The 15 Best Train Experiences in Italy

1.Bernina Red Train, Swiss Alps & St Moritz From Milan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,954 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $168Our pick

Travel from Milan to St. Moritz by air-conditioned coach, pause near Lake Como, then ride the second-class Bernina Red Train through the Alps to Tirano. Guides such as Sabrina, Monica, Barbara, and Maria Cristina provide commentary, while you enjoy free time in St. Moritz and return to Milan by coach.

“Very good tour with Sabrina. Highly recommend and will likely book again in summer for a completely different experience!”

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2.Swiss Alps Bernina Red Train and St.Moritz Tour from Milan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,369 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $179

Travel from Milan by coach to St. Moritz, then ride second-class on the Bernina Red Train through the Bernina Pass to Tirano. Guides such as Sara, Anna, Angelo, and Simone have led this route. Expect open train windows, glacier views, free time in St. Moritz, and a very long day.

“Very long day but beautiful even on a rainy day. You can see lake Como on the way. The train ride is fantastic. Two types of trains, one is older but has the ability to lower the window. The more modern experience has wrap over windows but cannot open. This makes a difference due to window distortion for photos, especially due to rain or window smudging. Our guide was a smoker and had a very gruff voice that was many times incomprehensible. We missed much of what he was saying and it dampened the experience!”

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3.Skip-the-Line Pompeii Express Tour by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,038 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

Meet Amelia at Sorrento Station, ride the local train to Pompeii Scavi, and explore the ruins with an English-speaking guide such as Gino, Mena, Roberta, or Carlos. The two-hour tour covers major sights, then you may stay longer using your all-day return ticket.

“We loved our tour through Pompeii. It was easy to find our guide and Gino was just the best! We learned so much and his stories are really entertaining! Would really recommend this tour as you learn so much more with a guide than just walking around yourself. Our son Yannik made a friend for life in Gino. Thank you!”

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4.Rome to Pompeii Guided Tour with Wine & Lunch by High Speed Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,379 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $239

Travel from Rome to Pompeii on a high-speed train, meet your local guide in Naples, and explore the ancient city for about two hours. Afterward, visit a winery on Mount Vesuvius for five to six wine tastings, antipasti, pasta, and dessert. Groups can reach 20 people.

“Easy day trip from Rome. Great way to break up the days of your visit. Travel guides were friendly and informative.”

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5.Small-Group Lake Como & Lugano by Swiss Train + Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,084 reviews · 9 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $168

Travel from Milan to Como and Lugano with an English-speaking guide and a group capped at 12 people. You’ll cruise Lake Como past famous villas, explore Como and Torno, ride the Lugano funicular, and have free time for lunch, shopping, and Swiss chocolate.

“Our tour guide Micky was fabulous! We covered a lot of ground in a relatively small amount of time, with great narrative. Easy train to Como, nice walk around followed by boat trip on Lake Como and stop at quaint village of Torno. Back to Como for lunch/shopping on our own. Then train to Lugano and quick tour with Micky, allowing time on our own for shopping (chocolate for us) and/or stop for a glass of wine. Very nice day tour with plenty of time to enjoy the ambiance of the places visited.”

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6.Shore Excursion to Cinque Terre by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 959 reviews · 7 hours · from $70

Spend seven hours exploring Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso by train from La Spezia. An English or Spanish-speaking leader handles train connections, points out photo spots, and helps you make the most of limited shore-excursion time. Expect lots of walking and little time to linger.

“Katerina was a great guide. Very friendly and helpful.”

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7.Guided tour of Pompeii skip-the-line and round-trip train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 811 reviews · 1 day · from $49

Travel from Napoli Centrale to Pompeii by train, then spend two hours with a live guide among temples, theaters, frescoes, baths, and preserved Roman streets. Guides including Maria, Anna, and Bernadetta have earned strong praise. Expect an easy plan, but crowded trains and limited free time can affect the day.

“Great information from tour guide. Return train ticket was booked on wrong time to return on time for cruise departure”

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8.Intimate Small-Group Bernina UNESCO Scenic Train on Swiss Alps

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 619 reviews · 12 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $211

Travel from Milan to Lake Como, Tirano, and St. Moritz on a 12-hour-45-minute small-group trip capped at 18 people. Your English-speaking guide, such as Luca, Silvia, or Paola, handles the connections while you ride the Bernina railway through glaciers, bridges, and Swiss Alpine scenery.

