Top Italy Rail Tours

Experience the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre in one day with a guided tour through the five idyllic fishing villages of old-world Italy. Following the walking trails along the cliffs of the national park, you will see glorious views of this unspoiled stretch of the Italian Riviera. Check out the highlights and learn about the area as you complete a 3.4-mile (5.5-km) route with your guide. If you choose the tour option without hiking, the train will be used instead to move between villages.

Avoid the hassle of navigating the local train by yourself and zip past the crowds at Pompeii’s entrance with this fast-track tour. Meet your assistant at the Sorrento train station to board and get off just outside Pompeii, where you’ll skip the long line and head directly inside the ruins with your guide. Take in the top villas, temples, and more in just two hours before the return train to Sorrento.

Explore the Italian Riviera on this day trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence, with optional transport between each small town (added cost). After arriving at La Spezia, follow your guide to each fishing village by coach, train, and boat, from the beaches of Monterosso to the charming streets of Riomaggiore. Stop to swim in the turquoise waters and upgrade to include a traditional Italian lunch. Soak up all the character of this UNESCO-listed region before heading back to Florence.

Travel to the highest point reachable by train in Europe on this full-day tour of the Swiss Alps and Saint Moritz, a luxury alpine resort town in Switzerland’s Engadin Valley. After some free time in Saint Moritz for shopping or pastry tastings (own expense), hop aboard the Bernina Express Red Train for a cliff-hanging 2.5-hour ride through the Alps—on a route with UNESCO World Heritage status.

Visit two of the most popular day trip destinations from Florence in one tour on this small-group trip to the Cinque Terre and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Enjoy a boat ride along the enchanting coastline of the Cinque Terre, then choose between a hike or train trip to another village. Stop in Pisa on the way back to Florence to see the famous leaning tower.

Ride a Vespa through Tuscany on this tour from Florence. A local guide leads the way up through the scenic hills, where you pass the famous Piazzale Michelangelo and the Church of San Miniato al Monte. Afterward, head back to our country estate for a traditional Italian meal to top off your journey. To ensure an intimate experience, this tour is limited to a small group.

Find out what it takes to be an ancient Roman gladiator at the Gladiator School of Rome. During a hands-on lesson with instructors from the Historic Group of Rome, learn how to fight with authentic weapons of the time while wearing a traditional gladiator tunic and belt. Located on the Appian Way, not far from the Colosseum, this class is a unique and interactive way to learn about ancient Roman history, sports, and culture. Select a lesson time when booking.

Dive into the history of Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii on a day trip from Rome. This day trip to Pompeii includes a steady-paced hike up Mt. Vesuvius or a relaxed walk with a local geologist, an expert-guided tour of Pompeii's UNESCO-listed ruins and a local Napolitan lunch. Explore ancient artifacts tied to the ancient city that date back from the Vesuvius eruption. Consider upgrading to a Rome day trip that includes Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and Positano— all in one remarkable day!

Learn to make pizza or pasta and gelato during this culinary experience on a Tuscan estate near Florence, perfect for lovers of culture and cuisine. Your professional Italian chef provides a fun hands-on cooking lesson that culminates in a 3-course feast of appetizers, pizza or pasta, and gelato, accompanied by wine and beer. Plus, you'll receive recipes to take home and practice your newfound skills.

See all that Tuscany has to offer on this day trip to Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano from Florence. Led by an expert guide, explore the main square and Gothic cathedral in Siena, followed by a traditional, 3-course lunch with wine pairing. Afterward, enjoy free time to stroll the medieval streets of San Gimignano independently, as well as the city of Pisa, famous for its UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower. Your full day of sightseeing concludes with transportation back to Florence.

Tuscany has been known for its pottery since ancient times, and with this hands-on class you’ll enjoy an introduction to traditional Tuscan “majolica” in just a few hours. Head to a family-run workshop in Montelupo, a village known for its pottery production since the Renaissance. Visit a real pottery factory and learn about Italian techniques then create your own masterpiece that you can take home alongside a master potter.

Discover the secrets behind painting or sculpting with a small-group art lesson in a Florence art studio. Learn from an artist in an inspiring, sun-filled private studio. Work on your own creation, painting with oils or sculpting with clay, in a class suitable for beginners and experts alike.

