La Dolce Vita Orient Express: From Rome to Istanbul

It is a 5-day, 4-night one-way journey running Rome - Venice - Budapest - the Carpathians - Istanbul, with all four nights spent on board. It ends at the legendary eastern terminus that made the Orient Express name famous. Along the way it takes in Venice's canals, Budapest's boulevards and the mountain towns of Transylvania.

A private transfer brings you from your hotel or the airport to the La Dolce Vita lounge at Rome Ostiense, which opens three hours before departure. The train leaves in the evening and you settle into your private cabin as the Italian countryside drifts past. Dinner is served in the Restaurant Car by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, followed by live music from a pianist and vocalist.

The train arrives in Venice on the morning of the second day, where local assistants meet you on the platform and accompany you into the city by private water taxi. You have the day to wander freely or take one of the curated experiences. In the late afternoon you rejoin the train for dinner as the city's lights fade behind you.

One a la carte option explores the Venice of Casanova, walking the calli and campielli of the city of masquerade balls and noble intrigue. Guided by expert historians, it includes the hidden passages of the Doge's Palace, moving through concealed doors to see the private side of the Serenissima. It is chosen and paid for separately from the journey fare.

You wake to Budapest on the third day, where local assistants welcome you and a private transfer takes you into the centre. The day is yours among elegant streets, iconic bridges and quiet squares, or you can choose a curated experience focused on the city's art and history. In the late afternoon you return to the train for dinner and live music as the journey continues eastward.

On the fourth day the train winds through the Carpathian mountains to Brasov, a town of medieval streets and squares. A private guide and luxury transfer take you into Transylvania to Bran Castle, widely known as Dracula's Castle, with its battlements and passages, and then on to Sinaia for Peles Castle, a Neo-Renaissance jewel set against the mountains. It is the most cinematic day of the journey.

The journey ends in Istanbul on the fifth day, the city of domes, markets and endless stories, and the historic eastern terminus of the original Orient Express route. Many guests stay on for a few nights to explore, which we are glad to arrange. Ending there also makes the journey a natural one-way pairing with the Istanbul to Rome itinerary.

The route crosses Italy, Hungary, Romania and Turkey, along with the countries it transits on the way, so your passport should be to hand throughout for border formalities. Entry requirements depend on your nationality, and Turkey's rules are separate from the European ones. Check with the relevant consulates well ahead and tell us your nationalities so we can flag anything unusual.

The itinerary is sold as Deluxe Cabin and Cabin Suite. The train comprises 12 Deluxe cabins, 18 Suites and the signature La Dolce Vita Suite, with interiors inspired by Italian design of the 1960s. Availability for each departure is shown on this page.

Fares start from EUR 20,000 per person based on two people sharing a cabin, making this the flagship journey of the La Dolce Vita collection. The figure reflects four nights on board and a private guided programme across several countries. The exact fare for each departure and cabin category is shown on this page.

Yes, a cabin can be booked for sole use at a single-occupancy fare, which is higher than the per-person sharing rate because the entire cabin leaves inventory. The rate is shown for each departure on this page. With only four departures on sale, we suggest asking about single availability as early as you can.

The fare covers four nights in your chosen cabin, all meals on board with menus curated by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, selected beverages, the off-train excursions described in the itinerary, live entertainment in the Bar Car and a dedicated cabin steward. The private guide and transfers in Transylvania are part of that programme.

Travel to Rome and onward travel from Istanbul are not included, nor are personal expenses, gratuities or travel insurance. Optional a la carte experiences, such as the Casanova walking tour in Venice, are paid for separately. Anything not expressly listed in the itinerary lies outside the fare.

Yes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board are included throughout the four nights, with menus curated by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck. Breakfast can be served in your cabin or in the Restaurant Car, and some meals are taken off the train as part of the day's programme. Dietary requirements can usually be arranged with advance notice.

Each evening follows a similar rhythm: dinner in the Restaurant Car, then live music from a pianist and vocalist, with selected beverages included. The atmosphere is warm and intimate rather than showy, well suited to a journey of this length. You are free to join or to retire to your cabin.

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 are permitted, with reduced rates for those under 5 and those aged 5 up to 12 based on their age at departure, sharing the cabin with their accompanying adults. In practice this is a long journey with four nights on board and full days of guided touring, so it suits older children and teenagers better. We are happy to advise on whether it fits your family.

Departures currently run from 22 October 2026 to 20 October 2027, with four dates on sale. It is an autumn journey that operates roughly once a season in each direction. All available dates and their fares are listed on this page, and they are usually booked far in advance.

It is the most demanding of the La Dolce Vita journeys in terms of time on foot. Venice means bridges and steps, Budapest involves city walking, and the Transylvania day includes castle visits with stairs and uneven ground at Bran and Peles. Private transfers and guides keep the pace comfortable, but reasonable mobility makes the days far more enjoyable; tell us about any limitations 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.