La Dolce Vita Orient Express: From Istanbul to Rome

It is a 5-day, 4-night one-way journey from Istanbul to Rome, with all four nights spent on board. The route runs Istanbul - Plovdiv and Sofia - Timisoara - Vienna - Venice - Rome, crossing Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria and Italy. It is the longest itinerary in the La Dolce Vita collection.

A private transfer brings you from your hotel or the airport to Sirkeci Station, the historic terminus in the heart of Istanbul, where the train is waiting. Departure is in the evening, so you watch the city's minarets fade as you settle into your cabin. Dinner follows in the Restaurant Car with a menu by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck.

The train winds through the Bulgarian countryside to Plovdiv, where a private tour takes you through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, with its cobbled streets, Byzantine churches and ancient Roman theatre. Later the journey continues to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, where the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and a mix of Ottoman and European architecture await with a local guide. A private concert rounds off the day before you return to the train.

Timisoara, the third day's stop, is often called the Little Vienna of Romania for its Baroque architecture, tree-lined boulevards and handsome squares. Centuries of multicultural heritage have left it with an unusually varied artistic and cultural scene, which you explore with a local guide. You return to the train in the evening for dinner and live music in the Bar Car.

The fourth day brings the train into Austria and an afternoon in Vienna, where you can wander the Ringstrasse and the historic centre at your own pace or take a curated experience such as a private tour of Schonbrunn Palace or a tasting of Viennese patisserie. Dinner that evening is served on board by Chef Heinz Beck, followed by music in the Bar Car as the train heads toward Venice.

Among the curated options is an evening built around a private classical concert in an elegant historic venue, where a string quartet performs Mozart, Strauss and Schubert alongside traditional Viennese sweets. It is followed by exclusive after-hours access to Schonbrunn Palace, letting you walk its state rooms and gardens in complete privacy. These experiences are selected and paid for separately from the journey fare.

The final day brings the train through Venice and on to Rome, where the journey ends. Arriving in the Italian capital makes onward travel straightforward, whether you are flying home or staying on. We can arrange additional nights in Rome, or combine this journey with one of the other La Dolce Vita itineraries.

The route passes through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria and Italy, so carry your passport throughout and keep it accessible for border formalities. Entry requirements depend on your nationality, and Turkey in particular has its own rules separate from the European ones. Check with the relevant consulates well before you travel, and tell us your nationalities so we can flag anything unusual.

The itinerary is sold in two categories: the Deluxe Cabin and the Cabin Suite. The train carries 12 Deluxe cabins, 18 Suites and the signature La Dolce Vita Suite, with interiors inspired by Italian design of the 1960s. Current availability by category is shown on this page.

Fares start from EUR 15,760 per person based on two people sharing a cabin, reflecting four nights on board and the guided programme in five countries. The exact fare for each departure and cabin category is shown on this page. All meals, selected beverages and the described off-train experiences are included.

Yes. A cabin can be taken for sole use at a single-occupancy fare, which is higher than the sharing rate because the full cabin leaves inventory. The rate is shown for each departure on this page. With only a handful of departures a year, it is worth asking us early about single availability.

Included are your cabin for four nights, all meals on board with menus curated by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, selected beverages, the off-train excursions and guided visits described in the itinerary, live entertainment in the Bar Car and a dedicated cabin steward. The guided touring in Plovdiv, Sofia and Timisoara forms part of that programme.

Travel to Istanbul and onward travel from Rome are not included, nor are personal expenses, gratuities or travel insurance. Optional a la carte experiences, such as the private Vienna concert evening, are charged separately. Anything not expressly listed in the itinerary falls outside the fare.

Yes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board are part of the fare throughout, with menus curated by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck. Breakfast can be served in your cabin or in the Restaurant Car, and some lunches are taken off the train as part of the day's programme. Tell us about dietary requirements before departure so the galley can prepare.

Evenings feature live performance: a pianist and vocalist on the first night, and music in the Bar Car on the nights that follow, with selected beverages included. It sets an intimate, unhurried rhythm well suited to a long journey. You can join in or retreat to your cabin as you please.

A deposit of 30 percent of the tour price confirms your cabin and is non-refundable. The balance is due 125 days before departure, and bookings made within 125 days of departure are payable in full at the time of booking. Your written confirmation shows the exact amounts and the dates they fall due.

Children can travel, with reduced rates for those under 5 and those aged 5 up to 12, based on their age at departure, and they share the cabin with their accompanying adults. That said, this is a long, culturally intensive itinerary with four nights on board and full days of guided touring, so it suits older children better. Talk to us and we will advise honestly on the fit.

Departures currently run from 30 October 2026 to 28 October 2027, with four dates on sale. This is an autumn journey, operating roughly once a season. All available dates are listed on this page with their fares, and they sell a long way ahead.

There is more walking than on the shorter Italian routes: Plovdiv's Old Town, Sofia, Timisoara and Vienna all involve several hours on foot, often on cobbles and with some slopes. Transfers are private and guides set a civilised pace, but a reasonable level of fitness makes the days more enjoyable. Let us know about any mobility needs when you book.

Email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610 or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, where a travel specialist or our AI assistant will reply. The departures listed on this page can be booked directly. We can also hold a cabin briefly while you arrange your flights.