This Legendary Train Journey Takes You From Europe’s Best City All the Way to the Amalfi Coast
If you have ever dreamed of stepping back into an era of old-world glamour while gliding through some of Europe’s most breathtaking scenery, this might be the trip you have been waiting for. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the iconic luxury train operated by the Belmond group, is launching a brand new inaugural route that links Paris with the stunning Amalfi Coast. For the first time ever, passengers will be able to board this legendary train in what many consider Europe’s greatest city and wake up on the doorstep of southern Italy’s most celebrated coastline. It is the kind of journey that feels less like transportation and more like the main event itself.
The trip is scheduled for May 4 through 7, 2026, departing Paris at 11 in the morning and pulling into the ancient city of Pompeii the following afternoon at 3:30 PM. From there, three days of carefully curated experiences await along the Italian coast. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express draws its inspiration from the original Orient Express, which first rolled out of the station all the way back in 1883, and few travel experiences in the world can match the prestige it carries today. Stepping aboard one of its impeccably restored 1920s carriages genuinely feels like entering a moving piece of history.
The price tag for this adventure sits at around $10,700 per person, which is admittedly not for the faint of wallet. That said, it covers a remarkable amount, including all meals, transfers, and excursions throughout the entire journey. Guests can expect world-class cuisine on the train itself, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and wines personally selected by an onboard sommelier all taken care of. Once you see everything that is included, it starts to feel less like an extravagance and more like an all-inclusive experience with an extraordinary setting.
After arriving in Pompeii, travelers disembark for a VIP guided tour of the famous archaeological site before boarding a private boat that carries them to the legendary Hotel Caruso in Ravello, an 11th-century palace perched above the coast. Guests will spend two nights here, with accommodations ranging from Superior Garden rooms to sea-view Terrace Suites depending on which cabin category they selected on the train. The hotel evenings include a formal aperitif dinner on one night and a glamorous gala dinner on the other, complete with local producers and live cooking stations. A Belmond spokesperson outlined the cabin-to-hotel room pairings, making it clear that every guest category enjoys a thoughtfully matched land-based experience.
Beyond the dining and accommodation, the itinerary is packed with genuinely memorable moments. Guests can attend a private live performance in the hotel gardens, take part in painting workshops, join cooking classes, or simply spend time cruising along the Amalfi Coast by boat. Luxury car transfers handle the logistics between train stations, the archaeological site, and eventually Naples airport for the journey home. It is the kind of trip where every detail has been considered so that travelers can simply soak it all in without worrying about a single logistical wrinkle.
This is not a journey for people who are just looking to get from point A to point B. It is for those who believe the way you travel is just as important as the destination itself. Whether it is the candlelit dinners rolling through the Italian countryside or a sunrise over the Tyrrhenian Sea from a terrace in Ravello, this route promises moments that would be impossible to manufacture any other way. If a trip like this is on your bucket list, now is the time to start planning, because spots on an inaugural route this exclusive are unlikely to stick around for long.
If this kind of luxury rail travel speaks to your inner wanderer, share your thoughts in the comments.
