Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London or Paris to Portofino

Begin your adventure in the City of Light. Your accommodation is a stylish Parisian retreat, tucked away on a leafy boulevard just moments from the city’s famed landmarks. Spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace — browse elegant boutiques, admire masterpieces at the Musée d’Orsay, or pause for coffee and people-watching on a café terrace. In the evening, enjoy a refined dinner at your hotel or venture out to a neighbourhood bistro to toast the start of your journey.

If you’d prefer to begin in London, our specialists can arrange Eurostar travel or flights from regional airports.

Today marks the beginning of an unforgettable journey. Step aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Paris and settle into your private cabin, where gleaming marquetry, soft lighting, and plush upholstery set a tone of refined comfort. As the train begins its journey south, your steward serves tea, coffee, and delicate pastries in your cabin. Watch the landscapes shift from Parisian suburbs to the rolling countryside of Burgundy and Provence, passing the storied cities of Dijon, Lyon, and Avignon before reaching the French Riviera. As evening falls, prepare for a night of fine dining and elegant celebration. A multi-course dinner features ingredients sourced along the route, paired with exquisite wines or non-alcoholic alternatives. Later, join fellow travellers in Bar Car 3674 for live piano music and crafted cocktails before retiring to your cabin, transformed into a tranquil sleeping compartment for the night.

Awake to coastal vistas as the train traces the azure shoreline of southern France and northern Italy. Your steward serves breakfast in your cabin at your leisure. From Cannes to Nice, Monaco to Savona, the route unfolds like a travelogue of the Riviera’s greatest hits. Enjoy a leisurely three-course lunch before arriving in Santa Margherita Ligure, gateway to Portofino. Disembark and transfer to Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, an emblem of Italian charm where terraced gardens overlook the Gulf of Tigullio. Spend the afternoon at leisure, relaxing by the saltwater pool, indulging in a treatment at the Dior Spa, or simply taking in the sea breeze from your balcony.

As evening falls, choose from exceptional dining options: Splendido Grill for creative Mediterranean dishes or Mare Restaurant for seafood by the waterfront. Afterwards, unwind with a nightcap at Splendido’s bar, once a favourite of Hollywood icons from Elizabeth Taylor to Humphrey Bogart.

Today is dedicated to exploration and indulgence. Begin with breakfast on La Terrazza, where tables spill onto flower-framed balconies overlooking the bay. Then, choose how you wish to spend the day, whether that's a private tennis session, a guided coastal hike to the Portofino lighthouse, or perhaps a pizza masterclass with the hotel’s chef.

As the sun begins to set, enjoy an aperitif at Bar Baratta Sedici, followed by a gala dinner at La Terrazza, where Chef Corrado Corti presents a seasonal menu inspired by Ligurian flavours. With live music and boundless sea views, it’s an unforgettable finale to your Italian getaway.

Savour a final breakfast at La Terrazza, linger over the freshest local produce, and soak in the view of yachts bobbing in the bay below. Take a last stroll through the terraced gardens before your onward journey. Private transfers can be arranged for your return or extended stay in Italy.