art, the Sistine Chapel. A visit to the famous baroque Trevi Fountain should not be missed and don't forget to throw a coin into the water to guarantee your return to Rome in the future. From here you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back home.

This amazing panoramic train connects the north of Europe to its south through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rhaetian Railway, passing by glaciers on its way down to palm trees.    

Crossing the Alps in the Bernina Express certainly is one of the most  spectacular ways to do it. Along the way, the Bernina Express rolls over the  65-metre-high Landwasser Viaduct, the signature structure of the Rhaetian  Railway and the UNESCO World Heritage site. Altogether the train passes  through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges from Chur to Tirano. Travellers are  treated to marvellous sights during their journey, like the Montebello curve  with a view of the Bernina massif, the Morteratsch glacier, the three lakes  Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and Lago Bianco, the Alp Gr¸m and the Brusio Circular Viaduct. On board the Bernina Express, one highlight follows another. The famous Landwasser Viaduct, disorienting helical tunnels, Lago Bianco at 2,253 m a.s.l., Alp Gr¸m with its unique view of the Pal¸ Glacier and the Brusio Circular Viaduct are just some of the highlights of the route.    

The Albula and Bernina Lines of Rhaetian Railway have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2008 due to their unique construction technology and routing. Immerse yourself in a fascinating piece of railway history and experience the masterpieces of engineering at close quarters.    

The InfoT(r)ainment is your digital travel companion that provides you with  exciting information about the Bernina Express and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the Bernina Express, you can use the InfoT(r)ainment free of charge on your own smartphone.    

In addition to the unique view, food served to passengers at their seats  also contributes to a railway experience for all the senses. Enjoy delicious  snacks and refreshing drinks from the Bernina Express minibar The journey can be extended from Tirano to Lugano aboard the Bernina  Express Bus in summer. We can arrange for you to visit Northern Italy via the Bernina Express  leaving from London St Pancreas with a stopover in Basil, Zurich or Chur (the start of the Bernina Express) or you can fly to Zurich and connect from  there. You can then continue your journey to Milan, the Italian lakes, Verona and  beyond.  

This Itinerary is for the Journey from London via Zurich then experience the Bernina Express then on to Lake Iseo with a stay for 6 nights at Hotel Rivalago then flights back to the UK. However, we can tailor-make any itinerary to include the Bernina Express.