NEW YORK — Bookings are now open for Italy’s first luxury train, La Dolce Vita Orient Express.

The upscale and all-inclusive rail experience is set to begin rolling in spring 2025.

Eight exclusive roundtrip ‘Made in Italy’ itineraries will depart from Rome, with journeys to destinations includinh Venice, Matera, Tuscany, Piedmont, Portofino, Abruzzo and Sicily. The trips cover over close to 16,000 kilometres of track spread over 14 regions and 131 cities across Italy.

La Dolce Vita Orient Express’ newly-appointed GM, Samy Ghachem, was formerly managing director at Sereno Hotels and Frosch. The entire experience is a partnership between Italian luxury hospitality group Arsenale S.p.A., Orient Express, and Trenitalia-Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato, Fondazione DFS and Treni Turistici Italian TTI.

The launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express precedes the anticipated openings of the first two Orient Express hotels: Orient Express La Minerva in Rome, followed by Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice. More details are expected later this year.

“It is a privilege to join La Dolce Vita Orient Express at this key period in the revival of the iconic Orient Express brand and the launch of Italy’s first foray into luxury rail hospitality,” said Ghachem. “La Dolce Vita Orient Express is set to offer an inimitable take on luxury rail travel, reigniting a bygone era through a contemporary lens, Italian style.”

The train’s aesthetic features a sumptuous interior that harkens back to the 1960s and 1970s ‘La Dolce Vita’ period. Trains will offer 12 carriages for no more than 62 passengers, with 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites and one La Dolce Vita Suite. Passengers will dine on dishes created by three-Michelin starred Chef Heinz Beck.

Starting rates for a one-night itinerary are EUR3,500 per person in a deluxe cabin and EUR4,700 per person in a suite. More details are at www.orient-express.com/la-dolce-vita.