Europe
Tuscany & Cinque Terre
8 Day Rail Package
2 Nights Rome • 2 Nights Florence • 2 Nights Cinque Terre • 1 Night Milan
Discover the best of Italy on this 8 day rail journey through Rome, Florence, Milan, and the breathtaking Cinque Terre. Travel by train between each destination, from the ancient ruins of Rome to the Renaissance art of Florence, before arriving at Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage coastline of five colorful cliffside villages linked by scenic coastal trails and turquoise waters.
With two nights each in Rome, Florence, and Cinque Terre, and a final night in Milan, this rail package pairs Tuscany’s historic cities with the unmatched natural beauty of Cinque Terre, offering an effortless way to experience Italy’s most iconic regions without the hassle of driving or navigating transfers.
Flights + Package from
R 21,600 pp
Highlights of Cinque Terre 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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Cinque TerreCinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage stretch of Italian coastline made up of five colorful cliffside villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Each village is connected by a short train ride along the same coastal line, making it easy to hop between all five in a single day. Wander the narrow lanes and pastel houses of Manarola and Riomaggiore, hike sections of the scenic coastal trail connecting the villages, or relax on Monterosso’s beach, the largest in the region.
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MilanAt the heart of Milan stands the Duomo di Milano, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, its marble spires and rooftop terrace offering sweeping views over the city. Just outside, step into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th-century glass-domed shopping arcade linking the Duomo to Piazza della Scala, home to the world-famous La Scala opera house. If time allows, visit the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent to see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, one of the most celebrated paintings in art history.
Tuscany & Cinque Terre rates
7 nights
01 Nov - 30 Nov '26
from R
22,625
per person sharing
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Incl. Flights ex JNB
7 Nights
01 Feb - 31 Mar '26
from R
23,370
per person sharing
-
Incl. Flights ex JNB
7 nights
01 Apr - 30 May'27
from R
26,450
per person sharing
-
Incl. Flights ex JNB
7 Nights
01 Jun - 31 Jul'27
from R
28,010
per person sharing
-
Incl. Flights ex JNB
Tuscany & Cinque Terre
Included
Excluded
Hotels
Included
- Return flights from Johannesburg to Italy
- Airport Taxes
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in Rome
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in Florence
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in Cinque Terre
- 1 Nights’ accommodation in Milan
- Breakfast Daily
- 2nd Class Rail Tickets from Rome – Florence – Monterosso – Milan
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 Hotel Baia or Hotel Marina, Monterosso (Alternative options include towns of Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola or Riomaggiore)
- 3-star Ibis Milano Centro, Milan
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 - Rome
You have a full day to explore the city of Rome.
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 3 - 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 4 - 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 5 - Train to Monterosso (via Pisa)
Departing Florence, you will travel to Monterosso (Cinque Terre region) via Pisa
Cinque Terre is a stretch of rugged Italian Riviera coastline, made up of five clifftop villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The villages are strung along steep terraced hillsides above the sea, connected by a network of hiking trails as well as a local train line and boats in summer.
The area is known for pastel-colored houses stacked above small harbors, vineyards and olive groves on terraced slopes, and no car access between villages. It’s protected as a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Monterosso is the largest and has the best beaches; Vernazza has a picturesque harbor; Corniglia sits highest up and isn’t on the water; Manarola and Riomaggiore are known for dramatic cliffside views, including the famous Via dell’Amore path between them.
Day 6 - Cinque Terre
You have a free day to explore the Cinque Terre Region.
Hiking is the main draw. The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) links all five villages along the coast. Higher up, the Sentiero Rosso (Red Trail) runs along the ridge above the villages with sweeping views.
For a more relaxing day, swim at Monterosso’s beaches or join a boat tour running between villages in season, giving you views of the cliffs and colored houses from the sea. Kayak or SUP rentals are available in a few spots.
For food and wine, this is Liguria, so pesto, focaccia, anchovies, and seafood are everywhere. Vineyards on the terraced hillsides produce local white wines, including the sweet Sciacchetrà, and several wineries offer tastings, often paired with views over the coast.
Day 7 - Train to Milan
Board the train from Monterosso to Milan. Milan is Italy’s economic and fashion capital, in the northern region of Lombardy.
The Duomo di Milano, a vast Gothic cathedral, anchors the city center, next to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an elegant 19th-century shopping arcade. Nearby is La Scala, one of the world’s most famous opera houses. Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper is housed at Santa Maria delle Grazie and requires advance booking, often weeks out, since viewing slots are limited.
Day 8 - Depart Milan
Your journey comes to an end Milan. Make your own way to Milan airport by bus or private taxi (optionally a private transfer can be included in your package)