Genuine Europe: Rome to London (Self-Launched)
12 days · Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France & England
Europamundo charges £1,650
No-markup version: ~£981 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Europamundo's 12-day Rome-to-London coach tour, rebuilt for solo travellers using trains, budget flights and hostels instead of a 70-person coach. You'll still hit Imperial Rome, Florence, Venice, Innsbruck, the Swiss Alps around Grindelwald First, Strasbourg, Paris and Versailles, Rouen, Canterbury and London — but at your own pace, staying in central hostels and guesthouses rather than out-of-town 4* hotels. All costs are approximate backpacker/mid-budget estimates in GBP per person, excluding international flights and travel insurance.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Rome — Trastevere evening
Rome, Italy
Land at Fiumicino and take the Leonardo Express train into Termini (~£13) or the slower FL1 regional to Trastevere (~£7). Check into a hostel in Monti or near Termini. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori before crossing the river to Trastevere for a cheap dinner of supplì, cacio e pepe and a litre of house wine. This is your orientation and jet-lag day — no rush.
🚌Leonardo Express train, Fiumicino → Termini, ~£13
🛏Hostel in Monti/Termini area (dorm) – e.g. The RomeHello or YellowSquare
- →Leonardo Express from airport to Termini
- →Self-guided walk: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori
- →Evening food wander in Trastevere
Imperial Rome & the Vatican
Rome, Italy
Start early at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill — book the combined ticket direct on the official Parco Colosseo site (~£16) for a timed slot, or a GetYourGuide skip-the-line entry with audio guide (~£22). After lunch walk the Imperial Forums and climb the Capitoline for free views. In the afternoon, pre-book the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel online (~£18–22) for a late slot to dodge the worst crowds. Finish with an evening stroll back through Trastevere.
🚌Metro B (Colosseo) + walking, ~£3
🛏Hostel in Monti/Termini area (dorm)
- →Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill (self-booked timed ticket)
- →Capitoline Hill viewpoints
- →Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (pre-booked entry)
- →Evening walk in Trastevere
Frecciarossa to Florence — Duomo & Piazzale Michelangelo
Florence, Italy
Take the early Frecciarossa from Roma Termini to Firenze S.M. Novella (1h35, ~£25 if booked in advance on Trenitalia). Drop bags at the hostel and walk the historic centre on foot: Duomo exterior, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and the free Mercato Centrale food hall for lunch. Climb (or bus) up to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset over the Arno. Book ahead if you want the Uffizi (~£22) or Accademia/David (~£16).
🚌Trenitalia Frecciarossa, Rome → Florence, 1h35, ~£25
🛏Hostel near Santa Maria Novella – e.g. Plus Florence or Ostello Bello
- →High-speed train Rome → Florence
- →Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria walking circuit
- →Mercato Centrale lunch
- →Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
Florence to Venice — canals and Murano
Venice, Italy
Morning Frecciarossa or Frecciargento Florence → Venezia Santa Lucia (2h, ~£22 booked ahead). Check in on the mainland at Mestre (much cheaper) or a Venice hostel. Buy a 24-hour ACTV vaporetto pass (~£18) and ride the #2 line down the Giudecca Canal. Walk St Mark's Square and the Rialto, then hop the vaporetto to Murano to see glass-blowing demos for free in the workshops (no guided factory tour needed). Optional shared gondola ride via GetYourGuide (~£30–35 per person).
🚌Trenitalia Frecciarossa, Florence → Venice, 2h, ~£22; ACTV 24h vaporetto pass ~£18
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Mestre or Cannaregio (dorm)
- →Train Florence → Venice
- →Vaporetto ride along Giudecca Canal
- →St Mark's Square & Rialto Bridge
- →Self-guided Murano glass workshops
- →Optional shared gondola ride
Venice → Innsbruck → Zurich
Innsbruck, Austria / Zurich, Switzerland
A long but spectacular travel day. Catch the morning Railjet/Brenner route Venice → Innsbruck (4h30, ~£25 with an early Sparschiene fare) — the Brenner Pass scenery is the highlight. Store bags at Innsbruck Hbf and spend 2–3 hours in the old town: the Golden Roof, Maria-Theresien-Strasse and the Nordkette views. Then take the Railjet Innsbruck → Zurich (3h30, ~£30–40 advance). Check into a Zurich hostel; Zurich is pricey, so a dorm near the station or in Oerlikon keeps costs down.
🚌Railjet Venice → Innsbruck ~£25; Railjet Innsbruck → Zurich ~£35 (book advance)
🛏Hostel Zurich – e.g. Zurich Youth Hostel or a dorm near Hauptbahnhof
- →Scenic Brenner Pass train ride
- →Innsbruck old town and Golden Roof
- →Evening arrival in Zurich
Grindelwald First and Lucerne
Grindelwald & Lucerne, Switzerland
Take the early train Zurich → Interlaken → Grindelwald (~2h15, ~£30 with a Saver Day Pass or Supersaver ticket). Ride the Grindelwald First gondola (~£55 return, buy online) and walk the Cliff Walk suspension bridge and the easy 30–40 min trail to Bachalpsee for glacier views — a backpacker-friendly alternative to a guided excursion. Return via Interlaken, then stop off in Lucerne on the way back to Zurich for the Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument (free). Cheaper alternative: skip the gondola and do the free Niederhorn/Männlichen valley walks.
