The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will launch its first-ever journey from Paris to the Amalfi Coast in 2026, pairing the deluxe rail experience with a stay at Belmond’s Hotel Caruso. Olivia Palamountain reports

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe, is set to extend its network of journeys with a first-of-its-kind route from Paris to the Amalfi Coast.

Launching in May 2026, the new itinerary marks a milestone in the train’s Italian “Villeggiatura by Train” series, which links Europe’s most romantic cities with Belmond’s collection of landmark hotels.

Departing from Paris on May 4, the three-night voyage will take passengers south through Italy, combining the glamour of luxury rail travel with the natural drama and cultural richness of the Campania region. A highlight of the journey will be a guided exploration of Pompeii, where guests will enjoy private access to parts of the ancient site rarely open to the public.

Afterward, the adventure continues by road to Ravello, where travellers will stay at Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast - a clifftop retreat celebrated for its panoramic views and its newly restyled infinity pool overlooking the Mediterranean.Each moment of the journey is designed as an immersion into Italian heritage and hospitality. Guests will dine on regionally inspired menus prepared by the train’s chefs, sip Champagne in the bar car accompanied by live piano music, and wake to views of Italian hills from the privacy of their cabin.

Upon arrival in Ravello, experiences range from culinary workshops led by Executive Chef Armando Aristarco to exclusive tastings of local specialities such as Controne beans, Menaica anchovies and Gioi Cilento “soppressata.”
Guests can also take part in artistic pursuits including a painting lesson on Caruso’s Loggia terrace or explore the coastline by private boat to Positano.

The new Amalfi Coast journey joins Belmond’s expanding portfolio of Italian rail experiences, which also include Paris-to-Venice and Paris-to-Florence routes, each culminating in stays at the brand’s flagship hotels - the Hotel Cipriani in Venice and Villa San Michele in Florence, the latter reopening in spring 2026. Meanwhile, the Paris-to-Portofino journey will return following the extensive restoration of Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, which reopened in 2025 with interiors by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.Pascal Deyrolle, general manager of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, says: “We are thrilled to introduce the Amalfi Coast to our Italian routes, continuing to connect our legendary train with our Belmond hotels. This journey offers guests a unique way to experience one of Italy’s most celebrated coastlines - with its cliffs, villages, and sea views revealed in a way that only the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express can provide.”
Prices for Villeggiatura by Train start from £8,600 per person based on two guests sharing a Historic Cabin, including an overnight journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and two nights at Caruso with guided excursions, transfers, and all onboard meals.