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Explore gorgeous cities, spectacular sights, and renowned cuisine.

Italian Holidays by Rail

If you're looking for a relaxed yet engaging way to explore Italy, then an Italian rail holiday is ideal. Filled with historical landmarks, incredible art, and a rich culture, Italy is a country that captivates every visitor.

Travelling by train with us offers a unique opportunity to discover Italy like never before. Enjoy delicious local food and wine in Tuscany, discover Sicily's Greek history, and see some of the most famous landmarks in Italy including Mount Etna and Pompeii.

Wherever you go, amazing wonders lie around every corner. In the north of Italy, uncover the unique ambience of the floating city of Venice and in southern Italy experience a sunset stroll along the UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast, famous for its dramatic cliffs and crystal-clear seas.

Start planning your Italian holiday now and explore all the marvels this country has to offer. From exciting exploration to peaceful relaxation, this stunning region has something for every traveller.

Find out more with a free brochure and enjoy weekly travel inspiration and offers in our e-newsletter.

Italian Holiday Experiences

Italian Lakes

Experience a serene retreat to the Italian Lakes. Whether it's Como, Garda, Maggiore, Iseo, or Orta - each is a masterpiece framed by Alpine peaks. Lake Como offers elegance, Maggiore botanical wonders, and Garda diverse attractions. Cruise azure waters, explore villas, and savour lakeside cuisine. A harmonious blend of relaxation and adventure awaits in this alpine heaven. From Bellagio's glamour to Stresa's tranquility, a rejuvenating escape awaits.

Italian Cities

Italy's cities are vibrant canvases painted with history, culture, and modern flair. Rome, Florence, and Venice showcase the country's rich heritage, each with its own allure. Rome's ancient marvels, Florence's Renaissance treasures, and Venice's romantic waterways create a landscape of discovery. The dynamic energy of Italian cities exploration of art, architecture, and local lide.

Southern Italy

Southern Italy beckons with its sun-drenched landscapes, rich history, and culinary delights. From the Amalfi Coast's dramatic cliffs to the ancient ruins of Pompeii, this region has a choice of diverse experiences including the rustic charm of Puglia's trulli and the timeless allure of Sicily's ancient temples. Southern Italy is a sensory feast, where history and tradition intertwine with the vibrant colours and flavours of the Mediterranean.

Italian Cuisine

Italy's spirit is reflected in its delicious food, and savouring authentic dishes is a must. Menus often highlight pasta and pizza, along with unique regional specialties that capture the diverse flavours of the nation. From the seafood delights of the Venetian Riviera and Sorrento to the mouthwatering T-bone steaks in Tuscany, there's a culinary treat for every taste. Gelato is a big deal in Italy and one of the joys of any holiday here is hunting down your personal favourite. And let's not forget the exceptional wines, which are also a real treat for the connoisseurs.

Holiday ideas for Italy

Five-Star Lake Garda
New Tour
2024Sep
10 days from
£3,995 pp
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Puglia & Basilicata
Save £100pp
3.9 stars(92 reviews)
2024MayJunSepOct
12 days from
£2,495 pp
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Rome, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
3.8 stars(83 reviews)
2024AprMayJunAugSepOct
10 days from
£3,095 pp
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Sirmione on Lake Garda
4.4 stars(216 reviews)
2024MarAprMayJunJul...
10 days from
£1,895 pp
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Stresa & Lake Maggiore
4.0 stars(49 reviews)
2024AprMayJunAugSepOct
10 days from
£2,495 pp
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The Italian Riviera
Save £100pp
4.1 stars(125 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
10 days from
£1,995 pp
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Girolata Bay
2024AprMayJunAugSepOct
12 days from
£3,095 pp
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Top to Toe of Italy
4.1 stars(20 reviews)
2024MayJunSepOct
16 days from
£3,995 pp
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27 results matching: Italy

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Europe 2023

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Simply Lake Garda
Save £100pp
4.3 stars(205 reviews)
2024MarAprMayJunJul...
10 days from
£1,595 pp £1,495 pp
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Save £100pp
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
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  • TransportRail
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Sirmione on Lake Garda
4.4 stars(216 reviews)
2024MarAprMayJunJul...
10 days from
£1,895 pp
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10 days from
£1,895
per person
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
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The Italian Riviera
Save £100pp
4.1 stars(125 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
10 days from
£1,995 pp
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Save £100pp
10 days from
£1,995
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
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Girolata Bay
2024AprMayJunAugSepOct
12 days from
£3,095 pp
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12 days from
£3,095
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  • DestinationFrance, Italy
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail
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Highlights of Tuscany
Save £100pp
4.2 stars(139 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
10 days from
£1,895 pp
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£1,895
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
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A Grand Tour of Italy
4.2 stars(50 reviews)
2024MayJunSepOct
12 days from
£3,495 pp
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12 days from
£3,495
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
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Europe 2023

