venice simplon orient express trips

11 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Going on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Tips on how to pack, when to eat, and what else to expect on the european rail trip of a lifetime..

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The remodeled carriages on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express were all built in the early 20th century.

Courtesy of Belmond

For a lot of people, a journey on an antique luxury train such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is a dream come true, even if they’ve never read or seen Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express . The ride is an opportunity to return to the golden age of train travel, when passengers handed off their steamer trunks to white-gloved stewards and dined on porcelain plates.

Each itinerary has its own rewards, and indeed, every night is different depending on where you’re going and who you’re with. Here’s what I learned during my own train journey from Venice through Vienna to London on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with Belmond.

There are several routes—research the itinerary that’s right for you

The original Orient Express ran between Paris and Istanbul, with stops in Hungary and Romania, but on Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, there are nearly two dozen journeys you can take. A five-night itinerary from Paris to Istanbul is offered only a few times in the spring and summer and includes three nights on the train. The 2024 dates are May 31 to June 5 (Paris to Istanbul), June 7 to June 12 (Istanbul to Paris), August 23 to August 30 (Paris to Istanbul), and August 30 to September 4 (Istanbul to Paris).

At other times, trips include stops in such cities as Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Verona, Amsterdam, Florence, Rome, Brussels, and Innsbruck.

Left: Gardens at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani; Right: Laundry hangs above a street in Venice.

Photos by Sara Button

Note that if your itinerary includes London (which many do), you’ll actually take a bus through the Chunnel before picking up a train on the other side. Passengers ride another Belmond train, the British Pullman, in England and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe.

Knowing what I know now from riding from Venice to London with the Chunnel interruption at the end of the trip, I would do my itinerary in reverse to experience more of a crescendo: Start in London with a stay at Belmond’s stylish Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea, ride on the Pullman, then take the more luxurious VSOE to Venice. To top it all off? A night at the dreamy Belmond Hotel Cipriani on the Venetian island of Giudecca.

As you book, think about how much time you want to spend on the train and how the journey itself will unfold. If you board in the afternoon and get off again early the next morning, you’ll miss more of the scenery via train and may not get to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or brunch—but you’ll have more time in your final destination.

If you board in the morning and arrive at your destination late the next night, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the VSOE, but be prepared for a lot of sitting around. My favorite leg of the trip was when I had about 24 hours riding rather than rushing to disembark on time.

Staff of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express lines up to greet guests as they board the train.

Photo by Sara Button

There’s no such thing as too dressy . . .

Guests are informed of the dress code in advance of the trip. Jeans and tennis shoes are not acceptable daywear, and formal attire is requested for dinner. It’s no joke. I saw folks dressed in tuxedos and floor-length ballgowns and wearing antique jewelry. My advice? Embrace it. I was a bit intimidated by the idea of dressing up. But it turned out to be fun, almost like putting on a costume.

. . . but don’t panic if you’re not a fashionista

During the day, I wore a couple of simple linen dresses; for dinners, I brought two cocktail dresses. The train is a great opportunity to recycle wedding party attire you thought you’d never wear again or to check out the vintage section of a thrift shop. Services like Rent the Runway let you wear fancy clothes without having to buy them.

All that being said, try to fit everything in an overnight bag and a carry-on suitcase . The train compartments are authentically small, with only narrow overhead luggage racks and a couple of hangers for long garments. Large suitcases will be put into the train’s storage, and you won’t have access to them during the ride. I was fine fitting my beloved Osprey Meridian carry-on (sans day pack) and a Steve Madden weekender bag in my compartment.

(Though the Meridian is no longer available, the Osprey Fairview wheeled travel pack is similar.)

Take in the details

Riding on the VSOE truly is like being inside a time capsule; each car was built between 1926 and 1949 and has been meticulously restored. One of the most celebrated design moments onboard is the intricate glass windows in the dining car, designed by René Lalique in a Côte d’Azur style in 1929. The Grand Suites , meanwhile, are a masterclass in art deco style with hand-beaded embroidery, rich color palettes across plush fabrics, and special design elements inspired by Orient Express destinations like Paris, Istanbul, and Vienna. To step into one of the historic cabins is to be instantly transported to the 1920s.

Read the placards that describe each carriage’s history (car 3544 was reportedly used as a wartime brothel), track down car 3309 to admire the art deco marquetry panels by lauded French designer René Prou, and make time to admire such details as the painted flowers adorning your ceramic wash basin.

The bar car 3674 was refurbished in 2016; guests socialize here until late into the night.

Unplug . . .

It’s a lot easier to enjoy the views, get to know fellow passengers, or write postcards (anything posted from the train itself will get a special Venice Simplon-Orient-Express stamp) when you’re not looking at your phone.

. . . but don’t forget to take some photos

There are so many magical elements on the VSOE, it’s hard to keep track. I took plenty of pictures of the train, but once I got home I realized that I only had a couple photos of myself. As a solo traveler , I wish I had asked fellow riders to help me document the occasion. I had gotten dressed up after all, and sometimes a selfie just won’t cut it.

Be prepared to eat—A LOT

Most overnight itineraries include afternoon tea, dinner, and breakfast or brunch the next day. When I boarded in Venice, I was welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine, then served afternoon tea with five different sweets. Only a couple hours later, there were snacks for cocktail hour, and supper was a four-course meal.

Decide if you’re an early bird or a night owl

There are two dinner seatings on the VSOE: one around 7 p.m., the other around 9 p.m. The maître d’ will note your seating preference in the afternoon and will also ask if you’re open to sitting with other travelers.

Eat early and you’ll have more time to digest all five courses before going to bed. Eat late and you’ll have to wait until the first shift finishes up in the dining cars.

The resident pianist plays in the bar car from 6 p.m. to midnight nightly, sometimes longer if passengers are still enjoying themselves later than that. Either way, there’s plenty of time for drinks before or after dinner—the bar car doesn’t close until the last guest has left.

Because of my route, I was able to try dinner at both times and personally, I ended up liking the later seating more; there was a bigger gap between afternoon tea and dinner, and I felt like I had even more time to make friends in the bar car before heading to the meal seating than during the earlier seating.

Breakfast aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express includes fresh fruit, pastries, tea or coffee, and juice.

Manage your expectations

Yes, a trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the trip of a lifetime. But you’re still riding an antique train. Unless you’ve booked one of the six grand suites , you’ll have to use the toilet at the end of each car. Twin cabins have bunk beds; if you’re traveling with someone else, your compartment will be, well, intimate. There is an option to book a double cabin, which adjoins two singles that can be combined as a double bed allowing for more space. As comfortable as the beds may be, there will be some jolts and bumps during the night. If the clacking of the tracks will keep you awake, bring earplugs.

Grand Suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express have a double bed and en suite toilets.

Meet your fellow passengers

Many different types of travelers ride on the VSOE. I met couples, a mother-daughter duo, a family with two young children, former college roommates, and another solo female traveler. Some were Agatha Christie buffs, others wanted to bask in the atmosphere. Those looking for a bit of serenity could relax in the comfort of their cabin and dine alone or with only their traveling companions. Others could dine with strangers or chat in the bar car. Striking up a conversation is easy—just start with, “What brought you on the train?”

This article originally appeared online in 2019; it was most recently updated on October 13, 2023, to include current information.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Prices

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices

Explore the latest Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices for all journeys available across Europe. Sister train to the original Orient Express, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of the most luxurious trains in the world and the closest you can get to riding the legendary train famous for being featured in many novels and films. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices start from £2,920/$3,600/€3,450 per person for a Twin Cabin, and £8,400/$10,350/€9,800 per person for a Grand Suite. The price includes all meals onboard, usually consisting of a four-course dinner, continental breakfast and three-course brunch or lunch, steward service and champagne reception on arrival. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices below are per person based on two sharing a cabin. There is an additional charge for single occupancy of any cabin. Please note that prices do fluctuate with demand and as the train becomes closer to being fully-booked. Any of these journeys can be booked with a 25% deposit , for more information please contact us .

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Sister to the famous Orient Express, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of the most luxurious trains in the world. Made up of 17 authentic and beautifully restored 1920s carriages, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express takes passengers back to the Golden Age of Travel, when luxury train journeys were at their most popular and favoured by the wealthy. During the 1920s there were actually three trains making up the Orient Express service. The Orient Express as everyone knows from novels and films, the Alberg Orient Express and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Taking a different Orient Express Route to the more famous 'Orient Express', the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express headed south from from Paris to Venice via the Simplon Tunnel. Today the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the closest anyone can get to experiencing what the epitome of luxury train travel is like. Offering a wealth of journeys across Europe, including a once-a-year special journey from Paris to Istanbul following the famous cross-continental route the original Orient Express took, a journey onboard the VSOE is one that will leave lasting memories as you experience the very best of luxury rail travel.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Cabins

The Venice Simplon Orient Express Cabins are available in three different sizes: Twin Cabins, Cabin Suites and Grand Suites . A Twin Cabin is converted from a cosy lounge during the day to a bedroom at night by the stewards while you are at dinner, while the other two are large enough to include a separate sleeping area to the lounge. A Twin Cabin is only available with bunks, however many passengers opt to explore the train during the day and simply using their cabin to store luggage and to sleep. A Cabin Suite is twice the size of a Twin Cabin and is essentially made up of two interconnecting Twin Cabins; one with space for sleeping and the other as a lounge. The Grand Suites are much larger and much more ornate. There are only six Grand Suites onboard, however each is named after a destination the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express visits and each has it's own unique décor. Grand Suites also benefit from having their own en-suites as well as dedicated steward and free-flowing champagne. There are a limited number of single cabins available only by request. Passengers are able to choose sole occupancy of any cabin type at additional expense.

Grand Suites

Double Suites

Twin Suites

Historic Cabins

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The experience

Cabins and suites, itineraries, venice simplon-orient-express, welcome aboard the luxury train venice simplon-orient-express.

An icon of art-deco design and an eternal symbol of luxury , the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a true classic of luxury train travel . Travel on board this European rail legend and enjoy an unforgettable adventure.

A quintessential icon of luxury train travel , this train has for many decades captured the hearts and imaginations of its lucky travelers. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is simply the most famous and luxurious luxury train in the world : polished wood finishes, upholstery with the finest fabrics, sumptuous and antique decoration… This wonder of sophisticated travel will make you appreciate several of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe while enjoying an atmosphere of opulence and elegance without equal that will transport you from the first moment aboard the Golden Age of train travel.

