Oui Paris from Paris — 10 days

Avignon

France

Barcelona

Spain

• Sagrada Família

  Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece basilica

• Park Güell

  Whimsical mosaic-covered park with city views

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More about Barcelona

Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, is a vibrant Mediterranean city perfectly suited for rail travelers. Arriving at the magnificent Barcelona Sants or França stations, you'll find yourself in a city that masterfully blends Gothic quarters with modernist architecture, pristine beaches with urban culture, and traditional tapas bars with cutting-edge cuisine. The compact, walkable city center and excellent metro system make it easy to explore without a car.

Montpellier

France

Lyon

France

• Vieux Lyon

  Renaissance old town with traboules (hidden passageways) and atmospheric streets

• Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière

  Ornate hilltop basilica with panoramic views over the city

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More about Lyon

Lyon, France's gastronomic capital, sits at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Lyon Part-Dieu and Lyon Perrache stations connect to Paris (2 hours by TGV), Marseille (1.75 hours), Geneva, and other major cities. The city's position on the Paris-Marseille-Mediterranean TGV axis makes it supremely accessible.

Turin

Italy

• Mole Antonelliana & Cinema Museum

  Turin's iconic spire housing an extraordinary film museum inside its dome

• Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio)

  World's second-most-important Egyptian collection with 40,000+ artefacts

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More about Turin

Turin (Torino), Piedmont's elegant capital and Italy's first capital city, combines regal baroque architecture with industrial heritage and a sophisticated cultural scene. Torino Porta Nuova and Torino Porta Susa stations connect via Frecciarossa to Milan (45 min), Rome (4h), Naples (5h30), and via TGV to Paris (5h40) and Lyon (3h45). The Fréjus rail tunnel provides the crucial Alpine crossing to France.

Venice

Italy

• St. Mark's Basilica

  Stunning Byzantine cathedral with golden mosaics and a museum terrace

• Doge's Palace

  Gothic masterpiece of Venetian governance with Bridge of Sighs

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More about Venice

Venice, the floating city, is one of the world's most extraordinary destinations. Venezia Santa Lucia station sits directly on the Grand Canal—step off the train and you're immediately in this car-free labyrinth of canals, bridges, and palaces. High-speed Frecciarossa trains connect to Milan (2.5 hours), Florence (2 hours), Rome (3.5 hours), and Bologna.

Rome

Italy

• Colosseum

  Iconic amphitheater and symbol of Imperial Rome

• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

  Michelangelo's ceiling and vast papal art collections

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More about Rome

Rome, the Eternal City and capital of Italy, stands as one of Europe's most magnificent rail destinations. Arriving at Roma Termini—Italy's largest and busiest railway station—you step directly into the heart of ancient history, with the Baths of Diocletian just across the square and the Colosseum a short walk away. The city's compact historic center makes it ideal for exploring on foot, while an efficient metro system connects major sites.

Florence

Italy

• Uffizi Gallery

  World's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art including Botticelli and Leonardo

• Florence Cathedral (Duomo)

  Brunelleschi's revolutionary dome with city panoramas from the top

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More about Florence

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a living museum of art and architecture. Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, designed by Giovanni Michelucci, sits minutes from the Duomo and connects to Rome (1.5 hours by Frecciarossa), Milan, Venice, Bologna, and other Italian cities via the high-speed network.

Lucerne

Switzerland

• Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)

  Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge with 17th-century painted panels

• Lion Monument

  Mark Twain called it 'the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world'

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More about Lucerne

Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most picturesque cities, spectacularly set on the shores of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) with the Alps rising dramatically behind it. Lucerne station — rebuilt in a striking modern design by Santiago Calatrava after a 1971 fire — is a key central Swiss hub with direct trains to Zurich (45 min), Bern (1h), Interlaken (1h50), and connections via the Gotthard route to Ticino and Italy. The Golden Pass and Glacier Express scenic routes are accessible from here.