LIFE BEYOND FIRST CLASS
DEPARTURES
ROLLING THROUGH ELEGANCE
All aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe where 2025’s most extravagant rail journeys redefine luxury with Tuscan stargazing, Riviera glamour, and a champagne-soaked celebration of slow trave
REBECCA ETORIA
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe is a time machine wrapped in polished mahogany, with a champagne flute in hand and Europe rolling past the window like a living painting. Launching in May 2025, this icon of slow luxury travel is setting the bar even higher with two extraordinary itineraries: a new three-night journey to Tuscany and the highly anticipated return of its Portofino route. For those who crave decadence on rails, it’s a voyage like no other.
Tuscany
Where Legends and Landscapes Collide
It all begins in Paris—because where else? Guests are greeted with champagne as they step into their lavish cabins, choosing between Historic Cabins, opulent Grand Suites, or the ultra-stylish Suites. As the train glides through pastoral countrysides, the elegant Bar Car ‘3674’ hums with piano music and clinking glasses, while Michelin-starred Chef Jean Imbert crafts a culinary experience inspired by the regions you’re crossing. The scent of truffle-laden pasta mingles with the fizz of fresh cocktails. Sleep? Optional.
Morning greets passengers with the rolling hills of Tuscany. After a leisurely breakfast served in the privacy of your cabin, the train halts in Arezzo. From there, a curated itinerary unfolds: Siena’s medieval charm, a private tour of Palazzo Pannocchieschi d’Elci, and a lunch of locally-sourced Tuscan flavors that could make even the most jaded traveler swoon.
But the true masterpiece awaits: Castello, Di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany . With roots in Etruscan times, this Belmond estate is where history meets indulgence. You’ll spend two nights here, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, with an agenda that feels as if it were designed by the gods of luxury themselves. Stargazing in an amphitheater? Check. Tuscan village festivities in the courtyard? Naturally. By the time you’ve wandered the estate’s trails on your final morning, you’ll be plotting how to stay forever.
Portofino
A Riviera Affair
If Tuscany’s rolling hills evoke serenity, the Portofino journey is all about Riviera glamour. Departing Paris, the train winds through the glitzy French Riviera, offering views so stunning they could make diamonds seem dull. The brand-new L’Observatoire sleeper car, designed by renowned artist JR, debuts on this route in March 2025, combining contemporary artistry with Venice Simplon-Orient-Express elegance.
Your destination? Splendido, the iconic Belmond hotel perched above Portofino’s azure coastline. Recently unveiled after a dazzling renovation, the hotel’s new spaces include a Dior Spa, a signature bar, and a reimagined La Terrazza restaurant. Days are spent indulging in saltwater poolside bliss, exploring Portofino’s charming Piazzetta, or embarking on nature trails and kayaking excursions. Evenings culminate in opulent dinners and cocktails under the stars, in the same spaces once frequented by Elizabeth Taylor and Humphrey Bogart.
For the
Jet-Set Elite
These journeys are tailor-made for discerning travelers who appreciate the art of the journey as much as the destination. Starting at £9,350 for Tuscany and £10,400 for Portofino, each itinerary is an all-encompassing ode to indulgence: 24-hour steward service, world-class dining, and unforgettable moments at Belmond’s most coveted properties. It’s a love letter to the golden age of travel—with a modern twist.
Why fly over Europe when you can savor every moment of it, champagne in hand, on the most glamorous train in the world? For jetsetters who know the journey matters as much as the destination, this is your next great escape. Don’t just travel; revel in it.
