London to Sicily & Malta by Rail and Sea
- Travel by rail from London to Sicily and enjoy 3 nights in Taormina
- A boat train across the Straits of Messina and a ferry ride into the historic heart of Valletta
- Three nights on the island of Malta
- Return via Siracusa, Milan and Basel with a stunning rail journey over the Alps
- 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
- 11 nights’ central hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Return ferry from Sicily to Malta
- Private transfer from ferry port to hotel in Valletta
- Private transfer from Pozzallo port to Siracusa
- Overnight sleeper from Siracusa to Milan in a private 2-berth compartment
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
Suggested Itinerary
Catch a Eurostar service from London St Pancras this morning and speed under the English Channel to Paris. On arrival, an easy connection will bring you to the Gare de Lyon.
Here, board a high-speed TGV service which will take you south through France and across the Italian border. The landscapes become more mountainous as you head via Chambery and the Italian ski-resort town of Bardonecchia to Turin. On arrival, make your way to the Starhotels Majestic (or similar) and check in for an overnight stay.
You have a free morning in Turin to explore this lovely city with its UNESCO World Heritage listed landmarks and world-class museums, before collecting your bags from your hotel and making your way to Turin Porta Nuova station. Here, board a Frecciarossa service which will take you 550 miles south down the spine of Italy at speeds of up to 190 miles per hour, via Milan and Rome to Naples.
On arrival into Naples central station, head for the San Pietro Hotel (or similar) for your overnight stay. Naples is a fascinating destination in its own right, founded in the 2nd millennium BC and with plenty to see. If you have time, why not extend your stay here?
Leave Naples this morning and catch a train south right down into the ‘toe’ of mainland Italy. You’ll reach a town called Villa San Giovanni where the train rolls onto a boat and carries you across the Straits of Messina to Malta. On arrival in Messina, the train rolls onto dry land and you continue your journey along the coast to Taormina. When you get to Taormina, make your way to the Excelsior Palace Hotel (or similar) where you will be staying overnight.
There’s time to have a wander around town or take in the panoramic sea views before you choose a restaurant for dinner this evening.
Spectacularly perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, Taormina has been a popular travel destination since the 18th century, when it became a feature of the ‘Grand Tour’. Visitors still flock here to see the amazing Greco-Roman theatre (pictured) and to drink in the fabulous panoramic vistas. You may also like to browse the shops along the pedestrianised Corso Umberto I or take in the views from the top of Monte Tauro. Don’t miss walking barefoot across the narrow sand bar from the beach to the tiny island of Isola Bella.
This morning, catch a regional Sicilian train via Siracusa to Pozzallo on the south coast of the island. If you prefer, we can arrange an earlier service so that you have time for lunch and a look around in Siracusa before making your onward journey. When you arrive in Pozzallo, there will be plenty of time to get to the port for your Virtu Ferries service across to Malta.
Make sure you’re on deck to watch the arrival into Valletta’s beautiful Grand Harbour and when you disembark, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel, La Falconeria (or similar), where you will be staying for the next 3 nights.
Enjoy two full days in Malta’s historic capital city. Valletta’s 16th century core was built by the Knights Hospitaller and named after a French nobleman and member of the Knights who successfully defended the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565.
There’s a huge host of attractions to see here, from the sumptuous interiors of St Johns Co-Cathedral to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, offering stunning views across the Grand Harbour and the Saluting Battery, with a row of cannons that are still fired twice a day.
After another day to explore, it’s time to leave Valletta and catch a boat back to Sicily. Your evening sailing brings you back to Pozzallo, where you’ll meet a private transfer driver who will take you directly to your hotel in the old town area of Siracusa.
You have an overnight stay at the Hotel Gran Bretagna (or similar).
Founded by the Ancient Greeks, Siracusa is a city rich in history and also the birthplace of famous polymath, Archimedes. There’s some time this morning to explore some of the wealth of monuments and historic landmarks before your lunch-time sleeper service departs for Milan. If you have the time, we would recommend an extra night here.
On arrival into Milan the following morning, check in at the conveniently located Starhotels Anderson (or similar) for an overnight stay.
