Paris to Istanbul 2027

All aboard for 5 nights of unrivalled luxury with the 2026 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Paris to Istanbul journey. Following one of the scenic and luxurious routes across Europe, step on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for a truly unforgettable voyage across Europe. With VIP tours of Peles Castle, Bucharest and Budapest as well as a Danube River cruise and two luxurious hotel stays, this is easily one of the most exclusive journeys available anywhere in the world.

This luxury train journey is one of the most sought-after trips available, and cabins are limited even upon dates being released. We therefore recommend that those wishing to take a journey of a lifetime book or contact us below, and we will be in contact to answer your questions.
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Day One
‍Depart the City of Love. Step aboard the gleaming blue-and-gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l’Est Station. Settle into your cabin as the train departs for the first leg of your historic journey to Istanbul. Dinner is a sumptuous affair, prepared on board by our skilled chefs and served in one of the beautifully restored dining cars. As you dine, soothing classic tunes from our resident pianist will delight your senses. Later, you may wish to linger in Bar Car '3674', listening to the resident pianist play the baby grand and chatting to fellow passengers before you retire for the night. When you are ready, retire to your cabin, which has now been transformed into a cosy bedroom. During the night, the train courses through France and Germany.
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‍Day Two
‍A Fine Way To Pass The Day. Wake up to a continental breakfast, served in your cabin by your steward. Admire the changing views through your window as the train winds its way through Austria and into Hungary. Enjoy a delicious three-course lunch prior to your arrival in Budapest. There, our local guides will be waiting to escort you by coach to your hotel.Prepare for a wonderful cocktail reception and dinner on the River Danube this evening.
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‍Day Three
‍Exploring Budapest. Discover some of the fascinating sights of historic Budapest with our guides before sitting down to a lunch of Hungarian specialities. Afterwards, enjoy a guided tour of the majestic Hungarian Parliament Building, which was inspired by London’s Houses of Parliament. Re-board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and continue your journey. In the evening, linger over a delectable dinner as the train travels towards Romania.
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‍Day Four
‍A Fairytale Castle Awaits. Savour a continental breakfast in your cabin as the train glides into Romania. A delicious brunch is served in the dining cars as you approach the mountain town of Sinaia. Board a coach for the short journey to Peles Castle, the fairytale palace built by Romania’s King Carol as his summer retreat. The very first Orient Express passengers visited this beautiful residence in October 1883, at the King’s personal invitation. We recommend comfortable shoes and a sweater for your visit. Rejoin the train and continue towards Bucharest. On arrival, our local guides will escort you to your hotel. Later, enjoy dinner with musical entertainment at a private venue.
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‍Day Five
‍Final Celebrations. Back on board, begin the final leg of your journey to Istanbul. Relax and enjoy the views as you travel south across the mighty River Danube and into Bulgaria. Make your way to one of the dining cars for lunch. During the afternoon, a stop is made at the delightful seaside resort of Varna on the Black Sea coast, where you alight for an aperitif on a private estate. A final unforgettable dinner is served as the train crosses the ancient Thracian Plain. Celebrate your last night with a glass of something special, and enjoy the music of our resident pianist as you chat to fellow guests and new friends.
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This exclusive journey takes place just twice a year, usually in the Spring and the Autumn. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest news.

For 2027, the only date currently available is the 1st of October 2027
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Pricing for the 2027 Paris to Istanbul journey starts from;

Historic Twin Cabin - £17,500 per passenger, based on two sharing
Suite Double - £39,400 per passenger, based on two sharing
Suite Twin - £39,400 per passenger, based on two sharing
Grand Suite - £61,500 per passenger, based on two sharing
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Cabins can be booked with a 50% deposit, with the remaining balance due 200 days before departure

Included in the price

Luxurious Accommodation
Three nights aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, and overnight accommodation in Bucharest and Budapest
Exciting excursions
A city tour in Bucharest and Budapest, a Danube cruise and a visit to Peleș Castle in Romania
Authentic local cuisine
Lunch and dinner in Budapest and dinner in Bucharest
Sumptuous Four-course dinners
Each night on  the train, feast on a seasonal table d'hôte menu which includes biscuits, cheeseboard and chutney
Continental Breakfasts
Served in your cabin each morning for ultimate comfort
Delicious Lunch
When you are aboard the train, enjoy a sumptuous three-course lunch as the world passes by your window
Dedicated Steward service
To attend to your every request as you unwind in style

BOOK THE EXCLUSIVE PARIS TO ISTANBUL JOURNEY HERE

Alternatively, we also offer the reverse route from Istanbul to Paris...