Get hands-on experience with one-to-one guidance during a private glassmaking lesson. Discover the secrets of Murano glassmaking techniques from one of the most renowned craftsmen of Venice. The 90-minute workshop includes all materials—including your own marvelous glass artwork to take home—plus a 10 percent discount on glassworks from the artist.

Few places in the world will wow you like the lost city of Pompeii. It’s on just about every traveller’s bucket list, yet getting there has its complications. We’ve removed all the logistic stress of touring Pompeii from Rome by high speed train with this all-inclusive, value-packed day trip so that you can leave the details to us and enjoy the trip of a lifetime. After a fully guided skip-the-line tour to Pompeii, enjoy a wine tasting and farm-to-table lunch at a nearby vineyard on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius before heading back to Rome.

Get first-hand experience making mosaics on this workshop with a master mosaicist. At a historical family-owned mosaic studio, work with local marble tiles to create traditional Roman mosaics. Learn about texture, composition, and marble tile cutting while hearing stories about the history of the craft. Take home your completed mosaic at the end of the workshop.

Discover three of Tuscany’s most iconic destinations on a full-day tour from Florence by coach. Snap photos of the famous Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, stroll through the UNESCO-listed hill town of San Gimignano, and step inside Siena’s cathedral. Enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch in Piazza del Campo.

Our Small Group Pompeii and Amalfi Tour very early departure is to guarantee a better experience of both, Pompeii and the Amalfi coast that, especially during summer months are highly frequented. Leaving early will allow us to beat the crowds and enjoy an overall better experience. Discover one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of coastline on this Amalfi Coast day trip from Rome. Explore the volcanic ruins of ancient Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before exploring the picturesque towns of Positano and Amalfi. Full-day Amalfi Coast tour from Rome with a driver-guide Enjoy a shared boat ride between Amalfi and Positano affording magnificent views of the Amalfi coast. Enjoy free time in the picturesque villages of Amalfi and Positano, taste limoncello in Amalfi and stroll along its beaches Explore the UNESCO-listed site of Pompeii on a walking tour Small-group tour.

Discover the secrets of Tuscan cooking during this full-day experience, including a market visit and cooking class, topped off with a 4-course lunch. Shop for fresh ingredients at a Florentine market before venturing to a Tuscan farmhouse in the countryside. Take your cue from an expert chef as you create Italian dishes from scratch including bruschetta, pasta, roast pork, and tiramisù. Then sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labor, complemented by Tuscan wine.

Enjoy a full-day tour into the heart of the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Visit the town of San Gimignano, the wine territory of Chianti, the medieval town of Siena, and the Colle Alta in Colle di Val d'Elsa. This tour includes wine-tasting and a nice mix of guided exploration and free time at each destination.

Check off two UNESCO-listed wonders on this full-day tour from Rome—the mighty ruins of Pompeii and the idyllic Amalfi Coast. First, discover the relics of one of ancient Rome’s most important cities as you walk around Pompeii and stand in awe before the world’s oldest surviving Roman amphitheater. Then, soak up the scenery along the Amalfi Coast and stop for lunch (own expense) in the picturesque fishing village of Positano. This small-group tour is limited to 18 people, ensuring a personalized experience.

Learn to make pasta by hand with a professional chef-instructor for a truly memorable experience in Rome. Your 3-hour cooking class takes place in a private location in a traditional Roman neighborhood and covers the basics of creating incredible Italian pasta Nibble on light appetizers and a glass of prosecco as you begin to prepare the pasta meal. You can also ask your instructor about Italian cuisine and tips for your time in Rome.

Take a course on mask-making from a master artisan in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. See the traditional art of decorating a mask and see what goes into the preparation for the Venetian Carnival. Then create your own masterpiece to create a special memory from your time in Venice.

Take a Tuscany tour from Rome and see the best of the captivating Val d’Orcia region, near Siena. With a local guide at your side, discover countryside where historic hilltowns perch on sun-drenched hills and Tuscan farms dot the landscape. Visit the wine towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino, and enjoy free time to explore Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Wine tasting and lunch at a farm is included.