This festive vacation combines two of Europe’s most delightful destinations – Lake Garda, where we spend Christmas, and charming Innsbruck, a seasonal favorite

Your seasonal journey begins this morning as you meet the Tour Manager and your travel group at London St. Pancras. Together, we join the Eurostar, traveling in Plus class and enjoying a light meal at our seats en route to Paris. In the French capital, we change trains and join the First Class service to Turin. This scenic journey passes the Alps as we travel in comfort to the Italian city of Turin.

The city has a dignified ambiance and an artistic, cultural and epicurean heritage. On arrival, a transfer takes us to our hotel, where we check in for an overnight stay. We conclude our day as we sit down to the first dinner of our vacation at the hotel's restaurant. Overnight Turin.

After breakfast at our hotel, we have a full morning to explore Turin at leisure. While this city is an important center of business, finance and technology, it also boasts an array of Baroque, Renaissance and modern architecture.

Fringed by the Italian Alps, the city's wide boulevards and grand public squares are lined with enticing cafés and bars. Our hotel, the NH Lingotto Congress, has a surprising history that reflects the city's heritage as it is housed in the old Fiat factory and still has the Fiat test track on its roof.

In the afternoon, we transfer to the rail station and continue our journey through northern Italy, passing Milan on our way to Peschiera del Garda. From here, we continue by coach to Bardolino on beautiful Lake Garda, where we check into our four-star lakefront hotel for five nights. We are welcomed with a glass of prosecco before sitting down to a three-course dinner. Overnight Bardolino.

On Christmas Eve morning, we travel by coach to the enchanting lakeside town of Sirmione, where you are at leisure to look around. Located at the southern end of Lake Garda, this medieval town is a real pleasure to discover, bursting with history and charm. Visitors enter Sirmione via a drawbridge over a water-filled moat, which surrounds the imposing Rocca Scaligera, a preserved 13th-century castle.

You may like to visit the castle for a view from its ramparts or stroll through the old quarter, maybe stopping for coffee, a glass of wine or a light lunch at one of the character-filled cafés or trattorias. Alternatively, you could visit the Grotte di Catullo, the remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Italy.

We return to our hotel in Bardolino in the afternoon, where there is time to relax and enjoy the superb facilities before we celebrate Christmas Eve with a gala dinner at our hotel this evening. Overnight Bardolino.

Christmas Day is a time for relaxation and celebration, and after breakfast at our hotel, the morning is free to enjoy as you wish. You may decide to take a short walk beside Lake Garda, close to our hotel. A gentle stroll could take you to the small nearby village of Cisano, where pastel-colored buildings gather around a small square on the lakefront. Alternatively, visit the center of beautiful Bardolino, where grand, tiled avenues open to incredible views of Lake Garda.

For the ultimate in relaxation, our spa hotel offers excellent facilities, including thermal baths, swimming pools, a sauna and a beauty spa. In the early afternoon, we gather to celebrate Christmas with a festive lunch. You then have the option of a laid-back afternoon before this evening's festivities begin.

A three-course dinner tonight leads into an evening of live music as we get into the Christmas spirit in our wonderful surroundings. Overnight Bardolino.

After a leisurely breakfast, we set out on a delightful excursion, traveling by coach into the Franciacorta wine region.

With mild weather and mineral-rich soil, this region in the southern foothills of the Alps is particularly suited for winemaking. In recent decades, Franciacorta has become known for producing excellent sparkling wines using the traditional method - the same process used to make Champagne. On arrival, we visit a local winery for a guided tour to introduce us to the production process, and after, we enjoy an expert-led tasting of the vineyard's vintages accompanied by local specialties.

On our return to the hotel this afternoon, tea, coffee and a selection of small pastries and cakes await, then there is time to relax and refresh before sitting down to a gala dinner this evening. Overnight Bardolino.

This morning brings yet another highlight of your festive vacation. After breakfast, we take a train to the floating city of Venice. On arrival, a private boat transfer takes us straight to the heart of Venice, St. Mark's Square, for a guided walking tour of the city's attractions, including the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge.

With some free time after our tour, you could take a traditional gondola ride through the winding network of canals or catch a water taxi to the island of Murano, famed for its age-old glass-blowing techniques. Alternatively, simply walk beside the enchanting waterways, over tiny arched bridges and past Venetian palaces, soaking up the unique atmosphere of this timeless city. You could also warm up in a cozy café overlooking St. Mark's Square with a cup of delicious cioccolata calda.

A private boat transfer takes us back to the station to board our train, and we make the return journey to Lake Garda, where we enjoy a three-course dinner at our Bardolino hotel this evening. Overnight Bardolino.

Leaving Lake Garda behind after breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to Verona, where we enjoy a guided tour of a city filled with Roman ruins, medieval buildings, Italian culture and romance - perhaps most famous as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city center, we visit Juliet's iconic balcony and the impressive Roman arena, an open-air venue still used for performances today. After our tour, you might like to indulge in lunch in one of the many restaurants around Piazza Brà, Verona's main square.

In mid-afternoon, we board the train for a journey to Innsbruck in Austria. This spectacular route through the Alps reveals magical wintry scenes as we leave Italy by way of the Brenner Pass.

Our hotel in the Old Town of Innsbruck has outstanding views of the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps. We check in for five nights and sit down for a three-course dinner this evening. Overnight Innsbruck.

Traveling on the Zillertalbahn today, we set out on an atmospheric journey through the Zillertal Valley. The railway's distinctive red engine stands out against the snow-clad landscapes, and we marvel at sights such as the rushing Ziller River, enchanting Tyrolean towns that appear as if from a Christmas card, and meadows blanketed in thick, fresh snow.

