In 1883, the original Orient Express completed one of the most mythic journeys in travel history, reaching Constantinople for the first time and redefining the very idea of luxury travel.
One hundred and forty-three years later, the legacy is reawakened. Inspired by this iconic heritage, on October 22nd, 2026, La Dolce Vita Orient Express inaugurates the Rome-Istanbul route, marking the first international journey of Italy’s new luxury train and unveiling a contemporary interpretation of the most legendary Voyage of all time.
More than an itinerary, this five-day, four-night experience aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express is conceived as a cultural crossing where time broadens. A slow, immersive passage through landscapes, histories and civilisations that once shaped Europe’s dialogue with the East.
The route connects Rome to Istanbul, crossing some of Europe’s most captivating regions.
Departing from Rome in the evening, the train glides north towards Venice, long considered the symbolic gateway between worlds. Guests are invited to spend a full day exploring the city’s palaces, canals and artistic treasures before continuing eastwards to Budapest, the former imperial capital and cultural heart of nineteenth-century Central Europe. The journey then unfolds through the dramatic scenery of the Carpathian Mountains, stopping in Brașov and Sinaia, where medieval towns, natural landscapes and aristocratic architecture evoke the timeless charm of Europe’s grand past. The final stretch of the route heralds a historic threshold: the passage into Türkiye, culminating in a grand arrival in Istanbul, a city poised between continents, cultures and centuries.
If, in the nineteenth century, the railway stood as a symbol of technological progress and geopolitical connection, in 2026 the Rome-Istanbul route asserts itself as a philosophical statement, an invitation to rediscover the value of time, contemplation and the pleasure of the journey itself.
Aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express, the myth is not merely revisited: it is reimagined through the lens of Italian excellence. From interiors curated by Dimorestudio, inspired by the eclectic elegance of 1960s Italy, to a refined culinary experience conceived by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, every detail celebrates craftsmanship, culture and contemporary luxury.
