While the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (pictured) is nothing new, it now has a trendy younger sister: the Orient Express La Dolce Vita, branded around the romanticised notion of the Italian 'sweet life'.

Having finally hit the rails in 2025 – two years later than originally planned – this new iteration of the historic locomotive is aimed at more design-conscious travellers, swapping out Belle Epoque maximalism for mid-century curves and retro prints. La Dolce Vita's sleek fleet features luxe wood-lined cabins, live music and a restaurant serving haute cuisine by a Michelin-starred chef.

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