The Award Winning Leader in Escorted Worldwide Rail Tours
From the restful beauty of Lake Como on a summer's day to the colourful costumes and excited buzz of Venice's winter carnival, Italy is a destination for all seasons and all visitors
The land of the Romans and the Renaissance, of food and fashion and of myths and Michelangelo, Italy is an enigmatic mix of fascinating history and culture. As the center of one of the first true centres of human civilisation in the world, Rome makes for a historical safari of ancient proportions. At its heart sits the majestic Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the world and an incredible reminder of the power of the Roman Empire. A short distance away is the smallest sovereign state in the world and the religious hub for the Catholic church, the magisterial Vatican City. Deep within the tangled web of alleys and walkways that make up Rome lies the babble of the Trevi Fountain, featured in the classic romantic film, 'Three Coins in the Fountain'.
We've created a collection of Italian rail tours that cater for every taste, whether your preference is to admire the architecture that has made cities such as Rome famous, or you wish to escape to the beautiful Italian lakes.
Effortlessly captivating and endlessly inspiring, Italy does everything with flair - and we discover it in the most romantic way possible, from its wonderful network of railways.
Tantalise your taste buds and awaken your senses to the delightful scenery and revered gastronomy of the Italian Piedmont region. We take in the delights of attractive Cuneo, marvel at the delicacies and verdant vistas of the Langhe region, and experience all the class and architectural aplomb of tremendous Turin.
… see more8 days from $3,255 pp
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Soak up the splendour of the Italian lakes and the surrounding
Swiss mountains, on an
escorted rail tour that centres on scenic beauty, from the
stunning Centovalli Railway
route to the sublime shores of lakes Orta, Maggiore and Como.
10 days from $5,025 pp
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Set just off the 'toe' of Italy, Sicily boasts an enthralling combination of historic cities, alluring coastline, glorious landscapes and the wonderful remains of the ancient kingdoms that shaped the island. Our excursion-rich adventure is crowned with a thrilling journey to Mount Etna.
… see more8 days from $2,495 pp
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From our stunning location overlooking beautiful Lake Maggiore in the picturesque town of Stresa, we explore this magnificent region of Italy. We cross Lake Maggiore to explore the Borromean Islands, taste the wines of the Monferrato region, visit enchanting Lake Orta and travel into Switzerland on the scenic Centovalli Railway.
… see more10 days from $5,655 pp
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Experience exclusive excursions that simply would not be possible with a larger group, on an intimate tour that takes you around Sicily's most beautiful sights. From private tours of beautiful gardens and palaces, to tastings of incredible Sicilian wine, enjoy this magnificent taste of Italy on this incredible Italian island.
… see more8 days from $3,475 pp
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Enjoy the festive period in two of Europe's most spectacular settings on this truly memorable rail tour. Innsbruck at Christmas is enchanting, and Lake Garda is the perfect place to enjoy a fantastic New Year.
… see more13 days from $4,735 pp
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Embark on a winter adventure over the festive season, spending Christmas beside Lake Como and New Year in Switzerland. Make unforgettable memories in Europe, with a sleigh ride and two magnificent rail journeys.
… see more11 days from $5,395 pp
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Combining the impressive splendour of Italy with the immense theatrical spectacle that is the German village of Oberammergau's Passion Play, this tour is one of natural scenery, thespian spectacle and European charm.
… see more8 days from $4,575 pp
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Picturesque, peaceful and perfectly placed for our visits to Verona and Venice, the lakeside town of Desenzano forms the ideal base for a wonderful tour with a delightful setting on the shores of tranquil Lake Garda - one of Italy's best-loved lakes.
… see more10 days
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Soak up the sights of Tuscany, on a charming rail tour in the heart of the Italian countryside. Sample fine wines, explore Renaissance Florence, see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and discover Leonardo da Vinci's picturesque birthplace.
… see more10 days
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This 11-day adventure takes you to the highlights of Italy in less than a fortnight. This captivating tour soaks up Italian splendour from the waterways of Venice to the culture of Florence, the ancient relics of Rome and the scenery of Sorrento.
… see more11 days
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Sojourn on the shores of delightful Lake Levico, on a rail tour
that soaks up a collection
of favourite Italian attractions. Explore incomparable Lake Garda,
collect snapshots of the Dolomites as you travel through the
mountains, and discover the charms of Trento, on this unforgettable
tour.
10 days
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This was our first experience of a tour of this sort and generally we enjoyed the experience
Very well organised, with an excellent tour manager and good hotels.
An excellent itinerary, and well planned journeys, although often long. Hotels were comfortable and food good. Unfortunately travel problems on return journey(not GRJ's fault) spoiled the total experience.
This is our fourth GRJ tour with another already booked at the Adriatic in 2018. This was a great tour and hotels - we enjoyed the adventure but its a long way on a train .... Some feedback on the three villages excursion - only two village would be much better. The first and last villages are all you need and additional time in both would have been much more enjoyable. The middle village was too crowded and overwhelming for most on the trip and only a single street to the sea - a wast of good time. Tour manager was very good bearing in mind the 38 people in the group
The overall package of travel and experiences was very good
This was an excellent tour which was extremely well organised. A couple of travel hitches occurred as they sometimes do e.g. Points failure on one of our short train journeys, but alternative arrangements were sorted out efficiently. The accommodation was brilliant in all three places. Our fellow travellers were great company and we shared many interests between us all. Tim Hall our Tour Manager performed with aplomb and added positively to our experience. Thank you all.
A splendid tour from first meeting at St Pancras to the farewell at St Pancras.
Great tour, accommodation was excellent in all locations. Tour manager was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and patient.