🚌Swiss rail Zurich → Grindelwald return ~£55; Lucerne stopover included
🛏Hostel Zurich (dorm)
- →Train to Grindelwald
- →Grindelwald First gondola + Cliff Walk
- →Bachalpsee lake walk with glacier views
- →Lucerne Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument
Strasbourg en route to Paris
Strasbourg, France / Paris
Take the train Zurich → Basel → Strasbourg (2h15, ~£25–30) and spend the afternoon in Strasbourg: the cathedral, Petite France canals and a tarte flambée lunch. In the evening catch the TGV Strasbourg → Paris Gare de l'Est (1h50, ~£25–40 if booked well ahead on SNCF Connect). Check into a hostel in Montmartre or Canal Saint-Martin — Paris hostels fill up, so book early.
🚌Zurich → Strasbourg TER/TGV ~£28; Strasbourg → Paris TGV 1h50 ~£30
🛏Hostel in Montmartre or Canal Saint-Martin (dorm) – e.g. St Christopher's Gare du Nord
- →Train Zurich → Strasbourg
- →Strasbourg Cathedral and Petite France
- →Tarte flambée lunch
- →TGV Strasbourg → Paris
Versailles, Montmartre and Paris by night
Paris, France
Morning RER C train out to Versailles (~£3.80 each way) — book the Palace ticket online (~£19) and explore the gardens (free on most days). Back in Paris, use a carnet of metro tickets (~£16 for 10) to reach Montmartre: Sacré-Cœur, the artists' square and the free views. In the evening, do your own panoramic loop — Trocadéro for the Eiffel Tower light show (free, hourly sparkle after dark), then walk the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. A Seine river cruise via GetYourGuide is ~£14 if you want the boat version of the tour's evening drive.
🚌RER C to Versailles ~£8 return; Paris metro carnet ~£16
🛏Hostel in Montmartre or Canal Saint-Martin (dorm)
- →Versailles Palace and gardens (pre-booked ticket)
- →Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
- →Eiffel Tower light show from Trocadéro
- →Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe walk
- →Optional Seine evening cruise ~£14
Eiffel Tower, Seine and Rouen
Paris & Rouen, France
Book the Eiffel Tower second-floor ticket online in advance (~£20) for a first-thing morning slot. Then take a 1-hour Seine cruise (~£14) before grabbing lunch and heading to Gare Saint-Lazare for the train to Rouen (1h15, ~£20 with an Intercités advance fare). Spend the late afternoon in Rouen's old town: the cathedral Monet painted, the Gros-Horloge and the Joan of Arc square. Stay in a budget hotel or hostel by the station.
🚌Intercités Paris → Rouen 1h15 ~£20
🛏Budget hotel/hostel near Rouen Rive Droite – e.g. Ibis Budget or a city hostel
- →Eiffel Tower 2nd floor (pre-booked)
- →Seine river cruise
- →Train Paris → Rouen
- →Rouen cathedral, Gros-Horloge and old town
Rouen → Channel crossing → Canterbury → London
Rouen, France / Canterbury & London, England
Cheapest route: train Rouen → Paris → Lille or Rouen → Amiens → Calais, then the DFDS/P&O ferry Calais → Dover on foot as a foot passenger (~£25–35), followed by the local bus or train Dover → Canterbury (~£8). Alternative and often simpler: Rouen → Paris, then a Eurolines/Flixbus to London Victoria (~£25–35, 7–8h) or a cheap Vueling/easyJet Paris–London flight. Spend an afternoon in Canterbury — cathedral precincts (free entry to the grounds, ~£17 for the cathedral interior), the medieval streets and Westgate Towers — then take the Southeastern high-speed train Canterbury → London St Pancras (1h, ~£15–25 advance).
🚌Rouen → Calais by rail ~£30; ferry Calais → Dover ~£30; bus Dover → Canterbury ~£8; train Canterbury → London ~£20
🛏Hostel in King's Cross or Hackney (dorm) – e.g. Clink78 or Wombat's
- →Foot passenger ferry across the English Channel (or budget bus/flight alternative)
- →Canterbury Cathedral and medieval centre
- →High-speed train Canterbury → London
London highlights on foot and by bus
London, England
Do the classic London circuit on foot and with a TfL contactless card (daily cap ~£8.90). Start at Westminster for Parliament and Big Ben, cross Westminster Bridge, then walk the South Bank past the London Eye to Tower Bridge. Afternoon: Buckingham Palace and St James's Park (change of guard days are busiest — check the schedule). In the evening, wander Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Chinatown and Soho for dinner. Skip the £35 Windsor coach excursion — a return train from Waterloo to Windsor is ~£12 if you'd rather do it independently.
🚌TfL contactless, daily cap ~£9
🛏Hostel in King's Cross or Hackney (dorm)
- →Westminster, Big Ben and Parliament
- →South Bank walk to Tower Bridge
- →Buckingham Palace and St James's Park
- →Evening stroll: Piccadilly, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Soho
British Museum, Camden and departure
London, England
Start with the British Museum — free entry, no ticket needed, but book a free timed slot online to skip the queue. Then walk or take the Northern line to Camden for Camden Market's street food and vintage stalls. Return to your hostel for bags and head to Heathrow on the Piccadilly line (~£5.60) or Gatwick on the Thameslink (~£12). Easy final day with no fixed schedule.
🚌London Underground Piccadilly line to Heathrow ~£6
🛏—
- →British Museum (free, pre-booked slot)
- →Camden Market street food and stalls
- →Transport to airport
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£981 | £1,650 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £669 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£981
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 Genuine Europe: Rome to London (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £981 per person for 12 days in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France & England. 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 Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £981 — a saving of roughly £669 (41%) per person.
How long is the Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France & England trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France & England.
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, city-breaks, backpacker trip through Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France & England, 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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