CUSTOM Venice Simplon-Orient Express From Paris To Venice And Rome

Your vacation begins in Paris, where you'll check in at your hotel for a two-night stay. Settle in to your comfortable accommodations before heading out to explore the romantic "City of Light." You might like to indulge in a bit of shopping along the famed Champs-Elysées or find a traditional Parisian bistro to enjoy dinner.

After breakfast at your hotel, spend a full day discovering the wonders of Paris at leisure. Explore famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral or jump on a sightseeing cruise down the Seine River to see world-famous monuments from the water. In the evening, enjoy a riotous evening of music and color at the legendary Moulin Rouge.

Board the gleaming blue and gold carriages of the Continental Wagons-Lits today, where your steward will show you to your compartment. After you have settled into your comfortable quarters, it will soon be time to dress for dinner. Visit the famous bar car for an Agatha Christie Bellini before moving on to one of the magnificent restaurant cars, where you will be served a delicious four-course meal. After dinner, return to the bar car, where the sound of a baby Grand Piano will serenade you throughout the evening. Retire to your compartment for the night, which will now have been transformed into a cozy bedroom by your steward.

Awake to the magnificent scenery of the Swiss Alps as a delicious continental breakfast is served in your compartment. Relax as the scenery rolls by or take a trip to the bar car for a coffee. At lunchtime, enjoy a leisurely three-course meal served in another one of the beautiful restaurant cars. Make a visit to the onboard boutique to purchase souvenirs or return to your compartment as the train travels through the Italian Dolomites. Later, your steward will bring a sumptuous afternoon tea. Prepare to disembark in the early evening as the train crosses the Venetian Lagoon and arrives at Santa Lucia station. Upon arrival in Venice, check in at your hotel for a two-night stay.

Start today with a short walking tour with a local guide for some stories of the city's labyrinthine streets and campos (squares), then enjoy a gondola ride down the Grand Canal. A visit to Venice is not complete without a ride on a gondola, a mode of transport that has been in existence in Venice for over 1000 years! Soak up the vibrant atmosphere in St. Mark's Square, while marveling at the beautiful mosaics that adorn the Basilica and maybe visit the Doge's Palace, with its origins dating back to the 14th-century. It is advisable to take a tour of this important Venetian landmark to fully understand its extensive history.

After breakfast, sit back and relax on your rail journey to Rome. Pass quaint Italian villages and rolling fields before arriving at Rome Termini. On arrival in Rome, check in at your hotel for two-night stay. Discover the Eternal City at your own pace. From the striking walls of the Colosseum to the sacred Vatican City, Rome is the largest open-air museum in the world. Stop for an ice-cream on the steps of the Trevi fountain or wait until dinner to enjoy a proper Roman pizza in one of the countless trattorias. (Overnight in Rome)

It's an early start today, but all is worth it as you explore the wonders of the Vatican museums and the incredible Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo before the crowds arrive. Then in the afternoon perhaps walk in the footsteps of the gladiators at the imposing Colosseum and walk in the footsteps of Cesar around the Forum. Why not mix art and nature at the lush Villa Borghese gardens or take a well-earned break with a glass of wine on the Piazza Navona and reminisce on your fantastic vacation.

After a final breakfast at your hotel this morning, check out and continue with your onward journey. Speak to one of our knowledgeable Rail Vacation experts if you'd like to extend your vacation, perhaps traveling by rail south through Italy to Naples and the Italian Riviera.