Some journeys begin the moment you step on board, while others start much earlier, with anticipation, imagination, and the feeling that something extraordinary is about to happen. Travelling aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express had been a dream of mine for a long time. Three days from Rome to Venice, then Portofino and finally back to Rome: a journey through some of Italy’s most iconic landscapes, experienced from a completely different perspective—slow, elegant, and timeless.
This was not simply a train journey. It was a perfectly orchestrated sequence of thoughtful gestures, flavours, music, scenery, and surprises, with every detail arranged by Orient Express. From the airport transfer to the final massage before our flight home, we felt cared for inside a parallel world where time seemed to move at a gentler pace.
Our First Evening in Rome: Orient Express La Minerva
Our adventure began on the evening before departure, when we arrived at Orient
Express La Minerva, in the heart of Rome,
just behind the Pantheon. The hotel occupies the historic Palazzo Fonseca, a 17th-century building overlooking Piazza della Minerva. The location is incredible: step outside and, within moments, you are standing before one of the city’s most moving monuments.
From the first minute, we understood the level of experience that awaited us. The hotel is elegant, theatrical, and filled with beautiful details, yet it also feels warm and deeply Roman. Orient Express had arranged everything for us, including the airport transfer, allowing the journey to begin without us having to think about a single practical detail.
After a wonderful night, we enjoyed a dream Italian breakfast the following morning. Perfect coffee, pastries, dishes prepared to order, and attentive but effortless service made it the ideal way to say goodbye to Rome before officially entering the world of La Dolce Vita Orient Express.
The La Dolce Vita Lounge at Roma Ostiense
After breakfast, a private transfer took us to the La Dolce Vita Lounge at Roma Ostiense. The moment you enter, it is clear that this is not an ordinary waiting room. It is an exceptionally luxurious space designed to introduce guests to the atmosphere of the journey before the train even appears.
Every detail was considered: the furniture, lighting, service, live music, and a refined retro elegance that seemed to transport us to another era. The team took our luggage, which we later found waiting in our cabin, and offered us food and drinks while we waited to depart.
There was no rush, noise, or confusion—only a polished, welcoming, almost cinematic atmosphere. Soon afterwards, we were escorted to the platform. Seeing La Dolce Vita Orient Express in front of us for the first time was emotional. The journey was finally beginning.
Our Cabin: Italian Luxury in Every Detail
Once on board, our personal concierge escorted us to our cabin. Waiting inside were a welcome bottle of champagne, chocolates, personalised slippers, and even an Eredi Zucca candle. They were beautifully chosen gifts that immediately transformed the room into something intimate and personal.
The cabin was elegant and meticulously designed. The private bathroom had a proper shower and everything needed for personal care, including Eredi Zucca products and a Dyson. The materials, colours, and finishes evoked the best of 20th-century Italian design while offering every contemporary comfort.
One of the details I loved most was the collection of postcards offered to guests. We could write them and leave them with the train’s postal service to be sent during one of our stops. It was a simple, romantic gesture—completely out of time and perfectly suited to the spirit of the journey.
Our First Lunch on Board by Heinz Beck
As the train left Rome and the landscape began to move beyond the windows, we made our way to the Restaurant Car for our first lunch. The menu is created by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck and celebrates Italian cuisine through seasonal ingredients, technique, and beautiful elegance.
Lunch was exceptional, but what made it truly special was the complete scene: the porcelain, the service, the rhythm of the courses, the light entering through the windows, and Italy slowly changing outside. On this train, you do not simply eat well. Every meal becomes a moment, almost a performance, that stays in your memory.
After lunch, we explored the carriages, enjoyed a drink at the bar, and watched the scenery. The journey itself had become part of the destination. There was no sense of needing to arrive quickly; on the contrary, we wished each stretch of railway could last a little longer.
Venice at Sunset: The Lagoon All to Ourselves
We arrived in Venice during the afternoon, where a private guide and water taxi were waiting for us. From the first moment, everything felt unreal. Leaving the station and immediately finding ourselves on the water, surrounded by palaces, bridges, and golden reflections, is one of the most beautiful entrances any city can offer.
We crossed the lagoon and some of the city’s most atmospheric canals while the light became warmer. Passing beneath the Rialto Bridge at sunset was one of the most emotional moments of the day. Venice looked like a film set, suspended somewhere between reality and a dream.
Having a private guide allowed us to notice details we might otherwise have missed and to experience Venice without rushing. Once again, Orient Express had shaped every element beautifully, transforming only a few hours in the city into an incredibly rich memory.
Orient Express Venezia: Dinner Inside a Palace from 1436
That evening, we had dinner at Orient Express Venezia inside Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in the Cannaregio district. Built in 1436 at the meeting point of two canals, the palace is a genuine work of art. Its story spans almost six centuries and includes noble families, the Duke of Urbino, the Donà family, and the Giovannelli family.
In the 19th century, Giovanni Battista Meduna transformed its interiors with Neo-Gothic and Baroque elements. Today, the famous octagonal staircase, original frescoes, mosaic floors, stuccowork, monumental marble fireplaces, and Murano chandeliers remain. The restoration has preserved this historic identity while introducing an exceptionally refined form of contemporary luxury.
We dined in the internal garden, surrounded by dancers moving to music played from a gramophone. The atmosphere was theatrical, romantic, and completely unlike any dinner we had experienced before. The service and food were outstanding, but it was the setting that made the evening unforgettable. It felt as though we had been invited to a Venetian celebration from another era.
We returned to the train late that evening. Live music followed us deep into the night, and the Bar Car became a real party—elegant, spontaneous, and truly worthy of the name La Dolce Vita.
