Trip vs trip
Paris - Istanbul or vice versa vs Paris - Istanbul (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
Two ways to do a similar journey. Every number below is from the operators' own published details, verified on the dates shown on each trip page.
| Paris - Istanbul or vice versa railtour suisse | Paris - Istanbul (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express) Discovery Trains | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 8 days | 6 days |
| From price | $21,302 | $24,201 |
| Price per day | $2,663 | $4,034 |
| Rail share | 75% | 100% |
| Pace | fast | fast |
| Comfort | luxury | luxury |
| Guiding | Knowledgeable, experienced, English-speaking tour guide; onboard language and tour guide language is English | Service de steward dédié à bord |
| Countries | France, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey | France, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey |
| Named trains | Golden Eagle Danube Express | Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) |
| Nights on board | yes | yes |
Which one, honestly
- For value: Paris - Istanbul or vice versa costs the least per day here: $2,663 against $4,034 (Paris - Istanbul (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)).
- For time on the train: Paris - Istanbul (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express) spends the most of the trip on rails: 100% rail share, against 75% (Paris - Istanbul or vice versa).
Paris - Istanbul or vice versa: worth knowing
- Arrival and return travel are not included in the price; the tour covers the train journey, transfers to and from the airport or station on the first and last day, and one hotel night at each end, per the operator's exclusions list.
- Travel and cancellation insurance are not included, per the operator's exclusions list.
Paris - Istanbul (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express): worth knowing
- This itinerary runs only 3 times in 2026, and the operator notes that cabins on this historic route are typically sold more than a year in advance.
- The Twin Historique cabin has shared toilets at the end of the sleeper car rather than a private bathroom; a private bathroom is only available from the Suite Double/Twin tier, priced at EUR 45,900 per person.
- Getting to Paris to start the trip, and away from Istanbul at the end, is not included; the operator lists these only as optional extras.
- Two of the five nights, in Budapest and Bucharest, are spent in hotels rather than aboard the train.