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2025 dates for this tour are now available to book online! Scroll down to view and pay just a 10% deposit to secure the lowest price
Discover the many wonders of Italy by train! This Italian adventure starts in Rome, the country’s historic and iconic capital. Visit Naples and taste authentic Neapolitan pizza. Explore Florence and soak up its unmatched arts and cultural scene. Experience Milan, the fashion capital of the world! Get a photo with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, grab the chance to cruise the Venice canals and explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Touring Italy by train offers stunning scenery, fascinating history, gorgeous architecture and delicious cuisine. Start living La Dolce Vita now!
Are you ready for an Italian rail travel adventure? Welcome to Rome, the “Eternal City”. Check into the hotel before meeting up with your tour leader and fellow travellers. Later this afternoon, look forward to a guided tour of this ancient city with an expert local guide. Discover some of Rome’s top sights, including the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum, and learn all about Rome’s fascinating history. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner with your group and get your first taste of Italian cuisine!
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast this morning, board a high-speed train and travel from Rome to Naples. After arriving and dropping your bags off at tonight’s accommodation, get ready to embark on an ancient adventure! Take a local train to the ruins of Pompeii. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time to grab lunch. Then, meet up with a local guide and set off on a tour of this iconic ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site that was covered in the ash and debris of Mount Vesuvius nearly two thousand years ago. After a truly unforgettable afternoon, head back to Naples and enjoy an included dinner this evening. This is your chance to try authentic Neapolitan pizza!
Meals: BreakfastDinner
Today is free to explore Naples! Discover this city’s old world charm and uniquely traditional way of doing things. Naples may be the third-largest city in Italy but it often feels like a completely different country! Naples is also a gateway to the picturesque and ultra-glamorous island of Capri. Join today’s optional excursion to enjoy a private cruise around the Isle of Capri and spend the day taking in the breathtaking beauty of the coastline! This evening, explore more of Naples at leisure and discover some of the must-try food and local experiences.
Meals: Breakfast
Wave arrivederci to Naples and hop on a fast train to Florence, the ‘Jewel of the Renaissance’ and capital of the Tuscany region. Arrive and enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant before visiting a local Italian leather shop to learn about how these expert craftsmen make fine leather goods. Then, explore Florence with a local guide. See top sights including the Palazzo Vecchio and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and admire the views from the Ponte Vecchio viewpoint. Afterwards, it’s time to head to Pisa. Check into the hotel for the night and set off on an orientation walk which will reveal the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa by night!
Meals: BreakfastLunch
Enjoy a free day in Pisa. Take some time to explore the Piazza del Duomo and be sure to snap some memorable photos of you “holding up” the tower! Alternatively, join the optional excursion to Cinque Terre. Your tour leader will take the group to the starting point and give you all the information needed to discover these five picturesque seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera. Cinque Terre can only be accessed by boat, train or on foot and its colourful houses and stunning vineyards offer a breathtaking outlook. The group will return to Pisa together in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
From one spectacular Italian city to another, the tour travels through the Tuscan region towards Venice today! After dropping off your bags at tonight’s hotel, set off on an orientation walking tour of this magical floating city. See top Venice attractions including the Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Ducale and more! After, enjoy an included lunch which ends off with a delicious gelato. The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish. This is the perfect time to cruise the legendary canals with an optional water taxi ride!
Meals: BreakfastLunch
Discover even more Venetian magic on this full free day! The best way to start the day is with an optional gondola ride - this is a quintessential Venice experience! Afterwards, why not take this opportunity to venture out in the lagoon? The Venice Lagoon Tour optional excursion travels to the island of Murano, known for its glass blowing and the colourful island of Burano on a private boat! Alternatively, take this free day to explore Venice at your own pace. Visit a museum or do some shopping and enjoy an aperitivo in the vibrant Piazza San Marco!
Meals: Breakfast
Next up on this whirlwind Italy rail tour is the fashion capital of the world - Milan! Get acquainted with this super stylish city on an orientation tour with your tour leader. Of course, the incredible Duomo cathedral is sure to take your breath away. Other top sights include the impressive La Scala Milan Opera House and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery! This afternoon, enjoy an included farewell lunch with the group. Take the rest of the evening to relax, explore more or do some last minute shopping before the tour comes to an end tomorrow.