Order your rail holiday brochure today

Order today
Rome, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
3.8 stars(83 reviews)
2024AprMayJunAugSepOct
10 days from
£3,095 pp
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10 days from
£3,095
per person
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International / London Heathrow
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
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Lake Iseo
New Tour
2024AprMayJunAugSep
10 days from
£2,495 pp
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10 days from
£2,495
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
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Puglia & Basilicata
Save £100pp
3.9 stars(92 reviews)
2024MayJunSepOct
12 days from
£2,495 pp
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12 days from
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International / London Gatwick
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Stresa & Lake Maggiore
4.0 stars(49 reviews)
2024AprMayJunAugSepOct
10 days from
£2,495 pp
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10 days from
£2,495
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
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The Magic of Sicily
4.1 stars(20 reviews)
2024AprMayJunSepOct
8 days from
£1,695 pp
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8 days from
£1,695
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  • DestinationItaly
  • Starts / EndsLondon Gatwick
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportFlight, Rail
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Chianti Hills, Italy
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2024AprMayOct
10 days from
£2,795 pp
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Our customers love our Italy tours
Glorious Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast & Eternal Rome
19/Nov
Jim Halcro-Johnston
5 stars
“A very well run holiday experience. Train and hotel bookings were excellent and the tour party of about 26 people were blessed with an outstanding tour guide.
Collected by Trustpilot
The Italian Riviera
31/Oct
R Gunston
5 stars
“It was a well organised and enjoyable trip
Collected by Trustpilot
Top to Toe of Italy
28/Oct
Mr Noble
5 stars
“The hotels and travelling logistics was excellent and well planned. Communication prior to the holiday was good. The cities we visited and day excursions were well organised. Our tour guide was excellent always at hand to answer questions of iron out little snags. If any negative the organised evening meals were of poor quality, but overall it was a five star holiday.
Collected by Trustpilot
The Magic of Sicily
28/Sep
Paul Fitzpatrick
5 stars
“We had a wonderful time. The itinerary was extremely interesting with plenty of sightseeing and historic sites to visit. We highly recommend this tour
Collected by Trustpilot
Sirmione on Lake Garda
13/Nov
Mrs M Roy
4 stars
“Excellent holiday in every way except for the substitution of a coach journey for what should have been a rail journey (due to circumstances beyond your control) but no option to reschedule.
Collected by Trustpilot
Puglia: Italy’s Undiscovered Coast
8/Nov
Lesley
4 stars
“The overall trip and experience was fantastic. Saw loads of amazing of things and places. Two points I would like to raise. Porterage of suitcases was very noticeable by its absence and lifts are not high on Italy's priority at railway stations on the whole. (I presume this had been part of our payment to you). Also the set meals were at best average only. To the extent that when 'bigged up' as being deficient in both quality and quantity. For example, the final meal in Monopoli where the choice was between seafood or meat as a main constituent, those who selected meat only saw two or three slices of dried cured local ham as part of a starter. Then saw no further meat in their meal whatsoever.
Collected by Trustpilot
Highlights of Tuscany
6/Nov
Janet
4 stars
“Really lovely holiday.Well organised and good value for money. Would highly recommend.
Collected by Trustpilot
Simply Lake Garda
3/Nov
there
4 stars
“I have 'done' the Simply Lake Garda before and was looking forward to repeating the experience with my sister who had never been to Italy. Unfortunately the beginning of the holiday was marred by the luggage service which never arrived to collect my suitcase, despite emails, phone calls and the offer of Google map and mobile number. The second disappointment was the downgrade by GRJ on EuroStar to Standard class, so no food or drinks on either journey, unless you struggled through several long, swaying carriages to collect them and then stagger back with hot paper cups and a bag of food. One member of the group grazed an elbow. I have made very many journeys with GRJ over the last 17 years and I have always felt that it is a cut above all other similar travel groups in every respect. Having a drink and some lovely food on Eurostar has always been one of the great experiences and a relaxing and enjoyable start to a holiday. Now you have to pay extra for an upgrade and I am sad that it seems to have been felt necessary to cut down on what could be a superb - even unique - experience to save a few pounds. The visit to Venice included long sea journeys round the industrial areas instead of short journeys across the Grand Canal, These, and an over-long talk where we only saw St Marks and one other square, cut down drastically on personal sight-seeing opportunities and meant that there was little time and no space to sit down to eat even a snack before embarking on a gondola ride (which was superb). Those were the downsides, but our tour manager was marvellous, and did his very best to ensure that, despite the poor weather as the week went on, we would make the most of every opportunity. The visit to Isola del Garda was wonderful and our guide, the very best. It was sad that the journey to Turin had to be by coach due to a major landslip, and a train strike on the last day meant another coach journey from Chambery, but Great Rail and our Tour manager had all that organised and got us to our destinations as soon as possible. I am very glad the GRJ have limited their guest number to maximum 25, As always on Great Rail Journeys everyone is very friendly and we all had a lot of fun. The hotels were great and the food superb. I am sorry not to be able to give 5 stars, as I have always done for GRJ and I hope that my comments will be read and considered.
Collected by Trustpilot
A Grand Tour of Italy
20/Oct
T Wylie
4 stars
“The quality of the hotels (all 4*) in Turin, Rome and Chambéry was very good, each being situated close to the main railway stations, which saved considerable hassle at the beginning and end of our stays. The Turin hotel was within an easy walk of the delightful historical centre of the city. The rooftop bar in Rome was a particularly nice touch, hosting a couple of lovely evenings with the group watching the sunset over nearby St Peter’s Basilica. Breakfasts were good at each, especially Turin. The hotel in Venice was outstanding, more than justifying its 4* status. It had a lovely waterfront bar and, being on Murano, was nicely insulated from the main hustle and bustle of the city whilst only being a 20 minute boat ride away on the frequent vaporetti which operate from right in front of the hotel. Breakfast was truly outstanding, with serve yourself Prosecco included ??. The hotel in Florence, which is inexplicably rated 4*, was in reality a glorified B&B. To be fair, the breakfast was good. However, there was no bar or restaurant, so no space to socialise, whilst the city was a 20 minute walk away for those wanting an evening meal or drink. Facilities were sparse, indeed one couple in our group endured three nights on a mattress placed directly on the floor. Four stars but no bars? Really?? GRJ penny pinching more like. The standard and overall experience of GRJ catered meals varied hugely over the fortnight. The restaurant in Turin was a pleasantly short walk from the hotel. The meal was a traditional set menu with no choice, so not everyone enjoyed it to the full. One very small glass of wine was the drink offering. Curiously, there was no printed menu, so no one knew for sure what it was they did or didn’t enjoy on the night. In Rome, the delightful restaurant was directly opposite our hotel, offering an excellent menu choice of high quality. The meal in Florence was again a set menu, but there was huge variety on offer and the food and wine just kept coming. Lovely restaurant but required a fleet of taxis from the hotel to get there. The meal in Venice was particularly disappointing, with no wine included and poor quality food. The water taxi there and back was the highlight of the evening. The meal in Chambéry was good, although the trademark half a glass of wine each for our farewell dinner tells you everything you need to know about GRJ’s attitude to cost cutting at every turn. The guided tours of Rome, Pisa, Florence and Venice were all relaxing, enjoyable and hugely informative excursions, each being led by friendly, engaging tour guides. By contrast, our tour of the Vatican was horrendously overcrowded, despite starting at 8.15am, and not helped by a bossy, incomprehensible and largely disinterested tour guide. The fact that half our party came home with COVID was doubtless a souvenir of our being crammed like sardines with thousands of others into the Sistine Chapel. The standard and overall experience of train travel over the fortnight varied greatly. Standard Premier service on Eurostar and First Class on the French TGV trains were a delight, although the experience on Italian trains was mixed to say the least. On some local services we were stood together in cattle class as a group of 25 by the doors at the end of the carriage, so overcrowded were they. More annoying though was on the intercity services where we walked down the platform past numerous empty first class carriages to get to our standard class seats, which had no leg or arm room whatsoever. More GRJ penny pinching. Overall, this was a hugely enjoyable holiday, shared with a friendly, sociable group and, in no small part, facilitated by the heroic efforts of our truly excellent Tour Manager, Kay Burtenshaw (for whom at least 5*/5). GRJ do however on occasion spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar, by inappropriately cutting costs on what is after all marketed as a luxury holiday.
Collected by Trustpilot

