Tailor Made Rail
Iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London to Istanbul
10 daysfrom $26,709
Marvellous Escapes · Tailor-made rail holiday
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Istanbul
Embark on a luxurious rail adventure and discover a series of romantic cities on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express route to Istanbul, Paris, Budapest and Bucharest.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Paris
Paris
Travel from London to Istanbul begins with Eurostar Premier Class to Paris. Check-in to your hotel for an overnight stay.
- Day 2railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Depart Paris
Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l'Est / Gare d'Austerlitz. Dinner in the restored dining cars with the resident pianist, then Bar Car '3674' before retiring to your cabin as the train travels through France and Germany.
- Day 3railovernight: Budapest
Budapest
French breakfast in your cabin as the train travels through Austria into Hungary, with a three-course lunch before arrival. Local guides accompany you by shared transfer to your hotel; cocktail reception and dinner on the banks of the Danube in the evening.
- Day 4railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Budapest
Guided city tour of Budapest's landmarks, lunch of Hungarian dishes, and a guided tour of the Hungarian Parliament Building. Return to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to resume the journey towards Romania, with dinner and a cocktail in the Bar Car.
- Day 5railovernight: Bucharest
Bucharest
French breakfast as the train enters Romania, followed by brunch near Sinaia. Shared transfer to Peleș Castle, the summer retreat of Romania's King Carol, first visited by Orient Express passengers in 1883. Continue to Bucharest, where a local guide accompanies you to your hotel; dinner with musical entertainment at a private venue in the evening.
- Day 6overnight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Depart Bucharest
Final leg of the journey to Istanbul, crossing the Danube into Bulgaria with lunch onboard. Afternoon stop at Varna on the Black Sea coast for an aperitif at a private estate, followed by a final dinner and drinks in the Bar Car with the resident pianist.
- Day 7railovernight: Istanbul
Istanbul
French breakfast in your cabin as the train crosses the border at Kapikule for customs formalities. Lunch of Turkish flavours in the dining cars before the train arrives into Istanbul.
- Day 8overnight: Istanbul
Istanbul
Private guided tour taking in the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and the Hippodrome.
- Day 9overnight: Istanbul
Istanbul
Second private guided tour visiting the Spice Market, a Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, and Istiklal Street.
- Day 10overnight: Istanbul
Istanbul
Final day in Istanbul at leisure, perhaps revisiting a favourite sight or souvenir shopping.
- Day 11
Return home
Private transfer to Istanbul airport for the return flight to the UK.
Included
- Overnight hotel accommodation in Paris with breakfast included
- 3-nights accommodation aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Overnight hotel accommodation in Budapest with breakfast included
- Overnight hotel accommodation in Bucharest with breakfast included
- 3-nights hotel accommodation in Istanbul with breakfast included
- Secure reservation for the Eurostar to Paris in Premier Class
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journey from Paris to Istanbul
- Private transfers throughout
- Flights from Istanbul to London on the return journey
- A city tour in Bucharest and Budapest, a Danube cruise and a visit to Peleș Castle in Romania when aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Two private guided tours in Istanbul
