Europe is set to gain another irresistible train route, from France’s City of Lights to Italy’s Divine Coast, as Belmond, who operate the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, gets set to launch a new service from Paris to the Amalfi Coast in the most romantic of months, from 4 May 2026.
Another opportunity on the expanding “Villeggiatura by Train” series, Belmond’s latest proposition gives passengers the chance to spend one night on board what Time Out calls “the world’s poshest train” – the legendary Orient Express – before heading onwards to Ravello and its Caruso hotel on the Amalfi Coast.
Describing the series, Belmond says: “From breathtaking landscapes to authentic cuisine, each journey offers both luxury train travel and unforgettable stays at 5-star hotels in Italy.” The concept embraces the promise of “a trip that captures the very essence of villeggiatura, the art of the leisurely Italian summer holiday,” the company says on its website.
From art deco carriages, to champagne and cocktails, and boasting private marble bathrooms and live piano music, the train is just the start of an exclusive adventure that will introduce guests to the volcanic archaeology of Pompeii through a VIP expert guided tour, including the hidden gem that is the second-century House of the Lararium of Achilles, as well as Belmond’s own 11th-century palazzo hotel Caruso, perched above the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The full ticket price of €10,000 per person includes all transfers, excursions, and meals along the way (which feature dishes inspired by the regions visited), as well as a private event at the Caruso hotel’s infinity pool, and a gala dinner among the hotel’s stunning clifftop gardens with Amalfi Coast views.
A scenic boat tour and cooking classes with local produce and experts are also part of the journey that awaits guests before their private transfer from the hotel to Naples train station or airport. Belmond points out that bespoke destinations can also be arranged upon request, although they may be subject to a supplementary charge.
Departures from Paris are estimated to leave at 11:00 am and arrive in Pompeii at around 3:30 pm the following day, though Belmond notes these times are subject to national train timetable variations.
From olive oil tastings to vineyard tours, bespoke train journeys to deliver visitors in style to iconic locations and events are all the rage. Autumn 2025 saw Oktoberfest specials starting the world-famous German beer festival early on rails – an idea that will be repeated this December, as the Monaco Express takes Christmas fans back to Munich for seasonal market jollity.
