How much does it cost?

From £20,755 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $28,036 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris, and three nights aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Istanbul in a Historic Cabin. All rail transfers are included.

What is the itinerary?

Day 1: London to Paris via Eurostar; overnight in Paris. Days 2 to 4: aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, arriving in Budapest on Day 3 with a guided tour on Day 4. Day 5: coach to Peleș Castle in Romania; overnight in Bucharest. Day 6: continue to Varna on the Black Sea coast; overnight on the train. Day 7: arrive Istanbul with breakfast, lunch, and hotel overnight. Day 8: transfer to airport for return flight to London.

What hotels are included?

One night in Paris (either Hotel La Lanterne, 4-star, or Mandarin Oriental, 5-star), one night in Budapest, one night in Bucharest, and one night at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet in Istanbul.

Yes. All meals aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are included, with beverages and alcoholic drinks. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided during hotel nights as part of the guided tour days.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys operates this as an escorted tour with expert local guides in Budapest and for the visit to Peleș Castle. The train provides 24-hour steward service.

Great Rail Journeys · Luxury rail tour

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Paris to Istanbul

Luxury train from Paris to Istanbul via Budapest, Romania, Bulgaria

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day luxury escorted journey departing London and concluding in Istanbul. You travel from London St Pancras to Paris via Eurostar Plus, then board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l'Est for a celebrated five-night passage through Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria to Istanbul. The itinerary balances time aboard the train, where you spend three nights in a Historic Cabin, with guided explorations of Budapest including its Parliament building and a coach visit to fairytale Peleș Castle in Romania. You stay four nights in four and five-star hotels. All meals, beverages, and onboard entertainment are included during your train journeys, and the experience ends with a return flight to London. This route retraces the steps of the Orient Express's first royal guests and suits luxury seekers, repeat rail travellers, couples, history enthusiasts, and those passionate about fine dining.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £1,220 since 4 Jul, to £20,755.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Single supplement pricing is not disclosed in the operator's materials; confirm the cost for travelling alone before booking
The journey concludes with a morning transfer to Istanbul airport on Day 8; no overnight stay in Istanbul is included despite the final destination

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Paris
Your unforgettable holiday begins
Board the Eurostar in Plus Class at London St Pancras with a light meal at your seat, arriving in Paris. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a day exploring the city.
Day 2railovernight: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Boarding the Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l'Est. A sumptuous dinner is served in a restored dining car with resident pianist music, followed by time in Bar Car 3674, as the train travels overnight through France and Germany.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Budapest
Travelling through Austria & Hungary
Continental breakfast served in your cabin as the train passes through Austria into Hungary, followed by a three-course lunch before arrival in Budapest. Local guides escort you to your hotel for a cocktail reception and dinner on the Danube.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Exploring Budapest
Guided sightseeing of Budapest including Heroes Square and Fisherman's Bastion, a lunch of Hungarian specialities, and a guided tour of the neo-Gothic Parliament building. Re-board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in the evening for dinner as the train heads towards Romania.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 5railovernight: Bucharest
Visiting fairytale Peleș Castle
Continental breakfast and a brunch served onboard as the train glides through Transylvania. Coach excursion from Sinaia to Peleș Castle, King Carol's summer retreat, before rejoining the train to Bucharest. Local guides escort you to your hotel for dinner with musical entertainment at a private venue.
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Along the Black Sea coast to Turkey
Travel south across the Danube into Bulgaria, with lunch in the dining car. A stop in Varna for an aperitif on a private estate, followed by a final dinner onboard as the train crosses the Thracian Plain.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 7railovernight: Istanbul
Disembarking in Istanbul
Continental breakfast in your cabin as the train crosses the Turkish border at Kapıkule for customs formalities. Lunch in the dining cars features Turkish flavours, before arriving in Istanbul and transferring to your city centre hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8
Homeward bound
Transfer to the airport for the flight back home to London.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Boarding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris Gare de l'Est and settling into your Historic Cabin as the train departs for Istanbul
Day 3Waking in your cabin to continental breakfast served by your steward while the train winds through Austrian and Hungarian landscapes before arriving in Budapest
Day 4Guided tour of the ornately designed Hungarian Parliament building overlooking the Danube River in Budapest
Day 5Coach journey from Sinaia to visit the fairytale Peleș Castle, built by Romania's King Carol as his summer residence, set beside the forested Bucegi mountains
Day 6Stop in Varna on the Black Sea coast for an aperitif on a private estate, followed by a final dinner aboard the train

Included

3 nights in a Historic Cabin aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train
4 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris
All rail, coach and private transfers throughout the journey
Flight from Istanbul to London
Eurostar light meal
All meals aboard the train and all beverages including alcoholic drinks
24-hour steward service
Onboard entertainment

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £20,755 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $28,036 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris, and three nights aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Istanbul in a Historic Cabin. All rail transfers are included.
What is the itinerary?: Day 1: London to Paris via Eurostar; overnight in Paris. Days 2 to 4: aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, arriving in Budapest on Day 3 with a guided tour on Day 4. Day 5: coach to Peleș Castle in Romania; overnight in Bucharest. Day 6: continue to Varna on the Black Sea coast; overnight on the train. Day 7: arrive Istanbul with breakfast, lunch, and hotel overnight. Day 8: transfer to airport for return flight to London.
What hotels are included?: One night in Paris (either Hotel La Lanterne, 4-star, or Mandarin Oriental, 5-star), one night in Budapest, one night in Bucharest, and one night at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet in Istanbul.
Are meals included?: Yes. All meals aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are included, with beverages and alcoholic drinks. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided during hotel nights as part of the guided tour days.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys operates this as an escorted tour with expert local guides in Budapest and for the visit to Peleș Castle. The train provides 24-hour steward service.