Authenticity is one of the protagonists of this luxury train . The Venice Simplon- Orient-Express is made up of several luxurious cabin cars from the 1920s and 1930s, together with 3 restaurant cars that offer you an exquisite culinary experience and invite you to be dazzled by their luxurious finishes : stained glass windows with Lalique crystals from the French Riviera, cutlery and glassware from the finest and most exclusive brands, delicious dishes that will delight your palate. The wagon-bar sparkles with its golden details and offers you to enjoy a glass of fine champagne while the pianist gives that charming touch to the atmosphere with its elegant and happy melodies.

A butler in the most elegant royal blue and gold uniform greets you with a white gloved hand and welcomes you on board with a discreet and sincere smile. Step into your luxurious cabin finished in polished cherry wood and adorned with art-deco accents, relax and enjoy the start of a journey into the golden age of train travel.

What is the history of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express?

The original Orient-Express was inaugurated on October 4, 1883 and characters such as Tolstoy, Lawrence of Arabia, the spy Mata Hari Trotsky, Marlene Dietrich traveled in its luxurious carriages ... Many films based on the fabulous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express have even been produced as "The Spy Who Loved Me" in 1963 starring Sean Connery. And more recently, in 2017, inspired by the 1934 Agatha Christie novel, "Murder on the Orient Express" with Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kenneth Branagh.

It was 1977 at an auction in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, where the founder of Belmond, Mr. James B Sherwood, bought two vintage train cars.

Sherwood was passionate about luxury and sophisticated travel. He searched everywhere for railway relics and disused wagons in private gardens,** museums and railway stations**. The wagons of famous vintage trains such as Le Train Bleu and the Rome Express deserved a spectacular return to service, but they needed a very high level of craftsmanship and engineering expertise to be restored and adapted to modern standards of quality and safety. Fortunately, he found a group of experienced craftsmen and mechanics who carried out the task of painstakingly restoring the wagons to their former glory from bygone days.

After nearly 5 years of meticulous restoration, the iconic midnight blue wagons were finally operational for 1982, ready to welcome their lucky travelers in incomparable luxury on a journey between Venice and London.

What journeys does the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express propose?

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express covers the route between London and Venice , this route being one of the most famous, as well as the route from Paris to Venice . Feast your eyes on the beautiful landscapes of Europe: lush rolling meadows and majestic mountains, beautiful villages. This impressive journey can be done in either direction or round trip. Delve into local culture with stops in Budapest and Bucharest. Reach the ends of Europe on an authentic adventure of more than six days taking the route from Paris to Istanbul, a city divided between Europe and Asia.

Paris - Berlin is the newest trip in the catalog, an exciting adventure connecting two of the most vibrant cultural centers in Europe.

Venice, Paris, London, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Istanbul ... They are just some of the legendary cities the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express visits.

The Côte d’Azur

The Étoile du Nord

Single Cabin

The perfect option for total relaxation.

The individual cabins have one bed. During the day, the bed is transformed into a comfortable sofa from where you can admire the beautiful views that this journey offers you.

Thin cotton sheets and goose feather pillows will create a cozy and peaceful setting for a perfect night's rest.

Included in your cabin:

• Day and night configuration
• Sink with hot and cold water
• WC at the ends of each wagon-room
• Towels in luxurious cotton
• Bathrobes and slippers
• Dual voltage sockets
• 2 x 220 volt outlets

Historic Cabin

Take in Europe from the romantic setting it deserves with your own private historic twin cabin.

Banquette seating offers the perfect vantage point to watch the landscape by day, while convertible sleeping berths — with soft, luxurious bedding — transform the cabin into an intimate retreat by night.

Morning breakfast can even be served to your bed, should you desire.

Its comfortable plush sofa turns into an upper bed and a lower one at night.

Both are dressed in soft, luxurious lingerie for optimal rest and each has its own reading light.

Included in your Historic Cabin:

These marvelous suites are inspired by a fusion of the landscape the train travels through and design from the Art Deco period.

Each suite will immerse you in diverse European scenery through glorious colours, patterns and textures. Plush fabrics and furnishings channel famed Art Deco designers, such as Dufrene and Lalique.

These reimagined suites were fully restored by expert craftsmen in France, and complement the existing Grand Suites and Historic Twins that make up the sumptuous on board experience.

Included in your Suite:

• Double bed or twin beds
• Private marble en-suite bathroom with shower, basin and wc
• Lounge area by day, as your bed converts to seating area
• Complimentary amenities including a kimono and slippers to take home

Grand Suite

On a train where unparalleled luxury is the standard, the exquisite Grand Suites are the jewel in the crown. Let yourself be carried away by the feeling of opulence and elegance of these large suites where only royalty traveled in the Golden Age of train travel.

Three beautiful suites make up the collection, each named after 3 of the most attractive cities in Europe: Paris, Venice and Istanbul. In honor of the inaugural train route through the heart of continental Europe, the Grand Suites embody the soul of each city and the art-deco indulgence while offering all modern comforts. Spacious sinks and impeccable cabin service complete the experience.

Each Grand Suite has a bedroom with double or twin bed, a living room with space for private dining, and a sofa that can be converted into an additional bed at night. A private bathroom in the suite includes a shower, sink and toilet, plus accessories and luxury products and complimentary bathrobes. 24-hour suite service includes unlimited champagne consumption at no extra charge.

Included in your Grand Suite:

• Private WC and shower
• Complimentary champagne by the glass in your Suite

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How long does the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journey take?

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I Rode One of the World's Most Luxurious Overnight Trains Through Italy — Here's What It's Like on Board

With food by chef Jean Imbert, a swish bar cart, and newly redone cabins, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, just keeps getting better.

Courtesy of Belmond

Sometime between the exquisite herb-stuffed guinea fowl and the pear compote lathered in whipped zabaglione, the carefully attuned ears of the servers in the sumptuous emerald L’Etoile du Nord dining car pricked up. Whatever they were doing — refilling flutes of Champagne, crumbing tablecloths with silver spoons — they froze, as one extravagantly mustachioed member of the impeccably tailored waitstaff came marching down the narrow aisle. “Hold the glasses!” he called out. “Hold the glasses!”

The rest of the servers echoed Italian Hodor, and my fellow passengers and I gripped our drinks, not knowing why. The brakes squeaked, and the train jerked, making any untethered china and crystal chatter like winter teeth. It wasn’t murder on the Orient Express, but maybe a minor heart attack.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train

• The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has a posh dining car with food by Jean Imbert, known for his Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris.
• The train runs overnight journeys between European capitals, including trips from Venice to Brussels; Paris to Prague; Rome to Paris; and more.
• The famed train, which inspired Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express," now has newly redesigned cabins, as of June 2023.

This literal bump in the road on my overnight October journey from Venice to Brussels on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train was jarring not because there was any danger involved — except maybe a chipped glass or two — but because the onboard experience otherwise unfurls so seamlessly, with such cinematic choreography and élan, you forget you’re in the real world and not a period picture. As VSEO manager Pascal Deyrolle tells his team at the beginning of the season, “We are not in the railway business, we are not in hospitality. We are in show business.”

And I am in the literary business, a postwar novelist riding out Prohibition in Paris. Marco, s’il vous plaît, un autre Champagne. I returned to the lovely lunch (Michelin star collector Jean Imbert designs the onboard menus) as the waitstaff returned to pouring and crumbing and being extravagantly mustachioed, and Lake Garda filled the windows with big pools of blue.

The Orient Express history is storied and about as complicated as Agatha Christie’s titular whodunit. Save for some wartime interruptions, the OG OE’s iconic Paris-to-Istanbul journey ran from 1883 to 1977. In 1982, The New York Times wrote of the line’s resurrection under hotelier James Sherwood, “with service three times a week between London, Paris and Venice [...] and for part of the trip the cars will use Orient Express rolling stock from the 1920’s, all meticulously restored to Art Deco splendor.” The train became the launching pad for Sherwood’s Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd., which changed names to Belmond in 2014 (the train was allowed to keep the OE surname), which was then purchased by LVMH in 2018. Meanwhile, Accor purchased the Orient Express name in 2022 and will debut Rome-to-Palermo trips on Orient Express La Dolce Vita next year, as well as a transcontinental service on the future Orient Express in 2025.

Deyrolle, who started on the VSOE in 1992 as a cabin steward, has seen the recent ascendance of train travel from inside the industry: “COVID-19 accelerated the need and want for a more sustainable way of traveling, and you’re getting a lot more players coming into the market.” Next year, Belmond brings back its Singapore roundtrip on the Eastern & Oriental Express , and Dreamstar Lines plans to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles with the first overnight service between the cities since 1968. In 2025, a team that includes veterans of Eurorail and Mama Shelter will debut Midnight Trains , billed as a “hotel on rails” running from Paris to 10 European cities.

On the VSOE, the low-stress logistics of getting from A to B are great, but I came for the in-between. It’s 24 to 36 hours of immersive theater whose curtain goes up as soon as you see the staff gathered alongside the gleaming, brass-trimmed navy train. Parked there in Venice’s Santa Lucia Station (and later, each time the train paused during the journey), folks on the platform going about the daily doldrums of life lit up. Eyes wide, phones raised to get a shot of the myth on wheels. My fellow passengers, too. They lined up to have their photos taken with the staff outside the train in Venice, like Disney tots waiting to meet Princess Elsa. “The guests, no matter how big they’ve made it in the world, how famous they are, how important they are, when they see the train standing at the platform, they are kids,” Deyrolle said. How many brands rent that kind of space in the Western subconscious?

My Swiss steward, Melissa, a Belmond veteran, met me at the door to my carriage and whisked me on board and into my suite, one of eight that were fully renovated in June 2023 by in-house designer Marianne Khan. The landscapes the VSOE traverses inspire four different designs: the forest, the countryside, the mountains, and (my cabin) the lakes, expressed in saturated blue fabric trimmed with white and gold. A silver bucket of Veuve Clicquot, caviar-beaded canapés, and an overflowing bowl of plums, rambutans, grapes, and other fruits awaited on the white-clothed table, and the mirrored built-in bar came stocked with still and sparkling water, Mariage Frères teas, and branded Orient Express stationery and postcards.

