Rome to Amsterdam Rail Explorer

Welcome to Italy - get ready to experience Europe by rail! The adventure kicks off in Rome, a city where gladiators once fought to the death simply to entertain the roaring crowds. From its time as the capital of the Roman Empire to being the place that the Pope calls home, Rome has exerted a huge influence over the world for thousands of years. Start things off with a walking tour of the Eternal City and see famous sights like the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the majestic Colosseum. Tonight, dine with your fellow travellers in the heart of the city centre.

Guided tour of Rome: Your local guide will escort you to all the major sites like the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum and more. Learn more about the history, art and architecture of this amazing city.

Dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant: Italian cuisine is loved by many all over the world and you have the chance to try authentic Italian food during tonight’s welcome dinner.

Head Northwest on a fast train to Florence and upon arrival, soak up everything this enchanting city has to offer! Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance and today, it is a creative city full of incredible art, history, culture and architecture. Hit the sidewalks and squares with a local guide who will bring the timeless art and abundant architecture to life. The best places for dining and shopping will be revealed along the way. Afterwards, enjoy a group lunch in the heart of the city before visiting the workshop of a local leather maker. The evening is yours; stroll the streets or shop till you drop.

Locally guided tour of Florence: Join a local guide for a tour along the streets of Florence, paying special attention to the history of the city where Leonardo da Vinci was born.

Tuscan lunch: Enjoy a typical Tuscan lunch with the group in the heart of Florence. 

Leather-making demonstration: Find out why Italian leather is sought after during a leather-making demonstration and take the opportunity to shop at a leather workshop.

Make the most of free time this morning. Explore a little more on your own or join the optional trip to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. A great way to show off your visit to Italy is by snapping a photo of yourself leaning against the iconic tower! This afternoon, board a train to Venice and its dreamy canals. Your tour leader will conduct an orientation tour to St. Mark’s square to introduce the group to the city before having a free afternoon to explore. You will inevitably take a wrong turn or two, but getting lost in this magical, floating city and discovering hidden gems along the way is the best part of visiting Venice! Choose to join the water taxi optional this evening.

Orientation tour of Venice: Your tour leader will show you an easy way to navigate Venice on your own, as you walk across the Rialto Bridge and see sights like St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace along the way.

Look forward to a full day to discover the delights of Venice! A visit to the city will not be complete without a gondola ride, which your tour leader can organise for you this morning. Another great activity is the Murano, Burano & Venetian lagoon optional excursion. On it, explore more of the Venice Lagoon -  visit the island of Murano to learn about the glass-making tradition of Venice and pop over to Burano to experience Venetian lacemaking at its finest. Or, simply make the most of an agenda-free day to take in all of the beautiful surroundings. Whatever you choose to do, Venice is one of those places where you discover the very best simply by getting totally lost.

Today, travel by train to the land famous for football and fashion - Milan! After storing your luggage in the hotel, meet with a local from Milan for a guided tour of the city. Explore the city's amazing treasures, experience the buzzing atmosphere and even bump into a few fashionable locals! Once the tour is over, there is a free afternoon to continue exploring this fashionable city. Alternatively, join the tour leader on an optional trip to the gorgeous Lake Como. Located at the base of the Alps, Lake Como holds the bragging rights for having the most beautiful scenery in the Italian Lake District! Tonight, enjoy an included dinner with the group.

Take a guided tour of Milan: Visit the mesmerising Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, stand in awe at the impressive structure of the Duomo Cathedral and so much more!

Spectacular scenes will be on display from the comfort of the train window for the next leg of the trip! Travel across the border to the serenity of Switzerland. The first stop is Spiez, a town nestled between lakes, hills and vineyards. The Swiss trains run like clockwork, and the group will change trains here as the next stop is Interlaken. Take in the scenery as the train passes old timber houses and cows grazing in the fields. The hotel is situated in the heart of a Swiss mountain village and dinner is included tonight.

Scenic train journey through Switzerland: You could not ask for a more beautiful train journey than this one. See spectacular lakes, mountains and lush forests along the way to Interlaken.

Slow it all the way down today in the Swiss Alps. This is the perfect location to really appreciate the magical beauty of the region! The day is entirely free to do as much or as little as you please. Today’s Jungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe optional excursion is highly recommended. The excursion travels to the highest train station in Europe where you’ll find year-round snow, impressive glaciers, an ice palace and the most epic photographic opportunities! This is consistently one of our travellers’ favourite optional excursions! Tonight, choose to join the group for a Swiss fondue dinner.

Today, see more of Europe by rail as the tour travels to Germany. Head to Mainz in the heart of Germany’s largest wine-producing region, Rheinhessen. The region is home to acres and acres of vineyards and is known for producing favourites like Riesling and Silvaner. Arrive and enjoy an orientation tour of Mainz. Beer gardens, wine stands and cafes offer refreshments along the banks of the Rhine River. Stroll along the streets and visit the markets around the main cathedral before travelling back to the hotel for an included dinner.

