Introducing the Orient Express
Climb aboard the Orient Express train (officially known as the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express or VSOE) for a luxurious train journey across Europe. Relax in glamorous carriages with sumptuous cuisine and personal service in the style of a bygone era.
Rail itinerary
From Paris, France, to Istanbul, Turkey, with overnight stops in Hungary’s Budapest and Romania’s Bucharest. (Note: The Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE) also operates on the London-Paris-Venice route as well as other Venice-based journeys.)
About the Orient Express
Connecting evocative European cities on romantic overnight trips, the VSOE is such an accurate re-creation of the original Orient Express that its sleeper cars have no air-conditioning or double beds. The original 1920s carriages are used, and as such do not have modern amenities such as showers, however each cabin contains a washbasin with hot and cold water.
Relive the glamorous 1920s atmosphere as a personal steward provides a dedicated personal service, and savour the caviar, oysters and foie gras served by Italian waiters in the three dining cars.
Accommodation
Select either a double compartment or suite. Each compartment comes complete with gleaming wooden marquetry and polished brass fittings in original 1920s detail, including the original washbasin cabinet with hot and cold water.
Cabins convert in moments from daytime seating to a comfortable bedroom, complete with soft towels and crisp linen. Combine two interconnecting cabins to create a private lounge with a banquette sofa, footstool, small table and a sleeping compartment with an upper and lower bed.
Facilities
include a 24 hour steward service (called by a bell), international electric sockets (230 and 115 volts) for razors, and individually controlled radiators for heating. Some compartments are fitted with a personal safe. Overhead luggage racks are provided for a limited amount of luggage plus two coat hooks and hangers for clothes.
Dining
Softly muted lighting enhances the mood of the dining cars, while fine linen, French silverware and heavy crystal invite you to prepare for a gourmet meal to remember. Continental breakfast and afternoon tea are served in your compartment, while lunch and dinner are enjoyed in the sumptuous surroundings of the dining cars.
All dishes are freshly prepared onboard by French chefs, with the finest supplies taken onboard during the train's journey. An à la carte menu is available for lunch and dinner alongside a 24 hour compartment service for light snacks and refreshments.
Dress code
Dressing for the occasion is all part of the VSOE experience – you can never be overdressed aboard the Orient Express. Typically female guests wear an elegant evening gown and men don themselves in a tuxedo.
Other amenities/activities onboard Set the tone with a visit to the Bar Car, regarded as the heart of the train and famous for its delicious cocktails and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy relaxed conversation and warm to the skills of the resident pianist.
Price inclusions
Prices include all table d'hôte meals and accommodation based on two people sharing; drinks are not included in the fare and may be purchased at an additional cost. Additional à la carte meals and room service snacks are at an additional cost and paid for at the time of ordering. Gratuities are entirely at your discretion.
Best time to journey
The Orient Express operates between March and November when the temperatures in Paris and Istanbul vary between 12˚C (March/November) and 25°C (July/ August).
Highlights en route
Enjoy some scenic diversions en route.
Paris, France
Explore the city famous for lovers, gourmets, art connoisseurs, budding architects and shoppers. Climb the Tour d’Eiffel for amazing views of the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Sacré Cœur shimmering on the hilltop. Enjoy a promenade through Les Tuileries, sightseeing at Le Louvre and a spot of designer shopping at the Boulevard Haussmann, or relive the Sartre days in the unashamedly trendy Latin Quarter.
Read more about Paris . . .
Budapest, Hungary
Discover the layers of cultural identity that span many centuries, empires, conflicts and regimes. Explore the wide boulevards and magnificent bridges that straddle the Danube and add to the air of a wealthy, cosmopolitan city.
Immerse yourself in the city’s famous thermal hot springs: check out the traditional Gellért Baths, with its stunning Art Deco architecture and the Széchenyi Spa, with its neo-Baroque courtyard pools. Cruise the Danube on a river boat or hover over it in a helicopter. Take a themed walking or cycle tour of the city and learn its ancient folklore.
Peles Castle, Romania
Explore one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe – the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs. The castle is built in wood, stone, bricks and marble in an idyllic setting in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia. The style is German Renaissance, with elements of the Italian Renaissance, Gothic, German Baroque and French Rococo style.
Bucharest, Romania
Stroll the narrow streets of Lipscani, Bucharest's old quarter; check out the 16th-century frescoes of the Old Court Church; and climb to the top of the Arcul de Triumf and explore the bullet-riddled Piata Revolutiei, where Romania's ex-dictator gave his final speech.
Istanbul, Turkey
Straddling the Bosphorus at the Golden Horn between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is surely one of the world’s magical cities. Admire the vast interior-domed ceiling of Aya Sofya, go underground in the Byzantine cistern of Yerebatan Sarayi, discover the intricately decorated Blue Mosque and check out the jewels in the Topkapı Palace – once the sumptuous home of the Ottoman sultans. |