I Took a Luxury Golf Trip on La Dolce Vita Orient Express. Here’s What It’s Really Like

On the first tee at San Domenico Golf Club in Fasano, gazing at the Adriatic Sea, I feel like I’m gently swaying back and forth. The movement of the overnight train ride that rocked me to bed last night has tweaked my equilibrium a bit. A small price to pay for the best travel sleep I’ve had in years.

Imagine a luxurious boutique hotel that transports you from one destination to the next while you dream. That’s the conceit of La Dolce Vita Orient Express’ Italian Swing—a four-day, three-night itinerary tailored for passionate golfers who want to travel in the absolute pinnacle of style. Tracing courses from Rome to Puglia, onward to Tuscany, the Tyrrhenian coast, and back to the eternal city, the journey is chalked full of bespoke opulence, impeccable service, and some of the best golf in continental Europe.   

Inside La Dolce Vita Orient Express

La Dolce Vita Orient Express is assembled from a dozen vintage Z1 Italian cars that have been rebuilt and refurbished to transport passengers not just along the rails but back in time to the ‘50s and ‘60s and the golden age of Italian romance. Designed by the Milan’s Dimorestudio and owned by French hospitality brand Accor, the vibe is so spot on that you almost expect to see Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve sipping Negronis in the bar car. 

On arrival at the platform, guests are greeted by their car’s conductor and shown to the compartment they will call home for the next few days.

There are a total of 30 cabins in two configurations—18 suites with double beds (118 sq ft) and 12 deluxe rooms with pullout sofa beds (75 sq ft). Both cabin types offer a private bathroom, a small table with seating, and a closet with enough for your carry-on plus its contents.  

Day 1: Golfing at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

After an overnight stay at La Dolce Vita’s opulent, 93-room La Minerva Hotel, a flip wedge shot away from the Roman Pantheon, the golf begins at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club just to the northeast of the city. 

Owned by fashion magnate Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, the course is named for the 1,000-year-old castle she and her family call home. Originally designed by Jim Fazio in the 1990s, Marco Simone was re-imagined by European Golf Design with the help of Tom Fazio II and remodeled between 2018 and 2021 ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup.

The team understood the assignment. The 7,299-yard championship track is near match-play perfection. Set among gorgeous views of the Laziale countryside, the course plays up and down rolling meadows. To score well, players need to navigate substantial elevation changes, deep native grasses, expertly placed bunkers, as well as a few ponds and streams. 

Marco Simone’s par-fours tend to either be short, risk-reward opportunities, or lengthy holes with ample opportunities for mistakes. While not all are reachable, the par-fives all present good scoring opportunities. Beware the par-threes. They may look benign from the tee, but they are well protected with insidious bunkers, run-off areas and undulations that can throw shots into precarious situations. 

Day 2: Golfing at the San Domenico Golf Club

“Good morning passengers, we are now arriving in Puglia and your transfer to San Domenico Golf Club is waiting,” the conductor dulcetly announces over the intercom. Sandwiched between the popular Italian beach communities of Monopoli and Ostuni, the club overlooks the enticing waters of the Adriatic. 

The course was created in 2003 by European Golf Design and features long stunning vistas dotted with olive trees and ancient stone walls. As it’s a seaside course, the topography is relatively flat with gently undulated fairways. San Domenico is mainly defended by smart bunkering and…wind. When the breeze is up, the 6,890 yards play much, much longer.   

The test opens with a rather intimidating tee shot—water snakes along the entirety of the right side. But like most holes on the course, the danger and strategy are evident. The fairways are generally spacious but there is ample opportunity for recovery for players who are spraying it off the tee (like I did,) though they may need to shape a clever shot around a cactus-encrusted waste area to do so.  

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Day 3: Golfing at The Club at Castiglion del Bosco

Unfortunately, there’s not a train station near The Club at Castiglion del Bosco, but the experience is well worth the hour-long transfer. Set in the Tuscan hills to the south of Sienna, known as the Val d’Orcia (a UNESCO world heritage site,) a ride on La Dolce Vita Orient Express offers a rare treat to play the private course. Otherwise, Castiglion del Bosco is only open to members and guests of the resort, which was created by Massimo Ferragamo (the youngest son of Salvatore Ferragamo,) and now owned by Rosewood Hotels.

Sadly, we missed out on the famed Tuscan sun and caught a rather dismal day with intense wind and pounding rain. But even in tough conditions the course was marvelous. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, Castiglion del Bosco weaves up and down hilltops and valleys, adding elevation to the challenge players must navigate, along with stunning cypress trees and natural water hazards. Every hole is a visual delight, with vistas of vineyards and villas. The 684-yard par-five 13th plays down a valley, which makes it much shorter than the number but not quite reachable in two. Three smart shots are required for a birdie opportunity. The next hole is one of Castiglion del Bosco’s impeccable par-threes, but players who leave themselves short sided will do well to mark a four on the card. At 325 from the back there's the par-four 15th, which is drivable for big hitters but well guarded by a creek on the left and a well-placed bunker to the right of the green. 

Day 4: Golfing at Argentario Golf Club

After a short overnight train ride, we arrive at Argentario Golf Club on the Tuscan coast near Grosseto. The 6,800 championship course hosted the 2025 Italian Open (Open D’Italia) and is more than challenging enough to test golfers of all skill levels. Set on Monte Argentario, the course weaves through natural Mediterranean vegetation and ancient olive trees. Due to the protected nature of the environment, Argentario is  “Agri Cert” certified and uses only natural maintenance products that are bio and eco-compatible. 

Designed by architect David Mezzacane and professional golfer Baldovino Dassù, Argentario offers players picturesque views of the sea, Orbetello Lagoon, cork tree-hewn fairways and well-guarded greens. But as gorgeous as it is, the course can be a beast, challenging golfers with strong doglegs, varied shot requirements and small, sloped greens. There is ample opportunity to score well, but only if you keep your ball in play off the tee and hitting your approach targets. 

Dinner Is Served

While on board, passengers enjoy decadent menus created by chef Heinz Beck of the three-Michelin-star Roman institution La Pergola. Artfully prepared dishes like shellfish with legumes in a spiced consommé, ditto gnocchetti “cado e pepe” style with herb foam, veal stuffed with dried fruit in a pistachio crust, lobster with pumpkin cream, and orecchiette with broccoli clams and candied lemon, dazzle the palate as well as the eyes. Needless to say, each course is masterfully paired with the perfect wine. But save some room. 

The Party Rolls On

After each night’s feast, guests are invited to the lounge car for digestifs and a bit of entertainment. The bartenders can make nearly any tipple you’d like and even help you create your own signature cocktail. As you sip it, the band, which rotates in and out over the journey, belts out classic mid-century hits a la “Volare,” “Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano,” and “La Mer” well into the night.  

Another Round 

Beyond the Italian Swing, La Dolce Vita offers a tour called Northern Greens, taking players to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Franciacorta Golf Club, Royal Park I Roveri, and Argentario Golf Club. 

For non-golfers, La Dolce Vita Orient Express offers more than two dozen itineraries that explore some of the most incredible experiences la bel paese has to offer, like routes exploring Italian wine, beach hopping in Sicily, the Sienna famed Palio horse race, or the epic journey from Rome to Istanbul. 

Final Verdict 

Any trip on La Dolce Vita Orient express is expensive—the Golf Swing itinerary starts at around $14,000 per person. But the exceptional service, gorgeous environment, unforgettable meals, and fantastic courses make it a golf journey of a lifetime.

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