Paris-Budapest-Bucharest-Istanbul aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

*Please note spaces are extremely limited on this popular route Contact Us to Book

The iconic rail journey of Paris to Constantinople is faithully recreated just twice a year aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

You need only glimpse its gleaming carriages and be greeted by the steward in his distinctive uniform to know that the most memorable journey of your life has begun.

The classic “Orient Express” journey is recreated just twice a year. Begin this 6 day itinerary by departing Paris aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. A total of 3 nights on board and 5 star hotel stays in Budapest and Bucharest with arrival into Istanbul the afternoon of the 6th day.

This route is extremely popular, sells out quickly and demands a price premium.FIND OUT MORE

Details

Fine Dining
Food Included
Unique Experiences
Authentic Vintage Cabins
Runs twice a year
Available as Inclusive Tour
Cabins and Suites available

Guide Price £POA

SEE DATES Guide Price is per person for the train element only

Map & Timing Guide
Detailed Itinerary

PARIS – ISTANBUL

Trip Summary & Highlights

VSOE Journey from Paris to Istanbul via Budapest and Bucharest
3 Night Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
2 Nights in Budapest and Bucharest
Day 1 – Depart Paris 11:00*
Day 6 – Arrive Istanbul 17:30*

*exact timings may vary

Train Itinerary & Timetable – See What’s Included

Depart Paris and begin a 6 day journey of a lifetime aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.

Day One: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train at Paris Gare de l’Est. After being greeted by your steward, settle into your cabin and enjoy a delightful afternoon tea.
Enjoy a delicious gourmet dinner, prepared by our skilled French chefs.
After dinner retire to your cabin, which has now been transformed into a cosy bedroom.

Day Two: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Enjoy the sublime scenery as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train travels into Hungary.
Continental breakfast is served in your cabin and lunch will be taken in one of the opulent dining cars..
On arrival in Budapest transfer to your luxury hotel.
Prepare for a wonderful cocktail reception and dinner on the River Danube this evening.

Day Three – Explore Budapest

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a private guided tour of the city Budapest, with lunch at a local restaurant included.
Afterwards, enjoy a guided tour of the majestic Hungarian Parliament Building, which was inspired by London’s Houses of Parliament.
Re-board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and continue your journey.
Dinner is served onboard in one of the restaurant cars this evening.

Day Four – Romania

The train arrives at the mountain town of Sinaia, after breakfast, disembark for a visit to beautiful Peles Castle.
Rejoin the train and complete the short journey to Bucharest.
On arrival transfer to the Athenée Palace Hilton Hotel.
Later, enjoy dinner with musical entertainment at a private venue.

Day Five – Cross River Danube and into Bulgaria

This morning, rejoin the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train as the train travels south across the Danube and into Bulgaria.
During the afternoon, a stop is made to enjoy this pretty, rural country.
Lunch and dinner are served on board the train, as your journey continues.
This final and unforgettable night is spent on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.

Day Six – Enter Turkey for the final leg to Istanbul

Early this morning the train enters Turkey and crosses the beautiful Thracian Plain.
After breakfast and lunch on board, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train arrives at Istanbul.

* Please note that the actual Hotels used may vary but they will be of a similar standard to those illustrated.

Departure Dates

2025 & 2026 Train Timetable

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The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

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Mulberry Travel

4.93 Average

119 Reviews

Robert Hawkins

We contacted Mulberry Travel to enquire about a 2025 Monaco F1 package as we could find nothing that suited us in Australia. Sasha was incredible and put together a wonderful package for us. The whole booking process was so easy and we were kept informed every step of the way. Our trip leaves us with fantastic memories. Thankyou Sasha and Mulberry Travel. We certainly recommend this company to anyone in UK or Australia

Posted 1 week ago

Nick Phillips

I recently booked a cruise to include tickets to Monaco Grand Prix for a special birthday surprise. Sasha contacted me via email so as not to spoil the surprise. This attention to detail continued along with timely correspondance throughout the whole planning period. The cruise was a great success but the hotel recommendations and even private hire transfers from airport, hotel and cruise port were all part of the very professional service and nothing was too much trouble. I would happily recommend Mulberry Travel to friends and family and will definitely use their services again. Thank you.

Posted 1 month ago

Anonymous

Fantastic service, before, dueing and after by the team

Posted 1 month ago

Hilary Ware

Sasha has been the most amazing partner in planning and arranging travel. Her care, responsiveness and creativity is outstanding. I am deeply appreciative of all she has done and look forward to planning future trips with Sasha.

