Road to Rome — Self-Launched Edition (Paris to Rome)
12 days · Paris, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence & Rome
Insight Vacations charges £3,100
No-markup version: ~£1,072 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 12-day self-launched version of Insight Vacations' classic coach tour from Paris to Rome, rebuilt for independent travellers: same six countries (France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Vatican City), same headline sights (Montmartre, Mount Stanserhorn, Vaduz, Innsbruck's Golden Roof, Venice, Pisa, Florence, Assisi, the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel), but with hostels and budget guesthouses instead of Marriott/Radisson properties and trains, regional buses and shared transfers instead of a private coach. Bookable piece by piece via Trainline, SBB, Trenitalia/Italo, GetYourGuide or the Vatican Museums' own site. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Paris — settle in and evening walk
Paris, France
Land at CDG or arrive by Eurostar (book 2-3 months ahead for £50-90 one way from London). Take the RER B into the city (~€11.80) and check into a hostel in the 5th, 10th or 11th arrondissement. Skip the tour's brasserie welcome dinner and instead do a self-guided loop: Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame exterior, Pont Neuf, then a cheap crêpe or falafel dinner in the Marais (£10-12). If you want the cabaret experience, book Moulin Rouge or Nouvelle Eve direct via their own websites (€139-165) rather than through an agent.
🚌RER B from CDG ~£10; Metro single €2.15 or a Navigo Easy card
🛏Hostel dorm (e.g. St Christopher's Canal or Generator Paris), £30-40/night
- →Evening walk: Île de la Cité, Pont Neuf, Marais
- →Optional: Moulin Rouge or Nouvelle Eve cabaret booked direct (€139-165)
Paris food neighbourhoods & landmarks
Paris, France
Recreate the tour's 'food expert' morning yourself: a DIY tasting crawl around Rue Montorgueil and Rue des Martyrs — a croissant and pain au chocolat (£3), a wedge of cheese from a fromagerie (£4), a chocolate from a chocolatier (£3), plus a bakery jambon-beurre (£5). In the afternoon walk the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe (rooftop €16 — book on the monument's official site) and the Eiffel Tower gardens (free) or summit if you pre-book (€29 lift). A Seine cruise booked via GetYourGuide is around £17 rather than the tour's €38.
🚌Metro day pass ~£7.50
🛏Hostel dorm, Paris, £30-40/night
- →Self-guided bakery & cheese crawl, Rue Montorgueil / Rue des Martyrs
- →Arc de Triomphe rooftop (€16 direct)
- →Optional: Seine evening cruise via GetYourGuide ~£17
Paris to Lucerne via Burgundy
Lucerne, Switzerland
Take a morning TGV Lyria from Paris Gare de Lyon to Mulhouse or Basel (book on Trainline/SBB, £35-55), break the journey for a couple of hours in Burgundy (Dijon or Beaune are easy stops) for lunch and a wine-shop tasting, then continue by regional train to Lucerne (another £20-30). Arrive late afternoon, walk the Chapel Bridge and Jesuit Church for free, and see the Lion Monument. Sleep in a backpacker hostel near the station — Lucerne is expensive, so a dorm is the budget-saver here.
🚌TGV Lyria Paris-Basel £35-55 + SBB Basel-Lucerne ~£25
🛏Backpackers Lucerne or similar hostel dorm, £35-45/night
- →Burgundy lunch stop (Dijon/Beaune)
- →Chapel Bridge & Jesuit Church walk
- →Lion Monument
Mount Stanserhorn solar cable car & ridge walk
Lucerne, Switzerland
The tour's signature eco experience is fully self-bookable: train from Lucerne to Stans (20 min, covered by a Saver Day Pass ~CHF 52/£46), then the vintage funicular and the world's first open-top solar-powered CabriO cable car to Mount Stanserhorn (return ticket ~CHF 74/£66, buy at the station or online). Walk the panoramic summit loop, read the conservation panels yourself, and pack a supermarket lunch (£8) rather than paying mountain-restaurant prices. Back in Lucerne by late afternoon — an evening lake swim at Lido or a free lakeside stroll replaces the paid cruise.
🚌Train + Saver Day Pass ~£46; Stanserhorn return ~£66
🛏Backpackers Lucerne hostel dorm, £35-45/night
- →CabriO open-top solar cable car to Mount Stanserhorn
- →Panorama ridge walk
- →Evening lakeside stroll / Lido swim
Lucerne — Liechtenstein — Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria
Catch the train from Lucerne to Sargans (via Zurich, ~1h45, £25-35 with Supersaver), then bus 12 to Vaduz (~30 min, £6). Stroll Vaduz's tiny centre and hike or walk up to Vaduz Castle viewpoint (free). Ask the tourist office for a passport stamp (CHF 3) as a souvenir. Continue by bus/train via Buchs to Innsbruck (~3h, £20-30). In the evening wander the Old Town, see the Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace facade, and eat a Tiroler Gröstl in a local inn (£12).
🚌Train Lucerne-Sargans £30; bus 12 to Vaduz £6; train to Innsbruck £25
🛏Hostel/budget guesthouse dorm, Innsbruck, £25-35/night
- →Vaduz old town & castle viewpoint
- →Passport stamp souvenir (CHF 3)
- →Innsbruck Old Town, Golden Roof & Imperial Palace
Innsbruck over the Brenner to Venice
Venice, Italy
Ride the scenic Brenner route by regional train (Innsbruck-Brennero-Fortezza-Bologna or via Verona) to Venice Santa Lucia — around £25-35 if booked on ÖBB or Trenitalia a few weeks out. Skip the Dolomites detour unless you hire a car; if you do want it, a day's car hire split between two is ~£25 each. Arrive Venice early evening, buy a vaporetto single (€9.50) or a 24h pass (€25), and eat cicchetti standing up in Cannaregio for £12 instead of a restaurant dinner.
