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Railbookers · Luxury rail vacation

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Istanbul to Paris

Istanbul to Paris on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express via Bucharest and Budapest

Illustration of Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Istanbul to Paris

Railbookers operates this 11-day, 10-night rail vacation from Istanbul to Paris on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The trip opens with three nights in Istanbul, where a full-day tour covers the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, followed by a Bosphorus cruise past Galata Bridge. From there, travelers board the train in a private Twin Cabin for a four-course dinner, with the journey broken by an overnight hotel stop and city tour in Bucharest, a visit to Peles Castle in Sinaia, and another overnight stop with a Danube cruise in Budapest. The train continues through Hungary's vineyards and forests before the final approach into Paris, where two nights close out the trip with a guided Eiffel Tower and Louvre visit and a Seine river cruise. The pace mixes multi-night city stays with shorter stops, suiting travelers who want a mix of historic sightseeing and time aboard a storied luxury train rather than a purely relaxed single-destination stay.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence lists three different Istanbul hotel options for this package (Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul, Pera Palace Hotel, and Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus), each for three nights, without specifying which one is booked.
  • The evidence does not list current departure dates for this package; confirm availability and the exact price with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Istanbul

    Your Journey Begins in Istanbul

    Welcome to Istanbul! Three-night stay in this captivating city. Enjoy your first evening, perhaps in the Beyoglu district.

  2. Day 2overnight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Full day tour taking in the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, plus the Grand Bazaar.

  3. Day 3overnight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Bosphorus cruise, passing Galata Bridge, with an hour on the Asian side of the city.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Onboard The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Explore more of Istanbul, perhaps the Basilica Cistern, before boarding the Venice Simplon-Orient Express by mid-afternoon for a four-course dinner on board.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bucharest

    Bucharest

    Continental breakfast in your cabin, a magnificent lunch in the restaurant car, then an orientation tour of Bucharest and dinner in a private venue.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Onboard The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Re-join the train for lunch while traveling to Sinaia to visit Peles Castle, then continue towards Hungary for a four-course dinner.

  7. Day 7overnight: Budapest

    Budapest

    Morning sightseeing including lunch and a cruise on the river Danube, evening escorted to a local restaurant for Hungarian dinner.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Onboard The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Train continues through the vineyards and forests of Hungary. Dinner and final night on board.

  9. Day 9overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Final breakfast in your cabin, crossing into France, farewell lunch on board, arrival at Paris Gare de l'Est with a private transfer to your hotel.

  10. Day 10overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Guided tour to the summit of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Tuileries Garden, and a river cruise down the Seine.

  11. Day 11

    Your Journey Ends in Paris

    After checking out of your hotel, continue with your onward travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A full day tour of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
  • Day 4Boarding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express by mid-afternoon for a four-course dinner on board.
  • Day 6The train stops in Sinaia to visit Peles Castle before continuing toward Hungary.
  • Day 10A guided tour to the summit of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and a river cruise on the Seine.

Included

  • 3-night hotel stay with breakfast in Istanbul
  • Full day tour of Istanbul, including visits to Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia, Grand Bazaar, and Blue Mosque
  • Bosphorus river cruise
  • Three nights aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in a private Twin Cabin
  • Dedicated steward service
  • Welcome glass of champagne
  • Sumptuous four-course dinner each night aboard the train
  • Continental breakfast served in your cabin each morning
  • Delicious three-course lunch each day aboard the train
  • Overnight hotel accommodation including private dinner in Budapest
  • Budapest city tour plus Danube cruise and lunch at a local restaurant
  • Visit Peles Castle
  • Overnight hotel accommodation in Bucharest, plus city tour and private dinner
  • 2-night hotel stay with breakfast in Paris
  • Guided Eiffel Tower summit tour plus Louvre Museum tickets and River Seine cruise

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express carries travelers from Istanbul to Paris in a private Twin Cabin, with stops in Bucharest and Budapest, and the fare includes a dedicated steward, a welcome glass of champagne, and four-course dinners each night on board.
Which cities does the trip visit?
The route runs from Istanbul through Bucharest, Sinaia and Budapest to Paris, spending three nights in Istanbul and two nights in Paris with overnight hotel stops in Bucharest and Budapest.
What is included in the price?
Hotels with breakfast in Istanbul (3 nights) and Paris (2 nights), overnight hotel stays with private dinner in Bucharest and Budapest, three nights in a Twin Cabin aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with meals, city touring in Istanbul, a visit to Peles Castle, a Budapest city tour and Danube cruise, and a guided Eiffel Tower and Louvre tour with a Seine cruise in Paris.
How many nights are spent aboard the train?
Three nights, on days 4, 6 and 8 of the 11-day itinerary.
What is the total trip length?
11 days and 10 nights, starting in Istanbul and ending in Paris.

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