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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

2024 & 2025 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express tickets & journeys

Immerse yourself in the most famous luxury train carriages in the world onboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express as you are transported across Europe and back to the Golden Age of Travel. Authentic polished woods, sumptuous upholstery and antique features set the scene as you are transported back to the 1920’s, where true luxury was found on the rails. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is truly remarkable and any journey aboard will evoke memories to be cherished for years to come. A decadent journey back to the 1920’s, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers elegant cabins complete with rich details including fine fabrics and glossy wood panelling that take you back in time. During the day, twin cabins let you admire the scenery as you are whisked across Europe, then as night falls, they are transformed into inviting bedrooms that allow you to sink into sumptuous comfort, all the while as the world goes by. Simply put, there is nothing else quite like it. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the epitome of luxury on rails and offers an exquisite experience on every journey, whether between London and Venice or Paris and Istanbul. Dedicated to offering opulence at the highest quality, a journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one to treasure forever and the ideal escape to an adventure only heard of in story books.

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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 £4,660 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 £4,255 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: 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: Venice & Brussels to London

6 days from £5,845 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 £5,530 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 £4,570 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 £5,190 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 £9,460 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 £8,620 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.

The Man in Seat 61

London to Venice by

Venice simplon-orient-express.

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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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Venice Simplon-Orient Express

Legendary train with a rich history

Travelling from London, Paris or Istanbul

Original coaches from 1920, carefully restored

Exquisite meals on board, prepared by professional chefs

Precious linen, silver cutlery and crystal in the dining car

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Prices

Enjoy ultimate luxury

Optimal service up to the compartment

Unique train, routes and service

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Amsterdam/Brussels/Paris - Verona/Venice

An unforgettable journey on a legendary train

Admire Europe's beauty from your luxury coupe

Excellent meals and optimal comfort

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Paris - Prague

Travel in luxury through Europe

Beautiful Alpine scenery and visit to a fairy-tale town

The world's most legendary train

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London/Paris - Vienna v.v.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Belmond British Pullman

Magnificent Alpine scenery

Visiting two diverse cities

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Paris - Istanbul

The classic route of the 'Venice Simplon-Oriënt-Express

See beautiful landscapes passing by

Including stay in Budapest and Bucharest

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Paris - Venice

Belmond British Pullman and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

A full day of discovering Venice

Luxury train journey on legendary route

Train tickets

Highlighted trips, scenic trains in europe, about happyrail.

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The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The original Orient Express passenger train has been re-created in all its glory for you to enjoy today.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has become perhaps the most famous train in the world & is a must for any serious traveller – Celebrate a special anniversary or birthday in style. Despite the painstaking renovation of vintage carriages, guests can still rely on the highest levels of personal service and outstanding cuisine. Relax in the civilised bar carriage and meet other like-minded travellers.

Take a UK day trip aboard the Belmond British Pullman and enjoy the same glorious luxury vintage carriages and lovingly prepared food – all provided with the exacting standards of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

• All VSOE Journeys including iconic 5 day Paris to Istanbul trip
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Overnight Journey from £3,530 per person

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UK Day Trips

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Destinations

Current Venice Simplon-Orient-Express destinations are London, Paris, Venice, Verona, Istanbul, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Florence, Rome, Portofino, Innsbruck, Geneva, Amsterdam, Brussels, Albertville, Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

LONDON TO PORTOFINO

SPECIAL EDITION JOURNEY

LONDON TO VENICE

Includes Journey on Eurostar

Return Journey (no air)

