La Dolce Vita Orient Express is inviting golfers to discover Italy through a four-day rail journey combining championship courses, regional cuisine and the romance of slow travel.
Departing Rome on September 29, 2026, the Northern Greens itinerary travels through Turin, Brescia and Tuscany before returning to the Italian capital. Along the way, passengers can play at Royal Park I Roveri, Franciacorta Golf Club and The Club at Castiglion del Bosco.
An optional extension adds an extra night in Rome and a round at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the host venue of the 2023 Ryder Cup.
A Four-Day Golf Journey Through Italy
The three-night itinerary has been created for travellers who appreciate the journey between courses as much as the golf itself.
Rather than relying on road transfers between distant regions, guests return to La Dolce Vita Orient Express after each round. The train travels overnight while passengers dine, relax and socialize, allowing them to wake near the following day’s destination.
A dedicated concierge assists with golf bags, equipment rentals and other arrangements before departure. An internationally recognized professional golfer is also expected to travel with the group, offering technical guidance and informal opportunities to discuss the game.
Non-golfing companions are not overlooked. Alternative experiences can be arranged around art, culture, wellness and regional cuisine, making the journey suitable for couples or groups in which not everyone plans to play.
DRIFT Travel previously covered the train’s design and launch in La Dolce Vita Orient Express Begins Its Journey.
Day One: Departing From Rome
The journey begins at the La Dolce Vita Lounge in Rome’s Ostiense Station.
Guests can arrive early to check in, meet fellow travellers and prepare for departure. Once aboard, passengers settle into their cabins before dinner in the Restaurant Car.
The onboard menus are curated by Heinz Beck, the chef behind Rome’s three-Michelin-starred La Pergola. His approach draws on regional Italian flavours while incorporating contemporary techniques and presentations.
Following dinner, the Bar Car becomes the social centre of the train, with cocktails, live piano music and vocal performances continuing into the evening. While guests sleep, the train travels north toward Piedmont and the first golf course.
Day Two: Royal Park I Roveri Near Turin
The first round takes place at Royal Park I Roveri, located within La Mandria Regional Park outside Turin.
Surrounded by forests and views of the Alps, the private club has two 18-hole courses. The original Allianz Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., while the second course was created by architects Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry.
The setting brings together mature woodland, water hazards and carefully positioned bunkers, requiring strategic play rather than relying solely on distance.
After the round, guests return to the train for a dinner inspired by Piedmont. The region is known for ingredients and dishes such as truffles, hazelnuts, agnolotti pasta and braised meats, alongside celebrated wines from Barolo and Barbaresco.
Live music and drinks in the Bar Car conclude the day as the train continues toward Lombardy.
Day Three: Franciacorta Golf Club
The following morning, breakfast is served as La Dolce Vita Orient Express approaches the hills surrounding Brescia.
Franciacorta Golf Club sits in one of Italy’s best-known sparkling-wine regions. Its fairways extend through a landscape shaped by vineyards, rolling hills and views toward Lake Iseo.
The club has 27 holes divided among three nine-hole courses. This configuration allows different combinations to be used, creating varied rounds shaped by water hazards, woodland and changes in elevation.
After golf, travellers reboard the train for another dinner from Heinz Beck’s culinary team. Regional dishes and ingredients help connect the onboard experience with the landscapes passing outside the windows.
For passengers who do not play, the Franciacorta region offers opportunities to explore wine culture, local history and the area’s distinctive countryside.
Day Four: The Club at Castiglion del Bosco
The final day takes passengers into Tuscany and the UNESCO-listed Val d’Orcia.
The Club at Castiglion del Bosco is set within a historic estate surrounded by vineyards, ancient woodland and cypress-lined hills. Its 18-hole course was designed by Tom Weiskopf to follow the natural contours of the landscape.
Rather than imposing a heavily constructed course on the countryside, the design incorporates elevation changes, existing vegetation and long views across southern Tuscany. The result combines technical challenges with an unusually private atmosphere.
Following the round, passengers return to the train for the journey back to Rome. Dinner, cocktails and live entertainment accompany the final evening before arrival at Ostiense Station.
An Optional Round at Marco Simone
Golfers can extend the experience through the Signature Fairway Collection, which includes an additional night in Rome and a round at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
Located outside the capital, Marco Simone hosted the Ryder Cup in 2023. The course was extensively redesigned by Tom Fazio II and European Golf Design in preparation for the event.
Its elevated terrain provides views toward Rome, including the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica on clear days. Wide fairways encourage aggressive decisions, while water hazards, bunkering and contoured greens reward careful course management.
This optional addition expands the journey to four rounds and gives golfers the opportunity to play one of Europe’s most recognizable tournament venues.
DRIFT Travel’s earlier report on the inaugural La Dolce Vita Orient Express golf itinerary provides more background on the train’s golf-focused journeys.
Italian Design on the Rails
The La Dolce Vita train has 31 accommodations, including 18 suites, 12 deluxe cabins and the signature La Dolce Vita Suite.
Milan-based Dimorestudio designed the interiors as a contemporary interpretation of Italy’s creative energy during the 1960s. Geometric patterns, polished wood, rich fabrics and carefully selected lighting recall the country’s mid-century design movement without attempting to recreate a historic train.
The cabins provide private places to rest between destinations, while the Restaurant Car and Bar Car encourage passengers to gather over meals, drinks and live entertainment.
That balance is particularly suited to a golf itinerary. Days are spent outside on the course, while evenings unfold at a slower pace as the train travels through the Italian countryside.
A Southern Alternative: Italian Swing
Northern Greens is one of two golf journeys offered aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express.
The Italian Swing itinerary travels from Rome through Apulia, Siena and Tuscany. Courses may include San Domenico Golf Club on the Adriatic coast, The Club at Castiglion del Bosco and either Antognolla Golf or Argentario Golf Club, depending on the departure.
Together, the two itineraries present contrasting views of Italy. Northern Greens emphasizes Piedmont, Lombardy and Tuscany, while Italian Swing connects Mediterranean landscapes with central and southern Italian golf.
Departure dates, courses and inclusions can change, so travellers should confirm the current itinerary before booking.
For details, visit the Northern Greens itinerary.
