Two of the most celebrated names in luxury rail now carry the Orient Express name into a new era. Yet for all they share, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and La Dolce Vita Orient Express could hardly be more different.
One is the restored original, crossing the Alps in Art Deco splendour as it has since 1982. The other is a stylish newcomer that first ran in 2025, celebrating 1960s Italy on journeys that rarely leave the country. As specialists who arrange journeys on both trains, we are often asked which is the better choice, so this guide sets them side by side.
At a Glance
| Venice Simplon-Orient-Express | La Dolce Vita Orient Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Operated by | Belmond | Orient Express (Accor) with Arsenale |
| First journey | 1982 | April 2025 |
| Carriages | Original 1920s and 1930s, restored | 1960s carriages, restored and redesigned in Italy |
| Style | Art Deco | Mid-century Italian, by Dimorestudio |
| Where | Across Europe, from Paris | Italy, mostly from Rome Ostiense |
| Signature journeys | Paris to Venice, Paris to Istanbul | Venice and Portofino, Tuscany, Sicily, Matera |
| Time on board | Usually one night, up to five for Istanbul | One to four nights |
| Accommodation | Historic Twin Cabins, Suites, Grand Suites, L'Observatoire | Deluxe Cabins, Suites, one La Dolce Vita Suite |
| Private bathroom | Suites and above only | Every cabin |
| Dining | Chef Jean Imbert, three restaurant cars | Menus by three Michelin star chef Heinz Beck |
| Guide price | From €4,510 pp, train only (2027) | Holidays from £4,629 pp with flights and hotel |
| Best for | Golden-age romance and a classic route to Venice | Modern comfort and Italian food, wine and culture |
Two Trains, One Legendary Name
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the original article. Its carriages are the very Wagons-Lits and Pullman cars that carried aristocrats, film stars and royalty in the golden age of rail, rescued and restored to make the train's first journey in 1982. When you step aboard, you step into the past. It is run by Belmond.
The La Dolce Vita Orient Express is something newer. It made its first journey on 4 April 2025, from Rome to the wine town of Montalcino. It is a partnership between Orient Express, the historic brand now part of Accor, and the Italian hospitality group Arsenale. Its carriages date from the 1960s and were completely restored and reimagined in Italy. Where the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express looks back with reverence, La Dolce Vita takes the glamour of Fellini's Rome and turns it into modern luxury. The two trains are entirely separate and are booked separately.
Where Each Train Travels
The clearest difference is geography. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express crosses Europe. Its classic Paris to Venice journey leaves Paris at about 16:00, crosses the Alps overnight and reaches Venice at about 17:30 the next day. Seasonal journeys link Paris with Vienna, Prague and Budapest, and once or twice a year the train travels all the way to Istanbul, recreating the original 1883 route.
La Dolce Vita is an Italian experience. Most journeys start at Rome Ostiense, where guests relax in a private lounge before boarding. Its routes read like a love letter to the country: Tastes of Tuscan Vineyards, the Truffle Route through Piedmont, the Eternal Stones of Matera, Venice and Portofino, and the Shores of Sicily. Guests step off for guided visits, tastings and lunches ashore. There is also an occasional Rome to Istanbul journey through Budapest and Transylvania. You can see every route on our La Dolce Vita journeys page.
So the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is about crossing a continent, while La Dolce Vita is about savouring one remarkable country.
Design and Atmosphere
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a moving gallery of Art Deco. Inlaid marquetry, Lalique glass panels, polished brass and crisp linen, with every carriage a little different. The mood is nostalgic and romantic.
La Dolce Vita takes its cues from the 1960s and 1970s. The Milan studio Dimorestudio looked to Italian design masters such as Gio Ponti and Gae Aulenti, with lacquered wood, curved mirrors, bold geometric fabrics and brass. It is bright, contemporary and unmistakably Italian. You feel the difference the moment you board each train.
Cabins and Comfort
This is where practical travellers should pay close attention. On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Historic Twin Cabins stay true to the period. They have a washbasin in the cabin, but WCs are shared at the end of each carriage, and there is no shower. For a private bathroom, choose a Suite, a Grand Suite or the L'Observatoire carriage.
On La Dolce Vita, every cabin has its own shower room. Each train has 31 cabins: 12 Deluxe Cabins of about seven square metres, 18 Suites of about eleven square metres, and a single La Dolce Vita Suite of about thirty square metres with its own bathtub. See our guide to La Dolce Vita cabins and suites. If you want the romance of the rails without giving up a private bathroom, this is a real difference.
Dining and Dress
Food is at the heart of both trains, in very different styles. On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, menus by the French chef Jean Imbert are served in three restored 1920s restaurant cars, and the evening ends in Bar Car 3674 with a pianist at the baby grand. Dressing up is part of the occasion, and black tie is very welcome at dinner.
On La Dolce Vita, menus are created by Heinz Beck, the three Michelin star chef of La Pergola in Rome, and change with each region you travel through. Selected wines and spirits are included, an Italian aperitivo is served each evening, and a pianist and singer play in the Bar Car. The dress code is elegant but more relaxed. On both trains, meals on board are included in the fare.
Which Orient Express Should You Choose?
Choose the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express if you are drawn to the authentic golden-age legend, the romance of crossing Europe by night, and carriages with a real history. It is the classic choice for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Venice, or the great adventure to Istanbul. It is also the easier choice from the UK, with Eurostar to Paris to join the train.
Choose La Dolce Vita if you want to explore Italy in depth, prefer a private shower room in every cabin, and love Italian design, food and wine. It suits travellers who want two or more nights on board with time to explore Tuscany, Sicily or Matera. Guests must be 12 or over.
Many of our guests, having travelled on one, come back to try the other. They are less rivals than two chapters of the same remarkable story. If you are still weighing up the cost, our guide Is the Orient Express worth it? looks at what you get for the money.
Let Us Help You Choose
As independent UK specialists in luxury trains, we arrange journeys on both the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and La Dolce Vita. We can advise on the routes, cabins and dates that suit you, then arrange the rest, from Eurostar or flights to hotels and transfers.
Call our specialists on 0333 405 0192 or send an enquiry to start planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is Belmond's historic train of restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, crossing Europe from Paris. La Dolce Vita Orient Express first ran in April 2025, has 1960s-inspired Italian interiors and runs journeys within Italy, mostly from Rome.
No. Belmond runs the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. La Dolce Vita is run by Orient Express, now part of Accor, in partnership with the Italian group Arsenale. They are separate trains, booked separately.
Neither is best for everyone. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express suits travellers who want the golden-age legend and a classic journey such as Paris to Venice. La Dolce Vita suits those who want to explore Italy over several nights with a private shower room in every cabin.
Not in every cabin on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Historic Twin Cabins share WCs at the end of the carriage, while Suites, Grand Suites and L'Observatoire have private bathrooms. Every cabin on La Dolce Vita has its own shower room.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express travels from Paris to Venice, Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Istanbul. La Dolce Vita travels within Italy from Rome, to Tuscany, Piedmont, Venice, Portofino, Matera and Sicily, with an occasional journey to Istanbul.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express fares start from €4,510 per person for Paris to Venice in 2027, for the train only. La Dolce Vita holidays start from £4,629 per person, including flights, transfers and hotel nights.
Guide updated 12 November 2026. Fares and dates change through the year, so we always confirm current prices before booking.