🚌ÖBB/Trenitalia Brenner route ~£30; vaporetto single €9.50
🛏Hostel dorm in Cannaregio or Mestre (cheaper), £30-40/night
- →Scenic Brenner Pass rail journey
- →Cannaregio cicchetti crawl
- →Optional: Dolomites day-hire detour
Venice: St Mark's, Doge's Palace & glassblowing
Venice, Italy
Book St Mark's Basilica (€3-6 entry) and the Doge's Palace (€30, official Venezia Unica site) yourself; both are cheaper and you skip the group queue. Cross the Bridge of Sighs via the palace's internal route. For glassblowing, take vaporetto line 4.1 to Murano and visit a furnace demo — many workshops show free or ask a small tip, versus the tour's organised stop. Optional: a Veneto winery tasting in Conegliano by train (~£15 return) and €15-20 for tasting, or the Burano island trip on a 24h vaporetto pass (£22).
🚌24h vaporetto pass £22
🛏Hostel dorm, Venice/Mestre, £30-40/night
- →St Mark's Basilica (€3-6)
- →Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs (€30)
- →Murano glass furnace demo
- →Optional: Conegliano winery tasting or Burano island
Venice — Tuscan farm — Pisa — Florence
Florence, Italy
Take the regional train Venice-Florence via Bologna (~£20-30, 3h). Instead of the coach's farm lunch, book a small-group Chianti/Tuscan farm lunch-and-wine-tasting via GetYourGuide from Florence (~£45) on arrival day, or simply do a Tuscan trattoria lunch (£15) plus a wine bar tasting (£20). In the afternoon hop the regional train to Pisa (£7 return) and see the Leaning Tower, cathedral and baptistery from outside for free (climbing the tower is €20 and must be pre-booked).
🚌Trenitalia Venice-Florence £25; Florence-Pisa return £7
🛏Hostel dorm near Santa Maria Novella, Florence, £30-40/night
- →Tuscan farm lunch & wine tasting via GetYourGuide ~£45
- →Pisa: Leaning Tower, cathedral, baptistery exteriors (free)
- →Optional: climb the Tower of Pisa (€20, pre-book)
Florence: Duomo, Signoria & Renaissance walk
Florence, Italy
Do the Renaissance walking circuit on your own: Duomo exterior and baptistery doors (free; climb the dome €30 or use the Ghiberti Pass), Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio courtyard (free), Ponte Vecchio at sunset. A free self-guided audio walk app or a £15 GetYourGuide small-group walking tour replaces the tour's 'Local Expert'. Splurge tip: Uffizi entry is €25 if art is your thing — book on the official site at least a month ahead.
🚌Walking city day
🛏Hostel dorm, Florence, £30-40/night
- →Duomo & Baptistery exteriors + Gates of Paradise
- →Piazza della Signoria & Palazzo Vecchio courtyard
- →Optional: Duomo dome climb (€30) or Uffizi (€25)
Florence to Rome via Chianti & Assisi
Rome, Italy
Take the regional train Florence to Arezzo, then a bus/wine-country stop in Chianti or Montepulciano for a vineyard visit (£15-25), then continue by train to Assisi via Terontola (~£10). Visit the Basilica of St Francis and Giotto's frescoes for free (dress code: covered shoulders/knees). Then regional train Assisi-Rome (~£12, 2h). Check into a hostel near Termini and eat pizza al taglio for £8.
🚌Regional trains Florence-Arezzo-Chianti-Assisi-Rome total ~£35
🛏Hostel dorm near Termini, Rome, £30-40/night
- →Chianti / Montepulciano vineyard stop & tasting
- →Basilica of St Francis & Giotto frescoes (free)
- →Optional: Lake Trasimeno viewpoint stop
Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Rome, Italy
Book the Colosseum (€18 + €2 booking, official Parco archeologico site or GetYourGuide combo) for an early slot, then Circus Maximus and the Capitoline viewpoint on foot. Afternoon: Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel via the Vatican's official ticketing (€20 + €5 booking; a GetYourGuide skip-the-line is ~£30-35). Finish with a self-guided piazza-and-fountain walk: Pantheon (€5), Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps — food and wine at a trattoria in Trastevere (~£18).
🚌Metro/bus day ticket €7
🛏Hostel dorm, Rome, £30-40/night
- →Colosseum (€20 direct booking)
- →Circus Maximus & Capitoline viewpoint
- →Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (€25 direct)
- →Pantheon, Navona, Trevi, Spanish Steps walk
Rome departure
Rome, Italy
Slow morning: espresso and cornetto at a bar (£3), a final wander by the Tiber or Campo de' Fiori, then the Leonardo Express to Fiumicino (€14/£12) or the regional train to Ciampino. Budget a spare hour for airport security in high season.
🚌Leonardo Express €14 to Fiumicino
🛏Departure day — no overnight
- →Campo de' Fiori morning market ride
- →Optional: Capitoline Museums if time allows (€15)
Self-launched vs. Insight Vacations
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Insight Vacations | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,072 | £3,100 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,028 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Insight Vacations-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,072
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Road to Rome — Self-Launched Edition (Paris to Rome) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,072 per person for 12 days in Paris, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence & Rome. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Insight Vacations?+
Yes — Insight Vacations charges around £3,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,072 — a saving of roughly £2,028 (65%) per person.
How long is the Paris, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence & Rome trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Paris, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence & Rome.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Paris, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence & Rome, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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