Paris to Istanbul and Istanbul to Paris on the
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express embarks on its annual journey to Istanbul, recreating this iconic experience from an era of the golden age of travel.
PARIS - BUDAPEST - BUCHAREST - ISTANBUL
6 days / 5 night
Day 1 - Paris : Board the blue and gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l' Est, mid afternoon. Throughout your journey you will be attended by your own personal Steward. After you have settled into your comfortable private compartment, make your way to one of the ornate dining cars for a delicious three-course lunch. Soak up the changing views through the window as you take in the meticulously crafted interiors.
As the train continues it journey across Europe, it is soon time to dress for dinner. Why not enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail before making your way to one of the Art Deco restaurant cars. Here you will be served a delicious dinner, prepared by the train's skilled French chefs. After dinner you may want to mingle with fellow travellers in the Bar Car, listening to the sound of the baby grand piano. When you are ready, retire to your compartment, which has now been transformed into a cosy bedroom.
Day 2 - Budapest : Continental breakfast is served in your compartment as the train passes through Austria into Hungary. Spend the morning in the Bar Car chatting to fellow guests over coffee. Enjoy a leisurely three-course lunch served in one of the beautiful restaurant cars prior to your arrival in majestic Budapest. There, your local guides are waiting to escort you by coach to a river boat for a short, scenic cruise on the Danube. Afterwards, check in at your luxury hotel, where there's time to refresh before heading out to the Museum of Fine Arts for a lavish, private dinner.
Overnight : Gresham Four Seasons Hotel, Budapest or similar
Day 3 - Budapest : After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a guided tour of the Hungarian Parliament Building, which was famously inspired by London's Houses of Parliament. Reboard the train in the late morning and enjoy lunch as the train passes through the picturesque countryside. In the evening join fellow travellers for pre-dinner drinks in the Bar Car before heading to one of the opulent restaurant cars for a sumptuous dinner as the train heads into Romania.
Day 4 - Bucharest : Your cabin steward serves breakfast in your cabin as the train approaches the mountain town of Sinaia. You will be escorted by coach the short distance to Peleș Castle, the fairy tale palace that was built by King Charles I of Romania in the 1870's. The very first Orient Express passengers visited this beautiful residence in October 1883, at the King's personal invitation. Reboard the VSOE for the short journey to Bucharest enjoying a delicious brunch is served in the restaurant cars en route. On arrival in Bucharest, your guides will transfer you to your hotel. Dinner this evening is served at a private venue.
Overnight : JW Marriott Bucharest Hotel or similar
Day 5 - Venice Simplon-Orient-Express : After breakfast at your hotel, rejoin the VSOE and head south across the mighty Danube and into Bulgaria. After lunch in one of the restaurant cars, the train will make a stop at the delightful seaside resort of Varna on the Black Sea Coast where you alight for an aperitif on the Black Sea sands. Rejoin the train and in the evening savour your final dinner and night on board this elegant and iconic train as you cross the beautiful Thracian Plain .
Day 6 - Istanbul : As breakfast is served in your cabin, the train passes into Turkey, stopping at the border crossing point of Kapikule for customs formalities. Take. Watch the scenery pass by from your cabin or the Bar Car before lunch on board. In the afternoon the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express pulls into Istanbul station where you disembark for the final time after experiencing one of the most iconic journeys in the world.
Departure 2025
May 30.
September 26.
Departure 2026
May 25.
September 25.
Timetable : Paris - Budapest - Bucharest - Istanbul 2025/26
| Arrive | Depart | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Paris (Gare de l'Est station) | - | 15:53 |
| Day 2 | Budapest (Nyugati station) | 15:42 | |
| Transfer to hotel for overnight stay. Private dinner at nearby restaurant. | |||
| Day 3 | Budapest (Nyugati station) | - | 18:08 |
| Full days guided tour of Budapest. Lunch at local restaurant. | |||
| Day 4 | Sinaia | 08:52 | 12:20 |
| Guided tour of Peleș Castle. | |||
| Bucharest (Nord station) | 14:16 | ||
| Guided tour of Bucharest. Arrive at hotel for overnight stay. Dinner at hotel. | |||
| Day 5 | Bucharest (Nord station) | - | 09:05 |
| Short off-train excursion in Varna, Bulgaria mid-afternoon. | |||
| Day 6 | Istanbul (Sirkeci Station) | 15:18 | |
Please note that all timings are for guidance only and are subject to change.
Istanbul - Bucharest - Budapest - Paris
6 days / 5 night
Day 1 - Istanbul : Check in at Istanbul's Sirkeci station in the afternoon to board the splendid Wagons-Lits carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Your steward will show you to your private compartment and will attend you throughout your journey. Take in the magnificent views of the Sea of Marmara as the train leaves Istanbul station.