Posted 1 month ago

Siobhan O'Shea

Thank you Lee for organising our trip so well. So professional, organised, proactive and helpful. It was a wonderful trip and we will certainly recommend Mulberry Travel to friends and family.

Posted 1 month ago

Neil Sheridan

Thank you, Mulberry Travel, for putting together an amazing trip to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary to Venice, returning to London via Paris on the iconic and timeless Venice-Simplon Orient Express. Big thanks to Mollie and Sasha in particular for all their efforts to make it such a memorable experience.

Posted 2 months ago

Carl

Mollie, put together a surprise trip for my wife's 50th on the Orient Express to Venice. The whole process was organised and delivered to perfection. Highly recommed their services.

Posted 2 months ago

Amanda Brooker

We unfortunately had a 9 hour delay on the Orient Express and I cannot commend enough Mulberry Travel and in particular Sasha who was in constant communication with us informing and reassuring us along the way. Excellent company.

Posted 7 months ago

Jim Scott

The service rexceived from Mulberry Travel from booking to the lead up to the trip was freindly, seamlessly and efficient taking all the worry out of the process. Many thanks.

Posted 8 months ago

Anita Jones

Booked a holiday on the Orient Express to Venicewith the lovely Sasha she sorted everything for us all we had to do was select the Hotel we wanted to stay in Venice for 3 nights . Nothing was to much trouble and answered any question we had very quickly ... would highly recommend Mulberry Travel to book holidays and so glad we came across them. Thank you all again for your help in booking us a fantastic holiday.

Posted 8 months ago

Fred Seymour

I recently travelled to Vienna and stayed in a five star hotel San Souci. After spending two days in Vienna my son and myself boarded the famous Orient Express train back to Paris and then onto London with Eurostar premium. The whole trip was organised by Mulberry Travel who arranged everything to perfection. I would recommend Mulberry travel to anyone. They took great care to ensure that we did not have any problems with our itinerary. The train ride on the Orient Express was in my opinion one of the best experiences of my life.

Posted 8 months ago

Hilary Ware

Sasha at Mulberry Travel was a delight to work with and she curated a trip of a lifetime. All the transport was seamless, the hotel was fantastic and the event was an event of a lifetime. I will definetly work with Mulberry Travel again.

Posted 11 months ago

Angela Wakefield

Wow is all I can say about the trip that Lee and his team organised for my husbands 70th birthday surprise , Andrea Bocelli in his home town Lajatico celebrating 30 years of performing. Florence was fabulous , Andrea Bocelli absolutely amazing , and Ed Sheeran “perfect”. Every bit of the trip was obviously planned and organised with great professionalism and everything went smoothly. I cannot recommend Lee his staff and Mulberry Travel enough I would have no hesitation in planning future trips with them . A BIG thank you , Angie

Posted 11 months ago

Wendy Krstenic

Fantastic service from Sasha and the team at Mulberry Travel, they sorted everything to fit our requirements to make a perfect holiday. Thank you again

Posted 11 months ago

Sue

Mulberry looked after us well. All bookings went smoothly and we were well informed with clear documentation. The team always responded to our queries promptly and were very helpful. We recommend Mulberry Travel 100%.