After a leisurely breakfast and time to have a last wander in Milan, it’s time to return to the station for a beautiful rail journey up into the Italian speaking region of Switzerland and then over the Gotthard Pass high in the Alps. This route is slower than taking the direct train through the Gotthard Base Tunnel – but is far more scenic!
Once you arrive into Basel, check in for an overnight stay at the Hotel Gaia (or similar) and then stroll into the city centre for some dinner in Basel’s lovely Old Town.
You have a free morning in Basel today so why not enjoy a visit to one of the city’s great art galleries or enjoy a cruise along the Rhine? After lunch, collect your bags and return to the station for a train to Lille via Strasbourg.
Once in Lille, your Eurostar service back to London departs from the same station.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Turin
This polished, 19th century hotel is located near all Turin’s main attractions and features modern bedrooms, an elegant restaurant complete with stained glass skylight, and an exercise room. A buffet breakfast is provided daily at the hotel. Le Regine Restaurant by Eataly serves both Piedmont and international cuisine.
Naples
The San Pietro Hotel offers a welcoming base in the heart of Naples, close to the main train station. Along with well-appointed non-smoking bedrooms, the hotel also boasts a bar and outdoor terrace, a 24-hour reception and free Wi-Fi internet access throughout.
Taormina
The Excelsior Palace Hotel occupies a Moorish-style building, with panoramic views of Mount Etna and the hillside village of Castelmola. The hotel boasts a swimming pool and pool bar overlooking the coast, an a la carte restaurant and a concierge service. The famous Greco-Roman Amphitheatre is just 10 minutes’ walk away.
Valletta
Located in the heart of the city, La Falconeria is a boutique hotel occupying an historic building with a modern extension (due to bombing in World War II). The bedrooms are all individually designed with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi internet access. Some upgraded rooms have balconies overlooking the city. The hotel also boasts a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine, an on-site bar and a 24hr reception.
Siracusa
Gran Bretagna Boutique Hotel Ortigia offers traditional accommodation in Ortigia, Siracusa’s historical centre. Bedrooms are furnished in a classic style with air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi internet access, flat-screen TVs and en suite bathrooms. The hotel also offers a bar and there is a 24-hour reception. Siracusa’s cathedral is a short walk away.
MIlan
This modern hotel is directly opposite Milan Centrale station, making it the perfect choice for an overnight stay. All bedrooms come with a Starbed soft feather bed, a satellite TV, and a large bathroom with bathrobes and slippers. The hotel’s bar is famous for its gourmet pastries and cocktails and there is a also a stylish restaurant.
Basel
The Gaia is a family-run hotel with an historic façade and contemporary interior, located opposite the main SBB station. There are 86 non-smoking bedrooms, all with free Wi-Fi and a complimentary minibar. Guests can also make use of the hotel’s relaxing spa area and welcoming bar.
Upgrade your accommodation
Turin
Grand Hotel Sitea is located in the centre of Turin, right behind Piazza San Carlo and a 10-minute walk from Piazza Castello. Rooms are elegantly furnished and come with parquet or carpeted floors, and a TV with satellite channels. There is also free internet access. All rooms offer a marble bathroom, some with spa bath.
Naples
This stately 19th-century hotel overlooks the Bay of Naples and features period rooms and marble bathrooms. Upgraded rooms have balconies with city or ocean views. Facilities include a rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic sea views, a fitness room, and a spa with a hammam, sauna and hot tub.
Valletta
Surrounded by 7.5 acres of lush gardens at the entrance gates of Valletta’s old town, the Phoenicia Hotel was built in 1939, the first luxury hotel on Malta. Guests can still enjoy the grand architecture and sweeping harbour views, combined with modern comforts such as a heated outdoor pool for the winter, three on-site restaurants and elegant, air-conditioned bedrooms.
Basel
Situated in the heart of the Old Town, on the banks of the Rhine, the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois is one of Europe’s oldest city hotels, where the likes of Napoleon, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Mann and HRH Queen Elizabeth have stayed. There are three on-site restaurants including the Michelin-starred Le Cheval, a games room and a cigar lounge.