Melissa poured Champagne and introduced my second steward, Thibault, who talked about the suite’s woodwork and marquetry the way people talk about their children, tracing the swooping lanes of rosewood and mother-of-pearl across the interior shutters, which fold open to reveal a window into the hall. A grander version of the same art deco pattern curls up the wall behind the royal blue sofa, giving the effect of a headboard once the​​ stewards convert the couch into a double bed while you’re at dinner. “See the blue here?” Thibault pointed to the swooping arcs of periwinkle wood, then detailed the specific dying process used so the oak absorbs the color while its whorls of grain remain intact.

After lunch in L’Etoile du Nord (one of three dining cars on board) and late-afternoon coffee served by Melissa and Thibault in the suite, it was time to dress for dinner. The preposterousness of putting on a gown or tux — the VSOE has a strict dress code — to eat in a vehicle careening across the countryside at 100 miles per hour is precisely why it’s so romantic. “We are all on stage, we all wear a costume,” Deyrolle said. “Our guests wear a costume, and they play a part in the play.”

After drinks set to live piano in the swanky Bar Car 3674, dinner unfolded in the ivory-and-gold L’Oriental dining car among painted cranes and macaws perching on black-lacquer wall panels. Like the waiters, we felt the brakes before we heard them and held our cups and bottles close. “Hold the glasses,” we called to one another casually, across our cocktails and the tableside cheese tray. Talented actors, we’d learned our lines in record time.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Romantic. Timeless. Matchless. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a glamorous luxury rail journey like no other.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express holidays

For decades, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has been synonymous with everything that is sophisticated and glamorous in the world of luxury train travel. The name echoes like a spell. Since its maiden journey from Paris to Istanbul in 1883 the Orient Express has been intrinsically linked with luxury travel. Now operated by the connoisseurs at Belmond, the train has been restored, refurbished and returned to its Art Deco-influenced origins. Today the enchantment and romance are as strong as ever and, in an age that prioritises speed and efficiency when it comes to conveying you to your end destination, the experience of travelling slowly and being on a (luxury) journey is even more alluring.

Indeed, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express doesn't simply stand on a par with the world's other great rail journeys, it stands above them – not least because of its fascinating history and enduringly elegant design. The rolling stock is distinctive down to the smallest detail. Made up of original 1920s and 30s European carriages, painstakingly and lovingly restored to their original elegance and splendour. Look out for marquetry panels and designs by artists of the Art Deco movement, including Rene Lalique. The overall result is a beguiling evocation of the golden age of travel. Yet the experience of being onboard transcends its historical origins and feels utterly contemporary and fresh. Luxury at this level is timeless.

The train now visits a number of Europe’s most enchanting cities. Alongside the traditional, classic journey from London to Venice via Paris (or vice versa), you can now take in everywhere from historic Budapest to luxurious Lake Como. There's also a collection of new routes for 2021, taking in the likes of Geneva , Brussels , Florence , Rome and Amsterdam . Or, for the ultimate luxury rail journey, we suggest that the most discerning traveller should secure a berth on the very special, once-a-year departure from London to Istanbul, a nine-day journey that recreates the original 1883 route. The sheer romance of this experience is unmatchable. 

Special experiences

There is no more memorable an experience than seeing the train for the first time. Arrive early at the station to get caught up in the giddy excitement reverberating through the air. It could be at London’s Victoria station, where you board the umber and cream carriages of Belmond’s British Pullman or at Calais or Venice, where you’ll get your first glimpse of the blue and gold carriages of the Continental Wagons-Lit. The thrill is palpable and these are memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. 

Climb aboard and step back in time to a more refined, congenial and elegant era. Walk through all the carriages to understand that you’re travelling on a page of history, taking the time to read the plaques identifying each carriage and observing the different décor of each one.

Head to your compartment and settle in, meeting the cabin steward who will anticipate and attend your every need. Unpack your tuxedo and ball gown; you can never be overdressed aboard the elegant carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. When dressed to the nines, hang out in Bar 3674, the social hub of the train and mingle with other passengers. Listen to a pianist play period pieces as you sip pre-dinner signature cocktails expertly prepared by the head barman. Alternatively toast your good taste with a vintage champagne from the train’s extensive selection.

Then, settle yourself into one of the three beautifully restored restaurant cars, taking note of the fine linen, French silverware and heavy crystal that hint at the extravagance ahead. Perhaps you’ll try lobsters from Brittany or salt marsh lamb from Mont St Michel.

After a four-course culinary adventure, retire to your cabin, which will have been discretely converted into a sleeping compartment. Spoil yourself with a night cap then climb the upholstered ladder to your upper berth or snuggle down under luxury linens on the bottom bunk to be lulled by the movement of the train as it travels across Europe, perhaps having taken steps to arrange a celebration breakfast in the morning so that you can start the next day with another magical memory.

White-gloved service on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Sip vintage champagne in the elegant bar car

Cabins on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

There are 88 double cabins (upper and lower berth) and 11 single cabins modelled on the 1920s originals. Each private compartment is attended by a cabin steward throughout the journey, which means that you are assured of attentive yet discreet service. Want to idle your way across Europe in your pyjamas, plush bathrobes or indeed anything else, mesmerised by the scenery flashing by from the privacy of your bed or sofa? The staff are impeccably trained.

Historic Cabin

During the day, your cabin acts as a comfortable lounge with a large banquette sofa, footstool and small fold out table. There is a washbasin stylishly hidden away in its own cabinet. While, you enjoy a sumptuous dinner in one of the dining cars and drink cocktails in the bar car, your cabin steward will convert your compartment into a cosy sleeping space with upper and lower berths, complete with crisp white linen. Bathrobes, slippers and luxury amenities by Temple Spa are provided.

For a shot of additional luxury take a Suite, new for 2023. Featuring an en-suite bathroom – all decadent marble and Venetian glass – they bridge the gap perfectly between the Historic Cabins and the ultra-luxury Grand Suites, detailed below. Of course, you can expect all the usual touches, from art-deco flourishes to polished wood and exquisite marquetry. Suites come with a choice of double or twin beds, which convert into a lounge for daytime relaxation. 

Grand Suite

These incredibly spacious suites bring a new level of luxury to the already opulent train. And, in a welcome departure from the faithful reproduction elsewhere, each Grand Suite includes a private en suite bathroom with showers, sinks and toilet, as well as a double bedroom and a sizeable living area. Named after the cities most associated with the train, these suites are designed in keeping with the general Art Deco motif but draw on their namesake’s associations; chic haute couture flourishes, renaissance design, Venetian-style glass lamps, grand Baroque touches and opulent embroidered pillows and rugs that echo the Grand Bazaar can all be seen. There are also more choices of where and when to dine, including private dining in your own suite, complimentary caviar on arrival and free-flowing champagne in your suite at all times. Perfection!.

The 1920s styling of a Historic cabin

The all-new Suites: elegant and private

A Grand Suite: the ultimate in onboard luxury

Suggested itineraries

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Venice to London

4 days from £5,025 pp incl. flights

A counterpoint to the classic London to Venice route, this journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express starts in Italy's floating city before crossing the Alps in style en route to Paris, then via Eurostar to London.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Florence to London

4 days from £4,980 pp incl. flights

Journey aboard the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, starting amid the exquisite architecture of Florence before crossing the Alps in style en route to London.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Verona to London

4 days from £4,670 pp incl. flights

Beginning with a luxury city stay and included walking tour in Verona, you'll board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for an unforgettable journey across Europe, steeped in the elegant traditions of 1920s rail travel.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London to Paris & Venice

5 days from £4,860 pp incl. flights

With Eurostar included, this is the iconic southbound journey from Paris to Venice aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, paired with stays in two luxury hotels.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London to Paris & Portofino

5 days from £8,960 pp incl. flights

Experience one of the world's most revered trains at its opulent best as you travel aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to charming Portofino, in the Italian Riviera, including stays in some of Europe's finest hotels.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: A taste of luxury

3 days from £4,870 pp incl. flights

Enjoyed across three unforgettable days, this itinerary is perfect for those looking to experience the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express but are short on time

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Bologna, Food and Ferraris

6 days from £6,150 pp incl. flights

Journey aboard the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, starting amid the gastronomic centre of Bologna before crossing the Alps in style en route to London.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Venice & Brussels to London

6 days from £5,920 pp incl. flights

This journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express starts among the exquisite architecture of Italy's floating city before crossing the Alps in style en route to the gastronomy, architecture and cafe culture of Brussels.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Venice & Amsterdam to London

6 days from £6,280 pp incl. flights

This journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express starts among the exquisite architecture of Italy's floating city before crossing the Alps in style en route to the canals and museums of Amsterdam.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Vienna to London

4 days from £4,805 pp incl. flights

Board the world’s most elegant train for a luxury journey to remember as you're transported not just from Vienna to London but all the way back to the glamour of the Roaring Twenties.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Budapest to London

5 days from £5,380 pp incl. flights

From the Ottoman treasures of Budapest to the 1920s fineries of the world's most elegant train, this is luxury rail travel at its finest.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Venice’s Islands

4 days from £4,370 pp incl. flights

Before travelling on the world’s exclusive train, hop between Venice’s archipelago, centring on a luxury stay on your very own private island.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Grand Suite Experience

5 days from £12,280 pp incl. flights

From free-flowing champagne to complimentary caviar, experience the ultimate in luxury rail travel with the butler-served indulgences of the new Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Grand Suites.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Verona Opera

5 days from £6,470 pp incl. flights

This spectacular short break combines a journey on the world’s most elegant train with a stay in a converted palace and of opera at the iconic Arena di Verona.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London to Istanbul

10 days from £19,525 pp incl. flights

Experience the glamour and style of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express as it returns to its original route, sweeping across Europe through France, Hungary and Romania to the gateway between east and west – Istanbul.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London to Cannes

5 days from £5,270 pp incl. flights

Enjoy a slice of the high life as you pair the world's most iconic train with the glamour of the French Riviera – a summer journey not to be missed.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Lake Como

7 days from £6,890 pp incl. flights

Travel from London to Verona onboard the world’s most famous train, finishing off with a truly opulent stay on the shores of Italian lake country.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Northern Italy River Cruise

12 days from £9,070 pp incl. flights

Discover Venice and its surrounds in unmatched style as you pair the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with a five-star cruise.

Northern Italy Cruise & Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

11 days from £8,460 pp incl. flights

Experience one of travel's great pairings as you combine a cruise among the treasures of Northern Italy with the luxurious delights of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Veuve Clicquot Journey

4 days from £7,945 pp incl. flights

Combine the golden era of luxury rail travel with a celebration like no other – with Veuve Clicquot champagne.

