For those wanting the ultimate in romantic breaks, would could be better than travelling to Verona on board the luxurious Venice Simplon Orient Express?
You arrive in the city famous for Romeo & Juliet, staying at the romantically located Relais Il Sogno di Giulietta in the same courtyard as Juliet’s Balcony. Combine this with a visit to the Verona Opera at the Arena di Verona in the very best seats in the arena, and you have a wonderful romantic break.
We are currently offering a Complimentary Free Upgrade to the best seating at the Verona arena.
Italian Short Breaks are a legally authorised trading body who are officially permitted to sell tickets for Arena di Verona in Italy. Many ticket only web sites are not legally authorised to do so. We will always guarantee your seats and ticket level at booking stage.
2021 Departure Dates for the Orient Express to Verona (train out, fly back):
June: 24, 27 July: 01, 08, 15, 22, 29 August: 05, 12 September: 2
This morning begin your trip from London Victoria by the Belmond Pullman train.
Enjoy a light brunch as you cross the Channel on one of the luxurious coaches, before boarding the Venice Simplon Orient Express in France.
While away the hours in relaxation as you travel through Europe.
Get dressed up twenties-style for your evening of first class entertainment. Cocktail dress, flapper dress, tuxedo; all are likely to be seen in the dining cars tonight! It is not mandatory for you to follow suit, but you must be in smart attire. The skilled French Chef will prepare a sumptuous 4 course dinner to re-awaken your taste buds.
Please click on the first photo opposite to get a taste of this iconic train.
Overnight in a Cabin on board.
Why not upgrade to a Twin Cabin Suite. Instead of having one room with bunk beds, the Cabin Suites give you a second room. You can either stay with the bunk beds and have one room for daytime and one for night use, or alternatively have the beds positioned on the floor per room.
Price Per Person: From £2,170
The Grand Suites features a double/twin bedroom, living area with space for private dining and a sofa which can be converted into an additional bed in the evening. A private en-suite bathroom includes shower, washbasin and toilet. Enjoy the celebrated 24-hour cabin service complemented by free-flowing champagne in your suite.
Price Per Person: From £6,195
After a relaxing night’s sleep in your cabin, wake up to a delicious breakfast served in your cabin or in the Art Nouveau styled Bar Car.
Enjoy a 3 course lunch in one of the three restaurant cars – The Cote d’Azur with blue opaque glass classical figures, The Etoile du Nord with fantastic marquetry of wood, brass and ivory, or L’Oriental which has been remastered to include black lacquer panels as its trademark.
Watch the majestic mountains and countryside transform outside as your train travels through the Swiss Alps and the Italian Dolomites before arriving at its destination in Verona.
Your private transfer will be waiting at the station to take you the short distance to your five star hotel, the Relais Il Sogno di Giulietta. This romantic hotel is located within the courtyard housing Juliet’s statue, which is said to bring you love. It also features the balcony known from the famous scene from the play.
For a sample of this romantic hotel, please click on the photo opposite.
Waiting for you at hotel reception will be your Verona opera tickets and your Verona Pass Card. The Verona Pass Card allows free access to many of the local churches and museums. It also comes with a map so you can see where the main sights of interest are located and plan your time accordingly.
For those wanting to celebrate a special occasion, this is certainly a unique option! Once the courtyard has been closed to the visitors, guests of Il Sogno di Giulietta can enjoy drinks served by your dedicated waiter under Juliet’s balcony.
Alternatively, why not enjoy a 3 course meal with your dedicated waiter serving each course to you.
Price: From £45 per person for a bottle of Prosecco for 2 and Canape/finger food with your dedicated waiter.
Price: From £200 per person for a 3 course meal with your dedicated waiter. Please note the price will vary between the different menus offered.
Spend the day exploring Verona. You can enjoy Juliet’s Balcony and Tomb, Castelvecchio, the National History Museum, the Opera Museum and the various museums and churches all free with your Verona Pass Card.
We would also recommend you see the arena during the day before the stunning sets are erected. If you want to buy the libretto for your opera tonight, head to the Arena Shop located within the arena.
This evening attend the opera at the Arena di Verona in your Gold Central Stall seats. We are currently offering a Complimentary Free Upgrade to the best seats in the arena. Located around halfway back on the ground, these afford the perfect view of the stage. For more information on Seating & Practical Advice.