Time to get attired for dinner. Although not a prerequisite, a black-tie certainly adds to the sense of occasion and atmosphere on board. Join fellow travellers for an aperitif in the Bar Car, listening to the sounds of the baby grand piano before taking your seat in one of the elegant Art Deco restaurant cars. A leisurely four-course dinner is served, prepared on board by skilled French chefs. After dinner, wander back to the Bar and when you are ready, retire to your cabin which has now been transformed into a comfortable bedroom.
Day 2 - Bucharest : Breakfast is served in your compartment by your steward at a time to suit you. Watch the beautiful scenery pass by as you travel through Bulgaria and into Romania. After you enjoy lunch in one of the restaurant cars, the train pulls into Bucharest Nord station. Disembark here and transfer to the Athenée Palace Hilton Hotel or similar. There's time to refresh before heading out to a private venue to indulge in a lavish Romanian dinner with musical entertainment.
Day 3 - Venice Simplon-Orient-Express : After breakfast at your hotel, rejoin the train and relax over brunch in one of the elegant dining cars as you journey towards the mountain town of Sinaia. Board a coach for the short journey to Peles Castle, the Neo-Renaissance palace built by King Carol as his summer retreat. You're following in historic footsteps: the inaugural Orient Express passengers visited the castle at the King's personal invitation in October 1883. Return to the train late in the afternoon and continue your journey on towards Hungary. Enjoy your dinner and overnight on board.
Day 4 - Budapest : Continental breakfast is served as the train approaches Budapest. Disembark here for a short orientation coach ride through the city, enjoy a panoramic cruise along the River Danube, soaking up the city's graceful architecture and timeless beauty. A lunch of Hungarian specialities is served before you are escorted to your hotel. In the afternoon, explore the capital at leisure. Buda is on one side of the river and Pest on the other. The two sides were united in 1873 to become a single city - Budapest. In the evening, prepare for an enchanting dinner at a private venue.
Day 5 - VSOE : After breakfast at your hotel, reboard the train in the late morning and enjoy lunch as you glide through the picturesque Hungarian countryside. Afinal fabulous dinner, curated by Belmond's visionary chef, is served to celebrate your last night on board. Relax in Bar Car '3674' listening to music as you swap stories with new-found friends.
Day 6 - Paris : Breakfast is served in your cabin as you travel through Switzerland. Soon, you reach France and, thrillingly, the vineyards of Champagne. Here, ambassadors join the train and guide you through a wonderful champagne experience. Afterwards, a sumptuous farewell lunch is served. When the train pulls into Paris, disembark, taking your unique memories with you.
Departure 2025
June 6.
October 3.
Departure 2026
June 1.
October 2.
Timetable : Istanbul - Bucharest - Budapest - Paris 2025/26
| Arrive | Depart | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Istanbul (Sirkeci Station) | - | 15:00 |
| Day 2 | Bucharest Nord | 13:36 | |
| Guided tour of Bucharest - arrive at hotel - dinner and overnight at hotel. | |||
| Day 3 | Bucharest Nord | - | 10:15 |
| Sinaia | 12:01 | 17:35 | |
| Buffet lunch at private venue - guided tour of Peleș Castle. | |||
| Day 4 | Budapest | 10:02 | |
| Guided tour of Budapest. Arrive at hotel for overnight stay. Lunch at local restaurant. Private dinner at local restaurant. | |||
| Day 5 | Budapest | - | 10:26 |
| Day 6 | Paris (Gare de l'Est) | 15:00 | |
Please note that all timings are for guidance only and are subject to change.
Train Fares 2025/26 :
| Journey | Twin from |
Suite from |
Grand Suite from |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | |
| Istanbul - Bucharest - Budapest - Paris (5 nights including hotels) | £17,500 | £17,500 | £38,000 | £38,000 | £61,200 | £58,000 |
| Paris - Budapest - Bucharest - Istanbul (5 nights including hotels) | £Sold | £17,500 | £42,000 | £38,000 | £Sold | £63,000 |
Prices shown are per person.
- • Double bed or twin beds
- • Private marble en-suite bathroom and mosaic floor
- • Lounge area by day, as your bed converts to seating area
- • Complimentary amenities including a kimono and slippers to take home
Grand Suite :
Each suite features a double or twin bedroom together with 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 as well as bespoke amenities and complimentary designer bathrobes. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express cabin service is complemented by free-flowing champagne whilst in your suite.
Please note : the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express route is subject to change without prior warning due to last minute railway engineering works or similar. Itinerary and timings shown are for guidance only. Confirmed timings will be supplied with your travel documents.
Please see our terms and conditions below:
Payment Terms
50% Deposit (received within 24 hours of holding an option)
Final Balance due 210 days before travel.
Cancellation Policy
180 days or more - 35% penalty
179-120 days - 50% penalty
119-90 days - 80% penalty
89 days or less - 100% penalty
Please note that we can also offer a Paris to Istanbul Journey or Istanbul to Paris Journey on the Golden Eagle Danube Express.
