A Relaxing Rail Holiday to Venice
- Short journeys and minimal changes
- Outbound via Paris, Lausanne and Brig
- Two full days in the City of Canals
- Return via Innsbruck, Munich and Cologne with plenty of scenery en route
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade your hotels
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 9 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
Start out from London’s imposing St Pancras station today and hop aboard the Eurostar to Paris. As this is your only rail journey today, you can travel in the morning or afternoon depending on where you’re coming from in the UK and what your other plans are. On arrival, take the metro or a taxi to the Gare de Lyon and check in for an overnight stay at the conveniently located Sleeping Belle Hotel (or similar). We can also arrange a private transfer for you if you would prefer.
Enjoy an evening at leisure in Paris, in anticipation of your upcoming journey.
You have a free morning in Paris today so enjoy a leisurely breakfast and perhaps wander around the cobbled streets of the nearby Latin Quarter or stroll through the Jardins de Luxembourg before collecting your bags and boarding a high-speed TGV bound for Switzerland.
On arrival into Lausanne in the mid-afternoon, check in for an overnight stay at the Agora Swiss Night (or similar) and then head out to explore Lausanne’s historic city centre and the lovely waterfront promenade on Lake Geneva.
Your rail journey today is under 90 minutes long and you don’t need a seat reservation so you can choose to spend more time in Lausanne or travel straight on to Brig, where you’ll check in at the Ambassador Hotel (or similar).
In Lausanne, you have the beautiful Swiss Riviera along Lake Geneva to explore. In Brig, you’ll find a more Alpine feel with a pretty town overlooked by the 17th century Stockalper Castle.
Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before walking back to the station and catching your next train service, bound for Venice. This rail journey takes you along the Simplon Route high in the Alps. You will quickly cross the Italian border and head via Milan, Lake Garda and Verona to Venice.
On arrival, check in for a 3-night stay at the Carlton on the Grand Canal (or similar), within easy reach of Santa Lucia station.
Enjoy two full days to explore the wonderful city of Venice at your own pace. 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. But you can easily lose other tourists if you walk further from the main square along little streets and narrow bridges to hidden campos. 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.
After another free morning in Venice, it’s time to collect your bags and return to the station for a direct train to Innsbruck, via the lovely landscapes of the Italian and Austrian Tyrol.
You’ll arrive in the mid-evening and check in for an overnight stay at the AC Hotel Innsbruck (or similar) with plenty of time to head out for an evening meal in the city’s pretty medieval centre.
Spend a free morning in Innsbruck today. Why not take a wander around the Old Town with its grand architecture dating back to the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, who lived in the city. Alternatively, there are great views to be had from the top of the Nordkette, which you can access by cable car from the centre of the city.
After lunch, you can choose a journey by high-speed train which will take you to Munich in under 2 hours or take a slower but more scenic route up over the mountains via the ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Let us know what you’d prefer! On arrival, your hotel for the night, the Eurostars Book (or similar) is a short walk from the main station.
It’s another relaxing start this morning before you return to the station for your onward journey back towards home. A direct ICE (high-speed) service takes you straight into the centre of Cologne on the River Rhine, where you have an overnight stay at the Mondial am Dom – MGallery (or similar).
Leave Cologne today and catch a train to Brussels, where you connect in the same station onto the Eurostar bound for London. If you’d rather stop for another night and visit the Belgian capital, please let us know.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Paris
Situated within easy walking distance of the Gare de Lyon, the Hotel Sleeping Belle also offers easy access to the Left Bank and Marais districts of Paris. En suite bedrooms come with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, tea & coffee making facilities and a safe. The hotel has a 24-hour reception and luggage storage and there is also a library, where you can enjoy tea and homemade patisseries in the afternoon.
Lausanne
The Hotel Agora Swiss Night offers a delightful Swiss experience at an international 4-star standard of comfort. The hotel is located in a quiet neighbourhood, only 300 yards from the railway station and within walking distance of Lake Geneva. Breakfast is served in the panoramic room on the top floor.
Brig
This small, family-owned hotel enjoys a quiet and central location only 300 yards away from the train station in Brig. The hotel features an excellent restaurant serving French and Swiss specialities. The rooms combine a traditional ambience with modern comfort, and sound proof windows.
Venice
Overlooking the , Hotel Carlton is ideally located for those arriving by train as it’s just across from Santa Lucia station. Bedrooms are all air-conditioned with satellite TV, a minibar and a private bathroom with hairdryer. There is also a restaurant and a rooftop bar serving drinks and snacks throughout the day.
Innsbruck
Conveniently located between the main station and the Old Town, the AC Hotel Innsbruck offers comfortable accommodation and panoramic views. Spacious air-conditioned bedrooms come with sound-proofed widows, free Wi-Fi access and large HD LCD TVs. There is a restaurant on site as well as a relaxing lounge bar and a gym.
Munich
Conveniently situated just 5 minutes’ walk from Munich’s main station and 10 minutes’ walk from the historical centre, the Courtyard by Marriott Munich City Centre offers comfortable, convenient accommodation with modern interiors. In-house dining is available at the Oleo Pazzo, a Mediterranean bistro.
Cologne
Hotel Mondial am Dom Cologne MGallery by Sofitel is located right in the centre of Cologne, close to the famous cathedral and the main station. All of the modern bedrooms feature air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, minibar and satellite TV. The hotel also boasts a restaurant overlooking the cathedral, a sauna, a steam room and a fitness room.
Upgrade your accommodation
Paris
Occupying a central location just a short walk from the Place de la Corcorde and the Palais du Louvre, the Sofitel le Fabourg is a luxurious hotel with classically furnished guestrooms. The elegant bar with its pavement terrace is the perfect place to relax after a busy day of sightseeing.
Lausanne
The Beau-Rivage Palace has built a reputation as one of Europe’s favourite hotels both for its service and amenities. Located in 10 acres of parkland, the elegant belle époque buildings of the Beau-Rivage Palace command breathtaking views across Lake Geneva to the majestic French Alps.
Venice
One of the Leading Hotels of the World, the Luna Baglioni is simply the best in Venetian opulence. Housed in a magnificent Venetian Palace, the hotel boasts an award-winning restaurant, Canova, as well as Caffe Baglioni, where delicious coffees and pastries are available throughout the day.
Munich
Built into the southern wing of the railway station, this superb French-style property is amongst Munich’s best hotels. Relax in your spacious bedroom or in the heavenly spa and swimming pool. Enjoy a full, varied breakfast in the hotel’s fabulous restaurant.
