Search

Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made luxury rail holiday

La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Taste of Tuscan Vineyards

Eight-day London to Montalcino rail journey with luxury train sleeper and five-star hotels

Illustration of La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Taste of Tuscan Vineyards

Tailor Made Rail's eight-day La Dolce Vita Orient Express journey combines European rail glamour with Italian cultural immersion. You depart London via Eurostar and TGV, pausing in the culinary city of Lyon and the historic port of Genoa before two days exploring Florence's Renaissance art and architecture. After two days in Rome visiting the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon, you board the celebrated La Dolce Vita Orient Express at Rome Ostiense for an overnight sleeper journey to Montalcino, Tuscany's wine country. Along the way, you enjoy a gourmet lunch by 3-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck and a guided Brunello wine tasting in the hill town. The package includes five nights in five-star hotels with breakfast, all rail fares in First Class, and private transfers between stations and accommodations. This trip suits luxury-seeking couples, food-and-wine enthusiasts, and experienced rail travellers seeking a signature overnight train experience in comfort.

What to know before you look closer

  • The hotels are listed as 'or similar', meaning your final property in each city may differ from those named
  • This is a tailor-made package; confirm exact departure dates and any peak-period rail supplements with Tailor Made Rail before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Le Royal Hotel (or similar), Lyon

    London to Lyon

    Head to London St Pancras for a journey by Eurostar to Paris, then a driver transfer from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon for an onward TGV service. Arrive into Lyon's Part Dieu station in the early evening.

  2. Day 2overnight: Grand Hotel Savoia (or similar), Genoa

    Lyon to Genoa

    Return to the station for an onward journey south across the Italian border to Milan, then change onto an Italian service to the historic port of Genoa.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Hotel Number Nine (or similar), Florence

    Genoa to Florence

    Free morning in Genoa to visit the Old Town, San Lorenzo Cathedral and Porto Antico. At lunchtime return to the station and take the train down the coast to Pisa, changing onto a regional service to Florence.

  4. Day 4overnight: Hotel Number Nine (or similar), Florence

    Florence

    Explore Florence, capital of Tuscany, including the Duomo, the River Arno, the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery.

  5. Day 5overnight: Grand Hotel Palace (or similar), Rome

    Rome

    Catch a high-speed service to Rome. Explore the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Castel Sant'Angelo.

  6. Day 6overnight: Grand Hotel Palace (or similar), Rome

    Rome

    Second day exploring Italy's capital at leisure.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express (Deluxe Cabin)

    Depart aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express

    Transfer from the hotel to Rome Ostiense station to check in for an overnight journey aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express. A gourmet lunch on board, crafted by 3-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, is followed by a stop in the hill town of Montalcino for a stroll or a guided winery visit and Brunello wine tasting. Return to the train for dinner and evening entertainment.

  8. Day 8

    Return to Rome and fly back to the UK

    Wake in the Deluxe Suite to the Italian countryside and enjoy breakfast on board before arriving at Rome Ostiense, then transfer to the airport for the flight back to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar departs London St Pancras; TGV carries you south from Paris Gare de Lyon into Lyon by early evening
  • Day 3Free morning in Genoa to explore the Old Town and San Lorenzo Cathedral before the coastal train journey to Florence
  • Day 4Full day exploring Florence's Duomo, River Arno, Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery
  • Day 7Board the La Dolce Vita Orient Express at Rome Ostiense for an overnight journey; gourmet lunch by Chef Heinz Beck, then a guided winery visit and Brunello wine tasting in Montalcino before dinner and evening entertainment aboard

Included

  • First Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 5 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Private transfer from the Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon
  • Private transfers from station to hotel in Lyon and Rome
  • 2 nights aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express in a Deluxe Cabin including all meals, drinks and excursions
  • Private transfer from Rome Ostiense to Rome Airport
  • Flight from Rome to London in Economy Class
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes First Class rail travel with seat reservations on Eurostar, TGV and Italian regional trains, plus two nights in a Deluxe Cabin aboard the La Dolce Vita Orient Express with all meals, drinks and excursions
Which trains are used?
Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV First Class (Paris to Lyon), regional trains through Italy, and the La Dolce Vita Orient Express (Rome Ostiense to Montalcino, overnight)
What hotels are included?
Le Royal Hotel MGallery Collection in Lyon (1 night), Grand Hotel Savoia in Genoa (1 night), Hotel Number Nine in Florence (2 nights) and Grand Hotel Palace in Rome (2 nights), each with breakfast. All are listed as 'or similar'
What is the wine experience?
Day 7 includes a guided winery visit and Brunello wine tasting in the hill town of Montalcino during the La Dolce Vita Orient Express journey
Is the flight to Rome included?
No. You travel to Rome by train from London. The return flight from Rome to London in Economy Class on Day 8 is included
How much walking is involved?
A free morning in Genoa for self-guided sightseeing, full-day exploration of Florence's city centre, full-day exploration of Rome, and an optional stroll or guided winery tour in Montalcino

Similar journeys