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Marvellous Escapes · Tailor-made rail holiday

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Istanbul

Luxury train journey Paris to Istanbul on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with city stays

Illustration of Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Istanbul

Marvellous Escapes operates this 11-day tailor-made rail holiday combining the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with stays in four romantic cities. The journey starts with Eurostar Premier Class from London to Paris, where you spend one night before boarding one of the world's most celebrated trains at Gare de l'Est. Over three nights aboard, you travel from Paris through Austria and Hungary to Budapest, where a local guide escorts you to a four-star hotel on the Danube's banks and you tour the Parliament Building and the city's landmarks. You re-board the train, visit Peleș Castle in Romania's Carpathian Mountains, and spend one night in Bucharest. The final train leg crosses the Danube into Bulgaria, stopping at Varna on the Black Sea for an aperitif before arriving in Istanbul. Four nights in Istanbul include two private guided tours covering the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, a Bosphorus cruise, and a free day to explore at leisure. Throughout, dinners in the train's restored dining cars, cocktail receptions, and private transfers create an experience of understated elegance suited to couples and repeat rail travellers seeking luxury and history.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package price begins at GBP 19,799 and does not include the Eurostar fare from London to Paris or the return flight from Istanbul to the UK; confirm these add-on costs with Marvellous Escapes before booking
  • The itinerary includes two consecutive nights in Budapest and three in Istanbul; the balance of nights shifts between train and hotel, so packing and unpacking occur several times over the 11 days
  • Meals aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and in most hotels are included, but Marvellous Escapes does not list charges for meals not mentioned in the itinerary

Day by day

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Day 8overnight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Private guided tour taking in the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and the Hippodrome.

  9. Day 9overnight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Second private guided tour visiting the Spice Market, a Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, and Istiklal Street.

  10. Day 10overnight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Final day in Istanbul at leisure, perhaps revisiting a favourite sight or souvenir shopping.

  11. Day 11

    Return home

    Private transfer to Istanbul airport for the return flight to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l'Est and dine in the restored dining cars with the resident pianist before retiring to your cabin as the train travels through France and Germany
  • Day 3Arrive in Budapest and enjoy a cocktail reception on the banks of the Danube with dinner and a local guide who accompanies you by shared transfer to your hotel
  • Day 5Visit Peleș Castle, the summer retreat of Romania's King Carol, a destination that Orient Express passengers have reached since 1883
  • Day 6Stop at Varna on the Black Sea coast for an aperitif at a private estate as the train crosses the Danube into Bulgaria
  • Day 8Take a private guided tour of Istanbul's landmarks including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar

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

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar in Premier Class to Paris and the complete Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journey from Paris to Istanbul. Return flights to the UK are also included.
Are meals included?
Breakfast is included at all hotels. Dinner in the restored dining cars of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, lunch and three-course meals en route, cocktail receptions, and dinner with entertainment in Budapest and Bucharest are included. Meals on free days in Istanbul are not specified.
What guided experiences are included?
A guided city tour of Budapest with a visit to the Hungarian Parliament Building, a shared transfer and guided tour of Peleș Castle near Sinaia, Romania, a Danube cruise, two private guided tours in Istanbul covering major landmarks and a Bosphorus cruise, and private transfers throughout.
Do I sleep on the train?
Yes. You occupy a cabin on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for three nights: departing Paris on Day 2, arriving Budapest on Day 3; departing Budapest on Day 4, arriving Bucharest on Day 5; and departing Bucharest on Day 6, arriving Istanbul on Day 7.
How many nights will I spend in each city?
Paris one night, Budapest one night, Bucharest one night, and Istanbul three nights, plus three nights aboard the train for a total of 10 nights.
What is the starting price and what does it include?
The package starts at GBP 19,799 per person and includes accommodation, Eurostar, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journey, private transfers, two private guided tours in Istanbul, and most meals. Eurostar fare from London and the return flight from Istanbul are listed as separate arrangements.

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