VENICE TO LONDON

PARIS TO ISTANBUL

5 Night Unique trip

ISTANBUL TO PARIS

LONDON TO VIENNA

VIENNA TO LONDON

LONDON TO VERONA

Combine with Arena di Verona

VERONA TO LONDON

LONDON TO BUDAPEST

BUDAPEST TO LONDON

LONDON TO PRAGUE

PRAGUE TO LONDON

PARIS TO VENICE

Stay in Paris & Venice

VENICE TO PARIS

Stay in Venice & Paris

LONDON TO FLORENCE

FLORENCE TO LONDON

LONDON TO ROME

ROME TO LONDON

PARIS TO INNSBRUCK

Runs only on select dates

GENEVA TO INNSBRUCK

GENEVA TO VENICE

Also available to Verona

VENICE TO AMSTERDAM

Also available from Verona

AMSTERDAM TO VENICE

VENICE TO BRUSSELS

BRUSSELS TO VENICE

PARIS TO CANNES

Runs once a year

LYON TO CANNES

LYON TO VENICE

PARIS TO ALBERTVILLE

Runs only in December

ALBERTVILLE TO PARIS

PARIS TO MOUTIERS

MOUTIERS TO PARIS

PARIS TO BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE TO PARIS

2024 DEPARTURE DATES

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2025 DEPARTURE DATES

Take a day trip and experience a taste of the “Orient Express” with these luxury rail operators.

BELMOND BRITISH PULLMAN

Alternative luxury belmond trains in uk and beyond.

Whether you wish to stay closer to home and explore the rugged Scottish highlands or take an adventure into Asia, Belmond luxury trains can offer the unique and unforgettable experience of a lifetime.

THE ROYAL SCOTSMAN

BELMOND EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS

Venice simplon-orient-express train information.

Find out more about the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Train, including cabin configurations, dining carriages, the bar car, the champagne bar and the colourful history surrounding the most famous train in the World.

Cabins and Suites

Choose from a Historical Cabin, Suite or Grand Suite.

Find out more, including sample menus from the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Bar Car

Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the train’s bar car complete with pianist!

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Bar Car

Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail on board the train and soak up the unique atmosphere in the bar car complete with a baby grand piano! Let the head mixologist, Walter Nisi, create a cocktail for you to enjoy including the “Guilty Twelve” which is a secret combination of eleven spirits plus champagne invented by Walter to celebrate the 12 characters in Agatha Christie’s famous book – Murder on the Orient Express.

You can also head to the champagne bar to enjoy a glass or two from a selection of chilled vintage Champagnes.

After dinner, return to the bar car where the convivial atmosphere continues until the very last client call it a night. The after-dinner cocktail of choice is the Pousse Café du Train.

The Bar Car (3674) was built in France in 1931 and based at the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. After the war it ran as part of the Sud Express from Paris to Irún on the Spanish border and from Paris to Toulouse in Le Capitole.

Today it boasts a beautiful, Art Nouveau-style interior by Gérard Gallet and even manages to incorporate a baby grand piano within the carriage.

Take a look into a journey on board this famous train.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Journey

The world’s most famous train – channel 4 feature documentary.

Find Out More about the origins of this train.

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Posted 2 days 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 6 months 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

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 8 months ago

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 9 months ago

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.

Paul Lavelle

Mulberry Travel delivered an incredible bespoke travel experience, making all the arrangements for our trip to Florence combined with attending the Andrea Bocelli concert held in his home village in Tuscany. All the travel arrangements were perfect, transfers etc were all on time and so professional. The hotel in Florence was fantastic, no complaints at all. The concert was fantastic and the location for the pre-concert dinner was stunning. An experience my wife and I will never forget! A big thanks to Sasha for making all the arrangements, first class customer service throughout.

Posted 10 months ago

We paid for five, star, we expected 5 star, and that's what we got! Superbly arranged by Mulberry travel, and I have no hesitation in recommending their services.

Really grateful to Sasha at Mulberry Travel for arranging our trip to Tuscany to see Andrea Boccelli. Sasha arranged everything on my behalf and was an amazing experience. We arrived at Pisa Airport where we we were collected by our own driver and taken to our hotel in Florence, a beautiful hotel that was ideally located. The day of the concert we were driven through the Tuscan countryside for an alfresco 5 course meal......was something of a film set, afterwards we we were dropped off at the entrance to the venue. Thanks to Mulberry Travel and Sasha for arranging everything on my behalf for an amazing experience. We'll definitely be booking this trip again......thank you.

Angela Gledhill

Extremely well organised from start to finish. Had a wonderful trip!