Get in touch and let a personal travel consultant help book your bespoke holiday

The The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: 13 Things You Need to Know Before Riding this European Train

You’ve seen it in films and read about it in fiction and non-fiction books. It is a larger than life concept that is a mystery to most that haven’t quite had the means over the last 100 years to take a trip within this curious vessel. Yet, the Orient Express conjures images of Hollywood starlets and covert spies as they travel for pleasure and to get to their next mission or film set.

Today, the vintage concepts have been reinvented with careful attention from designers and craftsmen to keep the originality from the Orient express of the 1920’s and 30’s. This endeavor is literally woven into the fabric of this iconic train. You can take a short trip on this train to realize the essence of what it is all about or you can schedule a grand affair and spend tens of thousands on the trip of a lifetime. Whatever itinerary you book, on thing is certain. You will never take another trip quite like it.

• 1 Is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express still running?
• 2 Where does the Venice Simplon Orient-Express leave from and go?
• 3 How long does the Orient-Express take?
• 4 Does the Orient-Express go through the tunnel?
• 5 Do you get your own bathroom on the Orient-Express?
• 6 Are the drinks free on the Orient Express?
• 7 How do you shower on the Orient Express?
• 8 What are the amenities offered on the Orient Express?
• 9 Can you have dinner on the Orient Express?
• 10 What do you wear on the Orient Express?
• 11.0.1 Twin Room
• 11.0.2 Grand Suite
• 12 How much does the Orient Express cost?
• 13 Is the Orient Express worth it?

Is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express still running?

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is still running and has been since its inception in 1929. Routes and carriages have changed over the years to reflect passenger’s changing needs in comfort. However, the classic 1920’s and 30’s feel and decor has been preserved and restored and lovingly cared for by craftsmen at the top of their field. This gives the traveler a trip that will feel very much as it did during The Golden Age of Travel.

Luxurious amenities were popular with wealthy tourists, dignitaries ad even spies from its inception. Today, anyone that has the means can enjoy a ride on the Orient Express and experience the grandeur of this work of art upon the rails.

Where does the Venice Simplon Orient-Express leave from and go?

The Orient Express can start in London, where you will leave from Victoria Station. From here, you will stop in Paris where you can disembark or continue on to Verona or Venice. However, you can also start your trip in Venice and travel to Prague, Vienna and Budapest and back to Paris or London. There are many itineraries in which to choose when traveling on the Orient Express.

Occasionally there are even routes that run from Krakow, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Rome, Stockholm and sometimes even Istanbul. These are only scheduled a few times a year, so make sure you do your homework and book the right trip.

How long does the Orient-Express take?

This all depends on your route. The most popular route, however, is the route from London to Venice. This route will take two days, with one night spent on board the train. You can also take a return trip that can give you four days on board.

Does the Orient-Express go through the tunnel?

The Orient Express’s itineraries take you across the English Channel in order to continue its journey in Europe. However, the train itself does not cross into the tunnel. The train carriages are right at 100 years old, therefore the train can not cross the English Channel by tunnel. Travelers will take a coach and onto a shuttle. When passengers have completed the tunnel, they will then load onto the Orient Express once more.

Do you get your own bathroom on the Orient-Express?

Each cabin has a vanity compete with sink and mirror. However, unless you book a grand suite, you will need to use a shared bathroom located at the end of each carriage. To preserve the historical feel of the cabins a toilet and shower could not be included in Twin and Cabin Suites.

Are the drinks free on the Orient Express?

Drinks are free on the Orient Express. In fact, wine parings have recently been introduced with lunch and diner service while on board. Complimentary tea, coffee, sodas and water are also included with your service. There is a bar car ‘3674’ that also has anything you may desire outside of what is offered with your package.

How do you shower on the Orient Express?

Unfortunately, there are no showers for the Twin and Cabin Suites on board the Orient Express. However, if you book a Grand Suite you will enjoy your own en suite amenities including a toilet, shower and vanity.

What are the amenities offered on the Orient Express?

Amenities abound on the Orient Express. Porters and attendants are there for your every whim. Lavish chef inspired dinners, lunches and even mid-night brunches are served between times in your decadent room designed with period art deco decor. Visits to the Bar Car ‘3674’ will give you time to converse with other passengers as you sip on your favorite cocktail and request a number from the pianist.

Can you have dinner on the Orient Express?

Not only is dinner served on the Orient Express, but a host of lunches, teas and champagne brunches and receptions. You will receive the best five star service and cuisine on the Orient Express. The chefs aboard the Orient Express ensure that only the finest regional, seasonal ingredients are used from the areas in which you will be exploring. A sample menu might include: Pumpkin soup, Filet of beef with boletus and wine reduction sauce, Lobster vol-au-vent with white pudding and spinach, a selection of fine cheeses and Pear Belle-Helene for dessert.

What do you wear on the Orient Express?

Overdressing is not a concern when you are a passenger on the Orient Express. In fact, you could wear a tux or a jeweled evening dress and you would be in good company at dinner. During the day smart attire will do. No jeans, t-shirts or flip-flops. Have fun with your clothing and even consider donning clothing form the era of The Golden Age or Travel as if you are in character.

What are the rooms like on the Venice Simplon-Orient Express?

There are three classes of rooms on board the train. Each is luxurious and befitting to adorn the name of the Orient Express.

By day this elegant room with all you need is a quiet respite from visiting with other travelers and eating with friends. The opulent varnished woodwork of the era welcomes you to rest and relax. By night the comfortable seating converts to a bed complete with fresh linens.

Double Cabin

Have your choice of a double bed or two twin beds, a private en suite marble vanity room complete with complimentary kimono and slippers.

Grand Suite

The Grand Suite includes a decadent living quarter, bedroom area and en suite marble bathroom complete with shower and toilet. You will also enjoy 24-hour butler service, free-flowing champagne and private in-room dining.

How much does the Orient Express cost?

There are so many various itineraries in which to choose on the Orient Express. Choose one that match your desires and budget. Journeys start at $5,600 per person for a twin cabin and can reach as high as $14,400 per person if you book the Grand Suite. The most expensive booking is the Paris to Vienna Return with the Grand Suite. This trip will cost $30,800 per person and will take four days of luxurious travel in a round trip itinerary.

There are certainly other cheaper trains in Europe like the Caledonian Sleeper train , but this train is considered top of the line.

Is the Orient Express worth it?

If you are looking to go on a grand trip that will be the highlight of all trips ever taken, the Venice Simplon Orient-Express is the one to go on. You can backpack across Europe, drive the landscape or fly from one destination to another. Yet, the most unique and unforgettable experience will always be on a train. Taking the Orient Express will most definitely be worth every effort you have taken for this trip of a lifetime.

Wendy Edwards

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Europe's Most Luxurious Train Rolls Again!

The fortunate few traversed the Continent on trains like this a century ago. Isn't it time for your champagne adventure?

You’ll sleep in a deco dream.

The new suites are the handiwork of master French craftsmen, with fabrics, furnishings, and wood marquetry inspired by Art Deco designers like Majorelle, Dufrene, Leleu, and Lalique; the feel is entirely jewel box and one-of-a-kind. The marble bathrooms have mosaic floors (with underfloor heating) and hand-blown Murano sinks, and as in trains of yore, all the windows open: You’ll not only be watching meadows, mountains, and forests scroll by, but smelling them, too. (There are six new Grand Suites, and eight smaller Suites coming in June.)

You’ll be spoiled for choice.

The one-night Paris–Venice run is the signature trip. The once-yearly Paris–Istanbul five-nighter (starting August 25) is the extravaganza. And there are now routes that combine in various ways the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Nether­lands. As of next December, you can also embark in Paris and disembark in Cour­chevel­—it’s enough to make avant-ski a thing.

You’ll love the call button.

The cosseting begins before embarkation. If you’ve booked a Grand Suite, you’re picked up at your hotel and escorted through the station to your carriage, where your luggage awaits, as well as a cabin steward (aka butler). He or she will familiarize you with your compartment, including, crucially, the location of the call button. Stewards, one per car, are on call 24/7. Cocktails? Midnight snacks? Breakfast in bed? Done. (Christie’s Princess Dragomiroff demanded “chicken cooked without sauces…also some boiled fish.” Chacun à son goût .) Your job until dinner is just to settle in. Or, if you’re investigatively inclined, hang around Poirot-style in the corridor to see who else is boarding.

Yes, you will dress for dinner.

The motto of the train is “You can never be overdressed.” There are three dining cars and, on a one-night journey, two sit-down meals: a formal dinner the first night and a lunch the next day. (You can get suite service…but why? )

The menus are seasonal, prepared onboard, and designed by the French star chef Jean Imbert , who recently launched his second restaurant with Pharrell Williams and secured Dior as his next partner (it’s not all prewar nostalgia on this train). The bar car—for pre- and post-dinner—has inventive cocktails and live piano music.

While you’re there, your suite will have been transformed for the night, the blinds drawn. Tip: Pull them up at once on waking and call for champagne; few experiences in the traveling life rival lounging in bed with a glass of bubbly watching the sun rise over Italy. And knowing that by 5 p.m. you’ll be in Venice.

Klara Glowczewska is the Executive Travel Editor of Town & Country , covering topics related to travel specifically (places, itineraries, hotels, trends) and broadly (conservation, culture, adventure), and was previously the Editor in Chief of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. 

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I spent a night on the ultimate luxury train and saw that high-end travel doesn't have to harm the planet

• I recently spent one night on a luxury train in Europe, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
• It's made up of preserved carriages from the iconic Orient Express fleet of the 1920s and 1930s.
• The train features several sustainability practices designed to conserve energy and reduce waste.
• This article is part of " Green Getaway: Luxury ," a series exploring how people can make more eco-conscious choices on luxury trips. For more climate-action news, visit Insider's  One Planet  hub.

A luxury vacation doesn't have to come with a huge carbon footprint — especially if you travel by train .

I learned that firsthand on a recent train trip in Europe aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express . With rooms starting at $9,000 a night (including tax), it's the ultimate luxury train and a fine option for travelers looking to splurge while being mindful of their impact on the environment.

