La Dolce Vita Orient Express launches new luxury golf journey across Italy
- Jake Nicholas
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
Timed to coincide with the 2025 Italian Open, the iconic La Dolce Vita Orient Express has officially launched a new suite of itineraries tailored for golf lovers, blending sport, culture, and slow travel into a singularly elegant experience. The luxury train, a special partner of this year’s Italian Open, will offer its first golf-focused departure in October 2025, with bookings now open.
The new journeys are designed to showcase Italy’s growing reputation as a premier golf destination. Each multi-day itinerary pairs world-class courses with Michelin-starred cuisine, sweeping landscapes, and the signature charm of Orient Express hospitality. Guests will be accompanied by a renowned professional golfer and treated to curated masterclasses, exclusive events, and refined accommodations both aboard and at select partner hotels.
Northern Greens Route
The debut itinerary, Northern Greens, offers four days and three nights aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express—an immersive experience where golfing excellence meets the timeless elegance of rail travel. Priced from €16,500 per passenger, the round-trip journey will begin and end in Rome, with stops in Brescia, Turin, and Perugia. The next departure is scheduled for May 2026.
For true connoisseurs, this is an invitation to experience every swing in style across some of Italy’s most prestigious golf clubs: Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Franciacorta Golf Club, Royal Park I Roveri, and Antognolla Golf Club. Throughout the journey, guests enjoy a moving salotto onboard—complete with gourmet cuisine by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, live entertainment, and panoramic views of Italy’s diverse landscapes.
A personal concierge handles everything from luggage to premium equipment rentals, while a professional golfer onboard offers technical insight and stories from the game. Even non-golfing guests can enjoy parallel experiences focused on Italian art, wellness, and culture.
Day 1 – Rome & Marco Simone Golf & Country Club Begin your journey with a morning round at Marco Simone, the iconic Ryder Cup venue just outside Rome. Afterward, guests are welcomed into the La Dolce Vita Lounge at Roma Ostiense Station for an aperitivo before boarding. Dinner onboard is a refined culinary experience by Heinz Beck, followed by cocktails and live music in the bar car.
Day 2 – Franciacorta Golf Club Wake up to a panoramic breakfast as the train rolls toward Franciacorta. The day is spent golfing in this scenic wine region, followed by an elegant return to the train for another gourmet dinner and social evening.
Day 3 – Royal Park I Roveri Located near Turin in La Mandria Regional Park, this club offers challenging play with Alpine views. Back on board, guests enjoy a regionally inspired dinner by Heinz Beck and refined entertainment as the train glides through Piedmont.
Day 4 – Antognolla Golf Club & Return to RomeThe final round is played at Antognolla, a dramatic and scenic course in Umbria. A farewell toast aboard the train follows, with the journey concluding as the sun sets over the Umbrian countryside en route back to Rome.
Italian Swing Route
Launching in November, Italian Swing extends the golf experience across Italy’s Central and Southern regions. Guests will visit a series of prestigious clubs including Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, San Domenico Golf Club in Puglia, The Club at Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany, and Argentario Golf Club—the only PGA-licensed facility in Italy.
Day 1 – Marco Simone Golf & Country Club Your exclusive journey begins just outside Rome at Marco Simone, one of Europe’s top-ranked courses and host of the 2023 Ryder Cup. After the morning round, guests are privately transferred to the La Dolce Vita Lounge at Roma Ostiense Station. Aboard the train, the journey unfolds with a dinner by Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, live music, and signature cocktails in the Bar Car.
Day 2 – San Domenico Golf Club As the train travels south at sunrise, breakfast is served with a view. The day’s round takes place at San Domenico Golf Club, a spectacular links-style course along the Adriatic Sea. Guests enjoy gourmet refreshments and personalized course maps throughout the day before returning to the train for dinner and evening entertainment as the train continues through southern Italy.
Day 3 – The Club at Castiglion del Bosco Nestled in the heart of Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia, this private club offers a serene and technically rich game amid rolling vineyards and medieval scenery. After a day immersed in the landscape, guests return to the train for a Tuscan-inspired gourmet dinner by Heinz Beck, followed by music and conversation in the bar car.
Day 4 – Argentario Golf Club & Return to Rome The final stop brings guests to Argentario Golf Club, a scenic and PGA-licensed course offering panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian coastline. After one last round, the journey concludes with a celebratory toast aboard the train, surrounded by the relaxed beauty of the Italian countryside en route back to Rome.
From curated flights and luxury equipment to immersive offboard experiences, Italian Swing is tailored to both players and non-players, offering moments of cultural discovery and laid-back indulgence at every stop. Every element is designed with meticulous care—from gourmet touches along the course to personal guidance from a professional golfer accompanying the journey.
Developed in collaboration with the Italian Golf Federation and Infront, the project is part of a broader effort to position Italy as a global golf destination. It fuses the heritage of luxury train travel with the prestige of top-tier courses and supports sustainable, high-end tourism centered around culture, sport, and hospitality.
Bookings are now open on the official website https://www.orient-express.com/la-dolce-vita/it/