The Italy outside of Rome is no less impressive. In the south lies the sun-drenched island of Sicily, with its azure oceans and intrinsically Italian way of life, watched over by the brooding volcano, Mount Etna. Up the western coast of Italy is Pisa, where the ever-baffling Tower of Pisa leans nonchalantly over the cathedral of the city. In the north of the country is the one of the worlds indisputable cities of romance - the 'Floating City' of Venice. Set upon a series of islands divided by a number of canals, this wonderful metropolis is home to St Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace. It also has been the set for hundreds of films across the years as well as the location of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Travel from Venice towards Milan, and you come across the crystalline surface and charming villages of Lake Garda from where expeditions into the snowy mountains of the Italian Alps can be mounted.
Discover the fantastic railways of Italy. It should come as no surprise that we love railways and we know many of you do too! That's why our tours feature some of the most iconic railways and trains on the continent.
Italian culture is a potent cocktail of art, sport and music. As the site of the Renaissance, Italy has produced many of the finest masters of sculpture, painting and architecture in history. Household names such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael were all born in Italy and many of their works still adorn the monuments and buildings of the Renaissance era including Michelangelo's work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's work in the Palace of the Vatican.
As for music, Italy was the birthplace of opera and the operatic form, with an impressive list of opera composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and Claudio Monteverdi hailing from Italy. Many of the most famous operas in the world are written in Italian and set in Italy including the Marriage of Figaro and Rigoletto. As with much of Europe, Italy's main sport is football. Italians are particularly passionate about football and international tournaments can bring everyday life to a standstill, especially in the rural regions. Their national side is known as the 'azurri' which is 'blue' in Italian, after the colour which the team wears. Some of the biggest teams in Italian club football include Juventus, Inter Milan and A.S Roma
Italy enjoys an exceptional rail network, with rail still a popular method of travel for thousands of Italians daily. Routes run up and down the country and rail offers the perfect way to experience the wonderful Italian countryside, from the rolling vineyards of Tuscany to the cliffs of the southern coast.
A selection of heritage trains also still operates in Italy. One notable example is the Centovalli railway which trawls through the trees, alongside the lakes and over the mountains of northern Italy. The railway's name means 'One Hundred Valleys', which is taken from the many valleys that the line crosses and passes through on its route.
Italy's cuisine needs little introduction; most travellers will be familiar with classic Italian creations such as pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, salami and minestrone soup. As with other countries, however, Italy's food varies greatly between regions which have different traditions and styles of cookery. In general terms, Italian cuisine stems from the simple combination of fresh and flavoursome produce to create colourful dishes that preserve the identity of individual ingredients yet harmonise flavours perfectly. Pasta, polenta and risotto rice are staples of Italian cuisine and to these a variety of meats, fish, vegetables, herbs and sauces can be added to create simple yet utterly delicious meals. These can be accompanied by Italy's famous and excellent wines which include the white Pinot Grigiot, and the red Chianti.
Thanks to a Mediterranean climate, Italy largely enjoys hot, sunny summers and mild, wet winters where snowfall is relatively rare, with the exception of mountainous regions such as the Italian Alps and the Dolomites. Inland summer temperatures usually average between 82 and 91°F, whilst sea breezes lower the temperature slightly along Italy's coasts. Early autumn brings brief thunderstorms but temperatures remain warm and rainfall is short-lived. As such, waterproof clothing is not required and can be kept to a minimum.
Italian is the original Romantic language, with its roots in the Latin, which preceded it as the language of Italy. Nowadays, Italian is fast-paced, expressive and fascinating to listen to. Helpful Italian expressions include 'buongiorno' meaning 'good morning', 'buona sera' meaning 'good afternoon' and 'grazie mille' which means 'thank you very much'. 'Buongiorno' is pronounced 'bwon- jor-noh', 'buonasera' is pronounced 'bwon-ah-ser-a' and 'grazie mille' is 'graz-ee-eh mee-lay'.
Many festival days have their origins in the Catholic faith. One example is the Epiphany which is celebrated on the 6th of January, intended as a day for the birth of Jesus Christ. This day marks the end of the Christmas season and in many ways has similar festivities to Christmas, including children receiving presents from the Befana, a magical old lady. A particular event to watch out for is the Venice Carnival.
This incredible carnival of masks and beautiful costumes happens just before Lent, and features parades and festivities across the city. In restaurants across Italy, a service charge is normally added to the bill which then goes to the staff. A small tip of €2 or €3 is always appreciated, however.
Italian people are open, passionate and talkative. The city population can tend to be more temperamental and reserved while the country people are often more friendly and welcoming.
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By Sukie Chapman
19 June 2019
There are some travel memories we want to forget, some that unfortunately slip through the grains of time, and some that remain printed on your mind indelibly, for all the right reasons.
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By Jack Stacey
13 May 2019
It's a sad reality that our world is changing. Amidst heart-wrenching pictures of starved polar bears and roaring, terrible forest fires, we stand at a precipice of the Earth's natural history, staring down a cold and seemingly bleak future.
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By Sukie Chapman
1 February 2019
January has long been the most popular time for booking a tour, what else is there to cheer you up after the indulgences of Christmas are over and the annual dread that winter MIGHT actually last forever begins to set in?
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By Jack Stacey
20 November 2018
We’ve all had this experience, haven’t we? The encroaching, heavy and unbearable wait before something we’ve been looking forward to.
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Our tour manager was excellent. Content was good ie guides and hotels...except the hotel in Turin which was slapdash eg dirty crockery and indifferent service and food. It would have good to have an extra day or three to explore Venice more and jump on and off of a few more vaporettos to other islands!