Meals: BreakfastLunch
After plenty of Italian adventures, this nine-day rail journey comes to an end today. Say farewell to your new travel friends over breakfast and be sure to swap contact details. We hope that this tour of bella Italia has provided many unforgettable moments and memories to last a lifetime! Expat Explore wishes you a safe onward journey. Buon Viaggio!
Meals: Breakfast
Are you ready for an Italian rail travel adventure? Welcome to Rome, the “Eternal City”. Check into the hotel before meeting up with your tour leader and fellow travellers. Later this afternoon, look forward to a guided tour of this ancient city with an expert local guide. Discover some of Rome’s top sights, including the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum, and learn all about Rome’s fascinating history. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner with your group and get your first taste of Italian cuisine!
Rome guided tour: Embark on a tour with a local guide to discover Italy’s Eternal City! See major sites including the incredible Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. This guided tour will share stories about how Rome came to be and what it is today!
Italian welcome dinner: Tonight, dine like the Italians do! Enjoy a three-course welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Rome and take this chance to get to know your travel friends who will be with you for the next nine days.
Dinner
Hotel
After breakfast this morning, board a high-speed train and travel from Rome to Naples. After arriving and dropping your bags off at tonight’s accommodation, get ready to embark on an ancient adventure! Take a local train to the ruins of Pompeii. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time to grab lunch. Then, meet up with a local guide and set off on a tour of this iconic ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site that was covered in the ash and debris of Mount Vesuvius nearly two thousand years ago. After a truly unforgettable afternoon, head back to Naples and enjoy an included dinner this evening. This is your chance to try authentic Neapolitan pizza!
Visit Pompeii: Pompeii is so remarkable because it was almost frozen in time as the ash and volcanic debris of Mount Vesuvius covered the city for many centuries. The preservation of Pompeii allows its visitors a glimpse into ancient times. Enjoy a two-hour guided walking tour through this fascinating ancient site.
Dinner in Naples: Enjoy a traditional dinner and take the chance to try some of Naples’ famous pizza! Naples is considered the birthplace of pizza and the art of pizza making is taken very seriously, meaning that you can be assured of some truly delectable slices.
BreakfastDinner
Hotel
Today is free to explore Naples! Discover this city’s old world charm and uniquely traditional way of doing things. Naples may be the third-largest city in Italy but it often feels like a completely different country! Naples is also a gateway to the picturesque and ultra-glamorous island of Capri. Join today’s optional excursion to enjoy a private cruise around the Isle of Capri and spend the day taking in the breathtaking beauty of the coastline! This evening, explore more of Naples at leisure and discover some of the must-try food and local experiences.
Breakfast
Hotel
Set off from Naples to Capri and admire the coastal scenery along the way! Enjoy a guided tour of the island’s highlights.
Wave arrivederci to Naples and hop on a fast train to Florence, the ‘Jewel of the Renaissance’ and capital of the Tuscany region. Arrive and enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant before visiting a local Italian leather shop to learn about how these expert craftsmen make fine leather goods. Then, explore Florence with a local guide. See top sights including the Palazzo Vecchio and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and admire the views from the Ponte Vecchio viewpoint. Afterwards, it’s time to head to Pisa. Check into the hotel for the night and set off on an orientation walk which will reveal the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa by night!
Lunch in Florence: Try some authentic Tuscan cuisine at an excellent local restaurant over a group lunch in Florence.
Leather-making demonstration: Step inside the world of Italian leather crafting; visit a local leather shop and factory, Leonardo Leather and Gold, for insight into how bespoke Italian leather goods are produced. Italy has been famous for leather production for centuries!
Guided tour of Florence: See some of the cultural and historic sights that have made the city of Florence a favourite among travellers. Discover top sights including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria and the replica statue of David. Known as the ‘Jewel of the Renaissance’, Florence boasts a huge variety of important buildings and famous artworks.
