The Journey Is the Destination: Luxury Train Travel in Europe
The New "Old" Way to Travel in Style
There's a moment on every great train journey when you stop checking the time. Coffee arrives in real china, the countryside slides past the window, and the only decision left is whether to open your book or simply watch. After years of tight connections and crowded airports, that feeling has become one of the most sought-after experiences in travel.
Luxury rail is enjoying its strongest revival in a century. New trains are launching, legendary routes are returning, and operators that once ran a single classic journey now offer full seasons of itineraries. Here's what's new, what's coming, and how to choose the journey that fits the way you like to travel.
Why slow travel feels like luxury now
For many travelers, especially those who have already seen the big highlights, luxury no longer means more things. It means time, ease, and space to actually enjoy where you are. A train delivers all three. You unpack once, there are no security lines, and the landscape becomes part of the experience instead of something you fly over.
Belmond, the company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, has said as much: one of the great luxuries now is time. Travelers clearly agree. Luxury rail bookings have climbed sharply over the past two years, and operators are responding with new trains, new suites, and new routes.
Europe's headline journeys
1. La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Italy, and now Istanbul
La Dolce Vita is the first luxury train dedicated entirely to Italy, and it feels like stepping into a 1960s film. Milan's Dimore Studio designed the interiors around Italian style from the 1950s to the 1970s, and the menus come from Heinz Beck, the three-Michelin-starred chef behind La Pergola in Rome.
The big news this autumn is its first international route. On October 22, 2026, the train set off from Rome on a five-day, four-night journey to Istanbul, traveling through Venice, Budapest, and Romania before arriving at the historic eastern end of the original Orient Express line. Fares start at €20,000 per person.
Closer to home, the five-day Grand Tour loop links Rome with Venice, Matera, Taormina, and Palermo, and the 2027 collection adds a Portofino journey and a wine route through Bolgheri and Verona.
2. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Monte Carlo joins the map
The most famous train in the world is adding a new stop. In 2027, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will run an overnight journey from Paris along the French Riviera to Monte Carlo, with fares from €4,870 per person. Expect evenings in the legendary Bar Car 3674, black tie at dinner, and a very civilized arrival in Monaco.
Belmond is also pairing the train with hotel stays through its Villeggiatura by Train series, including a Paris to Amalfi Coast journey with a stop at Pompeii. For travelers who want the romance of the train and a few relaxed nights at the end, it's a smart combination.
3. Britannic Explorer: England and Wales, slowly
Belmond's newest train launched in July 2025 as the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales. With only 18 cabins and 36 guests, it feels more like a private house party than a train. Three-night journeys leave London Victoria for Cornwall, the Lake District, or Wales, with menus by Simon Rogan, one of Britain's leading farm-to-table chefs. The Lake District route even stops for a meal at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire.
Current three-night journeys start at around £6,300 per person, with meals, wine, and excursions included.
4. Al Andalus: a Spanish classic, reimagined
Spain's Al Andalus celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026 by expanding beyond Andalusia. Its seven-day, six-night journey now runs between Seville and Madrid in both directions, with stops in Córdoba, Cádiz, Jerez, Mérida, Cáceres, Toledo, and the royal palace town of Aranjuez. The carriages date back to the early twentieth century, and the food is a celebration of Spain: olive oil, sherry, and Iberian ham at nearly every turn.
At the time of writing, 2026 fares started at €6,600 per person. Departures are limited and fixed, so if Spain by rail is on your list, it's worth asking about 2027 dates early.
Advisor tip: Most luxury trains run on fixed dates with only a handful of departures each season. I build the rest of the trip around the train, not the other way around, so your hotel nights, flights, and transfers line up without any scrambling..
How to choose the right train
Every luxury train is beautiful in photos. The difference is in how it fits the way you travel. Here's what I look at with clients:
- Sleeper or daylight. Overnight trains are pure romance, but cabins move and sleep can be lighter. Daylight journeys with hotel nights, like Canyon Spirit, offer the scenery without the trade-off.
- Cabin size. Historic carriages are stunning and compact. If space or a private shower matters to you, that changes which train and which cabin category I recommend.
- What's included. Some trains include wine, excursions, and drinks. Others charge for drinks outside meals, tips, and laundry. Comparing the real cost matters more than comparing the starting fare.
- Timing. Many trains carry fewer than 40 guests, so the best cabins go first, often a year or more ahead.
- The days around it. Luggage limits, dress codes, and arrival times all shape the hotel nights before and after. That's where a well-planned trip feels effortless.
Ready to slow down?
Whether it's Italy by Orient Express, or Spain by Al Andalus, a great train journey is one of the most memorable ways to see the world. I'll help you choose the route, the cabin, and the right timing, then build the rest of the trip around it.
For now, all you need to do is complete the Inquiry Form, and we'll take it from there.
