The Grand Tour is the latest Italian rail journey option from the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which debuted in April last year.
Aimed at high-end travellers seeking slower, more immersive journeys, the first departure is scheduled for the May 21 2026.
The five-day circular route from Rome, departing from Ostiense Station at 10.30, will travel through Venice, Matera, Taormina and Palermo before returning to the capital.
Guests enjoy a first evening in Venice, before rejoining the train. The next morning, they will wake to views of the Adriatic coast before disembarking in Bari for an inland journey to Matera – one of the world’s oldest cities and known for its ancient cave dwellings.
Crossing into Sicily, the La Dolce Vita Orient Express will arrive in Taormina by mid-afternoon on day three. Set between sea and sky, with Mount Etna as its backdrop, Taormina offers sweeping views. Later that evening, the journey continues down the coast toward Palermo.
By the morning of day four, the train will arrive in Sicily’s vibrant capital, Palermo, with its bustling markets and quiet corners. There will be time to explore the city before reboarding for the final leg. On the last morning, La Dolce Vita Orient Express arrives back in Rome at 10.30.
The iconic brand is rooted in Italian culture, design and regional identity, with interiors by Dimorestudio that bring a cinematic interpretation of 1960s Italian glamour.
On board, dining is led by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, with menus evolving alongside the regions the train passes through.
A defining moment of the journey comes with the crossing into Sicily, where the train is transported by ferry across the Strait of Messina, described as a “rare and quietly theatrical experience in European rail travel”.
Rates start from 15,760 euros per passenger.
