London to Rome: Paris, Spain & the Riviera – 16 Days
Fifteen nights by Eurostar and coach through Paris, Bordeaux, San Sebastián, Madrid, Barcelona, Nice, Florence and Rome.
Tour overview
This 16-day escorted tour starts in London with the Eurostar to Paris, then travels by coach through France, Spain and Italy to finish in Rome. After two nights in Paris it visits Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley on the way to Bordeaux, then crosses into Spain for San Sebastián, Madrid and Barcelona.
The second half follows the Mediterranean coast to Nice, with a day in Monaco that includes a drive along part of the Grand Prix circuit. In Italy it stops at Pisa's Square of Miracles before two nights in Florence and three in Rome.
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Local guides lead the main visits. In Madrid you see Picasso's Guernica at the Reina Sofía Museum with an art historian, and in Barcelona the Gothic Quarter and the Sagrada Família. In Rome there's a guided visit to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. Free afternoons in Paris, Florence and Rome, plus a free day in Rome, give time to explore on your own.
You stay in city hotels for 15 nights with breakfast every day and four dinners, including a pintxos evening in San Sebastián. Travel is on an air-conditioned 40-seat coach with extra legroom. Hotel porterage and tips are included.
Trip highlights
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Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris through the Channel Tunnel (Day 1)
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Château de Chenonceau
visit the château that spans the River Cher in the Loire Valley (Day 3)
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San Sebastián
a pintxos dinner around the Old Town in small groups (Day 4)
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Madrid
see Picasso's Guernica at the Reina Sofía Museum with an art historian (Day 6)
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Barcelona
walk the Gothic Quarter with a local guide and see Gaudí's Sagrada Família (Day 8)
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Monaco
drive part of the Grand Prix circuit, then choose the Oceanographic Museum or the Prince's Palace and Cathedral (Day 10)
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Pisa
the Leaning Tower, cathedral and baptistery in the Square of Miracles (Day 11)
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Vatican City
the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica with a local guide (Day 14)
Your route
12 stops from London to Rome
- London Day 1
- Paris Days 1–2
- Chenonceau Day 3
- Bordeaux Day 3
- San Sebastián Day 4
- Madrid Days 5–6
- Barcelona Days 7–8
- Nice Days 9–10
- Monaco Day 10
- Pisa Day 11
- Florence Days 11–12
- Rome Days 13–15
Why choose this tour
This tour links London and Rome by rail and coach, covering three countries' best-known cities in 16 days without flights in between. Guided visits cover the key sights, the coach and hotels handle the logistics including luggage, and there is still free time in Paris, Florence and Rome.
Best suited to
- First-time visitors to France, Spain and Italy who want the main cities in one trip
- Travellers who prefer a coach tour with luggage handled and hotels pre-booked
- Art and architecture lovers, with Guernica, the Sagrada Família and the Sistine Chapel included
- Solo travellers happy to share a room with a same-sex traveller at no extra cost
Day-by-day itinerary
16 days from London, United Kingdom to Rome, Italy
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Day 1 · London, Paris London to Paris by Eurostar
Meet your tour director in London and transfer to St Pancras for the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to Paris. The afternoon is free. In the evening there is a welcome dinner at a restaurant in the centre of Paris.
- Hotel
- Marriott Rive Gauche or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2 · Paris Paris
An orientation drive takes in the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Seine, Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. The afternoon is free. You could visit the Louvre, walk through the Tuileries or explore the Marais and the Left Bank. A cabaret evening is offered as an optional extra.
- Hotel
- Marriott Rive Gauche or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Loire Valley, Chenonceau, Bordeaux Château de Chenonceau to Bordeaux
Drive south through the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its gardens and estates. Visit Château de Chenonceau, which spans the River Cher. Then continue to Bordeaux, the river port known for its 18th-century architecture.
- Hotel
- Novotel Gare St Jean or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Bordeaux, San Sebastián Bordeaux and San Sebastián
A local guide shows you UNESCO-listed Bordeaux: the riverside façades, the Grand Théâtre, the Triangle d'Or and the Esplanade des Quinconces. Continue to San Sebastián in Spain. In the evening, walk through the Old Town in small groups for a dinner of pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, with local Txakoli wine.
- Hotel
- Barceló Costa Vasca or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 5 · Sierra de Guadarrama, Madrid Over the mountains to Madrid
A later start, then drive through the mountains of northern Spain and the Sierra de Guadarrama to Madrid. In the evening there is an optional drive to see the city's avenues and fountains lit up.
- Hotel
- Barceló Torre de Madrid or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Madrid Madrid
A local guide takes you through the Old Quarter and along the Paseo de la Castellana, past the fountain in Plaza de Cibeles. Then visit the Reina Sofía Museum with an art historian to see Picasso's Guernica. A neighbourhood walking tour is available instead.
- Hotel
- Barceló Torre de Madrid or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Zaragoza, Barcelona Across the Castilian plain to Barcelona
Drive across the Castilian plain, past Zaragoza, to Barcelona. In the evening there's an optional Catalan dinner, followed by the view over the city lights from Montjuïc.
