Venice, Rome and Florence
- Travel through the Alps to the unforgettable city of Venice
- Explore history, religion and culture in Rome
- Take in the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio & Uffizi in Florence
- Return via Nice on the French Riviera
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade hotels and rail journeys
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 8 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
Suggested Itinerary
Take the Eurostar in the morning from London to Paris Gare du Nord. Cross to the Gare de Lyon and catch a TGV Lyria service down through France and across the Swiss border to Zurich.
On arrival in Zurich, check in at the conveniently located Sorell Rütli Hotel (or similar) for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, return to the station in Zurich and catch a train via Milan to Venice. The journey from Zurich to Milan takes you along Lake Zurich, before plunging into the Gotthard Base Tunnel and emerging in the beautiful Italian-speaking Swiss region of Ticino.
Cross the spectacular lagoon bridge onto Venice Island and arrive into Santa Lucia station in the early evening. Make your way to your hotel where you will have a 2-night stay at the Hotel Bisanzio (or similar).
Visitors always gravitate towards St Mark’s Square, the regal piazza that opens out onto the mouth of the Grand Canal and the Venetian Lagoon. Elsewhere, don’t miss the art collection at the Accademia, or a boat ride to one of the other islands in the lagoon such as Murano or Burano.
TMR RECOMMENDS: Why not stay for an extra night and give yourself two full days of sightseeing to take in the Doge’s Palace, La Fenice Opera House and St Mark’s Square?
Catch a train journey of just under 4 hours to Rome. Arrive in the mid-afternoon and settle into The Guardian Hotel (or similar) for a 2-night stay, before beginning your exploration here.
There are so many iconic landmarks to be discovered here, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the ornately decorated St Peter’s Cathedral and Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, where you can throw a coin to ensure your return.
Leave the ‘Cradle of Western Civilisation’ and head north by train to Florence, a journey of just an hour and a half. Florence is the stunning capital of Tuscany with a UNESCO World Heritage listed historic centre. You’ll stay at the central Berchielli Hotel (or similar) for 2 nights.
Spend your free days here soaking up the scenery and discovering famous sights including the magnificent cathedral and the Boboli Gardens.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast today before making your way back to Santa Maria Novella station and boarding a train to Milan. An easy change of trains and you’ll be heading for the coast and the border with France. Just across the border at Ventimiglia, change onto a local train for a short journey to Nice, where you have an overnight stay at the Hotel Excelsior (or similar).
After breakfast this morning, catch a high speed TGV service to Paris. A simple change of stations in Paris brings you to the terminal for the Eurostar at the Gare du Nord where you will board your Eurostar service for the final journey home.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Zurich
Located on the edge of Zurich’s Old Town, within easy walking distance of the station, the Sorell Hotel Rütli offers modern, classically furnished bedrooms, all with free Wi-Fi internet access, a coffee machine and a minibar. There is also a lobby bar, where you can enjoy a nightcap or coffee and cake.
Venice
Combining the traditional Venetian style with a great location and modern facilities, the Hotel Bisanzio is a great base in Venice, just 10 minutes’ walk from St Mark’s Square. Guest rooms come with free Wi-Fi, wooden floors and Murano-glass lamps. There is also a delicious buffet breakfast served daily.
Rome
The Guardian Hotel occupies a 19th-century building a 10-minute walk from Rome’s Termini station. Bedrooms are elegantly furnished in a modern. classic style with tea & coffee making facilities, flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi internet access. The rooftop restaurant and lounge bar serves up an international menu with fine views.
Florence
In a fabulous position overlooking the River Arno and the Ponte Vecchio, the Hotel Berchielli is the perfect base for a first visit to Florence. Rooms at the hotel are soundproofed and air-conditioned, with antique decoration and complimentary Wi-Fi access. There is also an American style bar where guests can enjoy a coffee or a cocktail.
Nice
Within easy reach of Nice station, the Excelsior Hotel is perfect for an overnight stay in the city. Bedrooms are decorated in a style evocative of the French Riviera, with complimentary Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. The hotel also boasts a 24-hour reception, an internal garden with summer bar and a reception area with a large selection of travel books to inspire future holidays.
Upgrade your accommodation
Zurich
The Hotel Schweizerhof Zürich is located opposite the railway station and offers soundproofed rooms with electrically adjustable beds. Its French restaurant ‘La Soupière’ offers delicious seasonal cuisine. The Café Gourmet serves fine antipasti, salads, pastry and the Schweizerhof Bar is famous for its wide selection of whisky.
Venice
Located just off the famous St Mark’s Square, this splendid hotel is an icon of Venice. The hotel consists of the Bauer L’Hotel, the Casanova Rooms annexe and the palatial Bauer Il Palazzo, which fronts onto the Grand Canal. The De Pisis restaurant is known throughout the city for its quality and service.
Rome
Occupying a great location on the Via Veneto, close to the Villa Borghese gardens, the Majestic Roma features spacious and elegantly decorated bedrooms, a lovely restaurant with a terrace overlooking the street and a well-equipped gym. The hotel has been accommodating guests since 1889 and is one of the Leading Hotels of the World.
Florence
The stylish Savoy Hotel in Florence occupies a historic building in the centre of the city with the Uffizi Gallery and the famous Duomo both within easy reach. The interior of the hotel is designed by Olga Polizzi and pays tribute to the fashion heritage of Florence with shoe paintings lining the corridors. Bedrooms are spacious and the service is exceptional.
Nice
The Art Deco façade of the Hyatt Regency Palais de la Méditerranée has been a landmark of the famous Promenade des Anglais since 1929. The hotel boasts an outdoor and indoor heated swimming pool, a bar and restaurant with a terrace overlooking the sea, and 187 refurbished bedrooms.
