Italy’s most cinematic coastline has a new way to arrive — aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the train that made glamour part of the journey. Belmond has announced an all-new “Villeggiatura by Train” itinerary linking Paris to the Amalfi Coast, its first route to southern Italy. The journey, debuting on May 4, 2026, promises to be a moving celebration of slow travel: an overnight passage through Europe’s heart, ending in the sun-drenched landscapes of Campania.
This Paris-to-Amalfi voyage continues Belmond’s philosophy of transforming travel itself into an experience. Passengers will step aboard the midnight-blue carriages in Paris for an overnight journey through France and Italy. After a lavish dinner under the glass sconces of the dining cars, they’ll sleep in mahogany-clad cabins inspired by the Art Deco golden age. By morning, the train glides into southern Italy, where a private transfer takes guests to Pompeii for an intimate tour of the ancient ruins before continuing on to the Amalfi Coast.
The programme is part of Belmond’s “Villeggiatura” series, which invites travellers to slow down and stay longer at its legendary properties. After disembarking, guests will check into Caruso, A Belmond Hotel — a cliffside palace in Ravello with panoramic views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here, the journey continues with curated on-land experiences: private cooking sessions, boat excursions, and cultural immersions designed to extend the sense of elegance that began aboard the train.
There’s theatre in every detail. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express retains its century-old craftsmanship: marquetry panels, Lalique glass, and silver service in three dining cars, each with its own character. Dinner feels like a scene from a 1930s film — multi-course menus featuring seasonal produce, paired with fine wines, and accompanied by the gentle rhythm of the rails. Passengers are encouraged to dress for the occasion, making the experience as much about ritual as about travel.
Pricing reflects its exclusivity. The journey is crafted for travellers who crave privacy, art, and atmosphere over convenience. Each cabin is a time capsule of European design, from the classic twin compartments with fold-down bunks to the Grand Suites, which include marble en-suite bathrooms and personal butler service. While costs vary by cabin type and season, the train remains among the world’s most luxurious — and most romantic — ways to reach Italy’s coast.
Once the rails give way to sea views, the Amalfi Coast opens up with experiences that balance indulgence and authenticity. At the Belmond Caruso, guests can learn to cook with the hotel’s chefs using ingredients from the region — fresh seafood, sun-ripened lemons, handmade pasta. The cooking classes are relaxed yet immersive, offering a taste of southern Italian tradition.
Those who prefer the sea can embark on a private boat trip to Positano, drifting past hidden coves and lemon groves that tumble toward the water. The coast’s crystalline bays invite swimming, sunbathing, and lazy lunches at seaside trattorias. For history lovers, a guided exploration of Pompeii offers rare access to one of the world’s most evocative archaeological sites, without the daytime crowds.
Beyond the obvious luxury appeal, the new route signals how legacy travel brands are packaging experiences for an audience that values narrative. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has always sold a story of glamour; by linking Paris’s salons to Pompeii’s ruins and Amalfi’s cliffs, Belmond is converting a transfer into a chaptered travel narrative. For travellers who prize ceremony, provenance and one-of-a-kind access, the itinerary reads like a tiny, perfect novel: dramatic rail passages, curated land experiences and an ending on a sunlit terrace.
Practical tips before you book:
Book early (departures are limited), check what’s included (some curated excursions are part of the package), and compare cabin grades — the train offers everything from intimate twin cabins to lavish grand suites with private bathrooms and butler service. If your idea of travel is arriving with fanfare rather than catching a flight, this is precisely the sort of holiday that rewards the extra planning.
Whether you’re enticed by a storybook arrival or by a few days of coastal leisure, Belmond’s Paris-to-Amalfi extension is a purposeful piece of travel theatre: a chance to turn transit into the first act of a holiday, and to make the approach as memorable as the destination itself.
Q1. When does the Paris-to-Amalfi Coast route of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express start?
The new route is scheduled to debut in May 2026, linking Paris with Italy’s Amalfi Coast aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express under the Belmond “Villeggiatura by Train” concept.
Q2. What experiences are included on the Paris to Amalfi journey?
Highlights include an overnight vintage train journey in Art Deco carriages, fine-dining onboard, a private transfer and historic sightseeing at Pompeii, and a stay at the luxury cliff-side hotel Belmond Hotel Caruso on the Amalfi Coast.
Q3. What type of accommodations and service does the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offer?
Travellers will stay in restored 1920s-style carriages featuring plush cabins, mahogany-clad interiors, and fine dining in the restaurant cars—delivering a luxury rail-travel experience that emphasises style and ambience.
Q4. Who is the target traveller for this Paris-to-Amalfi luxury train route?
This journey appeals to travellers who value ritual, provenance, design and atmosphere over mere transport—those wanting the arrival to be as memorable as the destination itself.
Q5. How should I prepare for booking this luxury rail journey?
Plan ahead: departures are limited and premium cabins book fast. Compare cabin grades (from historic twin compartments to grand suites), check what excursions and transfers are included, and ensure your travel dates align with the May 2026 launch.