The legendary Orient Express is returning with a Rome–Istanbul route
In 2026, the legendary Orient Express will once again set off on a journey through Europe—this time on the Rome–Istanbul route. Passengers are promised five days and four nights of luxurious travel featuring champagne, fine dining, and picturesque scenery. At the same time, ticket prices for the revamped route have already drawn attention due to their high cost.
This is reported by Euronews.
Passengers are promised five days and four nights of champagne, fine dining, and breathtaking European scenery—all with a distinct Italian flair.
On October 22, the La Dolce Vita Orient Express will embark on its maiden voyage—a modern reinterpretation of the famous route, inspired by the atmosphere of the classic Orient Express and the “sweet life” style of Italy.
The luxurious journey for guests will begin in the Orient Express Lounge at Rome’s Ostiense station, designed by architect Ugo Toro. Here, passengers will be greeted with glasses of sparkling wine, aperitivo-style appetizers, and live Italian music, the organizers note.
In the evening, travelers will board the train, where they will find compartments and suites inspired by 1960s Italy and designed by the Milan-based studio Dimorestudio. The dining car will serve dishes by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck.
After a night in a luxurious compartment measuring about 7 square meters or in a more spacious suite of nearly 11 square meters, passengers will wake up in Venice.
There, guests can stroll through the narrow streets of the “floating city” or choose specially curated excursions—such as a boat trip through the lagoon or a tour of Venice “through Casanova’s eyes.”
The next stop is Budapest, often called the “Pearl of the Danube.” Here, passengers can explore the city’s rich history and architecture, as well as enjoy a leisurely lunch in Buda or Pest—the two parts of the Hungarian capital separated by the river.
The next day, the train will cross the Carpathian Mountains and make stops at two Romanian gems—the medieval city of Brașov and the mountain town of Sinaia.
In the evening, guests will once again be treated to aperitifs, dinner, and a musical program, after which they will spend their final night on the train.
The next day, the Orient Express will arrive at the final destination of this historic route—Istanbul.
After disembarking, passengers can set out to explore the city’s domes, bazaars, and vibrant streets or continue their journey further east.
However, such an adventure is not accessible to everyone. Ticket prices start at 20,000 euros per person, so most would-be travelers will have to save up significantly.
Spainbroke a historic tourism record in 2025 — AP.
As a reminder, the island of Saint Martin in Bangladesh is closing to tourists for 9 months.
Also, Romania is introducing a tourist tax starting in 2026.