Orientation tour of Mainz: Visit the heart of the German winemaking region of Rheinhessen. Mainz is the wine-making capital of Rheinhessen and highlights of the city include the 1,000-year-old Mainz Dom cathedral, the Church of St. Stephan and the Gutenberg Museum. Mainz is also where the Gutenberg printing press was invented in the 1400s!

The first stop today is Boppard, in the Rhine Valley. Here, enjoy an included wine tasting including the famous eiswein that is produced in the region. Next, take a leisurely cruise on the river towards a town called Boppard. Along the way, listen to tales about the beautiful landscape and also the legend of Lorelei who lured shipmen to their death simply by distracting them with her beautiful voice. Arrive in St. Goar, which is known for producing hand-carved cuckoo clocks and interesting beer steins, the perfect souvenir for your trip! Afterwards, enjoy an included lunch before travelling to Luxembourg City. Enjoy an orientation tour and learn more about this tiny country!

Scenic train journey along the Rhine river: Depart Mainz in the west and meander through the wine-producing Rhine Valley region. 

Wine tasting in Boppard: Enjoy a taste of the local produce with a wine tasting in Boppard. The area is especially known for its eiswein!

Rhine River cruise: Look forward to a “picture-perfect” experience while cruising from Boppard to St Goar in the Rhine Valley.  Admire the vineyards and castles whilst the boat glides across the beautiful Rhine river.

Visit St. Goar: Learn about the art of making cuckoo clocks and beer steins from local craftsmen in St. Goar.

Explore Luxembourg City: Enjoy an orientation tour of Luxembourg’s capital city. Along the way, learn more about the history and culture of this tiny European country which has a very interesting motto; “we want to remain what we are”.

The iconic Eiffel Tower awaits! Board a high-speed train to Paris - the most-visited city in the world. Arrive at Gare de l'Est station and first on the agenda is an included lunch.Then, head out to explore on foot. Monuments and statues that once only existed in the movies and in history books will come to life as the tour leader guides you past the street vendors and cafes of the city of love. Enjoy an included visit to Sainte Chapelle - a historic royal chapel. The tour ends in the famous Latin Quarter close to Notre Dame and with free time to enjoy the ‘City of Lights’ on your own. Why not join the Evening in Montmartre optional to enjoy beautiful sights and a delicious meal?

Paris orientation tour: Traverse through this breathtaking city on foot, guided by your tour leader, spotting sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the River Seine, the reconstruction of Notre Dame and so much more! Plus, enjoy an included visit to Sainte Chapelle. This historic royal chapel was the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century and is located on the Île de la Cité in the River Seine.

The wonderful thing about Paris is that there is so much to experience, regardless of the time of day, or season! Explore on your own and discover the beauty, culture and art of this city which has been immortalised in many songs, stories and films. Don’t miss out on trying some authentic French cuisine! Soak up the city or join a full day of exploration on the Paris Shopping & Art optional excursion which includes visits to the Louvre, Fragonard Perfume Museum and Galeries Lafayette. Plus, explore Montparnasse and a sightseeing lunch cruise on the River Seine! Complete the day by joining tonight’s optional for a fabulous night out at the cabaret!

As the headquarters of the European Union, you’d imagine Brussels is all business and no pleasure. Luckily for us, this is far from the truth! Arrive this morning and head out for an orientation tour of the city centre. During the tour, find tranquillity in the green oasis that is the Park of Brussels and stroll around the Grand Place which is surrounded by the stunning architecture of the Broodhuis History Museum and Brussels Town Hall. From here, the afternoon is free! Choose to join the half-day trip to Bruges to see the city, cruise the canals and visit the Choco-Story Museum. Alternatively, visit the Atomium for a beautiful 360° panorama of Brussels or explore the old town centre and visit one of the many museums.

Brussels orientation tour: Explore the de facto capital of the European Union on an orientation tour guided by your Expat Explore tour leader. While it may be the headquarters of the European Union, Brussels is definitely not all business and no pleasure! You will be introduced to the main sights, including the Mont des Arts Garden, Grand Place - Grote Markt, the iconic Manneken Pis, the European Parliament building and much more.

Enjoy the last few sights of the Belgian Capital this morning. After lunch, it’s time to travel to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Arrive and check into the hotel and enjoy the chance to freshen up before heading into the centre of Amsterdam for a canal cruise. Explore the city from a unique perspective and gain an alternative view of this eclectic and bohemian city while drifting past famous landmarks and learning about Amsterdam’s interesting history. Tonight, celebrate the last night of the tour with a farewell dinner with your fellow train buddies. Enjoy great food and share memories made during this train journey around Europe.

Amsterdam canal cruise: Sail along Amsterdam's stunning canals and enjoy a perfect introduction to Amsterdam.

Farewell dinner in Amsterdam: Enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers in a beautiful, historic restaurant, dating back to 1885, situated in a  building designed by famous architect Pierre Cuypers who also designed the Rijksmuseum.

After 14 days of discovering Europe by train, this bucket-list tour comes to an end. This morning the tour concludes in Amsterdam, the Netherland’s bustling capital city. Share memories with your newly-made travel friends over the last breakfast. Don’t forget to swap details with your fellow travellers before your onward journey home!