See the Leaning Tower of Pisa: A bucket-list item for most, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most iconic monuments in Italy and perhaps one of the most recognisable structures in the world.
BreakfastLunch
Hotel
Enjoy a free day in Pisa. Take some time to explore the Piazza del Duomo and be sure to snap some memorable photos of you “holding up” the tower! Alternatively, join the optional excursion to Cinque Terre. Your tour leader will take the group to the starting point and give you all the information needed to discover these five picturesque seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera. Cinque Terre can only be accessed by boat, train or on foot and its colourful houses and stunning vineyards offer a breathtaking outlook. The group will return to Pisa together in the evening.
Breakfast
Hotel
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre! Spend the day wandering around the five colourful villages.
From one spectacular Italian city to another, the tour travels through the Tuscan region towards Venice today! After dropping off your bags at tonight’s hotel, set off on an orientation walking tour of this magical floating city. See top Venice attractions including the Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Ducale and more! After, enjoy an included lunch which ends off with a delicious gelato. The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish. This is the perfect time to cruise the legendary canals with an optional water taxi ride!
Orientation tour of Venice: Join your tour leader on an orientation tour and a trip into the heart of this unique floating city. See St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Museum, Campanile, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market and Scuola Grande di San Rocco.
Lunch in Venice: Weaving through the tiny alleys and crossing the many bridges of Venice is hungry work! This exploration will be rewarded with a taste of Venice. Look forward to some authentic Italian gelato for dessert!
BreakfastLunch
Hotel
See Venice from the water in comfort and style as you cruise along Venice’s famous Grand Canal in a classic water taxi and see the main sights!
Discover even more Venetian magic on this full free day! The best way to start the day is with an optional gondola ride - this is a quintessential Venice experience! Afterwards, why not take this opportunity to venture out in the lagoon? The Venice Lagoon Tour optional excursion travels to the island of Murano, known for its glass blowing and the colourful island of Burano on a private boat! Alternatively, take this free day to explore Venice at your own pace. Visit a museum or do some shopping and enjoy an aperitivo in the vibrant Piazza San Marco!
Breakfast
Hotel
Take a private boat across the lagoon to Venice’s colourful islands. Enjoy a glass-making demonstration in Murano and learn about lace-making in Burano.
No visit to Venice is complete without a traditional gondola ride! Experience an ancient Venice tradition as you cruise the city’s famous canals.
Next up on this whirlwind Italy rail tour is the fashion capital of the world - Milan! Get acquainted with this super stylish city on an orientation tour with your tour leader. Of course, the incredible Duomo cathedral is sure to take your breath away. Other top sights include the impressive La Scala Milan Opera House and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery! This afternoon, enjoy an included farewell lunch with the group. Take the rest of the evening to relax, explore more or do some last minute shopping before the tour comes to an end tomorrow.
Orientation tour of Milan: Travel to the centre of the fashion capital with your tour leader. Your tour leader will point out some of Milan’s top sights and offer tips for how to spend the free afternoon.
Farewell lunch in Milan: After a morning of sightseeing, enjoy a final farewell lunch with the group at a local restaurant.
BreakfastLunch
Hotel
After plenty of Italian adventures, this nine-day rail journey comes to an end today. Say farewell to your new travel friends over breakfast and be sure to swap contact details. We hope that this tour of bella Italia has provided many unforgettable moments and memories to last a lifetime! Expat Explore wishes you a safe onward journey. Buon Viaggio!
Breakfast
We partner with a range of hand-picked hotels in each destination. The hotels listed below are those we stay at most frequently. However, you may stay at different hotels of a similar standard.
A confirmed list of hotels is emailed to all travellers prior to their tour departure. To extend your stay in Rome and Milan book pre and post-tour accommodation through our partner Booking.com.
Unless marked as “Pre-Book”, all optional excursions can be booked on tour and paid for in cash (in the stated currency) to your tour leader. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Set off from Naples to Capri and admire the coastal scenery along the way! Enjoy a guided tour of the island’s highlights.
