Italy Rail Holidays

Discover Italy by rail, from the romantic canals of Venice and ancient streets of Rome to the rolling hills of Tuscany, beautiful Italian Lakes and sun-drenched Amalfi Coast. With world-famous art, fascinating history, spectacular scenery and some of Europe's finest food and wine, Italy offers an extraordinary variety of experiences. An excellent rail network makes it easy to combine historic cities, coastal resorts and beautiful countryside on a tailor-made Italian holiday.

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Discover Italy by rail

Italy has captivated travellers for centuries, offering an irresistible combination of history, art, architecture, beautiful landscapes and wonderful food. From the snow-capped Alps in the north to the sun-soaked shores of Sicily, its remarkable diversity makes it one of Europe's most rewarding countries to explore by train.

Discover the great cities of Rome, Florence and Venice, with their ancient monuments, Renaissance masterpieces and magnificent architecture. Further north, Milan, Turin, Bologna and Verona offer their own distinctive blend of culture, history and gastronomy.

Beyond the cities, you can also explore the beautiful Italian Lakes, the colourful villages of the Cinque Terre and the rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria. Further south, the dramatic Amalfi Coast, historic towns of Puglia and fascinating island of Sicily offer a different side of Italian life.

Italy's extensive rail network makes combining these destinations remarkably easy, whether you're planning a relaxing lakeside holiday, a cultural city break or a longer journey through several regions. Add unforgettable local food, regional wines and the Italian art of la dolce vita, and you have all the ingredients for a wonderful tailor-made holiday.

Popular areas in Italy to visit by rail

Venice

Discover Venice by rail, a city unlike anywhere else in the world. Built across a beautiful lagoon, its winding canals, elegant palaces and magnificent churches have captivated visitors for centuries. Explore the grandeur of St Mark's Square, cross the famous Rialto Bridge and wander through a maze of atmospheric streets and hidden squares. Arrive by train through the spectacular Alps and enjoy an unforgettable introduction to one of Italy's most enchanting cities.

Florence

The Italian Lakes

The Italian Lakes were formed at the end of the last Ice Age and have been attracting holidaymakers since the height of the Roman Empire. It’s not hard to see why. The lakes feature colourful gardens, ancient hillside villas, harbours full of fishing boats and grand 19th century hotels all set against the backdrop of distant alpine peaks and azure blue water. Getting to the Italian Lakes by train is easy and the Alps offer fabulous scenery en route.

Tuscany & Umbria

With their verdant, ethereal landscapes and stunning, art-packed cities, the regions of Tuscany and Umbria are top of the list for a rail holiday to uncover the ‘real’ Italy. Enjoy visits to beautiful Renaissance cities like Florence, Siena, Assisi and Perugia with grand piazzas and al fresco restaurants. Or head out for a drive into undulating countryside carpeted with vines.

Sicily

Puglia

Travelling by rail in Italy

Italy's extensive rail network makes it easy to explore the country, with high-speed trains connecting major cities and regional services reaching smaller towns and coastal destinations. From the UK, travel by Eurostar and onward European trains, entering Italy through France, Switzerland or Austria. Spectacular Alpine routes, including the Gotthard, Simplon and Brenner passes, make the journey part of the holiday, with opportunities to stop in Switzerland, Germany or France along the way.

Within Italy, Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and privately operated Italo high-speed trains connect cities such as Milan, Turin, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples. These comfortable services offer different travel classes, with seat reservations included in tickets. Regional trains provide connections to destinations including the Cinque Terre, Puglia and many smaller towns.

For longer journeys, overnight sleeper trains connect northern Italy with Sicily, including a remarkable crossing of the Strait of Messina aboard a train ferry. For a more luxurious experience, the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers elegant journeys aboard beautifully restored vintage carriages, while the La Dolce Vita Orient Express celebrates Italian style and hospitality on exclusive luxury rail journeys.

Italy also combines beautifully with neighbouring countries, whether travelling through the Alps from Switzerland, continuing along the French Riviera or exploring the Adriatic coast towards Slovenia and Croatia. We can tailor your itinerary to include scenic routes, comfortable connections and overnight stops wherever you'd like to explore further.

Why book your Italy train holiday with us?

Placeholder text. Every holiday is planned by a rail specialist who knows the routes first hand. We arrange your trains, hotels and transfers, and stay on hand throughout your journey.

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What our travellers say

We had an amazing holiday travelling from Salisbury to Venice via Geneva and returning via Nice and Lille. Simon at Tailor Made Rail could not have been more helpful going through at least a dozen different options for us as we "tailored" our trip. This was a holiday to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary and we wanted to make it special and it really was

Jon

10 June 2026

We had a marvellous tour through Europe by train, to my nephew's wedding in Italy. TMR put together a great itinerary with all rail bookings and super hotels. We left London on the Eurostar, crossed Paris and took the fast train to Zurich. From there, on to Chur and over the Alps on the Bernina Express to Tirano - what spectacular scenery and a brilliant way to experience it. From Tirano, via Varenna and the ferry to Como and the next day on to Bologna for a couple of nights. We had 3 nights in Fano at the wedding, returning via Turin, then Paris and London. Overall a terrific experience, well done TMR. We will definitely travel will them again.

Julian

24 July 2026