Is the Orient Express
Still Running?

Few names in travel carry the romance of the Orient Express. Agatha Christie set a murder on it, film stars and royalty travelled on it, and it still stands for the golden age of luxury rail. So it is no surprise that one of the questions we hear most is a simple one. Is the Orient Express still running?

It is. The longer answer is worth knowing, though, because the Orient Express name now covers more than one train, and the original scheduled service is not the one you can book today. This guide explains which train is which, how the journey works, where it goes and what it costs.

Is the Orient Express Still Running Today?

Yes. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the train most people picture when they think of the Orient Express, and it runs every year from March to December. It is made up of original carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, restored to their Art Deco glory, and it has been carrying guests across Europe since 1982.

The main route runs between Paris and Venice, two to four times a month through the season. There are also seasonal departures to Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Florence and Amsterdam, plus the famous journey to Istanbul. 2027 dates are now on sale, and you can see every departure on our timetables page.

Which Orient Express Trains Run Today?

Part of the confusion comes from the name itself. Two very different luxury trains now carry it.

• The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Belmond). The classic. Restored 1920s and 1930s carriages travelling from Paris to Venice, Vienna, Prague and Budapest, and twice a year to Istanbul.
• La Dolce Vita Orient Express. A newer train that made its first journey in April 2025. It celebrates 1960s Italian style on journeys of one to four nights from Rome, and every cabin has its own shower room. Read more on our La Dolce Vita Orient Express page.

The two trains are run by different companies. Belmond runs the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, while La Dolce Vita is run by Orient Express, now part of Accor, with the Italian group Arsenale. When people ask whether the Orient Express is still running, they almost always mean the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. If you are trying to choose between them, our guide to La Dolce Vita vs the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sets them side by side.

The train arriving in Venice after its overnight run from Paris.

Is It the Same as the Original Orient Express?

Not quite, and the difference is part of the story. The original Orient Express was launched in 1883 by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It was never a single train but a family of long-distance luxury services linking Paris with Vienna, Bucharest and Constantinople, as Istanbul was then known. Its heyday came in the 1920s and 1930s, the era Agatha Christie captured in Murder on the Orient Express.

After the Second World War, air travel took its toll. The service shrank year by year into an ordinary sleeper train, and the last scheduled train to carry the Orient Express name ran in 2009.

The revival began much earlier. In 1977 the American businessman James Sherwood bought two of the original carriages at auction in Monte Carlo. He went on to track down and restore dozens more, and in 1982 the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express made its first journey from London to Venice. The carriages you travel in today are those same Wagons-Lits cars, so while the old scheduled service has gone, the spirit and much of the original rolling stock are very much alive.

What Is the Orient Express Like on Board Today?

Step aboard and you step into another age. The marquetry panels, Lalique glass and polished brass are the real thing, made by craftsmen almost a century ago. Your steward shows you to your cabin, and the train becomes your home for the journey.

Dinner is the high point of the day. Menus are created by the French chef Jean Imbert and served in three restored restaurant cars, each with its own character. Afterwards guests gather in Bar Car 3674, where a pianist plays late into the night. Dressing up is part of the fun, and black tie is very welcome at dinner. As the saying goes on board, you can never be overdressed.

There are four ways to travel. Historic Twin Cabins keep their 1920s layout, with a washbasin in the cabin and shared WCs at the end of the carriage. Suites, introduced in 2023, and the six Grand Suites have private bathrooms and far more space. Most exclusive of all is the L'Observatoire carriage, unveiled in 2025. All meals on board are included in the fare.

Where Does the Orient Express Go?

Venice is the classic destination. On the Paris to Venice journey the train leaves Paris at about 16:00, crosses the Alps overnight and reaches Venice Santa Lucia at about 17:30 the next day. Seasonal departures also link Paris with Vienna, Prague and Budapest, each a great European capital in its own right.

For the most adventurous, the Paris to Istanbul journey recreates the original route over five nights, including hotel stays along the way. In 2027 it leaves Paris on 31 May, which is already sold out, and on 1 October. It returns from Istanbul on 7 June and 8 October.

Can You Still Take the Orient Express from the UK?

Yes. Guests once boarded Belmond's British Pullman at London Victoria for the first leg of the journey, but today UK travellers take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and join the train there. It keeps the whole trip on the rails, and many guests add a night in Paris before they travel. Our full guide to taking the Orient Express from the UK explains exactly how the connection works.

When Does the Orient Express Run?

The train runs from March to December rather than all year round, with departures on set dates. The Paris to Venice route is the most frequent. The Istanbul journey runs only once or twice a year and sells out months ahead. Most 2026 dates have now gone, and the 2027 programme is open for booking, so it pays to plan early, especially for Suites and Grand Suites.

How Much Does the Orient Express Cost?

For 2027, Paris to Venice fares start from €4,510 per person in a Historic Twin Cabin, €10,500 in a Suite and €14,070 in a Grand Suite. The Istanbul journey starts from €20,940 per person. A handful of 2026 departures remain, mainly with Suites. All fares are per person based on two sharing, and include meals on board. See our full fares page for every route, and our guide Is the Orient Express worth it? for a realistic look at the total cost of a trip.

How to Book the Orient Express

Booking the Orient Express is not quite like booking an ordinary holiday. Cabins are limited, departures fall on fixed dates, and the connections at each end need to fit together. As UK specialists in luxury rail travel, we arrange the whole journey for you, from the Eurostar to Paris to hotels in Venice and every transfer in between.

Call our specialists on 0333 405 0192 or send an enquiry to start planning.

More than 140 years after the first departure, the Orient Express is still running, and travelling on it remains one of the great journeys in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guide updated 12 November 2026. Fares and dates change through the year, so we always confirm current prices before booking.