This new luxury train route will soon link Paris with Italy’s Amalfi Coast

Italy is also running special train services for white truffle season, the olive harvest and Christmas.

The world’s most glamorous train service is adding a new journey linking two of Europe’s most timeless destinations.

From spring 2026, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will launch its first-ever route from Paris to the Amalfi Coast. The lavish experience connects the French capital with Ravello via a three-night trip across both the French and Italian Rivieras.

In a twist, the experience also includes a two-night stay in a five-star hotel.

Ride the rails, then stay in luxury

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, operated by Belmond, will debut its Paris-Amalfi Coast itinerary on 4 May 2026.

The journey is part of the company’s expanding “Villeggiatura by Train” series, which pairs overnight rail travel with extended hotel stays at Belmond properties across Italy.

With its pastel towns, picturesque cliffs and coves, and winding roads framed by lemon groves, grapevines and olive groves, the Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most magical destinations. But getting there often means navigating a maze of buses and ferries.

This new train route promises a slower, more elegant way to experience la dolce vita.

Passengers will board the train’s restored art deco carriages in Paris, where they will be welcomed with a customary glass of champagne before settling into cabins ranging from compact historic twins to grand suites with private marble bathrooms.

Dinner on the first evening will showcase dishes inspired by the regions along the route, followed by cocktails and live piano music in the bar car.

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After breakfast the next morning, the train will arrive in Pompeii for a guided tour of the ancient archaeological site. Travellers staying in the train’s grand suites will also enjoy private access to the Casa del Larario, an area rarely open to the public.

Also known as The House of the Achilles Lararium or House of the Ilion Sanctuary, this second-century residence offers a unique look into the life of ancient Romans. Richly decorated and remarkably well-preserved, the space is known for its atrium, which features stuccoed and painted walls depicting scenes from the Trojan War.

The rail portion concludes in Ravello, where guests will check into Caruso, a Belmond hotel housed in an 11th-century palazzo high above the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The two-night stay here includes a private party beside the hotel’s infinity pool and a gala dinner in the gardens overlooking the coast.

The experience doesn’t come cheap. Prices for the full itinerary start from about €10,000 (£8,600) per person, including all meals, excursions and transfers.

Smoke-free beaches in Spain? San Sebastián joins the push for cleaner, calmer coasts
San Sebastián’s new beach rules should be in effect by 2026.

San Sebastián is taking steps to make its famous beaches cleaner, calmer and more enjoyable for everyone. The city council has announced a plan that would ban smoking on all beaches, curb noise from music and speakers and set new rules for pets.

Perhaps the most contentious measure is the total ban on smoking on beaches.

According to a study by AZTI, a Spanish non-profit focused on the marine environment and food sectors, cigarette butts represent between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of the waste collected on the beaches in Gipuzkoa, the capital of Donostia-San Sebastián.

“This updated regulation responds to clear social demand and seeks to improve coexistence, environmental quality and collective well-being,” says Íñigo García, councillor responsible for diversity, inclusion and the environment.

Is this a new golden age of train travel in Italy?

Whether you’re seeking a once-in-a-lifetime Paris-to-Italy journey or a weekend trip to the heartland, it’s a great time to ride the rails in Italy.

The Amalfi route joins a wave of new luxury and heritage trains criss-crossing Italy this year, as the country experiences a revival of slow, scenic rail journeys.

In Tuscany, a 1970s-era vintage train is running trips from Rome to Siena, offering a leisurely way to explore the region’s vineyards and hill towns until November.

The Espresso Langhe e Monferrato is currently carrying overnight passengers from Rome to Alba every weekend in October, winding through Piedmont just in time for the region’s annual white truffle festival.

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Meanwhile, the Espresso Assisi: Frantoi Aperti Edition is taking travellers to Umbria to savour its famed olive oil. The special train even includes guided olive oil tastings onboard.

And following its Oktoberfest debut earlier this year, the Monaco Express returns to link Rome and Munich by sleeper train for the Christmas market season in December. The night train service departs Rome on 5 and 12 December and returns from Munich on 7 and 14 December, with stops in destinations including Verona and Innsbruck.

Danger tourism: Meet the travellers flocking to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

Following the Taliban resurgence in 2021, Afghanistan has witnessed an unexpected boom in tourism – but is it really wise to visit?

One of the world’s most oppressive regimes is cashing in on the growing trend of ‘danger tourism’.

In 2021, the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan following a 20-year US military-led mission to destroy Al-Qaeda and stabilise the country.

The hardline Islamist group started seizing regions just weeks after troops were withdrawn, rapidly establishing itself as Afghanistan’s de facto government.

Since then, Amnesty International warns human rights violations have worsened, with Afghanistan stripping back its social progress and becoming the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is forbidden for women.

However, set upon the backdrop of gender persecution, targeted killings and draconian laws, an influx of travellers is hailingAfghanistan for its natural beauty, culinary delicacies and religious landmarks.

Tourism in Afghanistan

Verifying Afghanistan’s tourism figures is a challenge, as the National Statistics and Information Authority’s official website currently says “the data will be uploaded soon” when trying to access statistics.

However, earlier this year Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal said almost 9,000 international tourists flocked to the country in 2024, while 3,000 visited in the first three months of this year.

Reports suggest that in August alone, Afghanistan welcomed a staggering 5,000 foreign tourists.

While these numbers may not seem huge compared to tourist hotspots like Spain and Greece, they show significant and sustained growth since the Taliban’s resurgence.

In 2021, only 691 international tourists visited the country. In 2022, that figure rose to 2,300 – followed by a 120 per cent spike in 2023 (7,000 foreign tourists).

Meet the travellers undeterred by the Taliban

Kieran Brown, a travel content creator and YouTuber, has been to more than 130 countries and visited Afghanistan for 10 days in March last year.

Fascinated by countries that most people are “too afraid to visit”, the 31-year-old says he was drawn to the Taliban-controlled country due to its “mysterious mix of beauty, history and resilience”.

Undeterred by travel warnings, Brown wasn’t put off by Afghanistan’s hostile reputation, and did his own research – including speaking to locals – to make sure he would feel safe.

Brown’s highlights were exploring the old streets of Kabul, the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, and connecting with locals about their everyday lives.

‘An eye-opening experience’

“The hospitality and the food were unbelievable,” he tells Euronews Travel. “It’s not a typical tourist destination but it’s one of the most eye-opening experiences you can have.”

Brown ended up interacting with members of the Taliban several times during his trip, but insists that most encounters were “surprisingly calm” and that he never felt threatened.