Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to the Amalfi Coast

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express introduces a new chapter in luxury rail travel with its first journey to the Amalfi Coast. Departing from Paris, the two-night voyage crosses France and Italy before arriving in Ravello, bringing together historic elegance, breathtaking landscapes and the cultural heritage of southern Italy.

Inside the legendary train, 1920s glamour meets contemporary refinement through beautifully restored cabins, curated dining experiences and the timeless atmosphere of Bar Car 3674. With craftsmanship, hospitality and discovery at its heart, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express transforms travelling into an art form.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Experience

Few journeys capture the romance of travel quite like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Its historic carriages transport guests into the golden age of European rail, where polished wood, intricate marquetry, rich fabrics and Art Deco details create an atmosphere of unmistakable sophistication.

The new Amalfi Coast itinerary takes this experience further. The train travels from Paris through France and Italy before reaching Ravello, allowing the journey itself to become part of the destination. Every landscape passing beyond the windows becomes part of an ever-changing composition.

Exterior view of a cream and navy Venice Simplon-Orient-Express carriage with gold lettering reading "Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Européens" -Venice simplon-orient-express

Nighttime view through a train window of guests dining and laughing together under a lamp, with "Grands" lettering above the window -Venice simplon-orient-express

Source: Merian The Art of Travel

Interior Design: Wimberly Interiors

The interiors of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express combine heritage craftsmanship with contemporary luxury. Wimberly Interiors has played a central role in this evolution, designing its celebrated Grand Suites and newer suites while respecting the original character of the historic carriages.

The studio’s approach centres on Art Deco glamour, bespoke fabrics, hand-beaded embroidery and elaborate marquetry. The Grand Suites take inspiration from destinations including Paris, Venice, Istanbul, Vienna, Prague and Budapest, turning each space into a refined interpretation of European culture.

This balance between authenticity and modern comfort is what gives the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express its distinctive identity.

Luxury train suite interior with a plush bed, mirrored marquetry walls, velvet sofa, and a small drinks table set with glasses -Venice simplon-orient-express

Source: WATG

Style: Art Deco Glamour

The defining style of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is rooted in Art Deco, with interiors that celebrate symmetry, geometry, rich materials and ornamental detail.

High-gloss wood, intricate marquetry, Lalique crystal, velvet upholstery and warm metallic accents create an environment that feels both theatrical and intimate. Rather than reproducing the past, the design preserves its spirit while giving it a distinctly contemporary sense of luxury.

For Boca do Lobo, this dialogue between heritage and innovation is particularly compelling: furniture, architecture and travel become expressions of collectible design.

Source: WATG

Awards & Recognition

The design of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has received important international recognition. Wimberly Interiors’ Grand Suites won Global Best Suite and Europe Best Suite at the AHEAD Awards, as well as a Gold Key Award.

The Grand Suites were also recognised as Best Suites 2023 by Hospitality Design Magazine, while the train was named Best Train in the World in the 2023 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.

These distinctions reinforce the train’s position not simply as a luxury mode of transport, but as an immersive design experience.

Evening exterior shot of a dining car labeled "Européens Speisewagen No. 4095" with a warmly lit window and stained-glass oval -Venice simplon-orient-express

Steward in white uniform pouring champagne at a bar cart in a train lounge, with two flutes and an ice bucket on a table in the foreground -Venice simplon-orient-express

Source: Lighting Design Awards

Dining Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Gastronomy is an essential part of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express experience. Elegant dining cars transform every meal into a ceremonial moment, surrounded by polished wood, refined table settings and historic details.

The journey also comes alive in Bar Car 3674, an iconic social space where cocktails, conversation and live music recreate the effortless glamour of another era. It is here that the spirit of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express feels particularly cinematic sophisticated, intimate and unmistakably timeless.

The new Amalfi Coast journey brings an Italian dimension to the experience, with cuisine and regional influences complementing the landscapes encountered along the route.

Source: Condé Nast Traveller

A Journey Where Travel Becomes Art

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to the Amalfi Coast is ultimately about more than the destination. It brings together historic design, exceptional craftsmanship, gastronomy and the romance of slow travel in one extraordinary experience.

From the Art Deco interiors of the train to the Mediterranean beauty of Ravello, every detail is designed to make the journey memorable. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express proves that in luxury travel, the most beautiful destination can sometimes be the journey itself.