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The Italian Riviera & Portofino

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20232024
9 days From £1,399 £1,349 per person
4.0 stars(190 reviews)
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Discover picture-perfect colourful villages and laid-back seafront towns on one of the most beautiful stretches of Italy’s coastline

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Save up to £100pp on selected Europe 2024 holidays when you book by 31st October 2023.

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Book your Europe or British Isles holiday by midnight Wed 18th October and be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a free Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens river cruise for two, with our sister company Great Rail journeys.

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Mobility Rating 3

2024 Tour code: 24DMS

About the tour

Explore the delightful Italian Riviera from your base in Chiavari and view the colourful cliffside Cinque Terre villages on a cruise.

Relax as you sail to glitzy Portofino, a popular village set within a natural harbour, before uncovering San Fruttuoso abbey, located on a beach in a peaceful cove.

Delve into the history of Genoa, the former city republic that once ruled this stretch of coast, famed for its delicious pesto and connections to explorer Christopher Columbus.

Unforgettable Experiences

Uncover the colourful villages of the Cinque Terre
Uncover the colourful villages of the Cinque Terre
Experience these beautiful cliffside villages as you travel by rail to Riomaggiore before sailing to Vernazza and Monterosso, witnessing breathtaking views of these spectacular villages from the sea.
Enjoy a scenic cruise to gorgeous Portofino
Enjoy a scenic cruise to gorgeous Portofino
Take a boat ride to the pretty village, set in a picturesque natural harbour, that is regularly considered one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
Sail to serene San Fruttuoso
Sail to serene San Fruttuoso
Journey to the remarkable San Fruttuoso abbey that stands on a beach in a gorgeous cove that is only accessible by boat or on foot.
Discover the historic port city of Genoa
Discover the historic port city of Genoa
Visit the region’s largest and historically most important city, a place of remarkable architecture that was the former home of explorer Christopher Columbus.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London to Turin

Your holiday begins as you meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London St Pancras International, where you board the Eurostar service to Paris. In the French capital, you change trains and continue to Turin for one night.

This northern Italian city is nestled at the foothills of the Alps and is a showcase of Baroque, Renaissance and modern architecture. Your group gets to know one another better as you enjoy a three-course meal tonight.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Arrival in Chiavari

You have free time to explore vibrant Turin this morning. You could visit the grand Piazza San Carlo, stroll along the wonderful arcaded streets, or take in the impressive National Museum of Cinema, the Mole Antonelliana.

In the mid-afternoon, you continue your journey to the Italian Riviera by rail. From Genoa, the route enjoys excellent views as it clings to the coast, serving up a tantalising taste of the delights that await you in this beautiful region.

On arrival in Chiavari, you check into your hotel in the historic centre of this picturesque town. Ideally situated on the Italian Riviera, Chiavari's charming palm-lined promenade provides excellent views of the Ligurian Sea, while the inland hills are dotted with olive groves. You enjoy dinner at your hotel with the rest of your group this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Free day to explore Chiavari

You can familiarise yourself with your new surroundings today as you have a full day at leisure. You could visit Chiavari's Cathedral of Our Lady dell'Orto. Built between 1613 and 1633, this magnificent cathedral houses many exquisite paintings, frescoes and other valuable artworks dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Perhaps you would prefer to wander down to the beautiful harbour, framed by townhouses and filled with colourful fishing boats, where you'll find cafés offering excellent Italian cuisine. Another option is to relax on the beach or stroll through the historic centre's sheltered medieval streets.

If you would like to head further afield, Chiavari is located on the rail line that links the towns of the Italian Riviera. Camogli's pastel-coloured buildings of every hue from yellow to red overlook a bay and a harbour either side of a 12th-century church. A warren of narrow alleyways and broad, tunnelled arcades connect the harbourside to the beach. Camogli - the 'city of a thousand white sailing ships' - is an unspoilt delight, with large waterfront piazzas and a real sense of connection to the water.

Alternatively, the attractive nearby town of Rapallo has plenty of attractions. You could take the cable car up Montallegro for spectacular views across the town and sea, while the restaurants and bars of the harbour area teem with life. You are free to enjoy dinner by yourself today, so you could watch the world go by over a glass of local wine or sample Ligurian food, including the famous 'buridda' seafood stew that originates from this region.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Cruising the beautiful Cinque Terre villages

Today is a highlight of your holiday as you explore three of the colourful Cinque Terre villages. Riomaggiore, the southernmost of these stunning villages, is your first destination. Tall, multi-coloured buildings sweep down a steep hill to a small harbour overlooking the bay. High above the village are stepped terraces of olive groves and vines. There is free time to explore the car-free streets and piazzas before heading to the ferry for a boat to the next location. You get to experience the beauty of Riomaggiore from the sea as you sail to Vernazza, passing Manarola and the clifftop Corniglia on the way.

You disembark at Vernazza's waterfront piazza to stroll around a lovely town of cobbled streets lined by quaint cafes where you could grab a spot of lunch. With free time to yourselves, wandering the narrow side streets (which the Genoese call 'caruggi') is the best way to experience this traditional and pretty fishing village.

Larger than its near neighbours, your final port of call is Monterosso, where a spacious piazza leads to bustling streets alive with restaurants and bars. You have time to explore this town known for its lemon trees and sandy beach, before returning to Chiavari by rail and enjoying dinner at your hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Sailing to shimmering Portofino

You take a scenic cruise to picture-perfect Portofino today, regarded as one of the most beautiful places on the Mediterranean. This old fishing village is set in a secluded natural harbour of small fishing boats and impressive yachts. Here, you can find buildings painted terracotta, peach and yellow, and many restaurants, bars and gelaterias. You have free time over lunch to explore this graceful town overlooked by Castello Brown and two churches, including the striped façade of the Romanesque Chiesa del Divo Martino.

