Days 1–4 · 4 nights
Paris →
A grand beginning beside the Seine
Transfer to your Paris hotel. Keep the first evening close to your base and save ambitious sightseeing for after a night’s sleep.
France · Switzerland · Austria · Italy
Europe by train: Paris to Rome
Four countries. Seven memorable stops. A journey to savour.
Begin beside the Seine and finish among the streets of Rome. Between them: Strasbourg’s waterways, a Swiss lake, an Alpine crossing and the extraordinary arrival into Venice.
This 21-day Europe rail itinerary is built for independent travellers, with twenty nights in seven bases and six main intercity travel days. It is a route you assemble with regular trains, not one continuous luxury train or an escorted package.
Follow the day-by-day journey →Plan tickets & reservations →
21 daysIncluding arrival and departure
20 nightsSeven comfortable pauses
4 countriesFrance, Switzerland, Austria, Italy
6 rail legsPlus local and airport transport
- Paris4 nights
- Strasbourg2 nights
- Lucerne3 nights
- Innsbruck2 nights
- Venice3 nights
- Florence3 nights
- Rome3 nights
Your Europe railway route map
Markers identify the main stations at each overnight base. The line shows the order of travel, not the exact railway alignment. Use the operator links for actual services.
- Paris Gare de l’Est, France ↗ — 4 nights
- Strasbourg railway station, France ↗ — 2 nights
- Luzern railway station, Switzerland ↗ — 3 nights
- Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, Austria ↗ — 2 nights
- Venezia Santa Lucia railway station, Italy ↗ — 3 nights
- Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station, Italy ↗ — 3 nights
- Roma Termini railway station, Italy ↗ — 3 nights
The journey at a glance
Days 5–6 · 2 nights
Strasbourg →
Half-timbered lanes and a slower Alsatian evening
Take a reserved TGV from Paris Est. Check in, then enjoy Petite France and an unhurried Alsatian dinner.
Days 7–9 · 3 nights
Lucerne →
A lake, a wooden bridge and mountains on the horizon
Change at Basel SBB on a checked connection. Leave time to find the platform; after arrival, walk the waterfront and Reuss.
Days 10–11 · 2 nights
Innsbruck →
The Alps become part of the journey
Connect through Zürich and follow the booked service into Austria. Settle in, then take a short old-town walk if arrival time permits.
Days 12–14 · 3 nights
Venice →
Step off the train and meet the Grand Canal
Travel south over the Brenner corridor, changing if required. Arrive at Santa Lucia and follow your pre-planned hotel transfer.
Days 15–17 · 3 nights
Florence →
Art, stone and evenings beside the Arno
Take a reserved high-speed service to Firenze SMN. Leave the bags and spend the afternoon getting your bearings around the cathedral and river.
Days 18–20 · depart day 21 · 3 nights
Rome →
A final chapter with centuries underfoot
Arrive at Roma Termini, check in and take a relaxed introduction to the city. Avoid a tightly timed attraction immediately after the train.
Start in Paris. Fly home from Rome.
Compare an open-jaw flight with a same-city return before booking. This itinerary does not include a journey back to Paris. Day 1 is your arrival day; day 21 is departure. The overnight arithmetic is 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 20.
Know each railway connection
| Journey | When & planning time | Before you book |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Est → Strasbourg | Day 5 TGV; often around 1¾–2 hours on the faster direct services. | Reserve the exact train. Paris has several mainline stations; the departure here is Gare de l’Est. Check with the operator ↗ |
| Strasbourg → Luzern | Day 7 Typically via Basel SBB; allow roughly 3 hours, depending on connections. | Choose a comfortable Basel interchange and check whether your ticket is for a specific departure. Check with the operator ↗ |
| Luzern → Innsbruck Hbf | Day 10 Via Zürich; treat this as a substantial half-day journey. | Check engineering work before booking. Route, changes and travel time can differ from the usual Railjet journey. Check with the operator ↗ |
| Innsbruck Hbf → Venezia Santa Lucia | Day 12 Via the Brenner corridor and Verona; set aside much of the day. | Select Santa Lucia for Venice’s island city. Your chosen departure may require a change. Check with the operator ↗ |
| Venezia Santa Lucia → Firenze SMN | Day 15 High-speed rail; a relatively short intercity travel day. | Book the central Florence station and check the service’s seat and baggage conditions. Check with the operator ↗ |
| Firenze SMN → Roma Termini | Day 18 Fast services take about 1½ hours; check the selected train. | Allow time at both ends for reaching the hotel; station-to-station time is not door-to-door time. Check with the operator ↗ |
Times are rounded planning guidance, not a timetable. Add hotel transfers, station time and comfortable connections. Engineering works may alter the Alpine legs.
Make the holiday fit your interests.
Choose this journey if you enjoy changing cultures as much as changing landscapes. It mixes city sightseeing with scenic rail sections and gives you full days between most moves. If you prefer a very slow pace, remove a destination and rebuild the connections; if you have longer, add nights before adding more countries.
Read the complete rail-planning guide →Preview the train rides on video →