The Train Journey That Invented Romance: Paris to Istanbul by Orient-Express
6 Days – Paris to Istanbul aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – France, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria & Turkey
- • Duration: 6 days
- • Countries: Hungary, Romania, France, Turkey, Bulgaria
- • Cities: Paris, Istanbul, Bucharest, Varna, Budapest, Sinaia
- • Valid Travel Dates: 25 September 2026 - 30 September 2026
Trip Summary
Six days aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Istanbul — the original route, still running, still one of the great journeys in the world. The train departs Gare de l'Est in the evening, its Art Deco carriages lit from within against the platform. Candlelit dinners in the restaurant car prepared by Chef Jean Imbert, evenings with a pianist in Bar Car 3674, mornings with the Alps or the Danube sliding past the window. Budapest is an overnight stay — a cocktail cruise on the Danube, the Parliament building at dusk, dinner in the city. Bucharest follows, with a private excursion to Peleș Castle and an evening with live entertainment. The final night crosses Bulgaria, stopping at Varna on the Black Sea before Istanbul arrives — the Bosphorus on both sides, East meeting West as it always has. Three nights aboard, one each in Budapest and Bucharest, with all meals and guided excursions included throughout.
Countries
- Hungary
- Romania
- France
- Turkey
- Bulgaria
Cities
- Paris
- Istanbul
- Bucharest
- Varna
- Budapest
- Sinaia
Accommodation
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - Double Suite
Inclusions
- ✓One night in a five-star hotel in Budapest, including dinner and Danube River cocktail cruise
- ✓One night in a five-star hotel in Bucharest, including private dinner with live entertainment
- ✓Guided city tours in Budapest and Bucharest, including entrance to the Hungarian Parliament Building
- ✓Excursion to Peleș Castle in Romania, with private transport and guided access
- ✓All meals aboard the train, including three-course lunches and four-course dinners shaped by Chef Jean Imbert
- ✓Continental breakfast served in your cabin daily
- ✓Dedicated steward service aboard the train
- ✓Shared transfer on arrival in Istanbul to your city hotel
- ✓Memorii concierge assistance pre- and post-journey for flight coordination or extensions
- ✓Three nights aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in your chosen cabin or suite
Exclusions
- ✗Visas (if applicable)
- ✗Personal expenses, shopping, gratuities, and beverages beyond those specified
- ✗Hotel city taxes payable locally
- ✗Additional nights or excursions not listed in the itinerary
- ✗Comprehensive travel insurance (required)
- ✗International flights to/from Europe
Day-by-Day Itinerary
City: Paris
Begin your journey at Paris Gare de l’Est, where the gleaming blue-and-gold carriages await. Step aboard and settle into your Art Deco cabin. Tonight, enjoy an elegant four-course dinner and live piano music in Bar Car 3674 before retiring to your suite as the train glides eastward through France and Germany.
City: Budapest
Awaken to breakfast served in your cabin as the train winds through Austria into Hungary. After a three-course lunch, arrive in Budapest for check-in at your five-star hotel. In the evening, enjoy a cocktail reception and dinner cruise on the Danube, surrounded by the illuminated skyline.
After breakfast, explore Budapest’s highlights with your private guide, including a visit to the Hungarian Parliament Building. Enjoy a lunch of Hungarian specialties before re-boarding the train. Dinner is served onboard as the train continues toward Romania.
City: Sinaia, Bucharest
Enjoy breakfast onboard, followed by a scenic brunch en route to Sinaia, where you'll visit Peleș Castle, a fairy-tale royal retreat. Rejoin the train and continue to Bucharest. Dinner this evening features live music and local flavors at a private venue.
City: Bucharest, Varna
Return to the train and continue across Bulgaria. Lunch is served onboard before a stop in Varna, a seaside resort on the Black Sea, where guests enjoy a private aperitif on a local estate. The final dinner onboard is a festive celebration as you cross into Turkey.
City: Istanbul
Enjoy breakfast and a Turkish-inspired lunch before arrival in Istanbul. After customs formalities at Kapikule, the train glides into the city of minarets and domes. A shared transfer takes you to your hotel in the heart of Istanbul, where your Grand Continental Passage concludes.
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