Cabins and Suites

No matter the accommodation, you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience. The train features three distinct tiers:
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‍Historic Twin Cabin - Restored to their formal 1920s glory, these cabins feature banquette seating during the day, which is transformed into upper and lower berth beds at night by your steward. Each historic cabin includes a wash basin with hot and cold water, luxury toiletries, and plush robes.
‍Suites -  Introduced recently to elevate the onboard experience, the cabin suites offer a choice of twin or double beds and feature a private en-suite marble bathroom with a shower. During the day, the suite serves as a seating area and is converted into a comfortable bedroom in the evening.
‍Grand Suites - The absolute pinnacle of luxury rail travel. The Grand Suites feature a double bed, a separate living area, and a private en-suite bathroom. Guests travelling in the Grand Suite can enjoy free-flowing champagne and private in-cabin dining options.

Please click here for the layout and details of the accommodation types.

Arriving in Istanbul

The train will arrive in Istanbul at approximately 17:30, and you will be met by the ground handling team at the station, who will seamlessly guide you to the complimentary transfer taking you to your hotel. The hotels recommended by Belmond are the Four Seasons and The Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus. Please let us know if you want to add a hotel stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Paris station will the train depart from?
Unlike most of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys from Paris, which depart from Gare d’Austerlitz, the Paris-to-Istanbul journey starts in Gare de l’Est. The original Orient Express departed from this very station on its first-ever run in 1883. A complimentary transfer will be arranged from your Paris hotel to the station.

How many nights are spent on the train?
Spanning five nights in total, this journey includes three nights spent aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, alongside two hotel stays - one night in Budapest and one in Bucharest.

What is the dress code for this journey?
Daytime & Excursions: Smart-casual attire is suitable during daytime hours and while on excursions
Comfortable walking footwear is advised for excursions, especially Peles Castle.
Evening Dining: Gentlemen: A jacket and tie are required at minimum, with black tie encouraged.
Ladies: Elegant evening wear or cocktail dresses are requested.
Restricted Attire: Jeans, shorts, and trainers are strictly prohibited on board
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Your journey begins here! Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l'Est around mid afternoon where you will be greeted by one of the stewards and shown to your cabin. Here the time is yours to settle in or explore the train's many beautifully restored carriages. Dinner is served in one of the restaurant cars where you'll experience the first of many feasts during your journey. Then why not head to the Bar Car for a cocktail as you listen to the live pianist before retiring to your cabin.
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Awake to glorious views from your cabin as the train travels through Hungary. A continental is served in your cabin at a time to suit you and the morning is yours to do as you wish. Lunch is served in one of the dining cars before we arrive in Budapest.

Disembark for your first excursion in Budapest as you enjoy a private dinner and your first hotel stay.
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After a glorious breakfast, you will be treated to a private guided tour of Budapest with lunch at a local restaurant. It's then time to head out to the water for a short cruise along the Danube.

Later that afternoon we rejoin the train, perhaps the perfect time for your favourite beverage in the bar car, before dinner is served as we travel into Romania.
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Awake from a restful night's sleep to breakfast in your cabin followed brunch just as we pull-in to the mountain town of Sinaia. Here we disembark for a tour of Peles Castle.

Rejoining the train, there is a short journey to Bucharest where you will be given an orientation tour before being taken to your hotel. Dinner this enjoyed at a private venue this evening.
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After breakfast, it's time to rejoin the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express once again as we travel south into Bulgaria. During the afternoon, we make a brief stop so we can take in the views across the Black Sea in Varna.

Enjoy lunch and dinner onboard followed by your final night onboard.
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As you awake you find we are already in Turkey as we cross the beautiful Thracian Plain. A Turkish-inspired lunch signals your final meal onboard before the train arrives in Istanbul.
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