If trains could flirt, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express would be that impossibly elegant stranger you catch eyes with across the platform — all polished mahogany and quiet confidence. And in 2026, it’s setting its sights on Italy, sweeping through the Alps towards four of Belmond’s legendary addresses like it’s got a date with destiny (and Michelin-grade pasta).
Paris to Venice – 25–28 April 2026
The curtain-raiser. One glittering night aboard the world’s most famous train — white-gloved service, crystal glasses chiming somewhere down the corridor — before rolling into Venice. Disembark straight into the embrace of the lagoon and check in at Hotel Cipriani, the city’s own temple of la dolce vita. Expect culinary theatre and a peek inside Venice’s last working glass foundry, where the furnaces never sleep.
Paris to the Amalfi Coast – 4–7 May 2026
A trip that smells faintly of lemons and luxury. One decadent night aboard the Orient-Express, then a private wander through Pompeii before ending up high above the coast at Caruso. Here, it’s all sea-breeze breakfasts, candlelit dinners, and a feeling that life really can be this good, if only for a weekend.
Paris to Florence – 19–22 September 2026
The mood shifts to calm indulgence. After a night surrounded by polished brass and Art Deco detail, you’ll arrive in Florence and drift into the serene embrace of Villa San Michele. Spa rituals, sound healing, a gala dinner under Tuscan skies — this is Italy in slow motion, the art of taking your time.
Paris to Portofino – 15–18 October 2026
The finale — bold, sun-tinted, and unapologetically glamorous. From Paris to the Ligurian coast, then up the hill to Splendido, overlooking Portofino’s harbour like a movie set come to life. Days of hiking, sailing, or doing absolutely nothing, followed by a gala dinner that feels like Italy’s encore.
Each journey is a reminder that the golden age of travel never really ended — it just learned to pair caviar with modern comfort. Step aboard, and for a few glittering nights, forget the world. The rails will handle the rest.