Posted 1 year ago

Christine Derbyshire

My husband tells me that I don't usually "gush" about much as I can be quite critical. However,I have not stopped "gushing" about the service I have received from Mulberry Travel From the initial contact with Sasha, seeking a price for a package to the Monaco Grand Prix, to the end of the holiday, the service and attention to detail has been second to none. Sasha carefully took details of my requirements, being that I wanted a complete package as a Pearl Wedding anniversary present for my husband. She quickly provided an excellent itinerary which included flights,all transfers and a 2 night, 5* hotel stay in Barcelona prior to a 5 night cruise on the Azamara Pursuit ship. In addition, tickets to the Grand Prix in Monaco (Grandstand K, facing the marina) were included. The cost of the package was very competitive and I so didn't delay in making a booking. Sasha promptly issued a full itinerary and advised that as flight times weren't available at the time of booking, she informed me that she would contact me as soon as they were available; this duly occurred, offering the opportunity to book seats with extra leg room for an extra cost. I did this and an electronic confirmation of this was quickly issued. Sasha also asked if transfers to the Grand Prix were required - they were - so she told me she would be in touch again once these were available. A few weeks passed and I was pleased when Sasha contacted me to say that the transfers were now available. I purchased them and this was again confirmed by email. Time passed until the final invoice payment was required.This was made via the Mulberry Travel secure payment process after which confirmation of receipt was issued. I was also advised that travel documents would be sent via the post when available and my address was rechecked. I was really surprised and very pleased to receive my documents altogether in a wallet. All appropriate flight tickets along with boarding passes, hotel and taxi vouchers were included in addition to the all important Grand Prix tickets. As I had NEVER received documents for a holiday from any other company in this way, I contacted Sasha, just to clarify that I had, indeed, got everything I needed for this special holiday. She assured me that everything was there and all we needed to do was turn up on the day! She also asked me to let her know how the holiday was once we returned. This,I feel, is excellent, especially for possibly older customers who are likely to feel assured they have everything to hand when going on holiday. What a superb level of customer care! The holiday was seamless from arriving at Manchester Airport, being picked up to take us to the hotel, picking us up to take us to the cruise terminal, cruise check in, and return taxi to the airport. I couldn't fault it at all! The Ohla Hotel in Barcelona is a 5* hotel, in a central location. For future Mulberry Travel guests, we found the service there exceptional, the room a little quirky and well appointed and the breakfast very good.There is a beautiful Michelin 1* restaurant and we treated ourselves to a meal there. Nothing was too much trouble. We stayed on the Azamara Pursuit ship. This was a "boutique " ship , small in size. It was an extremely comfortable, well-appointed ship with possibly the best food we have ever had on a cruise. Our inside, midship stateroom - 7066 - was conveniently located, well appointed and quiet. The service on the ship is attentive without being intrusive. The entertainment wasn't the best, but a White Night deck party was lovely. The food on that night was exceptional with lobster, t-bone lamb, succulent beef, fresh fish and salads. Dessert lovers are spoiled on the Pursuit! The Grand Prix day was excellent. The transfer to Monaco was quick, with a tour guide who gave relevant information. The walk to the race venue was quick and easy and the organisation around the event was excellent. Food and drink, unexpectedly, was not expensive given the luxurious location. When we returned from our holiday, I received a Welcome Home email to ask how the holiday went. I phoned Sasha and we chatted about it. She really seemed genuinely interested and pleased that we had had a brilliant time. I cannot praise Sasha enough for her professional, personal, attentive and exceptional service and would most definitely contact her again to arrange future holidays! Brilliant!

Posted 1 year ago

Susan Verrall

Great service, very helpful. Lee went to all the lengths to give us the Orient Express package that we wanted. Polite and knowledgeable. We will be using them again.

Posted 1 year ago

Neil Dowlman

A very efficient, helpful and professional service. Particularly from Sasha who made our 25th Wedding Anniversary holiday very special with the care and attention to arranging excellent accommodation right down to logistics and some lovely touches on making it a holiday to remember - thank you

Posted 1 year ago

William Young

It is the first time we have used a travel agent to book a package holiday which included the travel, hotel and event as one booking so quite rightly your a little apprehensive that everything goes smoothly. We were kept informed regularly before leaving and laterly presented with a very good presentation pack which included the itinerary in date order so we got off to a very good start. The seating arrangements that were pre booked were in a prime position along with the quality of our hotel which Mulberry Travel recommended and could not be faulted due to its uninterrupted views overlooking the coast. All in all this break represented very good value for money and took away a lot of the stress to organize something special whilst using the knowledge of Mulberry travel to good effect. So 5 stars for value and quality from me.

Posted 1 year ago

Lizzie

Andrea Bocelli was absolutely sensational!! Probably the best experience of my life thus far! I'll definitely go again next year & the year after. Mulberry Travel did it all so well... every aspect, the hotel in the best location right by the Ponte Vecchio, the pick up from the airport, dinner before the concert was out of a dream... an absolute perfect dream plucked out of my mind 🥰 Thanks a million Lee at Mulberry Travel.... it was all perfectly seamless 😊😊

Posted 1 year ago

Vickie

Thank you to Lee and staff for a magical Trip to see Andrea Bocelli. The casa Del Nero was an amazing experience as well. We will definitely be working with you in the future. All the best.

Posted 1 year ago

Paris-Budapest-Bucharest-Istanbul aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Guide Price £POA

PARIS – ISTANBUL

Train Itinerary & Timetable – See What’s Included

Day One: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Day Two: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Day Three – Explore Budapest

Day Four – Romania

Day Five – Cross River Danube and into Bulgaria

Day Six – Enter Turkey for the final leg to Istanbul

Departure Dates

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Departure Dates

2025 DEPARTURE DATES

2026 DEPARTURE DATES

Special Offers

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

CONTACT US