Danube Express · 12 days · 11 nights
Balkan Explorer: Venice to Istanbul
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Danube Express · 12 days, 11 nights
Sicilian Odyssey: Venice to Taormina
Twelve days from Venice down the length of Italy and across the Strait of Messina by train ferry to Sicily, ending in Taormina.
- VeniceDay 1
- CremonaDay 3
- BolognaDay 4
- RiminiDay 4
- San MarinoDay 4
- PompeiiDay 5
- AlberobelloDay 6
- LecceDay 6
- PalermoDay 7
- AgrigentoDay 8
- RagusaDay 8
- SyracuseDay 9
- CaltagironeDay 9
- Villa Romana del CasaleDay 9
- CataniaDay 10
- TaorminaDay 10
Train stopExcursion by road
Duration12 days
Nights11
RouteVenice → Taormina
Places visited16
From, per personUS$31,669
Overview
Two nights in Venice begin a journey south through Cremona, Bologna and Rimini to Pompeii, Alberobello and Lecce. The train is then shunted onto a ferry across the Strait of Messina for Palermo, Agrigento, Ragusa, Syracuse and Caltagirone, ending beneath Mount Etna in Taormina.
- A private concert in Venice's San Zaccaria church
- The Stradivari Museum in Cremona
- A choice of San Marino or a sports-car factory and museum at Maranello
- A behind-the-scenes tour of Pompeii
- The trulli of Alberobello and baroque Lecce
- Crossing the Strait of Messina with the train on a ferry
- The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
- Mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale
Day by day
Day 1Arrive in VeniceVenice
Two nights at one of the city's five-star hotels begin the journey, with a welcome dinner at the hotel in the evening.
Day 2VeniceVenice
Join a guided walk taking in St Mark's Basilica and the Rialto Market, or spend the day at leisure. In the evening there is a private concert in the church of San Zaccaria followed by dinner in a well-known Venetian restaurant.
Day 3Venice → CremonaOn board the Danube Express
A private boat carries you along the Grand Canal to Santa Lucia station to board the train. In Cremona you explore the medieval piazza and take a private tour of the Stradivari Museum, then enjoy a welcome dinner on board as the train heads south.
Day 4Bologna, Rimini & San MarinoOn board the Danube Express
Breakfast on board brings you to Bologna for a guided tour of its university, towers and porticoes and a drink atop the Torre di Prendiparte. From Rimini, choose a visit to a famous sports-car factory and museum at Maranello, or San Marino's UNESCO-listed old town on Mount Titano.
Day 5PompeiiOn board the Danube Express
A behind-the-scenes tour of Pompeii shows how conservation protects the buried Roman town. You then visit a family vineyard on the slopes of Vesuvius for a tasting of wines and local specialities.
Day 6Alberobello & LecceOn board the Danube Express
A guided tour of Alberobello's trulli houses includes a tasting of local wine or olive oil. In the afternoon you explore baroque Lecce and its churches, then the train continues through the Cilento National Park towards the toe of Italy.
Day 7Strait of Messina & PalermoOn board the Danube Express
Early in the morning the train is divided and rolled onto a ferry across the Strait of Messina; stay aboard or watch from the top deck. In Palermo a walking tour ends with an aperitif and concert at the Teatro Massimo, and the afternoon offers Corleone's Anti-Mafia Museum or Monreale Cathedral's golden mosaics.
Day 8Agrigento & RagusaOn board the Danube Express
A private guided tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. In the afternoon you continue to baroque Ragusa for a hands-on Sicilian cooking demonstration.
Day 9Syracuse & CaltagironeOn board the Danube Express
A boat tour circles the island of Ortigia in Syracuse. After lunch on board you visit a ceramics workshop in hilltop Caltagirone and the mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale.
Day 10Catania & Taormina
After breakfast on board, explore Catania at your own pace, then join a Sicilian pastry class, possibly at Palazzo Biscari with the palace's owner. The train then makes its final run to Taormina.
