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Railbookers · Luxury rail vacation

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Istanbul

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

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

Railbookers operates this 11-day, 10-night rail vacation from Paris to Istanbul on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. After two nights in Paris, including a guided tour to the top of the Eiffel Tower and a Seine river cruise, travelers board the train in a private Twin Cabin for a four-course dinner. The route continues to Budapest for an overnight hotel stay with a Danube cruise, then on to Sinaia for a visit to Peles Castle before an overnight stop and city tour in Bucharest. The train resumes through Bulgaria, stopping at Varna on the Black Sea coast, before crossing the Thracian Plain into Istanbul for a three-night finish that includes the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus cruise. The trip suits travelers drawn to a storied luxury train combined with historic sightseeing across five countries, rather than a single-destination stay.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence lists two Istanbul hotel options for this package (Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul and the Pera Palace Hotel), 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: Paris

    Your Journey Begins in Paris

    Short journey through the Channel Tunnel to Paris. Check into your hotel; perhaps wander through the Luxembourg Gardens.

  2. Day 2overnight: Paris

    Paris

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

  3. Day 3railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Onboard The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Explore more of Paris, then board the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express by mid-afternoon for a four-course dinner on board.

  4. Day 4overnight: Budapest

    Budapest

    Continental breakfast in your cabin, lunch in the restaurant cars, and dinner in a local restaurant after checking into your hotel in Budapest.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Overnight Onboard The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Morning sightseeing in Budapest, lunch, and a Danube cruise, then re-join the train for a pre-dinner aperitif in the bar car as the journey continues into Romania.

  6. Day 6overnight: Bucharest

    Bucharest

    Arrive in Sinaia to visit Peles Castle, then continue to Bucharest for a city tour and dinner at a private venue.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Onboard The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Journey continues from Romania to Bulgaria, with a stop at Varna on the Black Sea coast for a short tour, then dinner and final night on board.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Train crosses the Thracian Plain; breakfast and final lunch on board before disembarking and transferring to your hotel.

  9. Day 9overnight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

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

  10. Day 10overnight: Istanbul

    Istanbul

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

  11. Day 11

    Your Journey Ends in Istanbul

    Check out of your hotel and continue with your onward travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A guided tour to the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden and a Seine river cruise.
  • Day 6A stop in Sinaia to visit Peles Castle before continuing to Bucharest for a private-venue dinner.
  • Day 7The train stops at Varna on the Black Sea coast for a short tour.
  • Day 10A Bosphorus cruise past Galata Bridge, with an hour on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Included

  • Guided Eiffel Tower summit tour plus Louvre Museum tickets and River Seine 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 3-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 a city tour and private dinner

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Three nights aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in a private Twin Cabin from Paris via Budapest, Bucharest and Varna to Istanbul, with steward service and meals included.
Which cities does the trip visit?
Paris, Budapest, Sinaia, Bucharest, Varna and Istanbul.
What is included in the price?
Hotels with breakfast in Paris (2 nights) and Istanbul (3 nights), overnight hotel stays with private dinner in Budapest and Bucharest, three nights in a Twin Cabin aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with meals, a guided Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Seine cruise tour in Paris, a visit to Peles Castle, a Budapest city tour with Danube cruise, and Istanbul city touring.
How many nights are spent aboard the train?
Three nights, on days 3, 5 and 7 of the 11-day itinerary.
What is the total trip length?
11 days and 10 nights, from Paris to Istanbul.

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