“Went on this tour with my husband. We started in Milan. Luca (our guide) was very informative, very funny, and took care of us very well. He made sure everyone got a chance to take photos,videos, and made sure we don't miss all the important stops. He made sure to make reservations for us in case it was too busy that day and we might not have a table to eat. Me and my husband had a great time on this trip. This is our first group tour (we usually move fast and do our own thing) and we are glad that we had a great time. From seeing the…”

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9.Ancient Ostia Antica Semi-Private Day Trip from Rome by Train with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 579 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

Take the train from Rome’s Piramide area to Ostia Antica for a 2.5-hour guided walk through an ancient port city. See the Decumanus Maximus, Baths of Neptune, amphitheater, shops, homes, and baths. Groups are capped at 12, with guides such as Alberto, Laura, Rob, and Barbara.

“Alberto gives a good tour balancing the interests of casual and more serious visitors. This area is amazing and deserves for visitors and interest. The city once had 55000 inhabitants. You learn about how real people lived, not just gladiators and gods like in Rome attractions”

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10.Ostia Antica Guided Half-Day Trip by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 486 reviews · 4 hours · from $58

Take a 15-minute train from Rome to Ostia Antica with an English-speaking guide and a group of up to 12. Spend three hours among taverns, baths, warehouses, mosaics, public toilets, and an amphitheater, then stay for the museum, modern Ostia, or the beach.

“Cat was an awesome guide. She was informative, great at answering questions and conducted the tour at just the right pace. She really brought to life what a Roman Port city would have been like.”

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11.Pompeii Tour with Wine and Lunch by High Speed Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 485 reviews · from $239

Travel from Rome to Pompeii with an English-speaking guide, high-speed rail, and an air-conditioned shuttle. Explore the ruins for 2.5 hours, then taste four wines from volcanic soil and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch with antipasti, a first course, and dessert. Guides may include Antonio, Felicia, or Vincenzo.

“Family of four, we had a fantastic trip and the day was really well organised. From meeting point at the terminal ensuring we got on the right train to waiting at Naples too, the logistics being one less thing to worry about. Pompeii is a must see! High speed train journey was fun and hassle free! Our guide was wonderful! Highly recommended!”

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12.Conti Vecchi Salt Flats Train and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 484 reviews · 2 hours · from $14Best value

Ride a small train through the Conti Vecchi saltworks in Cagliari’s Santa Gilla Basin. Visit the museum, old salt-worker buildings, workshop, and lab, then watch for flamingos and white salt mountains. The live guide speaks Italian, while a documentary has English subtitles.

“very interesting and informative. great experience. lovely staff and super friendly (demanding cuddles) cat”

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13.Day Trip to Venice by High-Speed Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 352 reviews · from $309

Meet your English- or Spanish-speaking leader at Rome Termini, ride four hours to Venice, take a one-way Vaporetto, and follow a guided route to St. Mark’s Square and the Bridge of Sighs. You then get 4.75 hours free before cicchetti and a Spritz near Santa Lucia Station.

“The tour would improve if we could enter into the saint mark cathedral including the ticket in the full tour”

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14.Caserta Palace Ticket and Train with Audioguide

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 348 reviews · from $39

Travel from Napoli Centrale to Caserta with the optional train ticket, then explore the palace apartments and 120-hectare park at your own pace. A smart audio guide is available in four languages, but download it before arrival because Wi-Fi and mobile coverage can be unreliable.

“Great combo for a morning/afternoon visit to such a photogenic (and cinematic) location in Campania. inStazione provided detailed communication and clear instructions along with train and entry ticket downloads via WhatsApp. They also provided the option of downloading apps for audio guides although I preferred to make use of the attraction's own audio guide option (similarly priced). Caserta is one amazing location to experience inside and out, from its expansive gardens to its beautiful royal apartments. I came to this location with a one-track mind as I mainly wanted to witness the staircase and central hall used as interiors for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which doubled…”

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15.Tour Bernina Red Train And St Moritz from Milan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 247 reviews · from $142

Travel from Milan by air-conditioned coach to Tirano, then cross the Swiss Alps by second-class Bernina Red Train to St. Moritz. A bilingual English and Spanish guide, headsets, free time, and an optional Lake Como cruise are included. Bring a passport and warm clothing.

“Amazing, spectacular scenery all throughout the journey. Long day but worth it. Awesome winter trip.”

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