Live like the rich and famous and jet off to the picture-perfect island of Capri! Take a ride on a water jet from Naples to Capri and marvel at the breathtaking coastal scenery. Once you have arrived, a tour guide will show you some of the island’s highlights. Take in the views and admire the flowers at Anacapri, watch the yachts go by in the Marina Grande and visit the Gardens of Augustus. This excursion includes a return jetfoil ride.
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre! Spend the day wandering around the five colourful villages.
Join our full-day excursion to Cinque Terre. The Cinque Terre or 'Five lands' is composed of five villages; Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore and is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Enjoy a day to explore this beautiful, historic region on the Italian Riviera coastline!
See Venice from the water in comfort and style as you cruise along Venice’s famous Grand Canal in a classic water taxi and see the main sights!
Something to add to your Venetian experience is a cruise of the canals on a classic water taxi. Cruise along in style on these wooden motorboats with their leather seats and private drivers. Explore the Grand Canal, the main highway of the Floating City, and see some of the main sights like the Santa Maria Della Salute church and the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Take a private boat across the lagoon to Venice’s colourful islands. Enjoy a glass-making demonstration in Murano and learn about lace-making in Burano.
Take a trip from the city of Venice to seek out the islands further out in the lagoon, accompanied by your tour leader on a private boat. You’ll get to discover two of Venice’s most famous crafts: glass blowing and lace-making! Experience a glass-making demonstration on the island of Murano before travelling to Burano to see the colourful fishermen's houses and learn about the intricate art of lace-making.
No visit to Venice is complete without a traditional gondola ride! Experience an ancient Venice tradition as you cruise the city’s famous canals.
A gondola ride is the perfect way to appreciate the beauty and charm of Venice. Feel part of an ancient Venetian tradition and experience Venice as the locals have for more than a thousand years. Your visit isn't complete until you have experienced this!
Please Note: Gondolas can take up to 5 people, so you will be sharing your experience with other members of your Expat Explore group. After 19:00 hrs the cost will increase by an additional €5.00 per person.
2025 dates for this tour are now available to book online! Scroll down to view and pay just a 10% deposit to secure the lowest price
Start Date / End Date | Flexible Booking | Status | Price Per Person |
21 Aug 2025 - 29 Aug 2025 | Book now with low deposit | ||
11 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025 | Book now with low deposit | ||
02 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025 | Book now with low deposit |
For pre-departure and visa information, as well as frequently asked questions regarding preparing for and travelling on this tour, please visit our Help Centre .
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Exploring Italy by train is an adventure unlike any other! Not only do you get to visit top cities, you also get to see spectacular scenery along the way. Italian train tours are about the journey as well as the destination!
Travel from Rome to Naples and see the ancient city of Pompeii! Witness the wonders of Florence and Pisa. Explore the magical city of Venice and visit Milan, Italy’s fashion capital. Enjoy the options to visit the colourful coastal town of Cinque Terre and the luxurious island of Capri.
This Italian rail tour features a number of highlights:
Is this the right tour for me?
Italy is one of the world’s top bucket-list destinations due to its incredible art, history, culture and cuisine. Travelling through Italy by train allows you to experience all of this and more! Italian train tours showcase the country’s natural beauty and allow you to travel in a unique, comfortable and convenient way.
How much does it cost to travel in Italy by train?
Travelling to Italy can be expensive. However, the great thing about travelling with Expat Explore is that you won’t have to worry about any unnecessary fees as transportation and accommodation costs are already covered. Most activities and meals are included too!
Is 9 days enough to tour Italy by train?
9 Days is a great amount of time to see some of Italy’s top highlights! This Italy by train tour is a great mix of visits to top tourist attractions, included activities and free time.
What will the transportation be like?
You’ll enjoy 9 days of travel in Italy by train on this tour. Rail travel is fast, scenic and offers travellers extra space and comfort. Admire the views and even walk around the train as you go. Rail travel is generally faster than coach travel and the itinerary has been designed to maximise time spent at each destination.
Spend 9 days on this bella Italia rail journey to discover many of Italy’s bucket-list attractions in a fun, convenient and affordable way!
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