Day 11TaorminaTaormina
A volcanologist guides a private visit to the Mount Etna museum, followed by lunch and a wine tasting at a traditional palmento on Etna's slopes. Free time in Taormina's medieval streets and Greek Theatre is followed by a farewell dinner with champagne.
Day 12Depart Taormina
After breakfast at the hotel you are transferred to the airport, or you can extend your stay in Taormina.
Where you spend each night
- Night 1Venice
- Night 2Venice
- Night 3On board the Danube Express
- Night 4On board the Danube Express
- Night 5On board the Danube Express
- Night 6On board the Danube Express
- Night 7On board the Danube Express
- Night 8On board the Danube Express
- Night 9On board the Danube Express
- Night 11Taormina
The map is schematic. Dashed lines are excursions by road.
Most spacious
Superior Deluxe Class
12 cabins per departure · 8.6 m²
- King-size bed made up each evening
- Full-length sofa and two chairs for daytime
- Two large picture windows, one that opens
- En-suite shower room with WC (1.9 m²)
- Double wardrobe, safe, Wi-Fi and USB ports
Classic
Deluxe Class
5 cabins per carriage · 7.74 m²
- Two lower beds made up during dinner
- Two armchairs and a free-standing chair
- Large picture window that opens partially
- En-suite shower, washbasin and WC, heated towel rail
- Toiletries, dressing gown and hairdryer provided
Every cabin has its own private shower room, individually controlled air-conditioning and a dedicated cabin attendant.
- Five-star hotel nights in Venice and Taormina
- Private en-suite cabin on the Danube Express
- Cabin attendant service with evening turndown
- An experienced tour management team throughout
- A UK-registered doctor and medical facilities on board
- Arrival and departure transfers
- All gratuities, on and off the train
- Luggage porterage throughout the journey
- Freshly prepared meals on board plus dining in local restaurants
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks included
- Expertly guided off-train excursions as described in the itinerary
- Freedom of Choice touring options on selected days
- Deposit
- 30% of the total at booking
- Final payment
- 125 days before departure
Dates and prices
Live availability. Choose a cabin type, then select Book Now to reserve online, or Join waitlist on sold-out dates.
Deluxe Class
August 29, 2027
US$ 31,669.00 pp dbl
August 29, 2027
US$ 53,235.00 pp sgl
Superior Deluxe Class
August 29, 2027
US$ 39,614.00 pp dbl
August 29, 2027
US$ 66,402.00 pp sgl
Join the waitlist
This departure is currently sold out. Leave your details and we will contact you the moment a cabin becomes available.
Questions about this journey
How does the train get to Sicily?
Early on Day 7 the train is split and rolled onto a ferry to cross the Strait of Messina, then reassembled on the other side. You can stay on board for the crossing or go up to the ferry's top deck.
Is there a choice of excursions?
Yes. From Rimini you choose between a sports-car factory and museum at Maranello or the old town of San Marino, and in Palermo between Corleone's Anti-Mafia Museum and Monreale Cathedral. In Venice you can join the guided walk or spend the day at leisure.
Which UNESCO sites are included?
They include Venice and its lagoon, San Marino's old town, Alberobello's trulli and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Pompeii and the Villa Romana del Casale are also visited. Guided tours are included at each site.
Are there food and wine experiences?
Several: a vineyard tasting on Vesuvius, an olive oil or wine tasting in Alberobello, a cooking demonstration in Ragusa, a pastry class in Catania, and lunch with wine tasting on the slopes of Etna. Meals on board draw on the regions the train passes through.
Where does the journey end?
It ends in Taormina, overlooking the Gulf of Naxos and Mount Etna, with a farewell dinner on the last evening. An airport transfer follows breakfast the next morning.
What does it cost and when does it run?
Fares depend on the cabin class you choose and whether you travel as a couple or alone. Live dates and fares are shown on this page, and our reservations team can help on (866) 484-7882.
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