There was a time when travel through Italy was measured not in days, but in seasons. Writers, artists, and aristocrats once crossed the country slowly, lingering in Venice, wandering the streets of Rome, and tracing the coastline south toward Naples and Sicily. Known as the Grand Tour, the journey became a rite of passage for Europe’s cultural elite — an immersive exploration of art, architecture, cuisine, and the pleasures of movement itself.
Now, nearly 250 years after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe famously departed Karlsbad for Italy, Orient Express is reimagining that tradition for a new era of luxury travel.
Launching in summer 2026, the new Grand Italian Tours combine rail journeys aboard the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, stays at the newly opened Orient Express La Minerva and forthcoming Orient Express Venezia, and voyages aboard Orient Express Corinthian — set to become the world’s largest sailing yacht when it launches in June 2026.
Rather than treating travel as a sequence of flights and transfers, the experience is designed as one continuous journey through Italy and the Mediterranean, unfolding across rail, sea, and historic cities with a distinctly unhurried rhythm.
A New Era of Slow Luxury Travel
At a time when luxury travelers are increasingly embracing slower, more immersive experiences, the Grand Italian Tours arrive with impeccable timing. These itineraries are less about rushing between landmarks and more about rediscovering the romance of the journey itself.
The routes, running from July 19 through September 20, 2026, connect destinations including Venice, Rome, Portofino, Capri, Sicily, Dubrovnik, Valletta, Cannes, and Provence. Each itinerary blends extended stays, scenic rail travel, and time at sea into a seamless luxury experience.
Guests may begin their journey aboard the train, continue aboard a sailing yacht in the Mediterranean, and conclude in a restored Venetian palace hotel — all under the singular vision of Orient Express.
Life Aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express
The centrepiece of the experience on land is the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, the first luxury train dedicated entirely to exploring Italy.
Designed by Milan-based Dimorestudio, the interiors channel the glamour of Italian design from the 1950s through the 1970s, blending vintage-inspired aesthetics with contemporary comfort. The train features 30 cabins, including deluxe accommodations and suites, all equipped with private en-suite bathrooms.
Culinary experiences onboard are curated by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, bringing refined Italian gastronomy to the rails.
The World’s Largest Sailing Yacht
Joining the experience in 2026 is Orient Express Corinthian, a new sailing yacht featuring 54 suites and interiors by Orient Express Artistic Director Maxime d’Angeac.
The yacht’s onboard experience will include culinary programming by multi-Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, alongside a Guerlain Spa focused on wellness and restorative travel.
Routes aboard the yacht will stretch across the Mediterranean, linking Italy with destinations along the French Riviera, Croatia, Malta, and beyond.
Historic Hotels Reimagined
In Rome, guests will stay at Orient Express La Minerva, housed within a 17th-century building near the Pantheon that once welcomed writer Stendhal. Reopened in 2025 following an extensive restoration led by architect and artist Hugo Toro, the hotel features 93 rooms and suites, a rooftop restaurant overlooking Rome, and a spa inspired by Ottoman bath traditions.
Meanwhile in Venice, Orient Express Venezia will open within the historic Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Cannaregio. The restored 15th-century palace will offer 47 rooms and suites, with interiors shaped by architect and designer Aline Asmar d’Amman and culinary programming once again led by Heinz Beck.
Six Grand Italian Tours for 2026
The inaugural collection includes six itineraries, each combining at least two modes of travel — train, yacht, or hotel stays — alongside curated cultural experiences.
Highlights include private visits to historic palazzos in Siena, dinners overlooking Capri’s Gardens of Augustus, truffle hunting in Istria, and exclusive evenings at the iconic Palais Bulles in Cannes.
2026 Grand Italian Tours
- Venice – French Riviera
Siena, Rome, Portofino, Cannes
July 19–26, 2026 | 7 nights - Rome – Valletta
Venice, Portofino, Amalfi Coast, Sicily
July 30 – August 11, 2026 | 12 nights - Dubrovnik – Rome
Istria, Venice, Siena
August 22–31, 2026 | 9 nights - Rome – Venice
Portofino, Adriatic Coast
August 27 – September 3, 2026 | 7 nights - Venice – Provence
Siena, Rome, Capri, Porto Cervo
September 13–20, 2026 | 7 nights - Rome – Provence
Matera, Capri, Porto Cervo
September 12–20, 2026 | 8 nights
A Return to the Romance of Travel
For generations, the Grand Tour represented something larger than tourism — a slower, more thoughtful way of experiencing culture, landscape, and connection. With these new itineraries, Orient Express appears intent on reviving that philosophy for modern luxury travelers.
In an age defined by speed and over-scheduled itineraries, the Grand Italian Tours suggest a different approach: one where the train ride matters as much as the destination, where time at sea becomes part of the story, and where Italy is once again experienced the way it was always meant to be — slowly.
