Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious rail journeys in the world and departing only once or twice each year, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers a five-night voyage along the original, legendary Orient Express route. This extraordinary journey spans continents and cultures, carrying you through iconic cities including Paris, Budapest, Bucharest and Istanbul. It is the ultimate expression of luxury train travel — highly coveted by those seeking the rare opportunity to experience multiple celebrated destinations in a single, seamless journey.
From the moment you board in Paris during the mid-afternoon, you are welcomed by dedicated stewards and escorted to your beautifully appointed cabin. After settling into your sumptuous surroundings, you are invited to the dining car for an exquisite multi-course dinner, showcasing some of the finest cuisine served on the rails. Later, unwind in the iconic Bar Car with a perfectly crafted cocktail, before returning to your cabin, transformed overnight into an elegant bedroom by the attentive onboard team.
The following day, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express arrives in Hungary. Upon reaching Budapest, you transfer to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. On day three, after breakfast, enjoy a guided city tour, lunch at a local restaurant and a scenic cruise along the Danube, before rejoining the train in the late afternoon as it continues towards Romania. The next morning, after breakfast in your cabin, disembark for a visit to the magnificent Peleș Castle, before rejoining the train for a short journey to Bucharest. Here, a brief city tour is followed by a transfer to your hotel for a private dinner.
On the fifth and final day, rejoin the train as it travels into Bulgaria, pausing in Varna to admire views across the Black Sea. Enjoy a leisurely lunch and a refined farewell dinner onboard before spending your final night aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The following morning, awaken in Turkey as the train arrives in Istanbul.
Please note that there is a single occupancy supplement. If travelling solo, please contact us by email or telephone 020 3 608 7633. There are also some Historic Cabins available for this year's journey. Please get in touch if you are interested.
Your luxury adventure begins mid-afternoon at Paris Gare de l’ Est. A steward will escort you to your private cabin aboard the Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Settle in and prepare for an evening of elegance. Dinner is served in one of the exquisite restaurant cars, followed by a relaxing night in the bar car where you can enjoy your favourite drinks and the sounds of the resident pianist before retiring for the night.
Wake up to the picturesque European scenery as the train journeys toward Hungary. A continental breakfast is delivered to your cabin at a time convenient for you. A gourmet lunch follows in one of the beautiful dining cars. After some time relaxing on the train, you will arrive in Budapest. You will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay and dinner.
After a superb hotel breakfast, immerse yourself in Budapest with a private guided city tour, including lunch at a local restaurant. The tour also features a short, scenic cruise along the River Danube. In the late afternoon, you will rejoin the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the bar car as the train begins its journey toward Romania.
Enjoy breakfast in your cabin this morning, followed by leisure time on the train before a delicious brunch is served in the dining car. The train's journey pauses at the mountain town of Sinaia, where you will disembark for a visit to the magnificent Peles Castle. Rejoin the train for the short final stretch to Bucharest. Upon arrival, you'll have a brief city tour as you transfer to your hotel. This evening, an exclusive dinner awaits you at a private venue in the city.
Following breakfast at your hotel, you will board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express once more, heading south into Bulgaria. The afternoon includes a short stop in Varna to take in the views across the Black Sea. Savour a decadent lunch followed by a sumptuous dinner, marking your final night in the private accommodation of the train.
The train enters Turkey early this morning, travelling across the beautiful Thracian Plain as you enjoy breakfast. A special Turkish-inspired lunch will be served before the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express completes its unforgettable journey, arriving in Istanbul
Please click here for the layout and details of the accommodation types.
View the details for the Istanbul to Paris route here and the journey for 2026 Paris to Istanbul prices can be found here.
This is a brief overview of our booking terms and conditions. Please note each individual operator has their own terms and conditions and by booking with LuxuryTrainTickets.com you are also accepting the operator's terms. For more information regarding operator terms and conditions please contact us or the operator directly.
PLEASE NOTE: Receiving receipt of payment is not confirmation that your booking has been successful. We will contact you one to 10 working days after you have paid to confirm your booking, take further details of those travelling and send your itinerary. In the rare instance your booking cannot be fulfilled for any reason, such as the operator cancelling a journey or anything else beyond our control, we will be in touch with alternative options or will refund your payment.
All prices shown are for one adult ticket. Sleeper journeys are based on two adults sharing accommodation. Single occupancy of cabins may incur additional charge.
Prices are set by the operator and may change at short notice. We endeavour to ensure prices are always accurate and update our own website as soon as possible. All timings and details of included tours and activities are for guidance only and will only be confirmed in your travel documents that will be emailed to you 7 days before departure. For any questions including discounts, offers or group pricing, please contact info@luxurytraintickets.com.
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There are a limited number of private tables and cabin types onboard. While we keep our website updated regularly, there may be occasions when private tables or cabin types become fully booked meaning we are unable to fulfil your booking requirements. Should this be the case, we will contact you to discuss alternative options and refund any payments made.
We have the right to refuse the request of a deposit when a journey is scheduled to depart in less than 16 weeks. If you choose to book with a deposit you must pay the remaining balance in full 15 weeks before departure at the latest. Should you fail to pay the remaining balance 15 weeks prior to departure, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking. Deposits are accepted by request. Most journeys require a 25% deposit to secure a booking however some specialist journeys do require a 50% deposit. Please contact us for confirmation.
Tickets are sent electronically around 5 days before departure. You will not receive tickets or any form of 'gift pack' in the post. This is in an attempt to reduce paper use and do our part for the environment.
By booking a journey you agree to these terms, the terms set out by each individual operator and our cancellation policy.
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