Italy, Southern Europe & Mediterranean Train Vacations

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Italy, Southern Europe & Mediterranean

The golden sun warms the landscape and travelers' souls in Southern Europe countries. Blue skies adjoin even bluer waters, and rolling countrysides fade into fascinating cities, where the offerings are as exotic as the surroundings. A Mediterranean trip itinerary may begin in Italy - a country renowned for its rich culture, incredible cuisine, luscious wine, pretty towns, and cosmopolitan cities. Trips may also dedicate their entirety to discovering the intricacies of this world-class destination from top to toe, exploring its ancient sites, like Pompeii, and its stunning coastlines between memorable excursions. Mediterranean vacation packages may also venture to Spain, connecting coastal Barcelona with Madrid or Seville on the interior by high-speed train. Spanish traditions and undeniable ambiance surround each destination. Travelers can also connect Spain's cities with Portugal's incredible Douro wine region by embarking on a river cruising expedition aboard a luxurious ship. Closer to Portugal's oceanside, Porto - beloved for its Port Wine production - and the colorful city of Lisbon further weave the story of Southern Europe. Whether embarking on a guided tour or an independent adventure, it is hard not to fall in love with the vibrancy of the Mediterranean.

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Our customers love our Italy, Southern Europe & Mediterranean tours

Cuisine & Culture: Barcelona, Madrid & Seville

15/May

C CHRIST

“It was a great overview of Spain.

Collected by Trustpilot

Cuisine & Culture: Lisbon & Porto

13/May

ELAINE TUCKER

“This trip was amazing and beyond our expectations. Everything from transfers to the hotel to the walking tours and a full day private excursion and wine tastings through the Douro Valley as well as the dinner and Fado experience deserves a 5 star rating. Would definitely recommend this trip!

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Highlights of Switzerland & Italy by Rail

27/Apr

ROBERT PAUL ROMIG

“Our experience with Highlights of Switzerland and Italy by Rail was excellent! The trip was well-organized, the accommodations met or exceeded our expectations, and we thoroughly enjoyed the excursions and small group tours. A special thanks to the staff of Vacations by Rail staff, including Derek Espinosa, Gwen Freeman, Chrissy Brown, and Jeffrey for their support in making this a memorable experience for us.

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Explore Italy: Pompeii, Capri & the Amalfi Coast

10 Nov 2023

TRACI LARSON

“This was an awesome trip! We enjoyed having the scheduled tours/drivers, but we also enjoyed having time alone to relax or explore on our own. We couldn't ask for a better vacation. I would definitely sign up for another Vacation By Rail tour.

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Top to Toe of Italy

14 Oct 2023

Eloise De Beer

“We had a fabulous Tour Manager in Lydia. She was always available and approachable and friendly to all. We stayed in excellent hotels, tours, and great meals were included. There's only a couple things I'd change. We were too long on the Amalfi Coast, and wished we could spend some time exploring Sorrento on our own. My roommate and I paid for 2 extra nights in the first hotel, in Murano, and you would think at $269 per night, breakfast would be included.

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Highlights of Tuscany

11 Oct 2023

Mary Maki-Rich

“Loved the leader, Gilly. Loved the amount of free time and planned time as well. Perfecto. Loved the food at Ercolini and Savi. Loved that it wasn’t based in Florence. Loved the size of the group.

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Cuisine & Culture: Rome, Florence & Venice

13/May

REBECCa

“We had a great time, we went with the superior upgrade and the hotel choices were good, along with the seating on the train. The guides on the planned excursions were awesome as well. The only complaint I would have would be is the communication when an excursion was cancelled! We spent $50 on an Uber to get to a gondola ride only to be told, “sorry it is cancelled due to the water conditions and we attempted to contact VBR and they did not respond? I understand that due to weather conditions plans change and get cancelled, but VBR did not let us know and we spent time and money to get there and we could have made other plans! Other than than that we had an unforgettable experience.

Collected by Trustpilot

Best of Italy featuring Lake Como & the Amalfi Coast

9/May

MICHAEL JOSEPH JUNGQUIST

“My wife and I had a fantastic time on this two week itinerary. Enough time to see the highlights of Italy without being too stressful. Vacations By Rail provided us with the travel itinerary, quality hotels, and several tours, which took a lot of the stress off us as we traveled to Europe for the 1st time. Some hotels could have been a little nicer, while others were fantastic, particularly in Sorrento and Como. All connections/transfers they set up were right on time or they were waiting for us, and our tour guides in Florence and Capri were the best tour guides we had on the entire trip...better than anyone we booked through Viator. It was also nice to be able to tailor our experience, skipping one tour (and saving money) to apply to something else we preferred, staying an extra night, and upgrading for a couple hundred dollars to business class rail for very comfortable transport. The package is not cheap, but we were very satisfied. Bottom line, if I were to plan this trip again, I would do the exact same thing!

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Lisbon & Douro Cruise

19 Sep 2023

RICHMAN, AL

“The scenery on the cruise was amazing, the boat was nice but rooms were a little small? The food while there was plenty left a lot to be desired. We left the boat to go out to eat once and would have done several more times if there was a restaurant near where we docked.

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Italy, Southern Europe & Mediterranean

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