Posted 1 year ago

A fantastic experience on the Belmond Pullman from London Victoria to Liverpool taking in the Grand National. The food on board the train was sublime, I can say no more. Service from Tim, Andrew and Nigel was perfect within carriage Perseus. The train was lovely and each carriage different. Overall my party of four have applied for next year, hopefully we will be successful.

Glyn Farrar

As I had hoped it was a fabulous and unique experience from stepping out from the Clermont onto the concourse of Victoria Station and almost straight away being approached by Belmond staff to escort us to check in. The ratio of staff to guest on the whole journey was so high to ensure attentive service. I know the British Pullman is denoted as the hors d’oeuvre with the VSOE the main positive course! For us however the Pullman was the ultimate experience. We feel it is our country Britain at its very best! Everything about it is so British with real quality and indulgence. I’m so so sorry and disappointed to hear that the British Pullman service is no longer going to be a feature of Orient Express journeys! I even took photos of the toilets with the mosaic tiles! On the actual Orient Exoress, even though I had done all the research I thought I needed, we weren’t clear that certain wines and champagnes were complimentary Ian’s eyes popped out at the prices of some of the bottles! We enjoyed all our meals though the drinks for breakfast were served in cups and therefore were not hot The transfer to the Ca Sagredo was really well organised and efficient. Though they didn’t say at reception as we checked in, it was clear on entering the room that it was not the Grand Canal Double and that we had been upgraded! We were shown to the Library Suite with balcony onto Grand Canal. Maybe it was through the membership of that hotel group that I have The break in Florence was also lovely with attentive service and friendliness from staff at The Lungarno. That hotel has the best location in terms of proximity to Ponte Vecchio Sasha we were also pleased with the efficiency of the agents you use for the transfers. The timings were so accurate and agsin service very attentive The only slight snag we had was as we got off the water taxi at Venice Santa Lucia. We know now it was separate from that service. A porter was waiting with a barrow and started to load our luggage! It was a short distance to the station concourse yet we were charged 20 Euros as an official transaction with a machine issuing a receipt Apart from that we enjoyed a truely memorable holiday which I can recommend as a unique treat for a special celebration.

Jeremy Willson

Our trip on the Orient Express can only be described as amazing. From meeting the Pullman at Victoria and travelling through the English countryside the level of Service was impeccable. Meeting the Orient Express in Calais was one of those Wow moments. We were met by the VSOE staff and escorted on to the train the champagne was opened and the Golden age of travel was revived. Lakes and mountains as you travel through the countryside are simply breathtaking. The cuisine on the train was amazing as was our steward that looked after us through out our trip. Arriving in Venice the boat transfers were seamless, and another great experience arriving at our hotel. We stayed at the Liassidi palace hotel, perfectly situated in the city. Venice is just amazing. Wonderful, faultless, brilliantly organised holiday.

My husband and I have recently returned from a trip on the Orient Express to Venice which was organised for us by Sasha at Mulberry Travel. The holiday was fabulous and went perfectly due to Sasha's excellent organisation. We were glad to have found Mulberry Travel as they made everything very efficient and easy. We would highly recommend them. Vivien

Paul Gayford

So where do I begin? Firstly thanks to Sasha for arranging an amazing trip for us on the Orient Express and our stay in Venice. Also for holding the trip over from when we originally booked, pre-pandemic. The trip and hotel exceeded our expectations. Attention to detail and seamless transfers throughout were without fault. Many Thanks to Mulberry. We wil certainly approach them again for future trips.

Excellent travel company. Very professional from booking our holiday all the way through to the end, very well organised. I would not hesitate to use Mulberry Travel in the future.

David Barker

Can't thank Sasha enough for organizing a fantastic trip to Venice for us. The highlight was an amazing Andrea Boccelli concert, but the L'Oroglio hotel was great, with really friendly and helpful staff. All our transfers worked like clockwork from the speedboat from the airport to the hotel and back, and the limousine to and from the concert. Overall a wonderful few days and we won't hesitate to use Mulberry again.

Susan Liston

We would like to thank Sasha for all her help in organising our recent trip to Florence and our wonderful evening at the Andrea Bocelli concert in Lajatico. The attention to detail from our first contact through to our detailed Itinerary package was second to none. We hope to use Mulberry Travel again in the future and will certainly recommend them to our friends.