A Romantic Night Travelling Toward Portofino
When we returned to our cabin, another surprise was waiting: beautiful Venetian masks left as a memory of the evening. This continuity of thoughtful gestures is what makes the experience so special. Every time you return to your room, it feels as though the journey has prepared a new chapter.
Sleeping on the train as it travelled through Italy toward Portofino was incredibly romantic. The gentle movement of the carriages, the steady sound of the rails, and the idea of waking up inside a completely different landscape have something deeply captivating about them.
In the morning, we ordered breakfast in our cabin. Everything from the à la carte menu was served with perfect precision: coffee, warm dishes, fruit, pastries, and every detail arranged beautifully. Having breakfast in your own room while the world moves beyond the window is one of those small luxuries you never forget.
Portofino from the Sea: Paraggi, Villas, and a Dreamlike Bay
After arriving in Santa Margherita Ligure, a transfer took us to a private boat. We sailed along the coast, passing the bay of Paraggi and approaching Portofino from the sea. The colour of the water, the villas hidden among the greenery, and the pastel houses reflected in the bay created an almost perfect landscape.
Arriving in Portofino by boat is the most spectacular way to discover it. The Piazzetta appears slowly, framed by coloured façades and green hills. It is one of the world’s most iconic places, yet from the water it still feels intimate and surprising.
We docked for lunch at Da I Gemelli, directly on the Piazzetta. The restaurant interprets Ligurian tradition with deep respect for local ingredients and the sea.
Eating in that setting, watching the boats and the life of Portofino, became another perfect moment of the journey.
During the afternoon, we enjoyed more time on the Riviera, walking and taking in the elegant yet relaxed atmosphere that makes Portofino unique. We then returned toward Santa Margherita and our train, ready for our final evening on board.
Aperitivo, Michelin-Starred Dining, and a Visit to the Train Kitchen
After getting ready in our cabin, we met for aperitivo. The bar was already lively, the cocktails were prepared with great care, and the music set the perfect tone for the evening. It is very easy to begin talking to other passengers on board: everyone shares the same experience, and a small world forms surprisingly quickly.
Dinner in the Restaurant Car was once again exceptional. Heinz Beck’s menu, the impeccable service, and the motion of the train made every course even more fascinating. We also had the opportunity to visit the train’s kitchen with the chef, discovering how much work, organisation, and precision are required to create a dining experience of this standard while travelling.
After dinner, we became friends with other guests, and the evening continued in the Bar Car with live music, cocktails, laughter, and dancing. It was one of those nights when nobody wants to look at the time. The fun felt elegant but completely genuine, while the team remained present, smiling, and effortlessly attentive.
Returning to Rome and One Final Gift from La Minerva
The following morning, we woke up travelling toward Rome once again. We chose to enjoy our final breakfast in the Restaurant Car, taking in the atmosphere of the train, the service, and the landscape beyond the windows one last time.
When we arrived back at Roma Ostiense and returned to the lounge, it was difficult to believe the three days were already over. We had experienced so many different moments that the journey felt far longer in the best possible way.
Our flight was not until late in the evening, and Orient Express surprised us once more by inviting us back to La Minerva for a sixty-minute couples massage. After two nights on the train, it was the perfect ending: one final moment of relaxation before our transfer to the airport.
This gesture says so much about the level of service. They do not simply organise an itinerary; they follow the experience from beginning to end, constantly looking for ways to make it smoother, more personal, and more memorable.
What Makes La Dolce Vita Orient Express So Special
The hardest thing to describe is the world that forms on board. Of course, there are the beautiful cabins, the food, cocktails, gifts, music, and destinations. But what truly remains is the feeling of having entered a different time.
The staff were always smiling, attentive, and able to anticipate what we needed without ever feeling formal or distant. The service exceeded every expectation, yet it retained warmth and spontaneity. That balance is what transforms luxury into something authentic.
The other passengers also become part of the journey. You dine together, meet again at the bar, dance, share impressions, and eventually say goodbye as though you have known one another for much longer. For a few days, the train becomes a small universe in motion.
Conclusions
La Dolce Vita Orient Express was a dream I had carried for years, and the reality managed to exceed every expectation. The journey from Rome to Venice and Portofino was not only a beautiful way to see Italy, but a true celebration of its style, cuisine, art, and unique ability to turn every moment into beauty.
From our first night at Orient Express La Minerva to the Roma Ostiense lounge, from the champagne waiting in our cabin to Heinz Beck’s menus, from Venice at sunset to the bay of Portofino, every detail was cared for with an attention that felt almost impossible to match.
It is romantic, elegant, joyful, and deeply emotional. A waking dream created with extraordinary precision, yet always able to feel natural. A journey outside time that will continue to live in our memories long after the final stop.
Useful Tips for Experiencing La Dolce Vita Orient Express
- Arrive in Rome at least the evening before: staying at La Minerva allows the experience to begin calmly and immediately introduces you to the Orient Express world.
- Pack elegant but comfortable outfits: daytime is relaxed, while aperitifs and dinners are perfect opportunities to dress up and embrace the style of the train.
- Let the journey guide you: the itinerary is rich, but the true luxury is not having to organise anything and trusting the team completely.
- Try breakfast in your cabin at least once: waking up to the moving landscape and à la carte service is intimate and wonderfully romantic.
- Spend time in the Bar Car after dinner: live music, cocktails, and conversations with other guests are an essential part of the magic on board.
- Write the postcards: the train’s postal service is one of its most poetic details and creates a beautiful memory to share.
- Make the most of the excursions: Venice by water taxi and Portofino by private boat offer unforgettable perspectives.
- Do not rush to bed: some of the most memorable evenings begin when the train departs again and the music continues into the night.
Official Links
La Dolce Vita Orient Express – Venice & Portofino itinerary
Orient Express La Minerva, Rome