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official currency of Italy?

The official currency of Italy is the Euro(€).

What is the main language spoken in Italy?

The main language spoken in Italy is Italian.

What is the capital city of Italy?

The capital city of Italy is Rome.

What time zone does Italy follow?

Italy follows the Central European Standard Time (Greenwich Mean Time plus 1 hour).

How long does it take to travel by rail from Rome to Northern Italy (Turin)?

The rail travel time from Rome to Northern Italy (Turin) is approximately eight hours.

What is the average flight time to Italy, and does it vary?

Flight times to Italy vary between 3-5 hours, depending on the specific location within the country.

When is the best time to visit Italy?

Italy is known for its warm weather throughout the year. Summer is ideal for the Tuscan hill and beaches, while spring and autumn are best for visiting big cities with fewer crowds. Winter is great for the Dolomites and Alps.

What should I pack for a trip to Italy?

Packing depends on the season. In summer, pack loose clothes, suncream, sunglasses, and a hat. For colder months, layering is recommended. Don't forgot a waterproof jacket, a light jacket for cooler evenings, and water-resistant shoes for excursions.

What are some local customs in Italy?

Italy has strong traditions in religion, food, and family. Modest dress is required in places of worship. Meals are meant to be savoured, and Italian restaurants focus on traditional food. Coffee customs include reserving milky coffee for breakfast and enjoying espressos at any time.

It is necessary to speak Italian while travelling in Italy?

While English is widely understood, locals appreciate basic knowledge of the local language. It's beneficial to brush up on some Italian basics before your trip.

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