We arrive in the pretty town of Mayrhofen, twinkling with festive lights, where there is time at leisure. You could choose to ride to the summit of Penken Mountain via a gondola cable car, wander the cobbled streets or visit the Ahorn Eagle's Stage, an observation point for alpine birds of prey with a backdrop of the impressive peaks of the Zillertal Valley.

We return to our hotel by rail and enjoy dinner together this evening. Overnight Innsbruck.

After breakfast, we enjoy a guided walking tour of Innsbruck's magnificently preserved Old Town.

The medieval center is dotted with impressive buildings, particularly along Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse. Here, the ornate Hölbling house and the imposing 14th-century watchtower look over buildings with arched arcaded frontages. We also view the Golden Roof, a glorious copper-tiled roof built in 1500 to mark the marriage of Maximilian I to Bianca Maria Sforza.

The rest of the afternoon is free to continue exploring, and you could travel on the Nordkette Cable Car, a hybrid funicular and cable car system designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid. At the top, you are rewarded with otherworldly views across the Tyrolean Alps from a height of more than 7,000 feet. We gather back at the hotel this evening for dinner. Overnight Innsbruck.

Our New Year celebrations begin after breakfast with a journey through the idyllic winter scenery of the Stubai Valley aboard the narrow-gauge Stubaitalbahn. Called "the most beautiful tramway in the world," the Stubai Valley Railway uses the local tramway tracks to climb into the mountains.

From Innsbruck, our train winds up through gentle meadows, providing great views of the city below. Passing sleepy villages, the route then plunges into a landscape of icy forests and alpine meadows laden with snow, before winding its way down to the peaceful valley town of Fulpmes. Sit back and enjoy the show on this stunning trip into the Alps.

Returning to Innsbruck in the afternoon, we have time to relax before the festivities get into full swing this evening over a gala dinner with wine. Overnight Innsbruck.

Waking up on the first morning of the new year to a picture-book setting of wintry mountains, your day is free to explore Innsbruck. Perhaps take a walk beside the Inn River or past the fountains and pavilion of the Innsbrucker Hofgarten, landscaped royal palace gardens that date from the early 15th century. In the Old Town, you can visit the famous Golden Roof, an oriel window decorated with fire-gilded copper tiles for Emperor Maximilian I.

Innsbruck is a city of many delightful churches, including the Baroque cathedral with its famous Madonna and Child painting by Lukas Cranach the Elder, as well as the Gothic Hofkirche.

After sightseeing at leisure, you may choose to relax and make the most of the spa and wellness facilities at our hotel before a three-course dinner this evening. Overnight Innsbruck.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before a coach transfer takes us to Innsbruck's railway station. Here, we board a train that travels down the Inn Valley to Munich, where we change trains and continue through Germany to the riverside city of Cologne.

Passing through the historic cities of Augsburg and Ulm, and fairytale towns, such as Schwäbisch Gmünd and Limburg an der Lahn, we then arrive at our Rhine-side destination of Cologne. This historic city has a magnificent skyline and is dominated by its stunning twin-spired Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe.

On arrival in Cologne, we walk from the train station to our hotel, where we check into our accommodations for the night. Dinner is served here this evening. Overnight Cologne.

From shimmering Lake Garda in Italy to picturesque Innsbruck in the Austrian Alps, we have journeyed through idyllic winter scenery on heritage railways. This celebration of Christmas and New Year has included visits to the glorious city of Venice and historic Verona. Along with traditional seasonal fare, we have also enjoyed a trip to a wine estate in Italy.

After our final breakfast, we take the train from Cologne to Brussels. From the Belgian capital, we join the Eurostar service to London St. Pancras, traveling in Plus class with a light meal onboard. As we arrive in London, your festive vacation comes to an end, and you are free to make your way home.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Founded in 1994 as an efficient means of transportation between London and the cities of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Eurostar has been a welcome addition to the rail lines of Europe for over 25 years. Eurostar offers direct city center-to-city center connections to destinations like Paris, Lille, Brussels, and Amsterdam and connecting routes that take travelers even further to places like Strasbourg and Avignon. The train travels at high speeds of up to 186 mph and offers a comfortable environment for tourists and commuters alike on its modern trains.  

The Stubai Valley Railway - Stubaitalbahn, in the native tongue - was opened in 1904 and has grown in passenger numbers ever since, no doubt owed to the beautiful scenery it enjoys on its one hour trip from Fulpmes to Innsbruck. Along the journey, the train passes many spectacular sights including the Mutters and Kreither viaduct.

Our outstanding journey on the Zillertalbahn (or the Ziller Valley Railway) takes us on a 19-mile route from Jenbach through the grandiose mountain scenery to Mayrhofen at the other end of the valley. 

This 4-Star hotel is a wonderful place to relax after a day of festivities or excursions. On-site amenities include two restaurants, two bars, a wine cellar, a large heated indoor pool and a spa. Air-conditioned guest rooms are comfortable and bright, and come equipped with free Wi-Fi, minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities, as well as bathrobe and slippers.

The 4-Star Hotel Innsbruck is situated in the heart of the old town, within walking distance of many of the sights and attractions of Innsbruck. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar as well as a wellness center with a swimming pool, steam bath and a sauna. Beauty treatments and therapies are available (pay locally). The comfortable, spacious rooms feature a television, a safe and a hairdryer. 

Many of our guests choose to spend additional nights before or after their trip. Great Rail Journeys would be happy to make hotel arrangements for you.