DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: London to Munich by train

Your rail holiday to Venice and the Veneto starts with a mid-morning Eurostar from St Pancras. From the Gare du Nord, you can walk to the Gare de l’Est where you take the high-speed TGV train to Munich, arriving there at about 21.30 hrs that evening. You stay in Munich for two nights.

Day 2: In Munich

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is situated within sight of the Alps. Munich is an elegant, beautiful and affluent German city with well-preserved historic buildings, palaces, gardens, imposing monuments and churches.

At the heart of the city is the Marienplatz, home to the Old and New Town Halls (watch the famous Glockenspiel). Nearby is the Viktualienmarkt and the Frauenkirche as well as the Michaelskirche, which is the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. From the centre the city fans out into boulevards, parks, gardens and imposing museums, including the famous Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek.

The Residenz Palace is a feast of architectural styles combining Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Classicism. There are 130 rooms filled with rich furniture, paintings and tapestries. The English Garden is one of the largest urban gardens in the world and it offers restaurants, teahouse and beer gardens. Further afield you find Baroque palaces such as Nymphenburg, BMW headquarters and the Olympic Park from 1972.

Day 3: Munich to Venice by train

You leave Munich late morning on the Eurocity train. It heads southwards into Austria, passing through Innsbruck and the Alps, including the scenic Brenner Pass, before it descends into the northern Italian plain. This is a direct service and you arrive into Venice in the early evening. At Santa Lucia station you are met and taken by private water taxi to your hotel.

Days 4 & 5: In Venice

You have two full days in Venice. More than a city, Venice “La Serenissima” is an enchantress. Take the time to discover her winding streets, canals, quiet squares and lively waterfronts. To make the most of your time in Venice, it’s worth dividing the city into areas or themes.

The obvious place to start is at St Mark’s Square, best appreciated whilst sipping a Venetian coffee at Florian’s. St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the Campanile can all be visited. The magnificent churches of Venice are worth seeking out: Santa Maria della Salute, Santi Giovanni e Paolo, and Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (with works by Titian), Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Gesuiti.

The Jewish quarter can be found just off the Strada Nova to the north of the city and gives you a rare insight into the history of the Jewish community in Venice. There is a clutch of art galleries to be enjoyed including the Ca’ Pesaro, the Ca’ d’Oro, the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and for modern art, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The streets of Venice also contain a treasure trove of tiny artisan shops selling glassware, masks, lace and silk and shoes.

To absorb the magic of Venice from the water, treat yourself to a ride in a gondola. Across the lagoon and reached by vaporetto are the islands of Burano, home to lace-making and fishermen, and Murano where master craftsmen offer demonstrations of glass making before you enter their shops.

Day 6: Venice to Verona by train

This morning there is time to do some last-minute sightseeing or shopping in Venice before your private water taxi takes you back to Venice Santa Lucia station for your train to Verona. The journey time by train to Verona is only about an hour. In Verona you collect your hire car and drive the eight kilometres to your hotel in the countryside, surrounded by Valpolicella vines, where you will be based for three nights.

Days 7 & 8: Explore the Veneto

From your base in the Valpolicella vineyards just outside Verona, there are numerous excursion possibilities for the two days you have here. An obvious choice is to go into Verona and explore this small but beautiful city, packed full of places of historic and cultural worth, particularly dating from Roman and medieval times.

There are not only iconic sights such as the Arena and the house said to be Juliet’s, but other Roman remains such as the Roman theatre, the Ponte di Pietra and Porta dei Borsari, and medieval masterpieces such as the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the church of Santa Maria Antica, as well as the Piazza delle Erbe.

Within and near the city are several notable gardens worth a visit, including the Giardino Giusti. From your hotel, in the other direction, is Lake Garda and the Valpolicella vineyards, or if you want to venture further afield, you can visit Vicenza, renowned for its Palladian architecture.

If you do not want to have the use of a hire car, we can arrange a transfer for you to your hotel, but you will be restricted in what you can visit. As an alternative, we can offer you accommodation in Verona instead.

Day 9: Verona to Zurich by train

You drive back to Verona and return your hire car before taking a mid-morning train to Milan, where you change and continue northwards through the Swiss Alps and Gotthard Pass to Zurich. You reach Zurich by late afternoon or early evening, but in good time to stroll the Bahnhofstrasse for window shopping, visit the lake promenade and find a restaurant serving Swiss specialities for supper.

Day 10: Zurich to London by train

You leave Zurich in the late morning and travel back to Paris on the high-speed TGV train. Change stations by taxi in Paris, from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord, and end your rail holiday by taking the Eurostar to London, where you arrive mid-evening.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes second class rail travel, with supplement for first class of about £570 per person.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance and an appropriate driving licence, if you intend to hire a car in Verona. The AA and FCO should also be consulted.