The Amalfi Coast offers some of Italy’s most iconic scenery, with pastel-colored cliffside towns stacked high above the sea and narrow roads winding between terraced lemon groves. But getting there is often a patchwork of trains, buses and transfers that can test a traveler’s patience as much as their navigational skills. But in 2026, there will be another option: instead of ferry or minibus, you’ll arrive aboard one of the world’s oldest railways.
Belmond’s train, the Venice Simplon Orient Express, has announced its first-ever Paris-Amalfi Coast journey next year as part of its expanding train series Villages. This combines an overnight train trip with consecutive nights in Belmond’s Italian hotels.
The new three-night route, which will depart from Paris on May 4, 2026, will take guests south through France into Italy, stopping in Pompeii before heading to Ravello, where they will stay at Belmond Caruso, a luxury hotel housed in a former 11th-century palace.
Guests board a midnight blue vehicle in Paris and are welcomed with champagne before settling into restored 1920s Art Deco rooms. This train has three cabin types: Historic Twin Cabin, Suite, and Grand Suite. The Historic Twin Cabin is the most classic train, with a compact wood-paneled compartment, seats that convert into bunk beds at night, and just a washbasin (with a full washroom at the end of the sleeper). The suite combines two cabins into one large space with a private sitting area and can be configured with two twin beds or a single double bed. Grand suites are the largest and feature en suite marble bathrooms, dedicated seating and dining areas, and design elements themed to specific cities.
On the first evening, guests will enjoy a dinner showcasing cuisine inspired by the regions along the line, followed by cocktails and live piano music in bar Car 3674. The next morning, breakfast is served in guests’ cabins as the train travels through the Italian countryside. Lunch will also be provided on board before you take part in a guided exploration of the ruins before arriving in Pompeii. Travelers who book a Grand Suite will receive additional benefits. Private access to Casa del Lalario in the 5th district of Regio. This area of the ruins is rarely open to the public and is supported by conservation works funded by Belmond’s Caruso Hotel. Those more interested in food than ruins can instead opt for a hands-on cooking session led by Caruso’s executive chef Armando Aristarcho.
The train portion ends when guests arrive at the Caruso Belmond Hotel. At over 1,000 feet above sea level, it stands on one of the highest points in Ravello. The restored palace has arched stone halls, frescoed salons, and terraced gardens leading down the hillside. The rooms and suites have antique furniture and views of the garden or the Tyrrhenian Sea. Some rooms also have a private terrace or outdoor plunge pool. That evening, guests will be invited to a private party featuring refreshments from local food producers next to an infinity pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. There will also be a wood-fired pizza cooking demonstration by the hotel’s executive chef.
The next day is intentionally free. Travelers can take a private boat from the hotel to Positano, visiting secluded coves and swimming spots along the way, or stay on-site and take painting lessons from local artists on the terrace. On the final night, guests gather in the hotel’s Wagner Garden for a gala dinner.
The Village by Train – Paris to Amalfi Coast itinerary costs from £8,600 per person (approximately $11,540 based on current exchange rates). Fares include all meals and sommelier-selected wines on board, 24-hour steward service, transportation, guided tours, and a two-night hotel stay.
Amalfi route joins Italian Airlines’ growing portfolio holiday Belmond will also operate a new three-night itinerary from Paris to Venice with a stay at the Hotel Cipriani, a new three-night itinerary from Paris to Florence with a stay at the reopened Villa San Michele in spring 2026, and a new three-night itinerary from Paris to Portofino with a stay at Portofino’s landmark Splendid, which reopened in 2025.