Traveling by train is typically more sustainable than flying or driving. The US Environmental Protection Agency has said 2% of transportation greenhouse-gas emissions in 2021 came from trains while 8% came from planes. "Light-duty vehicles," or passenger cars, were responsible for 58% of emissions, the agency said.

"As a traveler, you have the economic power to adopt a 'vote with your dollars' mindset and consciously choose to support local businesses that are aligned with community and environmental impact," Jessica Blotter, the CEO and cofounder of the public-benefit corporation Kind Traveler told Business Insider in October.

On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, I got a taste of a high-end sustainable travel experience that wealthy vacationers are splurging on. And I can see why.

In search of a high-end, sustainable trip, I spent one night on the ultimate luxury train: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

In the past two years, I've spent 155 hours traveling by train in the US, Canada, and Europe as a travel reporter.

I've found that no matter where I'm going, trains can offer unparalleled views of the world and make any journey feel like an adventure.

Perhaps no train does both better than the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond train made up of restored cars from historic Orient Express train services of the 1920s and 1930s.

Operating since 1982, the train line has 67 routes between 17 European cities, including Rome and Amsterdam, according to Belmond's website.

I jumped at the chance to take the train on a recent trip from Paris to Venice.

For about $9,000, I spent one night on the train's Paris-to-Venice route in a historic cabin with a couch that converted into a bed and a vanity with a sink.

This was my first luxury train experience and the most amazing trip of my life.

I was fascinated to learn that on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, sustainability efforts go beyond its transportation mode.

In 2021, Belmond partnered with EarthCheck , a company that says it monitors and certifies sustainability efforts in more than 550 hotels around the world.

During my trip, I had lunch with the train's manager, Pascal Deyrolle. He told me about all the sustainability efforts on the train — from preserving history to sourcing food.

The train is made up of preserved and restored historic carriages from the iconic Orient Express fleet.

Some of the train's sustainable elements have been in place since the beginning.

For example, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is made out of restored Orient Express carriages — some of which are nearly 100 years old, Deyrolle said.

Wandering through the train cars felt like traveling back in time. Each was filled with furniture and decor reminiscent of early-20th-century luxury, like gold light fixtures and plush seating.

The dining experience was another sustainable highlight.

From scrambled eggs and caviar to scallops that nearly melted in my mouth, each extravagant meal on the luxury train felt carefully designed to produce impeccable textures and flavors.

And the ingredients tasted so fresh to me.

Deyrolle said that before each trip, the train loads food in Venice and refills in Paris. "Everything that we picked up yesterday we are going eat on the way to Venice," he said.

Because trains have limited space to store food, Deyrolle said, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express uses fresh meat and produce out of necessity.

Deyrolle said the ingredients are sourced locally in Paris and Venice; the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express chooses suppliers that allow it to trace where the products come from, even down to the fishermen who catch the seafood that's served to guests.

The train conserves water with reduced-flow faucets.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express stops along the route to refill the water tank, Deyrolle said.

But the tank isn't that big, he added, so conserving water is a necessity. He said all the taps on the train have reduced flow.

In my cabin, I noticed the minimal flow from my faucet. The water ran only when I was holding the handle down.

Limiting energy use and waste is a priority on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Deyrolle said the luxury train has no single-use plastics.

In my cabin, I noticed water in cans rather than plastic bottles. Deyrolle said water on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is served only in cans and glasses.

Deyrolle said the train also works to minimize waste from packaging, adding that all the food suppliers use recyclable boxes and reusable containers.

"We exchange containers when they bring fish, meat, and veggies," Deyrolle said. "For us, it's less packaging, less trash, and less space used on the train."

The train has a limited capacity for electricity. So Deyrolle said it conserves energy with custom LED lighting.

During the trip, I noticed the lighting intensity changed depending on whether it was sunny or cloudy, day or night. Deyrolle said the train uses different lighting settings to match the ambiance.

The train company also works to restore the surrounding nature.

Deyrolle said that for each sustainability effort, from waste management to energy use, there's a committee of staff members who are passionate about the issue.

"If you're passionate about something, then you're going to focus on it," he said.

Deyrolle said his passion is planting trees, so he has a goal to plant a tree for each of the train's staff members in a park in Venice over the next five years. He added that the company made an agreement with the city council to do so.

"When I bike along the canal, it's super hot. As soon as I go into the park, we lose four or five degrees just because of the shade from the trees," Deyrolle said. "It's incredible. So trees will help us to bring the actual temperature down and create oxygen."

Some of the most memorable moments of my train journey came from looking out the window at dramatic landscapes of mountains, trees, and meadows.

Being so close to nature made me feel more passionate about protecting the planet, too.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, the luxury vintage train to venice.

If you can afford it, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the most romantic and luxurious way from London or Paris to Venice.  Its vintage carriages are a delight and the food & on-board service are truly world class.  Unlike many expensive tourist experiences, this train really does live up to its five-star and you won't be disappointed.  Watch the video .

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is a privately-run train of beautifully-restored 1920s, 30s & 50s coaches, providing a 5-star luxury train experience between London, Paris, Verona & Venice, running roughly once a week from March to November.  The journey from London to Venice takes 24 hours and costs over £3,300 per person one way, including meals.

The train is run by Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) Limited, part of Belmond, who also operate the equally luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express from Singapore to Bangkok, the Royal Scotsman cruise train and the PeruRail trains to Machu Picchu .  The VSOE should not be confused with the real Orient Express, the true descendant of the original 1883 Orient Express, a regular scheduled train which was finally withdrawn on 12 December 2009, see here for an explanation .

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express also runs occasional trips to Florence, Rome, Krakow, Budapest, Stockholm and even Istanbul once a year, in August.

Important changes for 2024

2023 was the last season in which VSOE passengers travelled from London Victoria to Folkestone by British Pullman , got ferried through the Channel Tunnel by road coach and boarded the Continental train at Calais.  From 2024, the VSOE will operate between Paris Gare de l'Est and Venice , with connections to/from London St Pancras by Eurostar .  No more British Pullman.  This is due to Brexit, delays caused by longer border checks made the Folkestone-Calais coach transfer increasingly unreliable which in turn delayed the departure of the VSOE train from Calais.  A great shame.

Southbound dates , London to Venice

2024 :  14, 21, 28 March.  4, 11, 25 April.  5, 20 May.  27 June.  11 July.  3, 14 August.  5, 22 September.  6, 22 October. 1, 19, 23 November.  5, 12, 22 December.

Northbound dates , Venice to London

2024 :  5, 12, 19, 26 March.  9, 27 April.  10, 15 May.  1, 6, 12 August.  14, 24 September.  1, 15, 20 October. 5, 17, 21 November.  3, 10, 14 December.

Timetable 2024 (subject to confirmation)

How much does it cost .

Solo travellers:   The prices above are per person assuming two people share a 2-berth compartment in an LX-type type sleeper dating from 1929.  If you're a solo traveller, sole occupancy costs the same price if you book a single-berth compartment in a slightly less intricate slightly smaller mid-1920s-built S-type sleeper, but costs significantly more if you book a 2-berth compartment in an LX sleeper for sole occupancy, see the advice & explanation below .

Children:   Infants under 2 sharing a berth travel free.  Children under 12 sharing a compartment with a full-fare-paying adult get a 20% reduction.

The extra-cost cabin suites & grand suites are explained below .

How to buy tickets

Can a 24 hour train ride to venice be worth £3,350 per person , single travellers.

The VSOE consists almost entirely of luxurious LX-type sleeping cars built 1927-1929.  But there is usually one mid-1920s S-type sleeping-car on the train with 10 compartments which it sells as singles for the same price per person as two people sharing a 2-berth in an LX.  When booking at www.belmond.com with 1 adult selected you'll be sold sole occupancy of an S-type sleeper compartment if one remains available, otherwise you'll see a significantly higher price which is for sole occupancy of a 2-berth LX sleeper compartment.

The compartments in an S-type sleeping-car are very slightly smaller and have less intricate wood marquetry than an LX, but they are just as comfortable and just as historic - indeed, had you travelled from Calais to Istanbul in the 1930s you'd have travelled in an S-type sleeper rather than an LX-type, as the Calais-Istanbul car was usually an S, although the other (Paris-Istanbul) sleeping-car on the Simplon Orient Express was usually an LX.  My advice?  It's simply not worth paying so much more for a compartment in an LX if a single compartment in the S class is available.  And if you're lucky enough to get S-type car number 3425, Mrs 61 & I got engaged in the corridor, send me a photo!

Journey suggestions

Which is better, a southbound or northbound trip.

Either is great, but in my opinion the southbound has the edge.  Although the northbound journey tends to be less popular, so often has better availability and sometimes better rates.  But personally, I feel the journey works best going out from London with the arrival in Venice over the causeway a fitting climax.  You'll also see more of the Alpine scenery in daylight in the morning from a southbound train than (depending on the time of year) in the evening from a northbound train.

One way by VSOE, one-way by TGV & Eurostar

If you only take the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express one-way, you don't need to fly the other.  Take Eurostar from London to Paris in 2h15, have lunch at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant inside Paris Gare de Lyon, then take the afternoon TGV or Frecciarossa from Paris to Turin in 5h40, a comfortable & scenic journey through the French Alps, see the video & photos here , arriving in the evening.  Stay overnight in Turin, and next morning take a high-speed train from Turin to Venice in around 4h30.  This works equally well in either direction, see the London to Italy by train page for all you need to know.

For the ultimate scenic ride between London & Venice, take Eurostar & a TGV-Lyria to Zurich on day 1, then take the wonderful narrow-gauge Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps to Tirano with connections for Venice on day 2, see the Bernina Express page .  You can easily arrange this yourself, or you can ask custom-made tour agency www.railbookers.co.uk to arrange both your Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express trip and your scheduled trains and suggest some excellent hotels in Venice.

VSOE to Krakow, Budapest, Prague, Rome & Istanbul

As well as its regular London-Paris-Venice route, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express runs occasional departures to Krakow, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Rome, Stockholm and sometimes even Istanbul (London to Istanbul usually in late August, 5 nights for around £7,000 pp), see www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express or call Railbookers .

Day trips in the UK by Belmond's British Pullman & Northern Belle

The VSOE's British Pullman cars run a regular programme of day-trips, dinner trips and excursions around the British Isles, mostly around London and typically £210-£420 per person.  Belmond also used to own (but have now sold) a set of more modern cars dating from the 1970s converted to classic Pullman standard which is used on Northern Belle excursions in the north of England, see www.northernbelle.co.uk for routes, dates, prices & tickets.

