La Dolce Vita Orient Express, the first Italian-made luxury train, rolled out of Roma Ostiense Station on April 4, 2025, on an inaugural journey that took passengers on a two-day “Tastes of Tuscan Vineyards” trip to the town of Montalcino.

As I discovered while working on my forthcoming book, National Geographic’s 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Rides (which will be published in October 2025), there’s a growing demand for over-the-top train journeys that cater to small numbers of luxury travelers on trips through some of the world’s most scenic locations, excursions that cater to slow travel, nostalgia, and an appetite for the golden days of rail travel.

The Journeys

The itineraries have been designed to create exclusive travel experiences, ranging from north to south in Italy, providing glimpses of the Alps as well as the southern coastline. The majority of the journeys will depart from Rome and can include cities such as Milan, Florence, and Venice, as well as the island of Sicily, via the world’s only passenger rail ferry. Some trains will travel within Sicily, leaving from Catania and Palermo.

Two-night journeys include Rome, Venice, and Portofino, as well as Rome, Venice, and Siena. Themed journeys include Eternal Stones of Matera, The Truffle Route, and Rome to Sicily.

The itineraries have been created in tandem with Orient Express’ first hotels, which will also debut in 2025: the Orient Express La Minerva in Rome and the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice.

On Board The Train

La Dolce Vita Orient Express has 12 carriages, with 31 cabins, including 18 suites, 12 deluxe cabins, and the signature La Dolce Vita Suite. The carriages were originally Z1 Italian model carriages, but they have been reimagined and rebuilt. The train is Italy’s first private luxury rail fleet, with plans to have six such trains in the future. They all feature double beds, a sofa, armchairs, and a private bathroom. All cabins will offer room service, and the restaurant car will provide lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. The Bar Car will feature live music, an aperitivo and antipasti buffet, after-dinner cocktails, and Italian wines. Chef Heinz Beck, based at the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, holds three Michelin stars and oversees the dining program of La Dolce Vita, inspired by the regions it traverses. A new Orient Express Lounge at Roma Ostiense Station, created by artist-architect Hugo Toro, is where guests gather before the journey.

The 1960’s Inspired Design

The train’s design inspiration is La Dolce Vita, “The Sweet Life,” a name bequeathed to an Italian attitude and lifestyle synonymous with the country’s décor, art, and architecture of the 1960s. It was made famous by Federico Fellini’s film of the same name. Dimorestudio, an architecture and design studio founded by Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran, undertook the design work, drawing inspiration from mid-century Italian design masters such as Giò Ponti, Nanda Vigo, Gae Aulenti, and Osvaldo Borsani. Expect playful geometric patterns and minimalist palettes.

A La Dolce Vita Orient Express reservation includes the round-trip transfer to and from the train station, accommodation, the table d’hôte, beverages (such as selected wine and spirits, mineral water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee), onboard entertainment, exclusive experiences, as well as all applicable taxes. There are optional off-board experiences for a fee. Prices do not include insurance and gratuities. Fares start at $3,828 per person per night in a deluxe cabin, based on double occupancy.

The Orient Express La Dolce Vita is a partnership between the French hotel group Accor and the Italian luxury hospitality group Arsenale S.P.A., with a railway partnership with Trenitalia—Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato—and the Fondazione FS Italiane. Note that Orient Express is a different company from the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which is owned by Belmond, a part of LVMH.

Details can be found at La Dolce Vita Orient Express.