In 1786, Goethe left Karlsbad and travelled south to Italy for two years. This journey, later undertaken by Turner from London and Stendhal from Paris, was known as the Grand Tour. It was a formative experience, rooted in a simple idea: Italy takes time. Months on the road, sometimes years, from Rome to Venice, from Naples to the Tuscan hills.
Today, Orient Express revisits this tradition. In summer 2026, six itineraries known as the Grand Italian Tours will offer journeys across Italy by rail aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express, with stays ashore at Orient Express La Minerva in Rome and Orient Express Venezia in Venice – as well as at sea aboard Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht.
From July 19 to September 20, 2026, the routes extend from Venice to the French Riviera, from Rome to Valletta, from Dubrovnik to Marseille.
One journey.
Three ways of travelling, one continuous experience.
Orient Express Corinthian
Launching in June 2026, Orient Express Corinthian will be the world’s largest sailing yacht. It features 54 suites, with interiors designed by Maxime d’Angeac, Artistic Director of Orient Express. Culinary direction is led by multi-Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno. On board, the Guerlain Spa offers a dedicated wellness experience.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express
La Dolce Vita Orient Express is the first train dedicated to a refined exploration of Italy. Its interiors, designed by Milan-based Dimorestudio, are inspired by The Golden Age of Italian design from the 1950s to the 1970s. Thirty cabins, featuring deluxe and suite, all with en-suite bathrooms. Culinary direction is entrusted to three-Michelin
starred chef Heinz Beck.
Orient Express La Minerva, Rome
Housed in a building dating back to 1620, where Stendhal once stayed, the hotel reopened in April 2025 following a restoration led by architect and artist Hugo Toro. It features 93 rooms and suites, some overlooking the Pantheon and Piazza della Minerva. The rooftop restaurant, Gigi Rigolatto Roma, offers panoramic views over the city. The Spa, inspired by Ottoman baths, features Furtuna Skin and Charme d’Orient treatments and products.
Orient Express Venezia, Venice
Orient Express Venezia at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, a 15th-century Venetian noble palace, stands at the confluence of two canals in Cannaregio. The hotel offers 47 rooms, including 11 suites and residences. Gastronomy is overseen by Chef Heinz Beck, and the restoration reveals the building’s rich heritage through the vision of architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman.
Six itineraries, one geography
Each Grand Italian Tour combines at least two modes of travel: train, hotel, or sailing yacht.
All itineraries include a dedicated destination experience, such as a private visit to a Sienese palazzo, a dinner in the Gardens of Augustus in Capri, a truffle hunt in the forests of Istria, or an evening at the Palais Bulles in Cannes. Additional experiences are available on request.
The 2026 collection comprises six distinct itineraries:
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
Itineraries combine time in transit, extended stays and urban sequences, with transfers arranged between each stage.