Back to top

Option 1, call Railbookers

Railbookers are train specialists who often have special rates for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.  They can also arrange hotels and regular scheduled European trains to create a customised trip - for example Eurostar & high-speed TGV-Lyria from London to Zurich, 1 night at the superb Hotel Schweizerhof (first introduced to me by Railbookers, now a personal favourite), onward travel through the Alps via the wonderfully scenic Gotthard Pass route to Venice, 3 nights 4-star hotel in Venice, then by fabulous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice to London.  Railbookers take good care of their clients, and they now have offices in the UK, US & Australia.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk . 

  us call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com .,   canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com .,   australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au . ,   new zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website ., option 2, call tailor made rail.

UK-based Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient Express.  Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  See www.tailormaderail.com/trains/venice-simplon-orient-express .

Option 3, book at belmond.com

You can also buy tickets at www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express .  If you feel like packing some lucky loved one off to Paris or Venice, you can buy Venice Simplon-Orient-Express gift certificates.  Double cabin or Suite cabin?   See the explanation here .  However, I'd call Railbookers before booking, as sometimes Railbookers can offer VSOE plus hotels more cheaply than a train-only booking with Belmond.

What's a journey on the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express like?

London to paris by eurostar.

From 2024, passengers no longer use the British Pullman from London to Folkestone, and the Continental train no longer starts from Calais.  From 2024 onwards, passengers take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord , which is a short 7-minute walk from Paris Gare de l'Est .  I expect Belmond will bus you from station to station, but it really is just a 7 minute walk !

See more about the Eurostar journey here .  Passengers bound for the VSOE travel in Business Premier, a meal with wine and champagne is served at your seat.  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

The Venice Simplon Orient Express

In the evening at Paris Gare de l'Est you board the VSOE's continental train of restored blue-and-gold 1920s Wagons-Lits sleeping-cars for Innsbruck, Verona & Venice.  You've time to take photos.

The sleeping-cars

Historic compartments - authentic, see car layout.

Your sleeper attendant greets you at the door and shows you to your compartment.  The VSOE's sleeping-cars are mostly classic 1929-vintage LX-series cars with ten 2-berth compartments that convert to private sitting rooms with sofa and small table for daytime use.  With their inlaid wood marquetry, the LX-types were the most luxurious sleeping-cars ever built for La Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL, the original operator of the Orient Express), and the VSOE's restored LX-series cars were originally used on various CIWL trains including the Calais-Paris-Nice Train Bleu, the Paris-Rome Rome Express , the Paris-Berlin-Warsaw-Riga Nord Express .  One Paris-Istanbul sleeping-car and the Calais-Trieste sleeping-car of the Simplon Orient Express would also have been an LX-type in the 1930s.

VSOE also own two earlier 1927-built S-series cars which had less fancy woodwork and slightly smaller compartments, but they were both gutted in 2018 to create Belmond's modern Suites & Grand Suites.  In the 1930s, the Calais-Istanbul sleeping car & Calais-Athens sleeping-car of the Simplon Orient Express would normally have been an S-type.

Sleeper facilities :   Each historic compartment has a large sofa convertible to an upper and lower berth at night, a footstool, small folding table.  There's a broad luggage rack towards the ceiling capable of taking fairly large items.  In a corner (either by the door or the window), two doors open to reveal a washstand with soap, towels, flannels and hot & cold water.  Mineral water, slippers & dressing gown are provided, and (a modern addition) there are two plug sockets of the normal 2-pin European type.  Authentic 1920s sleeping-cars don't have en suite toilets or showers, they also didn't have air-conditioning, but this has now been fitted.  You can still wind the window down, great for reflection-free photos of the scenery.

The correct term is 'Compartment' not 'Cabin':   These sleeper compartments are described on the Belmond website as historic cabins .  Trains don't have cabins, that is a nautical term used for a room on a ship.  The correct term on a train is a compartment .  Travellers in the 1920s & 1930s would have known this perfectly well, travellers unused to trains & ships now seem to use 'cabin' for everything and even Belmond don't seem to know the correct term.

Suites & Grand Suites - not authentic

For the 2018 season, Belmond created 3 luxurious Grand Suites with double bed, parlour area and en suite shower & toilet, they also now offer several smaller Suites with either twin or double beds and en suite toilet & shower.  These modern suites were created by taking one of the VSOE's two historic S-type sleeping-cars (car 3425, the car my wife & I got engaged in, as it happens), completely gutting the car's original 1920s interior (it had ten 1 or 2 berth compartments with washbasin) and building these new suites from scratch inside the empty bodyshell.  The suites are a modern creation for the 21st century tourist market and completely unauthentic - the real Orient Express of the 1920s and 1930s would have no suites, no showers, and no en en suite toilets, just a chamber pot kept in a hidey-hole under the sink (hence the famous CIWL sign, Sous le lavabo se trouve une vase ...).  In fact the Orient Express wouldn't have had a bar car or piano either, just sleeping-cars and a restaurant car.  If you want the authentic 1920s/30s experience, save your money and stick with the basic, original, historic LX sleeper compartments.  Check prices for the suites & grand suites online at www.belmond.com or call Railbookers .

The place to go before or after dinner is the VSOE's lively bar car, with lounge area, cocktail bar and piano.  Needless to say, the real Orient Express even in its 1920s & 1930s heyday would have not have had any such fripperies as a bar or lounge, let alone a piano, just sleeping-cars and a restaurant.  It was a much more work-a-day train than most people imagine.  The piano-bar-lounge has been created for modern-day tourists out of a former Wagons-Lits Company pullman car built in 1931 - but it's still great place to mingle.  You'll find a small VSOE Boutique counter in these cars.

The 3 restaurant cars

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has three restaurant cars, each with unique decor: 

The Cote d'Azur was originally a 1st class Pullman car built in 1929, first used on the Cote d'Azur Pullman Express.   With lovely Lalique glass panels, it's my favourite.

The Etoile du Nord restaurant car was built in Birmingham in 1926 for the Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam Etoile du Nord Pullman train, it was later used on the Edelweiss from Amsterdam to Switzerland and the Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon.

L'Orientale was originally a Pullman kitchen car, built in Birmingham in 1927 and also used on the Etoile du Nord and later the Lusitania , and it features Chinese-style lacquer wall panels.

Soon after departure the Maitre d' comes down the sleeping-cars handing out dinner reservations.  You'll be allocated a restaurant car but feel free to request a table in your favourite.  Make sure you experience two different ones at dinner and lunch.

Dinner in the diner

Meals are included in the fare on the VSOE, and the food is truly excellent.  Drinks on the Continental train cost extra, reckon on the cheapest half bottle of wine costing €35, a full bottle €50.  A dress code applies in the evening, for men a dark suit is essential, but the majority of passengers bring a dinner jacket and bow tie as dressing up is part of the fun.  You can't be over-dressed on the VSOE!

Time for bed

You'll return from dinner to find your compartment converted into a bedroom by the sleeper attendant, with upper and lower berths.  The beds are the most comfortable I have ever slept in on a train, in fact they're more comfortable than many hotel beds.  There are toilets at each end of the corridor.  The door locks securely with both a lock and security chain.

Scenery next morning in Switzerland, Austria & Italy

In spite of its name, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express no longer uses the Simplon route via Lausanne, Brig & Milan.  Instead, it runs overnight from Paris to Switzerland and you'll probably wake up just beyond Zurich.  When I last took it, I found the train running alongside the sparkling waters of the Zürichsee or Walensee with a breathtaking mountain backdrop, heading for the Arlberg Pass then the Brenner - although from 2016 it travels via the Gotthard Pass to Milan, only using the Brenner and Arlberg northbound.  A Continental breakfast of excellent coffee, juice and fresh croissant is served on a tray in your compartment by your sleeper attendant.  When I took it, the train clipped a corner of Liechtenstein and entered Austria via the wonderfully scenic Arlberg Pass - which once gave its name to the Paris-Switzerland-Vienna Arlberg Orient Express which used this route.  The VSOE turned right after Innsbruck, and as a 3-course lunch was served in the restaurant cars we headed into Italy via the almost equally scenic Brenner Pass to Verona, passing Padua and Venice Mestre before finally rumbling slowly across the 2km causeway to Venice Santa Lucia station on the banks of the Grand Canal in central Venice, just 15 minutes walk from the famous Rialto Bridge or 25 minutes walk from St Mark's Square.

Video guide:  Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

More videos:   arlberg pass scenery video    brenner pass scenery video.

These two videos show the scenery through the Arlberg and Brenner Passes which you'll see over breakfast and lunch on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.  They were shot from scheduled trains on the route, but the scenery is of course the same!

Travel tips

Dress up!   You'll need (for men) at least a dark suit and tie for dinner on the VSOE Continental train, but many travellers change into a dinner jacket with bow tie for dinner - indeed, you may feel under-dressed in just a suit.  A significant number of travellers dress up in 1920s or 30s style, you won't feel out of place if you do!  During the day dress code is smart-casual, you can't wear jeans on the VSOE.

Ask for your favourite restaurant for dinner - and a different one for lunch next day.   There are three restaurants on the VSOE continental train, each unique.  The Maitre d' will make a dinner reservation for you, feel free to request a table in your favourite restaurant - my favourite is the Cote d'Azur with its lovely glass panels by Lalique.  Next day, request a table in one of the other two, to experience a different car.

Are there showers?   Not in the original authentic 1920s sleeper compartments, no.  These were built in an era when hotel rooms didn't have en suite bathrooms, people survived without taking a shower every few hours and Sunday night was bath night whether you needed it or not.  The sleeper compartments have a washstand with hot & cold running water which was a luxury for the 1920s, when many hotel rooms didn't even have this.  Incredibly, Belmond tell me that the lack of en suite showers is the biggest thing that surprises many VSOE travellers even though they know they're going on an authentic 1920s train!  However, the more expensive suites and grand suites have en suite toilet & shower, as these are a modern innovation, they are not original or authentic.

Is there WiFi?   The train now has WiFi and there's decent mobile data reception all along the route, even inside the Channel Tunnel.

Are there power sockets?   Not on the British Pullmans, no.  But each sleeper compartment on the VSOE Continental train has two European-style 2-pin sockets, one under the sink, one under the window.  A post-1920s addition!

Special dietary needs. You can request these when you book, yes.

