Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Florence,Tuscany,Umbria,Rome
100% customisable for you
Your central Italy train holiday begins today as you make your way to London St. Pancras to board an early-morning Eurostar to Paris. After approximately two-and-a-half hours, arrive in the French capital and transfer across the city to Gare de Lyon to catch your afternoon train to Nice. This leg of the journey takes roughly six hours, so sit back and enjoy the views en route to the sunny south coast, where your cosy hotel and a tasty meal await. If you prefer, travel to Nice on the sleeper train to arrive fully rested and ready to explore.
After a hearty hotel breakfast, set off to explore Nice at your own pace. As the capital of the French Riviera, Nice offers a brilliant blend of vibrant culture and a gorgeous coastal location. If it's a laidback beach day you fancy, there are pretty promenades to stroll along, beach loungers beckoning and a shimmering sea to swim in.
Away from the seafront, wind your way through the charming streets of the Old Town where you'll find a number of excellent galleries (Nice was a popular holiday spot among artists like Picasso, Renoir and Matisse), and a high concentration of lovely restaurants and food markets where you can tuck into local fare. Come evening, wind down with a cocktail as you watch the sun set and toast the first full day of your train holiday.
It's another travelling day today as you catch an early-morning train from Nice to Framura, a small seaside town in the north-west of Italy. With the railway line hugging the coast, the five-and-a-half-hour journey is particularly picturesque, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
Arriving in Framura by mid-afternoon, make your way to your hotel where you’ll stay for the next two nights; a tranquil base for exploring the area. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish, followed by your first Italian dinner and drinks to round off the evening.
Today, on the fourth day of your central Italy rail holiday, take a 20-minute train ride to the pretty seaside town of Riomaggiore, one of the five villages in the Cinque Terre coastal area. The best way to admire this world-renowned landscape is from the water, so set off on a private two-hour boat tour. You’ll tick off each village in turn (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso), stopping to admire the pastel-hued houses clinging to the craggy cliffs, before a refreshing dip in the azure sea. Your skipper will ensure you get the most from your tour, pointing out local landmarks and the most scenic spots for a photo.
Wake bright and early and enjoy an al fresco breakfast in the sun before heading to the station to catch your morning train to Florence. Once you arrive, head to your hotel for the next three nights, which provides the perfect launchpad for exploring the city. After checking in, you’re free to relax as you wish, before sitting down to a traditional Tuscan dinner.
Today’s the day you fall for Florence, the capital of Tuscany and one of Italy’s best-loved cities. During a private two-hour walking tour, your local guide will bring you to iconic sights like the Duomo and Giotto’s bell tower, while sharing insider anecdotes from the city’s history. The tour can be tailored to your interests too, so you can find a side of Florence that’s right up your street. After working up an appetite, we can recommend some excellent eateries for lunch, then the afternoon is yours to continue exploring at leisure.
At the halfway point of your central Italy train holiday, get a taste for the region's mouth-wateringly good cuisine during a gourmet tour of Sant'Ambrogio market, followed by a cooking class. Accompanied by a local chef, discover the delights of the city’s oldest market, where colourful produce and regional specialities fill the air with delicious aromas.
After taking your pick of the finest ingredients, your private chef will teach you the secrets of making fresh pasta and guide you as you prepare a selection of delicious dishes. The recipes you learn here make an extra-special souvenir to bring home to your own kitchen.
It's another early start today as you catch a two-and-a-half-hour morning train from Florence to Assisi, a beautiful hilltop town in Umbria. After checking in to your hotel, the afternoon is yours to spend as you please.
We recommend wandering the winding medieval streets of Assisi, enjoying a moment of peace and quiet in the pretty piazzas and age-old churches, and breaking for a drink or a bite to eat in one of the many charming cafes and restaurants.
Set on a scenic hilltop, the medieval town of Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so there’s plenty to see here during your three-hour tour. Joined by an expert local guide, you’ll visit the town’s most significant spots, including the Basilica of Santa Chiara (with the famous Crucifix of San Damiano) and the tomb of the holy founder of the Poor Clares. As you wander the historic streets, you’ll tick off an impressive list of local landmarks: the Palazzo dei Priori, Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo and the Torre del Popolo, as well as the Roman Temple of Minerva and the Basilica of San Francesco.
After so much sightseeing, a relaxing evening is on the cards, so enjoy a glass of wine and some delicious Italian food, before retiring to your room for a good night's sleep, ready to travel to Rome tomorrow.
Wave goodbye to Umbria today as you catch a morning train to Italy's beautiful capital, Rome. After arriving in the early afternoon, drop off your luggage at the hotel, where you’ll spend the next three nights. Your hotel is the perfect base for exploring on foot, so after unpacking we recommend using the rest of the day to get your bearings. The handsome historic centre is superb for a stroll at your own pace, ducking into elegant shops and bustling bakeries along the way.
It wouldn’t be a trip to Rome without a visit to the Vatican City, so use your skip-the-line tickets to beat the crowds and see the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and some of the world’s finest Renaissance art in the Vatican Palace.
This morning, discover more of the Italian capital during a Vespa tour of Rome – one of the most enjoyable ways to see the city. Riding on the back of a genuine Italian Vespa, see some of the city’s most iconic sights with the help of your local driver-guide. This three-hour tour will have you whizzing around the city between beloved landmarks and lesser-known gems, leaving you feeling like a real local.
Afterwards, the afternoon is free for you to continue exploring however you wish. Why not head across the river to the bohemian Trastevere district, where you can watch the world go by from one of the wonderful trattorias or pizzerias? And in the evening, we'll book you a table at a local eatery, and recommend some brilliant bars for a nightcap before you head back to your hotel.
You can’t come to Rome without delving into its 1,200-year history, and a private tour with a local guide is the best way to bring the city’s rich stories to life. Stroll among the ruins of the Roman Forum, an open-air museum that was once at the heart of Roman politics. Then visit Palatine Hill, one of the most ancient parts of this centuries-old city and the site of the Imperial Palaces. Your tour culminates at the Colosseum – the world’s largest amphitheatre and an imposing icon of Rome that you simply can’t miss. Two and a half hours will fly by as you delve into the past, and later you can relive this extra-special experience over another delicious evening meal.
Today, on the penultimate day of your central Italy train holiday, begin your leisurely journey home. After a tasty breakfast at your hotel, catch a mid-morning train to Milan, arriving in the early afternoon. From here, you’ll catch the train to Paris, where you’ll spend your final night in a sumptuous Parisian hotel.
Enjoy a final freshly baked pastry and an amble through the pretty streets of Paris this morning, before boarding the Eurostar back to London.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