- Hotel
- Labtwentytwo or Torre Melina Gran Meliá, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · Barcelona, Gothic Quarter, Sagrada Família Barcelona
A local guide leads a walk through the Gothic Quarter, past the cathedral and through the Roman gate into the old lanes and squares. Continue along La Rambla and Passeig de Gràcia, through the Eixample district, to see Gaudí's Sagrada Família.
- Hotel
- Labtwentytwo or Torre Melina Gran Meliá, or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · Nice To Nice on the French Riviera
Drive along the Mediterranean to the French Riviera and Nice. There is time to walk along the Promenade des Anglais beside the Bay of Angels before dinner.
- Hotel
- Apollinaire or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 10 · Monaco, Nice Monaco
Drive along part of Monaco's Grand Prix circuit. Then choose between the Oceanographic Museum, founded by Prince Albert I in 1910 and home to over 6,000 marine species, or the Royal Palace and the 19th-century Monaco Cathedral, where Princess Grace is buried. The rest of the day is free.
- Hotel
- Apollinaire or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 11 · Pisa, Florence Pisa and Florence
Cross into Italy along the Italian Riviera to Pisa. In the Square of Miracles, a local guide shows you the Leaning Tower and the 11th-century cathedral and baptistery. Continue through Tuscany to Florence.
- Hotel
- NH Firenze or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 12 · Florence Florence
A later start, then a walk with a local guide to the cathedral and the baptistery, where copies of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise stand. Next is Piazza della Signoria, with its statues in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The afternoon is free.
- Hotel
- NH Firenze or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 13 · Chianti, Umbria, Rome Through Chianti and Umbria to Rome
Drive through the Chianti hills and Umbria and past the Apennine Mountains to Rome. In the evening there's a farewell dinner of Italian food and wine.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu GHR or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 14 · Vatican City, Rome Vatican City
A local guide takes you to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo's ceiling, then to St Peter's Basilica for his Pietà and Bernini's papal altar. The afternoon is free.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu GHR or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 15 · Rome Free day in Rome
A later start and a free day. You could take an optional trip to Pompeii, the Roman town buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, or shop on Via del Corso and around the Spanish Steps.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu GHR or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 16 · Rome Tour ends in Rome
The tour ends in Rome after breakfast. Airport transfers are available at scheduled times if your flight matches the end date, or you can add extra nights in Rome when you book.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Paris (2 nights) Marriott Rive Gauche or similar
- Bordeaux (1 night) Novotel Gare St Jean or similar
- San Sebastián (1 night) Barceló Costa Vasca or similar
- Madrid (2 nights) Barceló Torre de Madrid or similar
- Barcelona (2 nights) Labtwentytwo or Torre Melina Gran Meliá, or similar
- Nice (2 nights) Apollinaire or similar
- Florence (2 nights) NH Firenze or similar
- Rome (3 nights) Radisson Blu GHR or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 15 nights in city hotels
- Meals — 15 breakfasts and 4 dinners welcome dinner in Paris, pintxos evening in San Sebastián, dinner in Nice and a farewell dinner in Rome
- Transport Eurostar from London to Paris, then an air-conditioned 40-seat coach with extra legroom and a washroom
- Tour director throughout and local guides in Bordeaux, San Sebastián, Madrid, Barcelona, Pisa, Florence and Rome
- Entry Château de Chenonceau, the Reina Sofía Museum (or a neighbourhood walk), a Monaco visit of your choice, and the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica
- Airport transfers at scheduled times on the start and end dates
- Hotel porterage, hotel and restaurant tips, and Wi-Fi on the coach and in hotels where available
Not included
- Flights to London and home from Rome
- Meals not listed, including lunches
- Optional experiences, such as a Paris cabaret evening or a day trip to Pompeii
- Airport transfers outside the scheduled times
- Tips for the tour director and drivers
- Travel insurance, visas and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a slow trip — most places get one or two nights and several days involve long coach journeys
- You prefer small groups — travel is on a 40-seat coach
- You want to dine independently every night — four group dinners are included
- You want flights included — flights to London and home from Rome are extra
Departures & prices
From £4,925 per person, twin share, tour only. 9 upcoming departures.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How does the tour travel between cities?
By Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris on Day 1, then on an air-conditioned 40-seat coach with extra legroom and an onboard washroom for the rest of the tour.
Are airport transfers included?
Transfers run at scheduled times on the start and end dates. If your flights fall outside those times, or you add extra nights, you can book a transfer or make your own way.
What meals are included?
Breakfast every day from Day 2 and four dinners: a welcome dinner in Paris (Day 1), a pintxos evening in San Sebastián (Day 4), dinner in Nice (Day 9) and a farewell dinner in Rome (Day 13).
I'm travelling alone. Do I have to pay for a single room?
No. You can share a room with a traveller of the same sex at no extra cost, or pay for a room of your own. Single prices are shown for each departure.
Are tips and luggage handling included?
Yes. Hotel and restaurant tips, taxes and hotel porterage are included, and your bags are taken to your room. Tips for the tour director and drivers are not included.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary