The French Riviera and Italian Ligurian Coast

Enjoy a fabulous railway holiday along the French Cote d’Azur and the Ligurian Coast in Italy, including exploring the world-famous Cinque Terre.

• Journey by Eurostar from London to Paris and then on to elegant Nice for a day of sightseeing, before you continue along the Cote d’Azur to the historic port city of Genoa.
• Highlights in Genoa include a private charter train on the spectacular Genova-Cassella narrow gauge railway and sightseeing its rich maritime attractions.
• Experience one of the most spectacular seaside railway trips in the world along the Ligurian coast to Pisa, including a visit to the Leaning Tower, and explore the colourful fishing villages of Cinque Terre.
• Discover Turin’s historic tramways as a stay in this fine Alpine city concludes your tour in style, highlighted with a trip on the historic Sassi-Superga electric rack railway.
  

Friday 14th March
London to Nice by rail
You travel with Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord before a direct afternoon TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice Ville. On arrival into Nice, you check into your centrally located hotel where a welcome dinner is served. (B D)

Saturday 15th March
Tramways and leisure in Nice
Nice is one of the most beautiful cities in France, full of elegant architecture, colourful historic buildings, and spacious esplanades. You have a free day to enjoy the French Cote d’Azur, exploring at your own pace with your complimentary 1-day rover ticket for use on the well-connected local tramway system. In the evening dinner is served at your hotel. (B D)

Sunday 16th March
Seaside railway trip from Nice to Genoa
Today you bid ‘Adieu’ to France and say ‘Ciao’ to Italy as you enjoy a 4-hour scenic train trip from Nice to Genoa, changing at Ventimiglia. You travel past sandy beaches, rocky shorelines, Italianate churches, and lots of colourful buildings. On arrival at Genoa’s elegant Piazza Principe station, you check into your adjacent hotel, centrally located and within walking distance of the Old Town, the Ancient Port, and the hillside palaces. You’ll receive a public transport rover ticket, valid on the city’s Metro and central trolleybus routes, for the duration of your stay. Genoa also boasts a remarkable system of hillside rack railways, funiculars, and historic elevators, all free to use. Take the funiculars and hillside lifts to wonderful panoramic vantage points for views of the city, its harbour replete with countless cruise ships and the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. Dinner is served at your hotel this evening. (B D)

Monday 17th March
Historic charter train at the Ferrovia Genova – Casella
Above the hills of Genoa runs a remarkable metre gauge railway, 24 km in length from Genova Piazza Manin to the rural town of Casella. Opened in 1929 and fully electrified from the outset, this charming line remains much of its original appearance and also operates historic rolling stock. With numerous horseshoe curves and steep gradients of up to 4.5%, the line is as scenic as it is operationally fascinating. You have a private charter train using the railway’s original rolling stock and heritage locomotive Nr. 29. After a typical Italian lunch in Casella, you return to Genova Piazza Manin. In the evening you are free to enjoy the city and find dinner at one of the many trattorias in the Old Town. (B L)

Tuesday 18th March
Train trip to Pisa, visit to the Leaning Tower
Experience one of the most spectacular seaside railway trips in the world today, as you enjoy the comfort of First Class on an FS Trenitalia InterCity service from Genova Piazza Principe via La Spezia to Pisa. You travel along the Ligurian coast past famous resorts like Sestri Levante and Levanto, as well as the five fishing villages of Cinque Terre. You arrive in Pisa at mid-day and have lunch in the Old Town before visiting the famed Leaning Tower and cathedral. You return to Genoa in the afternoon by InterCity Train along the same seaside route. (B L)

Wednesday 19th March
Genoa Navebus harbour cruise, aquarium visit and historic ships on the Old Port
Today we explore Genoa’s rich maritime attractions and heritage. First you take a return trip on the harbour ferry known as Navebus. Functioning as a public transport service line, it runs on the water from Porto Antico to Molo Archetti, taking you past huge oceanliners and the airport runway. After your Navebus round trip you visit Genoa’s world-famous aquarium in the Porto Antico, one of the premier such sites in Europe, with an impressive display of large sea life. Also included in your museum admission are the displays of the preserved Italian naval submarine ‘Nazario Sauro’ from 1976 and the authentic replica of a 17th century pirate galley. Dinner tonight is at your hotel. (B D)

Thursday 20th and Friday 21st March
Seaside Railway and villages of Cinque Terre
The next two days are free for you to explore the iconic five villages of Cinque Terre at your leisure, using the direct railway line between Genua and La Spezia. You’ll be given a Cinque Terre rail rover, allowing use of all Trenitalia regional express trains, with fast and frequent services along the coast and stops at the five famed villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola und Riomaggiore. Additionally, you’ll find the large seaside resorts of Sestri Levante, Levanto, Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure worth a visit. You can also use your Cinque Terre rail rover inside Genoa. A notable highlight is the amazing seaside walk along cliffs, palaces, and old forts right outside the Genova Nervi railway station, on a purpose-built, flat pedestrian path. (B)

Saturday 22nd March
Genoa to Turin by rail
Today you take a Trenitalia service from Genoa via the hills of Alessandria and the prosecco countryside of Asti, to the smart Alpine city of Turin. It’s famous for its long, arcaded walkways and as the film site of the legendary 1969 movie ‘The Italian Job’. You arrive late morning and have lunch at your city centre hotel, located near the historic Porta Nuova station. You then visit the city’s principal architectural monument, the Mole Antonelliana, a slender, domed tower dating from the late 19th century that overlooks the city rooftops and includes a museum. For the rest of the afternoon, you are free to enjoy Turin at leisure, exploring its smart streets, spacious squares, and numerous palaces, with everything that makes Italy so desirable. You’ll will be given a complimentary day ticket, should you wish to use the city’s tram and metro network. In the evening you are free to dine at the pizzeria or osteria of your choice. (B L)

Sunday 23rd March
Vintage tramways and Sassi-Superga rack railway in Turin
After Milan, Turin has the largest tram network in Italy and one of the largest fleets of preserved heritage vehicles in southern Europe. You’ll enjoy a private charter tramway tour on a stylish articulated vehicle dating from the 1930s, allowing you to sightsee the city in comfort and style. Covering the most attractive parts of the urban light rail network, you travel over some rare track, including a stop at the ‘Gran Madre’, a replica of the Roman Pantheon. The tramway tour ends at Sassi, where you have lunch at the rack railway terminus, before travelling on the historic electric rack railway to the Superga summit. Here you’ll find the namesake domed basilica and hilltop panoramic terrace overlooking the city. The rack railway maintains its original electric railcars from the 1930s and uses a third rail to draw power. You return to Sassi, taking a service tram to the city centre. Join your fellow travellers at your hotel for a farewell dinner. (B L D)

Monday 24th March
Turin to London via the French Alps and Paris
Take a high-speed rail service from Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon, experiencing another scenic railway journey, capping your holiday to southern Europe in style. In Paris you transfer to Gare de Nord, where you take your final journey by Eurostar back to London St. Pancras.