Smoking.   The VSOE train is all non-smoking.

Tips.   The fare includes service, although you can always tip a member of staff who gives particularly good service.

Dress code.   Jeans & trainers aren't allowed on the VSOE.  The dress code is smart casual during the day, and at least dark suit with tie for men in the evening.  But I'd take a DJ (that's a tuxedo if you're American) if you have one.

Luggage.   One large suitcase per person can be checked in to your final destination, and one item of hand luggage plus a suit carrier or overnight bag can be taken into your sleeper compartment.  In London, you can check your overnight bag or suit carrier in and you'll find them waiting for you in your sleeper compartment when you board the VSOE Continental train.  However, don't worry too much about luggage limits as unlike airlines, VSOE seem relaxed about exact bag weights or dimensions, as long as you don't take the Mickey.  There is a reasonably large luggage rack in your sleeping-car compartment.

Can children travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express?   Yes they can, of any age, see the fares section above .

Do you have to go from London to Venice?   Belmond will sell journeys from London to Verona or Venice, or Paris to Verona or Venice, and in the opposite direction.

Is a northbound or southbound trip best?   See my answer here .

Does the train go across the Channel?   No, and the Orient Express never did. 

Today's VSOE journey is described above .  When it started in 1982 passengers used a ferry from Folkestone to Boulogne with the sleeper train waiting for it at Boulogne Maritime station, in the later years until 2023 they used an executive road coach from Folkestone to Calais which went through the Channel Tunnel on a car-carrying Eurotunnel shuttle train.  From 2024 onwards, VSOE passengers will use Eurostar from London to Paris Gare du Nord and board the VSOE continental train at the nearby Gare de l'Est .

Historically, the Orient Express always started at Calais with a totally separate British 'boat train' and ferry providing a connection from London.  The only passenger train ever to be physically ferried across the Channel on board a ferry were the London-Paris (and later, London-Brussels) sleeping-cars of the Night Ferry , which start in 1936, suspended during WW2, and discontinued in 1980, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Ferry .

Is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express the original Orient Express?   You'd better read the next section!

Is this the original Orient Express ?    See the Orient Express history page

No.  Because there is no such thing as the original Orient Express.  The Orient Express was a service, not one specific set of coaches.  The Orient Express used different rolling stock at different times in its long history, and at any given time it required more than one set of coaches to operate - common sense, really, as in the 1920s & 1930s the Simplon Orient Express left Paris every day on a 3-night journey to Istanbul so clearly required at least 6 separate sets of coaching stock to operate.

In fact, by the 1930s there were several different Orient Express routes, including the Orient Express (Paris-Munich-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest/Istanbul), Simplon Orient Express (Calais-Paris-Lausanne-Milan-Venice-Belgrade-Athens/Istanbul, as featured in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express), Arlberg Orient Express (Paris-Zurich-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest) and Oostende-Vienna Orient Express (Oostende-Brussels-Frankfurt-Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade-Istanbul, as featured in Graham Greene's novel Stambul Train ), all taking different routes across Europe and switching cars between them at key points.

Furthermore, these were not huge long trains going from a single point A to one point B like today's 16-car VSOE.  They were relatively short trains of individual sleeping-cars from different starting points to different destinations, with cars switched between trains at key interchange points such as Vienna or Belgrade.  Restaurant cars would be attached for all main sectors, but there would not have been any bars, lounges or pianos.  More work-a-day than most people imagine. 

To give you a flavour of what it was really like, in the 1930s the Orient Express would leave Istanbul Sirkeci station at 10pm consisting of just 4 sleeping-cars and 2 baggage vans ( fourgons in French).  No restaurants, no bars, no lounges nor seats cars, just those 4 sleeping-cars and two fourgons, nothing more.  Two sleeping-cars and a fourgon were for Paris Gare de Lyon via Venice & Lausanne on the Simplon Orient Express , usually an LX and an S, with the S-type sleeping-car going through to Calais for the London connection attached to a Paris-Calais boat train.  Depending on the day of the week, the third sleeping-car was either for Brussels & Oostende via the Oostende-Vienna Orient Express or for Paris Est via Vienna and Munich on the (plain) Orient Express.  Again depending on the day of the week, the fourth sleeping-car was for either Prague or Berlin via the Balt-Orient Express.  A restaurant car was added at the Bulgarian border (where it had been detached from an eastbound Orient Express a few hours previously) in time to serve breakfast.  Still no lounges or pianos!

In addition to the various Orient Express routes, the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (the company which ran the Orient Express) operated sleeping-cars and restaurant-cars all over Europe, both as all-luxury trains such as these and providing the sleeping- and restaurant-car service attached to regular trains in many countries.  Cutting a long story short, the CIWL handed over responsibility for the sleeping- and dining-cars to the various national rail operators themselves in 1971, but the company still exists.  For example, if you take Austrian Railways Nightjet sleeper trains , the sleeper attendants and catering are provided by NewRest, a subsidiary of the CIWL.  VSOE has been allowed to use the CIWL's name and crest on its vintage carriages under licence.

Most of the sleeping-cars on today's VSOE are 1929-built LX-type cars.  If you'd travelled from Calais to Istanbul on the Simplon Orient Express in the 1930s you'd have travelled in an S-type car built in 1927, with slightly smaller compartments than the LX-type and lacking the intricate wood marquetry decoration that distinguishes the more glamorous 'LX'.  In the 1950s and 60s, you'd probably have travelled in a newer Z-type sleeping-car which replaced the S-type on those routes after World War 2.  VSOE own a couple of S-type cars which they tend to use for solo travellers because of their smaller compartments.

Is it the one that stopped running in 1977?  Was it restored & put back into service?

No.  It is sometimes suggested that the 'original' Orient Express made its last run in 1977, and was taken out of service, then bought and restored and put back in service as today's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.  VSOE's marketing department don't exactly disabuse you of this notion.  Again, this is some way from the truth. 

The Simplon Orient Express (which ran daily, with direct sleeping-cars from both Calais and Paris to Istanbul) was replaced in 1962 by a slower train called the Direct Orient Express , which included one direct sleeping-car from Paris to Istanbul just three times a week.  The Direct Orient Express was almost entirely composed of ordinary seats & couchette cars belonging to the various State-run national railways along the route, with just one Z-type sleeping-car (a type of car not owned by VSOE) going through to Istanbul, still staffed by the Wagons-Lits Company.  The last Direct Orient Express left Paris Gare de Lyon at 23:56 on 19 May 1977 - in fact it left a little late, on 20th May.

But although the end of the Direct Orient meant the end of direct trains between Paris and Istanbul, it didn't mean the end of the (plain) Orient Express .  This was a separate train on a different route, Paris-Munich-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest, originally conveying a thrice-weekly through sleeping-car from Paris to Istanbul which was attached at Belgrade to the Simplon Orient Express cars from Calais and Paris which had come via Venice.  The Paris-Istanbul car via this route ceased in the early 1960s.  This (plain) Orient Express was indeed the true descendant of the very first 1883 Orient Express which took a similar route, and it continued in one form of another until it's withdrawal in December 2009, by which time it had evolved into a Strasbourg to Vienna EuroNight sleeper train, run by the Austrian Railways with modern air-conditioned seats, couchettes and a 1980s-built sleeping-car.  It had been cut back in 2007 from running Paris to Vienna when the Paris-Strasbourg TGV-Est high-speed line opened.  All is explained in more detail on the Orient Express history page .

So what exactly is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express?

In 1977, a number of classic pre-war Wagons-Lits Company sleeping-cars and restaurant cars were offered for sale at an auction in Monte Carlo.  James Sherwood of Sea Containers Inc bought most of them, with the dream of restoring them and recreating a 'Train de Luxe' for modern-day travellers on part of the route of the fabled Simplon Orient Express.  He subsequently acquired a series of 1920s and 1930s Pullman cars for the London-Folkestone part of the operation. 

VSOE's LX-type sleeping-cars originally ran on front-rank Wagons-Lits Company trains all over Europe, including the Train Bleu from Calais & Paris to Nice & Monte Carlo, the Nord Express from Paris to Berlin, Warsaw & Riga, and the Rome Express from Calais/Paris to Rome.  The Calais to Trieste sleeping car attached to the Simplon Orient Express would have been an 'LX', as would a Paris-Istanbul and a Paris-Athens sleeping-car, even if the Calais-Istanbul and Calais-Athens cars would have been slightly older S-types.

Today's tourist-orientated VSOE has been running since 1982, London-Paris-Venice once a week from March to November.  Although it is a 'resumption' of the Orient Express more in spirit than in terms of historical accuracy but the VSOE has superbly-restored pre-war carriages, top-class food and service, and it has now become an institution in it own right.  Don't miss your chance to ride it!

The British Pullman train

This is a beautiful train of restored 1920s/30s/50s British Pullman cars, from 2024 it's no longer used as part of the London-Paris-Venice journey, but the train is still used for excursions within Britain so I shall leave this section here.

Each car features plush armchairs in open-plan saloons, arranged as intimate tables for two each side of the aisle.  It's strange how 80 years of ergonomics haven't produced anything as luxuriously comfortable as a 1920s Pullman seat.  Most Pullmans also have an enclosed 4-seat compartment at one or both ends known as a coupé, these can be requested if you want privacy though I prefer the more convivial open saloon.  You can read a brief history of each individual VSOE Pullman Car at www.belmond.com/british-pullman-train/british-pullman-carriages , worth checking as the history is fascinating, and many of the cars have links with famous trains or famous people.  You'll find a booklet about the history of the Pullman cars at your seat on board the train which you can keep.  Some cars were used on the Golden Arrow boat train between London & Dover, others on the Brighton Belle between London & Brighton, a couple were used on Winston Churchill's funeral train, and so on...  If one car particularly interests you, by all means request it!  The British Pullman train leaves Victoria station, rumbles slowly across the Thames past Battersea Power Station, then takes one of several possible routes to Folkestone.  Indeed it sometimes goes the long way round via Canterbury and Dover, dropping off day-trippers at Canterbury and doubling back along the coast to Folkestone.  A 3-course brunch is served on the way to Folkestone with sparkling Bellinis, all included in the fare.

Orient Express books, gifts & souvenirs

Venice simplon-orient-express gift certificates.

Belmond offer gift certificates, if you want to make someone a present of a journey on one of their trains:  https://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/monetary_gift_certificates .

