New 2026 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express From Paris to Amalfi Coast
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will launch a new route in May 2026, linking Paris directly to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The first departure is scheduled for May 4, 2026. This is the first time the train runs a Paris–Amalfi Coast journey.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a luxury sleeper train operated by Belmond. It uses restored European railcars built in the 1920s and 1930s, many of which originally ran on historic Orient-Express services.
Belmond’s Villeggiatura by Train concept links long-distance rail travel with extended stays at Belmond properties in Italy. The train is known for fixed itineraries, formal dining, and a tightly controlled onboard experience.
Unlike modern luxury trains, this service does not focus on flexibility or speed. Routes are limited and infrequent. The appeal is the setting, the pace, and the continuity of travel by rail across borders.
Until now, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has focused on routes like Paris–Venice, Paris–Istanbul, and select European cities. This new Amalfi itinerary pushes farther south than any previous service.
Route details
The journey lasts three nights on board. After leaving Paris, the train heads southeast, crossing the French Riviera and then the Italian Riviera before reaching southern Italy.
The pace is slow by design, with daytime scenery and formal evenings on board.
A scheduled stop includes a guided visit to Pompeii, built into the itinerary rather than offered as an optional add-on.
The train journey does not end at a coastal station. After Pompeii, passengers are transferred to Ravello, where the trip concludes with two nights at Caruso, A Belmond Hotel.
The hotel sits high above the coast in a former medieval palace and has long been one of Belmond’s flagship properties in southern Italy.
Onboard experience
The train uses restored 1920s and 1930s carriages. Cabins include historic compartments and larger suites with en-suite bathrooms.
Dining takes place in original art-deco restaurant cars. Meals are prepared fresh on board, with a formal dinner service each evening.
The bar car remains open late, with piano music and table service. Dress codes are enforced at night, and schedules are fixed. This is not flexible or modular travel.
Prices and availability
Pricing for the Paris-Amalfi Coast journey starts at around £8,600 per person (roughly €10,800–€11,000) for a Historic Cabin, based on two people sharing. This is the lowest published fare for the route and applies to limited 2026 departures.
Higher cabin categories cost more. Suites and Grand Suites are expected to start well above this level, often £16,000+ per person, depending on cabin type and availability. Solo travelers usually pay a single-occupancy supplement.
The fare includes:
- Three nights on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- All meals, wine, and drinks on the train
- A guided visit to Pompeii
- All ground transfers during the itinerary
- Two nights at Caruso, A Belmond Hotel in Ravello
Flights to Paris and onward travel after Ravello are not included. Pricing is set per departure and capacity is limited, so published “starting from” fares apply to a small number of cabins.
Only a limited number of departures are planned for spring and early summer 2026. Cabins are sold directly through Belmond. New routes on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express typically sell out early.