Planet Rail
2026 Departures - Istanbul to Paris aboard the Venice Simplon Orient Express
9 daysfrom $25,368
Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday
2027 Departures - Paris to Istanbul aboard the Venice Simplon Orient Express
Travel from Paris to exotic Istanbul in Art Deco elegance, enjoying gourmet cuisine and breathtaking scenery aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: On board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
London to Paris and departure from Paris on the Orient Express
Board the Eurostar service at London St Pancras International for the high-speed journey to Paris in a Standard Premier Class seat, with a light meal and drinks included. On arrival, make your own way from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est to board the Wagons-Lits carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Your steward shows you to your private cabin and attends to you throughout the journey. Dress for dinner: a pre-dinner cocktail followed by a delicious four-course dinner prepared by skilled French chefs, perhaps with a drink in the bar car to the sound of the baby grand piano before retiring to your compartment, now transformed into a cosy bedroom.
- Day 2railovernight: Budapest (Gresham Four Seasons Hotel)
Arrival in Budapest
Enjoy a continental breakfast in your cabin as the train winds through Austria and into Hungary, with a three-course lunch served before arrival in Budapest. Local guides take you by coach to the Gresham Four Seasons Hotel, at the end of Budapest's Chain Bridge with panoramic views of the River Danube and the hills of Buda. In the evening you are escorted to a nearby private venue for dinner (smart casual suggested).
- Day 3railovernight: On board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Budapest to Bucharest
Enjoy the hotel's buffet breakfast before departing on foot to discover the historic sights of Buda, with lunch at an authentic local Hungarian restaurant. The tour ends at the station where you reboard the train; relax over a cocktail or aperitif in the Bar Car before dinner as the train travels into Romania. Retire to your cabin, transformed into a cosy bedroom for the night.
- Day 4railovernight: Bucharest (Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel)
Tour of Sinaia and arrival into Bucharest
Wake to a continental breakfast served in your cabin, followed by a brunch served in the restaurant cars before the train arrives at the mountain town of Sinaia. Travel by coach to Peles Castle, the fairy-tale palace built by Romania's first king as the royal family's summer retreat (comfortable shoes and a sweater or overcoat recommended); the inaugural Orient Express guests visited Peles Castle in 1883 at the King's personal invitation. Rejoin the train to Bucharest, where local guides escort you to the Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, next to the Palace of the Parliament and a few moments from the Old Town. Dinner is served at a private venue (jacket and tie suggested for gentlemen, equivalent for ladies).
- Day 5railovernight: On board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Bucharest to Istanbul
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, rejoin the train for the final part of the journey to Turkey, travelling south across the River Danube and into Bulgaria. During the afternoon a stop is made at the seaside resort of Varna on the Black Sea coast before the train continues. Lunch and dinner are served in the restaurant cars; enjoy the final night on board as the train crosses the ancient Thracian Plain.
- Day 6railovernight: Istanbul (Hotel Amira)
Scenic journey through Turkey to Istanbul
Wake to a continental breakfast served in your cabin as the train journeys through Turkey, followed by a lunch introducing Turkish flavours in one of the restaurant cars. The train arrives into Istanbul Sirkeci station; make your own way to your hotel for the next three nights, the Hotel Amira.
- Day 7overnight: Istanbul (Hotel Amira)
Exploring Istanbul
A full day to take in the many attractions of Istanbul, the Turkish metropolis which marks the meeting point of Europe and Asia and sprawls across both continents. Highlights include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.
- Day 8overnight: Istanbul (Hotel Amira)
Exploring Istanbul
A second full day to explore Istanbul at your own pace, taking in more of the city's landmarks straddling Europe and Asia.
- Day 9
Istanbul to London
Savour your final morning in Istanbul before making your way to the airport for your flight with British Airways back to London Heathrow and onwards for the final leg of your journey home.
Included
- First Class rail from London to Paris (Standard Premier on Eurostar)
- 5 nights' hotel accommodation in 4 & 5 star hotels with breakfast each day: Gresham Four Seasons in Budapest, Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Bucharest, and 3 nights at the Amira Hotel (4 star) in Istanbul
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Istanbul with all meals on board
- British Airways flight from Istanbul to London Heathrow
- Dedicated Venice Simplon Orient Express steward service
- Visit to Peles Castle
