Self-guided rail holidays to Italy

Italian rail holiday highlights

Gastronomic greats | Leisurely, short rail journeys between Parma, Modena, and Bologna promise culinary delights.
Cinque Terre | Trundle between the colourful Cinque Terre villages, taking in this extraordinary coastline.
Mount Etna | Circumnavigate the UNESCO-listed Mount Etna on board the Ferrovia Circumetnea, a narrow-gauge railway that still retains its 19th-century charm.
Puglia | Travel on local trains, taking in the region’s hilltop towns, Itria Valley, and the iconic village of Alberobello.
Centovalli Railway | While journeying around Italy’s lakes, there’s the option to take this scenic railway between Locarno and Domodossola.

Exploring Italy by rail -

enchanting towns & countryside

When it comes to European rail holidays, there are few countries to rival Italy for diversity or beauty. From the glittering Cinque Terre coastline, visible from your window seat, to the sun-kissed landscapes of Sicily, or Emilia Romagna’s fertile valleys, there’s so much to discover. And the beauty of a self-guided rail holiday is that you can explore at your own pace.

We arrange all your rail travel or car hire and provide you with comprehensive route notes, allowing you to savour lunch wherever takes your fancy, or linger for longer in a museum or admiring the ornate Baroque buildings you encounter during your cultural journey.

Just about everything you see in Italy is a feast for the senses, and whether you choose to explore by car or on a journey by rail, you will encounter landscapes to inspire you and architectural treasures to make you stop and stare.

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Journey through Puglia

“This is slow travel at its best, through contrasting scenery of sun-soaked olive groves and vineyards, vast red earth plains, and the Adriatic coast. Eclectic architecture from Roman ruins and remarkably detailed Baroque splendour to simple, drystone trulli and ancient cave houses and rock churches. There’s also the option to extend with a stay in a hotel in the remarkable World Heritage site of Matera, the ancient troglodyte city.”

– Kylie Anderson, Inntravel Rail Expert

Explore Puglia by rail

Why choose Inntravel for your Italian rail holiday

Choose from our wide selection of Italian multi-destination holidays to explore the country’s glorious countryside and remarkable towns in depth – marvel at the stunning scenery; savour excellent cuisine and fine wines; and stay in authentic, hand-picked hotels. From the Italian Lakes in the north to Sicily’s sun-kissed Baroque beauty, we’ve uncovered the best routes for you to take in the best of each region, whether travelling by train or car.

Designed by experts

Our destination and rail experts have meticulously designed every holiday, hand-picking the hotels, the trattorias, and places to visit en route – all the things that make the difference on a holiday. We’re committed to finding the best way from A to B to C, allowing you to soak up Italy’s highlights, both on and off the beaten track, in the most practical (and scenic) way.
Personalised trips

As we handle each booking individually, we can shape your trip to Italy so that it’s right for you. Whether you want to add a stay in Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, or Catania, for example, or add extra nights at a hotel you like en route, we’ve done the research and can build your holiday so that it’s exactly how you want it.
Every detail covered

Before your holiday, you receive our carefully compiled information pack with all your tickets, detailed directions, practical advice, historical and cultural information on the places and sites you see, and tips on where to go. There’s no need for a guide because this is your guide!

Travel by rail to Italy

Make the journey part of your holiday and take the train from London to Italy. Our team of rail experts will find the best route for you (there are plenty to choose from!). You can easily:

- Catch the high-speed TGV via Turin, or detour through Switzerland with an overnight stay in Zürich before taking a direct tilting train to Milan via the Italian Lakes.

- Take the sleeper train via Innsbruck to reach the Italian Dolomites.

- The Frecciarossa or Frecciargento trains on Italy’s main high-speed line sweep you across the Po Valley towards Bologna and the rest of Tuscany.

- There's even a direct train from Turin to the Amalfi Coast.

More about travelling by train to Italy

Rail holidays in Italy

Journeys by rail & car

Italian rail holiday highlights

Exploring Italy by rail -

Popular Italian Journeys

Find the right holiday for you

Journey through Puglia

Why choose Inntravel for your Italian rail holiday

Designed by experts

Personalised trips

Every detail covered

Travel by rail to Italy

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