For a flavour of this spectacle please click on the photo link to the right.
The Verona Opera 2021 schedule runs from 25 June – 04 September. Here is the opera schedule in Verona which we look to tie in with the Orient Express Schedule and availability for you. Booking early is essential!
JUNE 2021
Cavalleria Rusticana – Pagliacci – 25
Aida – 26
JULY 2021
Aida – 01, 09, 15, 21
Cavalleria Rusticana – Pagliacci – 02, 22, 31
Nabucco – 03, 17, 24
La Traviata – 10, 16, 23
Requiem Verdi – 18
Turandot – 29
Gala Domingo – 30
AUGUST 2021Â
Turandot – 1, 5 , 28
Robert Bolle and Friends (Ballet) – 3
Aida – 4, 8, 12, 21, 27
Nabucco – 06, 13, 20, 26
La Traviata – 7, 19
Cavalleria Rusticana – Pagliacci – 14
Jonas Kaufmann Gala Event – 15
Beethoven Symphony – 22
SEPTEMBER 2021
Nabucco – 01
La Traviata – 02
Turandot – 03
Aida – 04
Video and Photos 2-8 inclusive opposite, copyrighted to Fondazione Arena di Verona.
This is our most popular tour and with good reason. You take a private transfer to the pier where you will join a public boat, to be taken across the scenic lake arriving at the privately owned Isola del Garda.
Once there you will be given a tour of the island, perhaps even by the Borghese Cavazza family themselves, and get to learn the history of the island. The tour will include the neo gothic Venetian style villa, the landscaped luscious gardens and the fantastic view over the lake, along with tasting some of the local wine and olive oil.
After arriving back on the mainland, your private transfer will take you to Sirmione, a mediaeval castle town where you can wander at your leisure through the town, purchase some souvenirs and enjoy lunch. We recommend La Speranzina Restaurant which boasts beautiful views over the lake.
Your private transfer will return you to your hotel late afternoon.
Price Per Person: From £245
We have two great options for you. The first is for those wine connoisseurs. Located within walking distance of your hotel is this small family run restaurant. The Maitre will take you to the cellar and introduce you to 3-4 wines.
Alternatively, if you have done a wine tasting tour before and want to skip straight to the tasting part, why not combine with a meal, and sampling the wines with each course.
Price Per Person: From £50 for Wine Tasting
Price Per Person: From £95 for Wine Tasting with Lunch
Price Per Person: From £110 for Wine Tasting with Dinner
Transfer to Byblos Art Hotel and pamper yourself for the day at their luxurious spa. Enjoy the illuminated pool with hydromassage and chromotherapy, sauna, steam bath and tropical showers.
Included are 1 Keraskin or Decleor treatment, hydromassage, sauna, steam room, tropical showers, use of the Technogym equipment and 3 course light lunch at the Atelier restaurant.
Price Per Person: From £255
At leisure until your private airport transfer for your flight home at the end of your Romantic Verona Opera & Orient Express Break.
Alternatively, if you have more time, why not extend and explore more of Italy. We can recommend our Milan and Lake Maggiore trip for another fantastic opera and some relaxation on the lake – bliss!
The Venice Simplon Orient Express has been running since the 1920's when the train was one of the first to pioneer the golden age of train travel.
Let the countryside pass you by while relaxing in style.
The Orient Express has three levels of cabin. The first is the Double Cabin which comes with a lounge, banquette sofa and a washbasin. By night it is transformed into a bedroom with an upper and lower bed.
The second is the Cabin Suite which consists of two interconnecting cabins. One room can be kept as a lounge with the second having an upper and lower berth, or make way for two single beds; one in each room.
The third are the Grand Suites. Each has a double/twin bedroom, a living area with space for private dining and a sofa which can be converted into an additional bed in the evening. A private en-suite bathroom includes shower, washbasin and toilet. The celebrated 24-hour cabin service is complemented by free-flowing champagne in your suite.
The train also has fine dining with not two but three restaurant cars. The first is the Cote d'Azure with blue opaque glass classical figures. The second is the Etoile du Nord with fantastic marquetry, and the last is L'Oriental which is stylised in black lacquer panels.
Opposite Juliet’s balcony, in the courtyard of her house, this isn't a hotel, but an historical house destined to welcome the most romantic couples and to envelope them in a night of dreams. Il Sogno di Giulietta is a centrally located hotel.
