Rail travel can be one of the best ways to experience a destination, giving travellers the chance to travel slowly and thoroughly immerse themselves in the journey and picturesque landscapes.
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With Europe being so diverse and train-friendly, a rail journey can take passengers from rolling hills and towering mountains to charming cities and stunning coastal landscapes, all in a matter of a few days.
Looking to take your next trip up a notch? Here are some of the best vintage train routes launching in the coming weeks.
Al Andalus’ Seville to Madrid route
This new luxury vintage train between Seville and Madrid just launched. With several stops including UNESCO sites to beach towns, this more than 480km journey will give travellers the chance to experience southern Spain in a much more immersive way.
The seven-day route launched by Al Andalus will include stops such as Alcázar de San Juan, Cádiz, Córdoba, Jerez, Aranjuez and Mérida. Travellers can explore ancient Roman ruins and royal palaces, indulge in beach days and tapas or watch equestrian and flamenco shows.
The train features carefully renovated original Wagon-Lit Company wagons from 1929. This is the same series of cars used by the English monarchy on their journeys through France between the Côte d’Azur and Calais.
With 14 wagons, the Al Andalus can accommodate 64 passengers and is also the longest on Spanish tracks at 450 meters. It is divided into two restaurant cars, a bar car, a kitchen car, seven bed cars, a playroom car, a generator car and a crew car.
Travellers can take advantage of 24-hour room service or relax in one of the four 1920s-style lounges aboard, while tucking into traditional Andalusian drinks and dishes. Indulge in some lively games or enjoy a night show, while soaking in the picturesque southern Spain landscapes from the windows.
Breakfast offers both buffet meals and an a la carte menu. Lunches and dinners will feature traditional Spanish train journey dishes as well, prepared by celebrated chefs.
Travellers can choose between two stay options, the Grand Class Room and the Deluxe Suite Room.
The Grand Class Rooms feature two single beds, along with a safe, wardrobe, minibar, luggage compartment, air conditioning and private bathroom with a shower, hairdryer and welcome amenities. During the day, the cabin can be turned into a private living room, with travellers able to fold their beds into armchairs to enjoy the panoramic views.
For one traveller, these start at €11,200, going up to €13,200 for two travellers.
For a more luxurious stay, passengers can pick the larger Deluxe Suite Room, which includes all the facilities of the Grand Class Rooms, along with a private bathroom with a hydromassage shower. These rooms also have a large double bed, which converts into a comfortable daytime sofa.
The Deluxe Suite Room starts at €13,800 for a single traveller and €15,800 for two passengers.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express’ Paris to Amalfi Coast route
The iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will introduce a new route from Paris to Italy’s Amalfi Coast next month.
The inaugural journey from 4 to 7 May will feature stunning views of both the Frenchand Italian Rivieras, taking in the best of summer countryside landscapes.
The trip includes other off-board experiences as well, such as a picturesque boat tour along the Amalfi coast, cooking classes with local experts and produce, painting classes and a guided tour to Pompeii, among others.
The train features luxurious carriages dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, with passengers able to choose between a Historic Cabin, a Suite and a Grand Suite.
The journey includes one night aboard the luxury train, as well as two nights at the Caruso hotel, an 11th-century hotel in Ravello.
Enjoy a variety of entertainment such as live piano music with wines or signature cocktails onboard and private live music garden performances at the Caruso. The hotel also offers a gala dinner with live cooking stations and local producers one night.
Grand Suite passengers will also receive a tour of the historic Casa del Larario Regio V, which is usually closed to the public.
Luxury car transfers between destinations are also included off-board, with the possibility of bespoke destinations being added to the itinerary too, upon request and at an extra charge.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express
While you’ll have to wait until 2027 for the relaunch of the legendary Orient Express, you can get a preview with Italian flair aboard Accor’s La Dolce Vita this year.
The new train, which had its inaugural journey in April, offers eight unique itineraries spanning 14 regions across the country.
Passengers can explore the Sicilian coast on a three-day trip between Sicily and Rome, stopping off in Palermo, Taormina and Maratea along the way, or opt for a taste of Tuscan vineyards with a two-day round-trip between Rome and Montalcino.
For truffle fans, the two-day round-trip between Rome and Nizza Monferrato is a must, while those who are working on their swing can choose the four-day round-trip from Rome with stops at fairways in Apulia, Siena and Tuscany.
Across 31 cabins, 18 suites, 12 deluxe cabins and the signature La Dolce Vita Suite, guests are taken back to the Italian golden age of design, with interiors by Milan's Dimorestudio. Meant to “embody the spirit of mid-century glamour”, the spaces were influenced by Gio Pointi, known for his use of geometric shapes, modernist Gae Aulenti, and Osvaldo Borsani.
On-board service is just as glamorous, with menus inspired by the regions being passed through that have been curated by chef Heinz Beck, whose restaurant La Pergola in Rome has three Michelin stars.