The first time someone asks me about the Orient Express, I always pause before answering. Not because I don’t know what to say — but because where do you even start.
I did this FAM. I lived it. And I’m still not fully over it.
Here’s everything you need to know.
First — which Orient Express are we talking about?
This is where people get confused, so let’s clear it up fast.
The Orient Express brand now has three distinct experiences in Italy:
Orient Express La Minerva — their first hotel, in Rome
La Dolce Vita Orient Express — the train
Orient Express Venezia — their brand new hotel in Venice, open as of March 2026
They’re all connected. They’re all extraordinary. And they can absolutely be combined into one trip — which is exactly what I’d recommend.
The Train: La Dolce Vita Orient Express
La Dolce Vita is a love letter to Italy — a luxury train that captures the timeless allure of Italian glamour and design as it journeys through the country’s most enchanting landscapes. The aesthetic pays homage to 1960s Italian design. Think: velvet, warm wood, candlelight, Campari at the bar car. It is deeply, unapologetically Italian. Tourist Italy
The train has 31 cabins total — 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites, and the signature La Dolce Vita Suite. Your experience starts before you even board: guests begin with a private transfer to the La Dolce Vita lounge at Rome Ostiense station — a refined space designed to ease you into the experience before you step aboard. Orient ExpressEuronews
The routes — and there are many — range from a single day to five nights. A few worth knowing:
Rome to Venice — a one-day Michelin-starred culinary journey, new for 2026 accor
The Grand Tour — a five-day roundtrip from Rome hitting Venice, Matera, Taormina, and Palermo accor
Rome to Istanbul — five days, four nights, for the truly adventurous accor
The Truffle Route — Rome to Monferrato, for the food obsessed Orient Express
Venice & Portofino — three days through Northern Italy’s most glamorous stops Orient Express
All food onboard is overseen by Michelin three-star chef Heinz Beck, who runs Rome’s only three-star restaurant. Every meal is an event — refined breakfasts, exceptional dinners, tables set with vintage silverware and fine wines in crystal glasses. Orient Express
My honest take: The Rome to Venice route is the one I’d put most of my clients on as an introduction. It’s one day — manageable, not intimidating — and it delivers the full experience. If they’re hooked (they will be), you build from there.
The Hotels
Orient Express La Minerva — Rome
The brand’s first hotel. A beautiful Roman palazzo in the heart of the city. This is your logical starting point before boarding the train — and the continuity of the brand throughout your trip is something clients feel and appreciate.
Orient Express Venezia — Venice
The brand’s second hotel opened March 30, 2026, inside the Palazzo Donà Giovannelli — a 15th-century aristocratic residence in Venice’s quieter Cannaregio district. The design preserves original frescoes, carved surfaces, and historic layouts while introducing contemporary materials — traditional Venetian “lost colours” reintroduced through textiles and finishes throughout. Orient ExpressTao Hua Yuan
Guests arriving on La Dolce Vita can disembark at Venice Santa Lucia and reach the hotel by foot or by boat. Which is the kind of detail that makes a trip feel like it was written for a film. orient-express
Rates start from $1,200/night. Part of Accor Live Limitless.
How I’d Build the Trip
For most clients, I’d structure it like this:
2-3 nights at Orient Express La Minerva in Rome (settle in, eat well, see the city) Board La Dolce Vita in Rome (choose your route based on time and appetite) Arrive in Venice and check into Orient Express Venezia 2-3 nights in Venice to close the trip
It’s a complete story. Rome to Venice, the long way — which happens to be the only way worth doing.
What to Know Before You Book
Book early. Cabins sell quickly, especially suites and signature departures.
Spring and fall are the ideal seasons — pleasant weather, stunning scenery, fewer crowds.
Build in extra time at each stop — the off-train excursions are curated and worth it. Orient Express
This is a fully bookable experience through Taft Travel— and one I’ve done personally, which means I can tell you exactly what to expect, what to pack, and which cabin is worth the upgrade.
Ready to talk about it?