Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Photo: Shutterstock Belmond, the 1976-founded luxury hospitality brand under Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), best known and appreciated for its “Slow Luxury” experiences and impressive collection of iconic trains, hotels, safari lodges, and river cruises, is once again expanding its Italian rail journeys.
This time around, the cherry-picked destination is the beautiful Amalfi Coast with its breathtaking, colorful scenery. This year, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the unique train praised for creating nostalgic experiences across the Old Continent via restored 1920s-1930s Art Deco carriages, gourmet dining, and opulent cabins, will run its first-ever trip from Paris to southern Italy.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Photo: ShutterstockPassengers will enjoy an overnight train journey with a stay high above the Mediterranean in Ravello.
The Amalfi route joins a growing portfolio of Italian Villeggiatura itineraries for 2026. Belmond will also operate new three-night itineraries linking Paris to Venice with a stay at Hotel Cipriani, Paris to Florence with time at Villa San Michele following its spring 2026 reopening, and Paris to Portofino with accommodations at Splendido, the Portofino landmark that reopened in 2025.
Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Photo: ShutterstockThe Paris to Amalfi Coast itinerary departs on May 4, 2026, and runs for three nights. Along the way, guests travel through France and into Italy, with a stop at Pompeii before continuing on to Ravello and Belmond’s Caruso hotel.
Amalfi Coast. Photo: ShutterstockThe journey begins in Paris, where guests step into the train’s signature midnight-blue carriages and are welcomed with champagne. The cabins reflect the train’s restored 1920s Art Deco style and come in three categories:
Historic Twin Cabins: compact, traditional layout with wood paneling and seats that convert into bunk beds
Suites: they combine two cabins into a larger space with a seating area and flexible bed setup
Grand Suites: they provide the most room, with private marble bathrooms, dining areas, and interiors inspired by iconic cities
Dinner on the first evening draws inspiration from regions along the route, followed by cocktails and live piano music in Bar Car 3674. Breakfast is served in-cabin the next morning as the train crosses the Italian countryside, with lunch following before arrival in Pompeii.
In Pompeii, guests join a guided visit of the archaeological site. Those traveling in Grand Suites receive exclusive access to Casa del Larario in Regio V, an area rarely open to the public and supported by preservation funding from Caruso.
Guests who prefer a culinary experience can instead take part in a cooking session led by Caruso’s executive chef, Armando Aristarco.
From Pompeii, the journey continues to Ravello, where guests check in at Caruso, a former 11th-century palazzo set more than 1,000 feet above the sea. The hotel is known for its terraced gardens, frescoed interiors, and views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. That evening includes a private event by the infinity pool, featuring local food producers and a wood-fired pizza demonstration.
The following day is left open. Guests can take a private boat to Positano, explore hidden coves, or stay at the hotel for a painting class with a local artist. The experience concludes with a gala dinner in the Wagner Gardens.
Prices start at $11,500/£8,600/9,920 EUR per person and include onboard dining, hotel stays, excursions, transfers, and full steward service.