Afterwards, you sail around the headland to San Fruttuoso. This gorgeous cove is only accessible by foot or boat and is dominated by a 10th-century Benedictine abbey that sits on the small pebble beach. The complex also contains 12th-century cloisters and many religious relics. Submerged in the bay is the underwater statue of 'Christ in the Abyss', which is said to protect local sailors in the surrounding waters. You have free time in San Fruttuoso before returning to Chiavari, where you have dinner at the hotel.

If weather conditions mean the boat can't land at San Fruttuoso, you'll land at Santa Margherita instead, a tranquil, picture-perfect village bursting with old-fashioned Italian charm.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Discovering the Riviera at your own pace

A free day today gives you an opportunity to explore the beautiful Italian Riviera independently. You may wish to catch the train back to the Cinque Terre towns of Manarola and Corniglia. Facing each other across a bay, these villages have very differing characters. Manarola is famed for its sweet wine Sciacchetrà, while its colourful buildings drape over the cliff and through a winding valley. Corniglia is the only one of the five villages to not have access from the sea and sits high on a rocky outcrop. From the station, it can be reached via nearly 400 steps, although a small bus does run occasionally.

You could also visit Sestri Levante, a laid-back coastal town sat between two bays. Its charming old town brims with colourful buildings and Baroque palazzos. The Bay of Fairytales is named for Hans Christian Andersen who once lived in Sestri. With its port, beaches and shops, this is the liveliest part of town. On the other side of the old town is the Bay of Silence, also known as Portobello. This is considered one of the best sandy beaches in Italy and is a wonderful spot for a stroll or to relax watching the small boats bobbing gently in the harbour. For dinner tonight, you could opt for one of the town's excellent restaurants and look to sample the simple anchovy dish of 'bagnun' which reportedly hails from Sestri Levante.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 - Tour of historic Genoa

Today you take the train to Liguria's capital, Genoa. An enjoyable journey along the riviera coast with the sea never far from view gets your group straight to the heart of this ancient port, one of Italy's great cities.

The group joins a knowledgeable guide for a walking tour of the old town that includes the Doge's Palace, an impressive Renaissance building built in 1298, and explains why Genoa has earned the nickname 'La Superba'. As the former home of explorer Christopher Columbus, Genoa has always looked towards the sea for its wealth and influence, and the city now contains a treasure trove of history, art and grand palaces. After your tour, you have free time to admire the city's fine museums and galleries, the magnificent cathedral, ancient churches and impressive harbour.

You return to Chiavari in the evening, where you group enjoys your final dinner together on the Italian Riviera.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - From the Italian to the French Riviera

You leave Chiavari and the Italian Riviera this morning by train, the route of which takes you all the way round the arch of the Ligurian Sea to Ventimiglia. The route is rarely far from the sea and passes pretty seaside towns along the way.

From Ventimiglia, you continue by coach into France, and make your way to the Côte d'Azur resort of St-Raphaël, where you check in to your hotel overlooking the marina and have a three-course dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Homeward bound

Leaving St-Raphaël in the morning, you board the train and journey through France, saying goodbye to the coast on the way to Paris. Transferring to the Eurostar in the French capital for the final leg of your journey, you can look back on your time among the jaw-dropping villages and towns of the Italian Riviera, the glistening sea and laid-back charm of that serene region.

Arriving back at London St Pancras International in the evening, you bid farewell to your Tour Manager and fellow travelling companions, knowing that the unforgettable experiences you enjoyed on the adventure will remain.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We will write to you around 10 weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for your tour group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Hotel Monte Rosa

Hotel Monte Rosa, Chiavari

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Stella del Mare, Chiavari

Stella del Mare, Chiavari

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Trains

Eurostar
The TGV

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Upgrades

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UK rail connections
London hotels
Upgrade your room at the Hotel Monte Rosa
Luggage Service

Reviews

4.0 stars4.0 / 5 · 190 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (74)
  2. 4 stars
    (67)
  3. 3 stars
    (31)
  4. 2 stars
    (10)
  5. 1 star
    (8)

PeterM

3 stars

Submitted 16/Sep

Nice idea; bit too busy.

Collected by Trustpilot

Jacqueline Pearce

5 stars

Submitted 16/Sep

Beautiful scenery

Collected by Trustpilot

Jill Wightman

5 stars

Submitted 15/Sep

A well organised tour and our group were very friendly and our Tour Manager Claire was lovely,kind and very helpful and did a grand job. More walking than I imagined and steps both on to the trains and coaches were very high,which made it difficult,luckily lots of nice people to help!

Collected by Trustpilot

Irene Davies

5 stars

Submitted 15/Sep

Fantastic holiday with a lovely group of people. Well organised by Claire our tour manager from start to finish. All hotels were to a high standard serving really good food. Whilst we were kept busy most days with excursions, the days out were interesting even if some days it was tiring. We would recommend rail discoveries and certainly book again. Only slight downside was a group size of 39 was too large really to get to know everyone and sometimes did cause issues getting us all on or off the the many trains at the right stop/time. Overall excellent value for money.

Collected by Trustpilot

Eve Govier

5 stars

Submitted 11/Sep

Great trip organised really well. Would use them again

Collected by Trustpilot

C Bursnell

5 stars

Submitted 10/Sep

Well run, friendly service, good hotels

Collected by Trustpilot

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