Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes 2 nights in a Deluxe cabin on the La Dolce Vita Orient Express from Rome to Portofino and back to Rome, plus gourmet meals aboard. Return flights between London and Rome are also included.

What trains does this trip use?

The La Dolce Vita Orient Express, a luxury sleeper train. The itinerary also includes return flights between London and Rome (not a train).

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

Great Rail Journeys runs this as an escorted luxury tour. Rome days are free to explore at your own pace, with optional guided excursions available. Venice and Portofino include leisure time plus optional activities.

Which hotels are included in Rome?

Great Rail Journeys offers a choice of three 4-star or 5-star hotels: Marcella Royal (4-star, 1967 boutique hotel with breakfast), Rose Garden Palace (4-star modern boutique with wellness centre), or Inn at the Spanish Steps (5-star, central location near attractions).

What meals are included?

Breakfast daily in Rome and on the train. Lunch by Michelin 3-star Chef Heinz Beck on Day 4 as the train travels to Venice. Le Grand Soir dinner with live music on Day 5 aboard the train.

Great Rail Journeys · Luxury rail journey

La Dolce Vita, Rome, Venice & Portofino

La Dolce Vita, Rome, Venice and Portofino is a 7-day escorted luxury rail journey operated by Great Rail Journeys that departs from London and returns there, allowing you to experience Italy's most storied destinations in high style. The trip opens with three nights of free-roaming time in Rome, where you stay in a carefully chosen 4-star or 5-star hotel and can explore the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and neighbourhood restaurants and cafes at your leisure. On Day 4, you board the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, a luxury sleeper train, for an overnight journey toward Venice. During this leg, you enjoy a gourmet lunch prepared by Michelin 3-star Chef Heinz Beck using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients as the train passes through Tuscany. Day 5 takes you from Santa Margherita Ligure on the Ligurian coast to the picturesque port town of Portofino, followed by a scenic Mediterranean cruise and Le Grand Soir dinner with live music as the train returns you to Rome. The package suits luxury-seekers, couples, food-and-wine enthusiasts, and repeat rail travellers who value sumptuous on-board dining and the romance of sleeper-train travel.

Price history

Across 3 checks, this price has held at £9,095 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The package price covers the escorted tour, hotels, and flights from London; confirm whether any rail supplements apply with Great Rail Journeys.
Days 2 and 3 in Rome are unguided; optional excursions including a Roman Panoramic Tour, wine tasting, and cooking class are available at additional cost.
Venice time is not structured; Great Rail Journeys offers optional guided tours and dining experiences, or you may explore independently.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Rome
Arrival in Rome
Upon arrival, enjoy the convenience of a private transfer to your carefully selected hotel. Select from our curated list of 4-star or 5-star accommodations. Immerse yourself in the rich history and vibrant culture of Rome.
Day 2overnight: Rome
Exploring Rome
Today, embrace the freedom to explore Rome at your own pace. Wander through the city's enchanting narrow streets, lined with quaint boutiques, lively bars, and inviting souvenir shops. Optional excursions available for a supplement.
Day 3overnight: Rome
Rome
Delight in another leisurely day to delve deeper into the treasures of Rome, tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain and exploring the Colosseum. Optional excursions can be pre-booked for a supplement.
Day 4railovernight: Onboard La Dolce Vita
La Dolce Vita to Venice
Embark on a late morning journey from Rome Ostiense aboard the La Dolce Vita Orient Express. Savour a sumptuous lunch in the Restaurant Car, presented by 3-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck. Arrive in Venice in the evening for time at leisure or an optional excursion, before the train departs near midnight for Portofino.
Day 5overnight: Onboard La Dolce Vita
La Dolce Vita & Portofino
Enjoy an Italian breakfast onboard as you arrive in Santa Margherita Ligure, with a short transfer to Portofino for leisure time and a scenic journey along the Mediterranean coast. In the evening, enjoy "Le Grand Soir" onboard dinner with live music.
Day 6railovernight: Rome
Arrive back in Rome
Cherish the final moments aboard the La Dolce Vita Orient Express with a sumptuous Italian breakfast as the train arrives at Rome Ostiense, concluding your journey.
Day 7
Rome to the UK
You are privately transferred to Rome airport for your flight back home.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Arrival in Rome and private transfer to a curated 4-star or 5-star hotel in the heart of the city.
Day 4Late morning departure from Rome Ostiense aboard the luxurious La Dolce Vita Orient Express with a sumptuous lunch prepared by Michelin 3-star Chef Heinz Beck as the train glides through Tuscany toward Venice.
Day 5Arrival at Santa Margherita Ligure on the Ligurian coast, followed by a scenic journey along the Mediterranean Sea and Le Grand Soir dinner with live music aboard the train returning to Rome.

Included

4 nights hotel accommodation (Bed and Breakfast) in 4 star hotels
2 nights in a Deluxe cabin on La Dolce Vita
Private transfers in Rome
Return flights between London and Rome

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Rail

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes 2 nights in a Deluxe cabin on the La Dolce Vita Orient Express from Rome to Portofino and back to Rome, plus gourmet meals aboard. Return flights between London and Rome are also included.
What trains does this trip use?: The La Dolce Vita Orient Express, a luxury sleeper train. The itinerary also includes return flights between London and Rome (not a train).
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: Great Rail Journeys runs this as an escorted luxury tour. Rome days are free to explore at your own pace, with optional guided excursions available. Venice and Portofino include leisure time plus optional activities.
Which hotels are included in Rome?: Great Rail Journeys offers a choice of three 4-star or 5-star hotels: Marcella Royal (4-star, 1967 boutique hotel with breakfast), Rose Garden Palace (4-star modern boutique with wellness centre), or Inn at the Spanish Steps (5-star, central location near attractions).
What meals are included?: Breakfast daily in Rome and on the train. Lunch by Michelin 3-star Chef Heinz Beck on Day 4 as the train travels to Venice. Le Grand Soir dinner with live music on Day 5 aboard the train.