It is now possible to stay in the kingdom narrated by Shakespeare in one of his most famous works, the lovers’ nest par excellence.
The refined rooms are situated on both sides of the residence, some even having a direct view of Juliet’s balcony.
All rooms are luxuriously decorated with antique rugs, magnificent drapes and jacuzzis.
Why not upgrade to a Twin Cabin Suite. Instead of having one room with bunk beds, the Cabin Suites give you a second room. You can either stay with the bunk beds and have one room for daytime and one for night use, or alternatively have the beds positioned on the floor per room.
Price Per Person: From £2,170
The Grand Suites features a double/twin bedroom, living area with space for private dining and a sofa which can be converted into an additional bed in the evening. A private en-suite bathroom includes shower, washbasin and toilet. Enjoy the celebrated 24-hour cabin service complemented by free-flowing champagne in your suite.
Price Per Person: From £6,195
For those wanting to celebrate a special occasion, this is certainly a unique option! Once the courtyard has been closed to the visitors, guests of Il Sogno di Giulietta can enjoy drinks served by your dedicated waiter under Juliet’s balcony.
Alternatively, why not enjoy a 3 course meal with your dedicated waiter serving each course to you.
Price: From £45 per person for a bottle of Prosecco for 2 and Canape/finger food with your dedicated waiter.
Price: From £200 per person for a 3 course meal with your dedicated waiter. Please note the price will vary between the different menus offered.
This is our most popular tour and with good reason. You take a private transfer to the pier where you will join a public boat, to be taken across the scenic lake arriving at the privately owned Isola del Garda.
Once there you will be given a tour of the island, perhaps even by the Borghese Cavazza family themselves, and get to learn the history of the island. The tour will include the neo gothic Venetian style villa, the landscaped luscious gardens and the fantastic view over the lake, along with tasting some of the local wine and olive oil.
After arriving back on the mainland, your private transfer will take you to Sirmione, a mediaeval castle town where you can wander at your leisure through the town, purchase some souvenirs and enjoy lunch. We recommend La Speranzina Restaurant which boasts beautiful views over the lake.
Your private transfer will return you to your hotel late afternoon.
Price Per Person: From £245
We have two great options for you. The first is for those wine connoisseurs. Located within walking distance of your hotel is this small family run restaurant. The Maitre will take you to the cellar and introduce you to 3-4 wines.
Alternatively, if you have done a wine tasting tour before and want to skip straight to the tasting part, why not combine with a meal, and sampling the wines with each course.
Price Per Person: From £50 for Wine Tasting
Price Per Person: From £95 for Wine Tasting with Lunch
Price Per Person: From £110 for Wine Tasting with Dinner
Transfer to Byblos Art Hotel and pamper yourself for the day at their luxurious spa. Enjoy the illuminated pool with hydromassage and chromotherapy, sauna, steam bath and tropical showers.
Included are 1 Keraskin or Decleor treatment, hydromassage, sauna, steam room, tropical showers, use of the Technogym equipment and 3 course light lunch at the Atelier restaurant.
Price Per Person: From £255
Truly a great way to celebrate Michelle birthday and something that we will never forget. The Orient Express was just breath taking, every aspect had been so well thought out. In Verona the hotel was truly lovely - our room was brilliant. The Opera was so much better than others that we have seen - the seats were great. Thank you for everything and making it so special!!
To say it was a success is an understatement. Without doubt the most enjoyable short break we have ever experienced and in short measure down to you and your team for the superb organization. The choice of hotels, locations flight arrangements was just top class. My wife whose big birthday it was just bowled over. And thanks for all the lovely touches along the way. They went down a treat. I will forward you on some pictures that indicate our enjoyment. Thanks again for all your advice, assistance and so courteous demeanour!
Alternatively fly out and train back.
Our international clients are welcome to book their own flights.
For/From Verona Airport:
Gatwick everyday
Manchester – Wed & Sat only (both ways)
London Stansted – all days barring Tues & Thurs (both ways)
Birmingham – Wed & Sat only (both ways)
Edinburgh – Wed & Sat only (both ways)
Dublin – Mon, Tues, Thurs & Sat (both ways)
East Midlands & Leeds – Wed only (both ways)