Italy’s state-owned rail operator FS Italian Tourist Trains is launching a totally new product in 2027: tour packages throughout Italy that are specifically crafted for travel advisors.
The new journeys, collectively called Italian Rail Tour packages, offer multi-day itineraries through some of Italy’s most scenic regions like Tuscany, Puglia, Emilia Romana, the Amalfi Coast, and more.
"Created for the B2B channel, the project offers flexible and customizable solutions, ideal for tour operators looking to offer a distinctive product consistent with new market demands: authenticity, sustainability, and quality," FS Italian Tourist Trains says. "The commercial structure, based on allotments and dedicated agreements, simplifies catalog integration and allows for clear positioning in premium segments."
The rail company is offering three separate journeys as part of the new suite of tours, called “Slow South,” “Gems of the South,” and “Iconic Italy.” Each tour package will only be available for travel advisors and other industry professionals to book for their clients.
The three itineraries vary in length, but each one operates roundtrip from Rome and combines stops in major cities and famous landmarks with visits to smaller villages and under-the-radar sites.
The Slow South tour is a train cruise “dedicated to those wishing to experience Southern Italy at a different, profound, and mindful pace,” the company says. The eight-night journey starts in Rome, and then spends two nights each in Naples, the cliffside town of Matera, known for its Unesco-listed cave dwellings, and Salerno, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, before looping back to Rome.
Similarly, the Gems of South journey spans eight days and is designed to be “one of the premier summer itineraries” among the new tours. The tour starts in Rome, followed by two nights in Naples. The train then heads down to Puglia, for a one-night visit to the coastal town of Monopoli, and a single night in Lecce, which is known for its Baroque architecture. Passengers are then whisked to the hilltop village of Ostuni before heading to Salerno for two nights and finishing the journey in Rome.
But the most comprehensive tour is sure to be the Iconic Italy journey, which spends 12 days visiting the country’s “most celebrated cities.” After departing Rome, travelers will visit Florence (two nights), Bologna (one night), Ravenna (one night), Venice (two nights), Verona (one night), Milan (2 nights), Monterosso in the heart of Cinque Terre (one night), and Pisa (one night), before looping back for their return to Rome.
Advisors will be able to book clients on the full Iconic Italy itinerary or choose a half-tour, either from Rome to Milan or from Milan to Rome.
All of the journeys will take place on board FS vintage trains that have been fully restored for an elegant but retro feel. The trains offer a range of seating options, including a private compartment with four seats, as well as first class and second class cars, both of which offer six-seat public compartments, with large picture windows. The train also offers a restaurant car and onboard bar.
Preview tours for advisors are scheduled for summer 2026, with the full programming available for clients starting in spring 2027.
The Southern Gems preview tour will take place on July 6 to 13, 2026, and the Slow South preview is scheduled for September 15 to 21, 2026. The Iconic Italy preview dates have yet to be announced.
Advisors can request preview tour information on any of the three rail itineraries by emailing FS Italian Tourist Trains at [email protected].
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