Europe
Italy by Rail
8 Day Rail Package
3 Nights Rome • 2 Nights Florence • 2 Nights Venice
Our Italy by Rail package is the ideal train journey across mainland Italy visiting the iconic must-see cities known for their architectural charms. Wander the streets of Rome to visit the Trevi Fountain, the ancient and iconic Colosseum or simply get lost in its winding streets and enjoy authentic Italian cuisines. Art lovers will enjoy a tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
The train journey takes you to Florence in central Italy, where the maze of cobblestone streets leads you to the Duomo, a massive cathedral towering over the city. View the famous statue of David by Michealangelo and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge.
Ending in romantic Venice, visitors can ride a gondola through the canals and visit Piazza San Marco and the Doge’s Palace that showcases Venetian Gothic architecture.
Flights + Package from
R 20,810 pp
Highlights of Italy by Rail Itinerary
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Colosseum & Roman ForumCompleted around 80 AD under Emperor Titus, the Colosseum held an estimated 50,000 spectators for gladiator fights. Next on your Italy by Rail tri, visit the heart of ancient Rome with a walk through the Roman Forum, a sprawling field of ruins, ending at Palatine Hill where the emperors built their palaces.
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Vatican Museum & Sistine ChapelThe Vatican Museums hold one of the world’s greatest art collections, built up by popes over centuries. View the Gallery of Maps, the Raphael Rooms, Egyptian and classical antiquities sections before reaching the Sistine Chapel where you can view Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam and Last Judgement. After your visit, stop by St. Peter’s Square, the largest church in the world.
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FlorenceA marvel of renaissance engineering, the Duomo dominates the skyline of Florence. Climb the 463 steps up the dome or the Giotto’s Campanile bell tower for views over the city. Shop along the medieval bridge, Ponte Vecchio, lined with gold and jewellery shops. View the original statue at Galleria dell ‘Accademia or the Birth of Venus and Primavera at Uffizi Gallery, is one of the world’s great art museums.
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Leaning tower of Pisa (optional day trip)Visit the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), where you will find the famous Leaning Tower, a freestanding bell tower begun in 1173, which started tilting during construction due to unstable soil. Also found in the complex is the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery and Camposanto, a cemetery cloister with faded medieval frescoes.
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VeniceYour Italy by Rail trip ends in Venice, a city built across 118 small islands in a lagoon, connected by canals instead of streets and bridges instead of roads. Walk the winding streets across the island to see St. Mark’s Basilica and the adjoining Campanile bell tower, the Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs and Rialto Bridge. Optionally visit the outer island of Murano known for its glass blowing or ride the canals by gondola for a relaxing afternoon.
Italy by Rail rates
7 nights
01 Sep - 31 Oct'26
from R
33,970
per person sharing
-
Incl. Flights ex JNB
7 Nights
01 Nov - 15 Dec'26
from R
23,570
per person sharing
-
Incl. Flights ex JNB
7 nights
15 Jan - 28 Feb'27
from R
20,810
per person sharing
-
Incl. Flights ex JNB
7 Nights
01 Mar - 31 May'27
from R
29,010
per person sharing
-
Incl. Flights ex JNB
Italy by Rail
Included
Excluded
Hotels
Included
- Return flights from Johannesburg to Italy
- Airport Taxes
- 3 Nights’ accommodation in Rome
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in Florence
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in Venice
- Breakfast Daily
- 2nd Class Rail Tickets from Rome to Florence & Florence to Venice
Excluded
- City Tax (Payable directly to hotels)
- Entrance to museums and attractions
- Excursions and Day Tours (available as add-ons)
- Airport to Hotel & Hotel to Train Station Transport (available on request)
- Travel Insurance (available on request)
- Visas (required for South African Passport holders)
- Meals not specified
- Items of personal nature
Hotels
The below hotels are the preferred accommodations for this Italy by Rail package but can change due to availability.
- 3-star Hotel Colosseum or 4-star Diana Roof Garden, Rome
- 3-star Machiavelli Palace (option to upgrade to 4-star Adler Cavalieri), Florence
- 3-star Carlton Capri (or upgrade to 4-star Carlton Grand Canal), Venice
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Rome
Arriving in Rome, make your own way to your hotel by metro train. Optionally a private road transfer can be arranged to drive you straight to your hotel (additional cost). The rest of the day is free at your own leisure to explore the city of Rome. For the first evening we would recommend a leisurely stroll around the city.
Hotel Check-in:
Hotel check-in time is usually at 14h00. Depending on your flight schedule, if you require earlier room availability, consider booking an additional night at the hotel.
Day 2 & 3 - Rome
You have two full days to explore the city of Rome at your own pace.
With over 3,000 years of continuous history, from ancient ruins to Renaissance churches and modern street life, a visit to Rome leaves an impression on every visitor. Start from the Colosseum, the massive amphitheatre where gladiatorial games once drew tens of thousands of spectators, and stroll through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill among fallen columns and the outlines of temples and basilicas.
Visit the Vatican City, a separate country within Rome. See the enormous St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Museums where you will also find the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s famous ceiling and Last Judgment.
Walking the streets of Rome is a real treat. See the Trevi Fountain theatrically lit at night, enjoy a meal at a cafe in the Piazza Navona and visit the 2,000-year-old Pantheon temple.
Rome Optional Tours
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Walk in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors as your guide transports you back to the era of ancient Rome. Let an expert official guide educate and amaze you with facts and memorable tales of the glorious gladiatorial games you’ll never forget.
Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica
Experience the best of the Vatican in three hours, navigating the vast complex of artwork and history with an expert, who will bring this ancient collection to life.
Day 4 - Train to Florence
Depart Rome for Florence, traveling by high-speed train (or optionally the slower regional train) through the rolling hills of Umbria and Tuscany as vineyards, farmhouses, and hill towns flicker past once you clear Rome’s outskirts.
Florence (also known as Firenze) is the birthplace of the Renaissance and a charming walkable city that is so compact you could cross it on foot in under an hour. The skyline of Florence is dominated by the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) with every corner of the city packed with iconic art and history.
We recommend a visit to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David statue, carved from a single block of marble in 1504. The gallery also hosts a collection of early Renaissance paintings and a small musical instrument collection.
Alternatively visit the Uffizi Gallery, housing one of the most important collections of Renaissance painting in the world such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Primavera, as well as major works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio.
Florence Optional Tours
Accademia Gallery Guided Walking Tour
Starting a chronological journey, admire the DAVID, a sculpture made exclusively of marble (height 520 cm) by Michelangelo. The gallery is one of the places with the highest number of sculptures made by Michelangelo, inside you can also visit the museum of musical instruments, the largest collection of paintings with a golden background and the Sala dei Prigioni with sculptures designed for the Pope Julius II.
Uffizi Gallery Guided Walking Tour
With our knowledgeable guides by your side, explore the extensive collection of masterpieces housed within the gallery’s magnificent halls. From the iconic works of Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci to the exquisite sculptures and intricate tapestries, every corner of the Uffizi Gallery holds treasures waiting to be discovered.
Day 5 - Florence
For an extraordinary panoramic view of the city of Florence, visit the viewpoint at Piazzale Michelangelo. From here the views capture the heart of Florence from the Forte Belvedere to Santa Croce, the Ponte Vecchio bridge, the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio.
See its impressive Gothic cathedral (the Duomo), the ancient stone bridge known as the Ponte Vecchio with its traditional goldsmith shops, and Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city, where the town hall is located in a medieval building.
Alternatively take a day trip to Pisa to view the iconic leaning tower that began tilting almost as soon as construction started in 1173. Visitors can also venture the climb to the top of the tower with about 300 steps to the top. Next to the tower is an elegant Romanesque cathedral, baptistery and historic cemetery.
Florence Optional Tours
Day Trip to Pisa
The Italians call it Piazza dei Miracoli, or ‘Square of Miracles’ not just for the Leaning Tower, but because four masterpieces of medieval architecture stand side by side. Explore the square with your expert guide who will show you the Cathedral, the Baptistery, and the Monumental Cemetery from the outside, while you learn about the stories, symbols and surprising details that bring them to life.
Day 6 - Train to Venice
Departing Venice by high-speed train (or optionally regional train), you will reach Venezia Santa Lucia train station from which you can walk to your hotel or ride a motorboat (optional).
For your first evening we recommend a gondola ride down the canal ways for a great introduction to the city.
Venice Optional Tours
Venice Gondola Ride
Feel the essence of Venice as you explore hidden and picturesque waterways near the Grand Canal with a gondola ride. Your host will explain some curiosities about the history of gondolas and gondoliers. As you enjoy the beauties of the Grand Canal, admire the marvellous Palaces such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection Palace, the Gritti Palace, the Salute Church, the Punta della Dogana. Discover the worldwide-famous La Fenice Theatre and the Mozart House along the romantic and hidden waterways. At the end of your ride, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Saint Mark’s Basin with San Giorgio Island.
Day 7 - Venice
Built across more than 100 islands in a lagoon, with canals instead of streets, it’s easy to get lost in Venice, which is part of the charm. Iconic sights include the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), a grand central square flanked by the St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. For the best views of the island city, take the elevator up St Mark’s Campanile, from which visitors can get a panoramic view of Venice.
See the oldest bridge across the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, lined with shops and lively fish/produce market nearby each morning.
Explore the islands of Venice on your own pace by visiting the lagoon islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello or visit one of its many museums such as Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection or the Murano Glass Museum.
Venice Optional Tours
Murano & Burano Boat Tour
Set sail from Venice on a boat tour to the islands of Murano and Burano. Enjoy the cruise aboard a comfortable boat, admire the lagoon views from the terrace, and be enchanted by the magic of these unique places, described with passion by our guide on board. Visit one of the renowned local glass factories and attend a live demonstration of glassblowing. Admire the vibrant colourful houses of Burano and stroll along the picturesque streets of the village.
Venice Walking Tour
A qualified guide will walk you through the hidden squares, winding canals and historical buildings providing you with a perfect introduction to the origins, symbols, traditions, architecture and life in present day Venice. Visit St. Marks’s Square, the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and the extraordinary, Renaissance clock tower. Discover campo Santa Maria Formosa and campo San Giovanni & Paolo, with its stunning Basilica, where the doges of Venice were buried.
Day 8 - Depart Venice
Your journey comes to an end Venice. Make your own way to Venice airport by bus or private taxi (optionally a private transfer can be arranged)