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Discovery Trains · Luxe, Orient Express
Paris - Istanbul (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
6-day Venice Simplon-Orient-Express historic route, Paris to Istanbul
Discovery Trains runs this 6-day, 5-night circuit aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, retracing the train's original 1883 route between Paris and Istanbul. After boarding at Paris's Gare de l'Est, the journey crosses Hungary to Budapest for a private city tour and a night in a luxury hotel, then returns aboard as the train enters Romania. At Sinaia, the tour visits Peles Castle, the former summer residence of the Romanian royal family, before a night in Bucharest at the 5-star Athenee Palace Hilton. The train then crosses the Danube into Bulgaria, with a stop in the countryside and an included Danube cruise, before a final day crossing Turkey's Thracian plain to Istanbul. Three of the five nights are spent aboard the train, with a dedicated steward service throughout and dinners prepared by the train's own chefs. Only 3 departures run in 2026, and the operator notes that cabins on this rare historic route typically sell more than a year ahead. It suits travellers who want the original Orient Express journey rather than one of its shorter routes.
What to know before you look closer
- 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.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: À bord du VS Orient Express
Paris (Train Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
Embarquement à la Gare de l'Est. Thé servi en cabine, premier repas gastronomique préparé par les chefs français du train pendant la traversée de l'Europe.
Meals: dinner
- Day 2railovernight: Hôtel de luxe à Budapest
Paris - Budapest (Train Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
Traversée de la Hongrie, petit-déjeuner continental en cabine, déjeuner dans un wagon-restaurant, thé servi en cabine. Arrivée à Budapest, installation à l'hôtel de luxe.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 3railovernight: À bord du VS Orient Express
Budapest - Sinaia (Train Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
Tour de ville privé à Budapest, déjeuner dans un restaurant local. Retour à bord en fin d'après-midi, apéritif dans le wagon-bar pendant que le train entame son circuit en Roumanie.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 4railovernight: Hôtel Athénée Palace Hilton à Bucarest
Sinaia - Bucarest (Train Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
Visite du château de Pelès (ancienne résidence d'été de la famille royale roumaine, style néo-renaissance allemand). Arrivée à Bucarest, découverte de la ville avant le dîner.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 5railovernight: À bord du train
Traversée du Danube (Train Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
Le train traverse le Danube vers la Bulgarie, étape dans la campagne bulgare. Déjeuner et dîner servis à bord, petit tour de ville avant la dernière nuit à bord.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 6rail
Istanbul
Le train entre en Turquie et traverse la plaine thrace. Petit-déjeuner et déjeuner à bord, arrivée à Istanbul.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1The journey begins at Paris's Gare de l'Est, with tea served in the cabin and the first gourmet dinner, prepared by the train's French chefs, as the VSOE crosses into Europe.
- Day 2After a day crossing Hungary, with breakfast in the cabin and lunch in the restaurant car, the train reaches Budapest for a night in a luxury hotel.
- Day 4The train stops at Sinaia to visit Peles Castle, the former summer residence of the Romanian royal family, built in a German neo-Renaissance style, before continuing to Bucharest for the night at the Athenee Palace Hilton.
- Day 5Day 5 crosses the Danube into Bulgaria, with a stop in the Bulgarian countryside, an included Danube cruise, and a short city tour before the final night aboard.
- Day 6On the final day, the train crosses the Thracian plain in Turkey before arriving in Istanbul.
Included
- Hébergement de luxe : trois nuits à bord du train Venice Simplon-Orient-Express et nuitée à Bucarest et Budapest
- Tour de ville à Bucarest et Budapest, croisière sur le Danube, visite du château de Peleș en Roumanie
- Déjeuner et dîner à Budapest et dîner à Bucarest
- Dîners à quatre services chaque soir à bord (menu table d'hôte de saison, biscuits, plateau de fromages, chutney)
- Petits déjeuners continentaux servis en cabine chaque matin
- Déjeuner à trois plats à bord
- Service de steward dédié
Not included
- Les pourboires et autres dépenses personnels
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included?
- Yes. The whole 6-day route from Paris to Istanbul is aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with 3 of the 5 nights sleeping aboard and 2 nights, in Budapest and Bucharest, in hotels.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- It's fully arranged, with a dedicated steward service aboard and private city tours included in Budapest and Bucharest.
- Which train is used?
- The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, retracing the original 1883 route from Paris via Budapest, Sinaia, Bucharest and a Danube crossing to Istanbul.
- What hotels are used?
- One night at a luxury hotel in Budapest, and one night at the 5-star Athenee Palace Hilton in Bucharest.
- What is not included?
- Tips and personal expenses, plus travel to Paris and from Istanbul, hotel transfers, extra hotel nights, and travel insurance, all listed as optional extras.
- When does it run?
- Discovery Trains lists only 3 departures, in June, September and October 2026, on what is described as one of the VSOE's rarest routes.
