Six countries, six cities and four nights on board. This is the great westbound journey of La Dolce Vita, from the Bosphorus to the Tiber.
Istanbul to Rome sets off as the sun sets over the Bosphorus. Over five days La Dolce Vita Orient Express visits two Bulgarian cities, Romania's Little Vienna, the Austrian capital and Venice, before arriving in Rome late on the final evening.
It is a journey of contrasts: Roman theatres and Orthodox domes in Bulgaria, Habsburg baroque in Timisoara and Vienna, and finally the lagoon. Private tours and a concert are woven through the itinerary.
We arrange it as a tailor made holiday, with flights, transfers and hotel nights in Istanbul and Rome.
Istanbul, where the journey begins
Journey Highlights
Plovdiv and Sofia
A private tour of Plovdiv's Old Town, then Sofia with a private concert.
Timisoara
Romania's Little Vienna, a European Capital of Culture in 2023.
Imperial Vienna
An afternoon on the Ringstrasse, with Schonbrunn as an option.
Venice
A water taxi to St Mark's and a final morning on the lagoon.
Day by Day Itinerary
Timings are a guide only. The train operator confirms exact times with your travel documents, and they can change with rail and weather conditions.
Farewell to the Bosphorus
A private transfer takes you to the station, where the train departs in the evening. Watch the minarets fade into the distance, then enjoy an aperitif in the Bar Car and dinner by Heinz Beck, followed by a pianist and vocalist.
First night on board. Dinner.
Plovdiv and Sofia
Breakfast is served as the train crosses the Bulgarian countryside. In Plovdiv a private tour explores the Old Town, with cobbled streets, National Revival houses and a Roman theatre still used for performances.
Plovdiv is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, with a history of some six thousand years. It was a European Capital of Culture in 2019.
In the afternoon you reach Sofia. A local guide shows you the gold domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the city's blend of Ottoman and European architecture, and a private concert follows. Return to the train for an evening in the Bar Car.
Second night on board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guided tours and concert.
Little Vienna
The train glides towards Timisoara, known as the Little Vienna of Romania for its baroque squares and tree lined boulevards. A local guide introduces its art and culture.
Timisoara has a proud place in history. In 1884 it became one of the first cities in Europe with electric street lighting, and in 1989 the Romanian revolution began here.
In the evening a special night on board ends with live music.
Third night on board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guided tour.
Imperial Vienna
Breakfast is served as the train enters Austria. Spend the afternoon on the Ringstrasse and in Vienna's grand cafes, or choose an experience such as after hours Schonbrunn Palace with a private concert, or a Danube cruise and gourmet dinner.
Return to the train for dinner by Heinz Beck and music in the Bar Car as it heads for Venice.
Fourth night on board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Imperial Vienna
Venice, Then Rome
Wake to morning light on the lagoon and take a private water taxi to St Mark's Square. Explore freely, or choose an experience such as cicchetti in the backstreets or the islands of Murano and Burano.
Return to the train for a final lunch, an aperitif and a last dinner by Heinz Beck. As night falls you arrive at Rome Ostiense, completing a five day journey across Europe.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Prices and Booking
Tailor made, price on application
This journey is not available as a ready made package, so we build the holiday around you. We reserve your cabin on the train, then add flights, private transfers and hotel nights in Istanbul and Rome, and quote one all inclusive price.
Call us on 0333 405 0192 or send an enquiry with your preferred month and cabin, and we will come back with dates and a price.
When it runs: A small number of departures each year. Ask us for the current calendar.
What the train fare includes
- Your private cabin or suite with en suite shower room
- All meals on board, with menus created by three Michelin star chef Heinz Beck
- Selected wines, spirits, soft drinks, tea and coffee
- Live music and entertainment in the Bar Car
- Transfer to the departure station and use of the La Dolce Vita Lounge where available
- Local host assistance at each stop, plus all taxes
Frequently Asked Questions
Late in the evening of the fifth day, after a final day in Venice. We arrange your Rome hotel for that night.
The published itinerary includes private tours in Plovdiv, Sofia and Timisoara and a concert in Sofia. Vienna and Venice experiences are optional extras.
UK passport holders do not currently need a visa for Turkey for short stays, but rules can change. Your passport needs six months' validity.
We arrange this journey as a tailor made holiday with flights and hotels. Call us on 0333 405 0192.
Yes. See Rome to Istanbul, via Venice, Budapest and Transylvania.