Books about the Orient Express

If you want to learn more about the Orient Express, you can click the pictures to buy these books online at Amazon.  The book on the left has more about the history of the Orient Express, the book on the right concentrates on the restored Venice Simplon Orient Express.  Also recommended is 'The Orient Express - The life and times of the world's most famous train' by E H Cookridge.  Although out of print, you can buy it second hand through Amazon - click here for details .  The Orient Express also features heavily in fiction.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (actually set on the Simplon Orient Express, as she knew full well)

Murder on the Orient Express (DVD, 1974 film)

Stamboul Train by Graham Greene (actually set on the Oostende-Vienna Orient Express, not the Orient Express)

Hotels in London, Paris, Venice

If you need to search for decent hotels in London, Paris or Venice, this is the system to use.

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The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Has Announced Festive Winter Journeys — with Ultra-Glamourous Dining

The famed luxury train will transport guests through some of the most idyllic European landscapes, with extravagant menus, a vintage bar car, and an onboard sommelier.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , A Belmond Train, has long been the gold standard for luxury railway experiences. And yet somehow, the company is proving it can still outdo itself with brand-new itineraries for the winter season.

In September, the company announced its December journeys, a first for the Belmond Train. The festive season excursions, the company shared in a statement, all take place aboard its distinct midnight-blue carriages that transport guests through some of the most idyllic European landscapes over one-night journeys to Florence, Paris, Venice, and Vienna.

The trips will expand upon the company's annual season, which typically runs from March to November, allowing guests to board trains to 10 different routes for one extra month.

And just in case it wasn't clear, this train is one to remember. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express made its inaugural journey in 1982 and has been a vintage marvel ever since. The train consists of 17 carriages dating back to the 1920s and '30s. It's a place where glitz and glamour are the norm, and where everyone is treated like a star.

Onboard, guests can find a little peace and quiet inside their private cabins, which each come with massive picture windows so you can always enjoy the frosted winter landscapes outside.

Guests can also choose to mix and mingle in the jewel-toned dining cars, where chef Jean Imbert will be on hand to serve winter-inspired seasonal menus that feature local ingredients from the scheduled routes.

As the company explains on its website, the day begins for guests with their choice of dining destinations — either a little breakfast in bed, set to a time of your choosing, or in the restaurant car, where they can dig into coffee, smoked salmon, eggs, truffles, and a little caviar for a morning indulgence.

Lunch is as lavish as it gets, with a three-course menu of the aforementioned locally sourced treats, all paired with wines chosen by the train's sommelier.

The dinner menu rotates depending on the chef's whims, though as the company notes, the menu "harks back to the majesty of travel's golden age" and adds, "you'll never eat quite like it again."

Though the restaurant car isn't the only place to indulge your taste buds. Guests can also make their way to what Belmond calls the "heart" of the train, Bar Car 3674. There, guests can imbibe in the cocktail of their choosing while listening to the soft melodies played by the train's longtime resident pianist.

Prices for a one-night journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe, start from £2,920 per person. See more about the journey and book your ride here .

Related Articles

Join Michael Portillo on an unforgettable journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Ride in luxury from Venice to Paris and enjoy exclusive events with the broadcaster and rail enthusiast

While there are plenty of unique experiences available, such as an icy expedition to Antarctica and a glamorous trip to Venice with James Martin , anyone in search of one-of-a-kind luxury will want to read all about our exclusive journey on the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express with Michael Portillo.

On this very special Good Housekeeping tour , taking place in March 2025, you'll start by spending three nights in Venice , immersing yourself in Venetian life and discovering the delights of the city. You might choose to visit famous landmarks like St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace or hidden gems , like the pretty Ponte de Chiodo or the island of San Michele.

You will be joined for parts of the once-in-a-lifetime adventure by journalist, presenter, and former politician Michael Portillo. Michael is passionate about rail travel , and has presented several documentaries for the BBC about train lines all around the world.

For his documentary series Great Continental Railway Journeys, he travelled on parts of the original Orient Express route. This will be his first time travelling on the train itself, and he'll mingle with guests over drinks and canapés, sharing anecdotes about his life and career and his insights on historic rail travel.

Discover Venetian life

With three days in Italy's City of Water, you will have plenty of time to discover all that Venice has to offer.

There will be two full days for you to explore the city at your own pace, wandering alongside its elegant canals and spotting famous landmarks like St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace as gondoliers bob by on the water.

Or perhaps you'll choose to immerse yourself more deeply into Venetian life by visiting a mask atelier or a gondola workshop. The choice is yours on this trip, with no set activities except for a very special event to look forward to on your third evening.

FIND OUT MORE

A rail experience like no other

This trip is the ultimate luxury rail holiday. You'll start your trip in a sumptuous four-star hotel in the centre of Venice, perfectly placed for acquainting yourself with the city's many excellent restaurants and swish bars.

But it's the moment you step on board the exquisite Venice Simplon-Orient-Express that the true five-star experience begins. On this historic train, no detail is overlooked. You'll be greeted by liveried stewards who will show you to your cabin in one of the meticulously restored 1920s carriages.

Later, join Michael and your fellow guests as you take a seat in the plush dining carriage. This is where you will sip on sommelier-selected wines before enjoying a four-course seasonal menu, freshly prepared by expert chefs as the train makes its way through Italy and France .

After dinner, you may choose to gather in Bar Car ‘3674’ for an evening of cocktails and conversation before retiring to your cabin for a night between crisp damask sheets and fine blankets.

Exclusive events with Michael Portillo

Enjoy the company of our very special guest on this tour. On your third night in Venice, you can attend an exclusive talk with Michael Portillo, whose love of railway travel will make for a lively and engaging evening at your hotel.

As you enjoy a drinks reception and a delicious three-course meal with wine, Michael will give his insightful presentation, preparing you for the following day's adventure on board the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express.

Michael will also join you on the train, mingling with guests during dinner and drinks and sharing more insights about his rail travel experiences.

What's included?

• Flights from London Heathrow to Venice (regional flights available at a supplement)
• Private transfers from the airport to the hotel
• Three nights bed and breakfast at a hotel in Venice
• Drinks reception on the third night
• Three-course set menu group dinner with Michael Portillo with local wine, water and coffee included
• Overnight journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Historic Twin Cabins with all meals, wine with lunch and dinner and dedicated steward service included, upgrades available at a supplement
• Group transfer from Paris Austerlitz to Paris Nord
• Eurostar in Standard Premier Class back to London (flights available on request at a supplement)

Want to ride in luxury from Venice to Paris with Michael Portillo? Visit our holiday website for all the details about Good Housekeeping's exclusive journey on the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express and information on how to book.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Cruise Offer

11 night itinerary including luxury rome to venice cruise and overnight trip aboard the venice simplon-orient-express.

• 7 nights on board the Celebrity Infinity Cruise
• Complimentary ocean view cabin upgrade*
• Complimentary Classic Drinks Package upgrade*
• 3 nights stay at Liassidi Palace Hotel Venice, breakfast included
• Twin Cabin aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Guide Price from £4,245 pp

DETAILED ITINERARY

Venice simplon-orient-express cruise itinerary, day 1 – sunday 4th july, day 2 – sicily, italy, day 3 – valletta, malta, day 4 – cruising at sea, enjoy ship at leisure, day 5 – corfu, greece, day 6 – kotor, montenegro, day 7 – zadar, croatia, day 8 – sunday 11th july, day 11 – wednesday 14th july, day 12 – thursday 15th july.

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Celebrity infinity cruise, key cruise facts.

LIASSIDI PALACE HOTEL, VENICE

Liassidi palace hotel.

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VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS – VENICE TO LONDON

Depart from Venice Santa Lucia and arrive at London Victoria

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Passing Thru Travel

An Elegant Ride – The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express’s New Voyage from Paris to Portofino

Posted: April 9, 2024 | Last updated: April 9, 2024

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express represents elegance and historical richness. Known for its opulent carriages and impeccable service, this iconic train is set to embark on a new journey that marries the romance of rail travel with the allure of Italy’s picturesque Ligurian coast.

Launching a New Route

Image Credit: Shutterstock / roibu

In June 2024, for the first time in its storied existence, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will extend its route from Paris, France, to Portofino, Italy, offering passengers a unique two-day voyage priced at $8,500 for a one-way ticket.

The Journey

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roberto Sorin

The journey between Paris and Portofino promises to be an unforgettable experience, encapsulating the essence of luxury travel. Departing from Paris, the train will traverse the scenic landscapes of France and Italy, culminating in the beautiful Ligurian coast.

Breathtaking Views

Image Credit: Shutterstock / f11photo

This new route adds a splendid destination to the train’s itinerary and allows passengers to immerse themselves in the breathtaking views and serene ambiance that define this region of Italy.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Experience

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Filippo.P

Traveling on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is akin to stepping back to a bygone era of glamour and sophistication. The train’s carriages, restored to their original 1920s and 1930s grandeur, offer an unparalleled travel experience.

Sumptuous Dining

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nick Beer

Passengers can expect sumptuous dining, with meals prepared by skilled chefs using the finest local ingredients, served in the train’s elegant dining cars. The attention to detail in the service and the exquisite interior design of the cabins ensure a journey that is as comfortable as it is visually stunning.

Portofino and the Ligurian Coast

Image Credit: Shutterstock / leoks

The Ligurian coast, with Portofino as one of its jewels, is renowned for its extraordinary beauty, characterized by rugged cliffs, turquoise waters, and colorful seaside villages. Portofino itself, a small fishing village turned upscale resort, epitomizes the charm of the Italian Riviera.

Super-Yacht-Lined Harbor

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Goncharovaia

Its harbor, lined with super-yachts and surrounded by high-end boutiques and restaurants, highlights the luxurious lifestyle that the area embodies. The region’s natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and gastronomic excellence make it a fitting terminus for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express’s new route.

Luxury Rail Travel

Image Credit: Shutterstock / kryzhov

The introduction of the Paris to Portofino journey by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express exemplifies the enduring appeal of luxury rail travel. It offers an unmatched opportunity to explore two of Europe’s most enchanting destinations in style and comfort.

The Bottom Line

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone

For those with a penchant for opulence and a desire to experience the romance of the rails, this new route promises a journey filled with beauty, luxury, and the timeless allure of the Italian Riviera.

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For the 2025 version of this itinerary, click here . Please note that we also a run a journey from Istanbul to Paris, in 2024 and 2025 .