La Dolce Vita Orient Express Golf Itinerary: Luxury Train Travel Meets Italy’s Best Courses

Published on December 4, 2025

Imagine standing on the first tee of a Ryder Cup course in Rome as the morning sun hits the fairway. You play a perfect round, but instead of packing a rental car and battling highway traffic to your next destination, you step aboard a rolling palace of polished wood and velvet. You sip a Negroni in a lounge that looks like a film set from 1960, watch the Tuscan countryside blur past your window, and wake up the next morning ready to tee off by the Adriatic Sea.

This isn’t a fantasy from a bygone era; it is the newest offering from La Dolce Vita Orient Express.

In a move that marries the slow-travel movement with high-octane sport, the legendary rail brand has unveiled the “Italian Swing,” a specialized itinerary designed exclusively for golf enthusiasts. Launching in 2026, this journey promises to be more than just a vacation; it is a time machine that transports travelers back to the glamour of La Dolce Vita—the sweet life—while offering access to some of the most prestigious fairways in Europe.

The “Italian Swing”: A Golfer’s Dream Route

The centerpiece of this new offering is a four-day, three-night odyssey that loops through the heart of Italy. It is not just about the train; it is about where the train takes you. The itinerary has been carefully curated to include four of Italy’s most technically challenging and visually stunning courses.

The journey begins in the Eternal City at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. If that name sounds familiar, it should—it was the battleground for the 2023 Ryder Cup. Guests start their trip walking in the footsteps of giants, tackling a course known for its dramatic undulations and views of St. Peter’s Dome in the distance.

From Rome, the train heads south to Puglia, the “heel” of Italy’s boot. Here, golfers will challenge the San Domenico Golf Club. Unlike the parkland style of Rome, San Domenico offers a links-style experience nestled between ancient olive groves and the rocky shores of the Adriatic. The wind here is a player in itself, demanding precision and creativity.

The route then winds back up into the rolling hills of Tuscany for a stop at The Club at Castiglion del Bosco. This is a rare treat. Located within a UNESCO World Heritage site near Montalcino, this is Italy’s only private golf club. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, the course is a masterpiece of landscape architecture, weaving seamlessly through vineyards that produce some of the world’s finest Brunello wines.

Finally, the tour concludes at the Argentario Golf Club in the Maremma region of Tuscany. As Italy’s only PGA National course, it offers a distinct biodiversity-certified environment where you might spot wild hare or deer crossing the fairway as you play your final round.

Life on Board: 1960s Glamour Reimagined

While the golf is world-class, the vessel is the true star. The La Dolce Vita Orient Express is not a restoration of old carriages; it is a complete reimagining of the luxury train concept. Designed by the renowned Dimorestudio, the interiors steer clear of the Victorian stuffiness often associated with luxury rail. Instead, they embrace the bold, colorful, and curvaceous aesthetic of Italian design in the 1960s and 70s.

Think burnt orange velvets, glossy lacquered ceilings, geometric carpets, and smoked mirrors. It feels less like a train and more like a boutique hotel that happens to move. The train features 12 Deluxe Cabins and 18 Suites, all offering private ensuite bathrooms—a rarity in rail travel.

For the “Italian Swing” guests, the service is elevated even further. The hassle of golf travel—lugging oversized bags, worrying about club rentals, and managing tee times—is entirely erased. A dedicated concierge manages all equipment, ensuring your clubs are waiting for you at the first tee of every course. Don’t want to bring your own? The train offers top-tier rental equipment, tailored to your specs.

Furthermore, the journey is not a solitary pursuit. A professional golfer accompanies the trip, offering technical masterclasses, tips on the range, and post-round analysis in the lounge car. It’s a level of immersion that turns a sightseeing trip into a genuine sporting retreat.

Dining: A Michelin-Starred Affair

You cannot talk about the “Sweet Life” without talking about food. The culinary program onboard is overseen by Heinz Beck, the three-Michelin-starred genius behind La Pergola in Rome.

Beck has designed menus that reflect the regions the train traverses. As you pass through Tuscany, you might enjoy a wild boar ragu or a Fiorentina steak; in Puglia, the menu might shift to fresh orecchiette and seafood. The dining car itself is a theater of gastronomy, where white-glove service meets the conviviality of a shared adventure.

Even the post-golf experience is curated. Imagine finishing your round at San Domenico, then boarding the train to find a “19th Hole” reception waiting for you in the Lounge Bar, complete with live piano music, Italian aperitivos, and a chance to swap stories about that birdie on the 15th with your fellow travelers.

Alternative Routes and Pricing

For those who prefer the misty mornings of the north to the sun-baked south, La Dolce Vita Orient Express is also offering a “Northern Greens” itinerary in May 2026. This route swaps Puglia for the lakes and mountains, visiting venues like the Franciacorta Golf Club and Royal Park I Roveri near Turin.

Naturally, this level of luxury comes with a matching price tag. The “Italian Swing” experience starts at approximately €12,360 (around $14,360 USD) per passenger. It is an investment, certainly, but one that bundles accommodation, transport, green fees, caddie services, gourmet dining, and excursions into a single, seamless ticket.

The Verdict: A New Way to Play

The travel industry is currently obsessed with “experiential luxury”—the idea that travelers want to do things, not just see them. The La Dolce Vita Orient Express golf itinerary hits this nail on the head. It solves the logistical headache of a multi-stop golf trip while providing a cultural experience that stands on its own.

For the golfer who has played Pebble Beach and St Andrews and is looking for something different, this is it. It’s a chance to play the game you love, in the country that invented dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing), aboard a train that makes the journey just as memorable as the destination.