Robert Walters

Three years ago, pre -Covid we booked a package to see Andrea Bocelli in concert in Lajatico,Tuscany through Mulberry Travel. We returned yesterday from that trip having witnessed the Maestro singing at the Theatre of Silence, with the finale Nessum Dorma ringing in our ears and etched in our memories. This was achieved by the patience and persistence of the team at Mulberry Travel, who were faced with changes of travel dates, cancelled flights, and different airports whilst bombarded by the twists and turns of Covid 19. As a result of their fortitude and determination and our patience, we eventually savoured 3 wonderful nights and days exploring Florence, followed by an equally captivating 4 days on a vineyard in the Chianti region, eating Italian food and drinking home-grown wines whilst relaxing in the sun. Sincere thanks to you all Rob,Lee and Sasha and the team at Mulberry. Bravissimo!!!

Thankyou sasha an mulberryvtravel amazing trip to Florence to see Andrea bochelli

Nicola Garrington

We had the most amazing trip to Italy to see Andrea bocelli in concert. The whole trip was booked through mulberry travel and it was really well organised from the moment we stepped off the plane to the moment we arrived back in the uk. I would definitely recommend mulberry travel. They kept us up todays with everything from the moment we booked. Thank you for the most memorable holiday x

See the Natural Beauty of America's West by Luxury Train By Suzanne Carmel

The sounds of animated chatter and clinking flutes of champagne welcome guests to the Grand Salon of the esteemed Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As the group mills about, nametags firmly in place, "golden railers" who have taken a similar journey before greet the uninitiated and each other. We're about to begin a week-long exploration of the national parks of the West onboard the American Orient Express (AOE), a privately-owned 16-car luxury train. The sense of anticipation is palpable; the setting elegant. We already seem to be stepping back in time to an era when an important part of travel was the journey itself.

Beginning a rail trip out West in Salt Lake City seems a bit ironic, given that the capital of the Beehive State (dubbed "beehive" for the industrious Mormons who developed this area) is one of the only cities out West that does not owe its development to the railroad. During our half-day tour, one cannot help but marvel at the Temple Square, a symbol of the religious freedom many came here to enjoy. Today, less than 40 percent of Salt Lake City is Mormon, but 70 percent of the state practices this faith. The city is worth a visit and a convenient point of embarkation for the train.

Utah is home to both Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks Monument, which we'll visit later in the week. Surprisingly, many passengers have not yet been to any of the five stops on our itinerary. In addition to the two stops in Utah, we'll visit three other national parks — Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. These five natural treasures owe their first influx of tourists, in part, to the railroad.

According to Carlos Schwantes, our guest lecturer for the week and an authority on transportation, few people came out to tour the West before the start of the railroad back in the 1830's. The railroad realized national parks would draw people out West and made it possible to get to these attractions. It issued millions of brochures promoting national parks and built many of the park lodges. Once the automobile arrived on the scene, people stopped taking trains to the parks. Today, few people take a leisure trip via train. A majority of the railroad business is hauling freight and, on occasion, the American Orient Express. It's the only luxury passenger train in the country, with the exception of a few corporate, dinner and excursion trains.

Where else can you travel and have an entire staff lined up to greet you? The AOE staff lines up every time passengers board the train - on the first day and upon the return from each day excursion. It's a welcoming touch and an indication of the level of service. We're escorted to our respective cars by the porters who man them and then to our individual cabins.

This week there are only 65 passengers onboard, though the train can sleep as many as 105. During the trip, 50 train staff keep things running smoothly. There is one porter and about ten cabins per car. The porters do everything from scheduling shower times to assisting with things in the cabins, helping haul daypacks to buses and addressing last-minute needs. Rooms are made up every morning and turned down every night. During the day, beds become sofas, but the rooms are so compact most of us would rather watch the passing scenery from the lounge cars or the Dome car.

Except for when in the dining cars, people seem to stick to the part of the train closest to their cabins. It's a bumpy ride on much of the track and the older guests are less sure-footed crossing between cars. Although it's a quarter of a mile from one end of the train to the other, public cars are spread out through the train to give everyone plenty of places to socialize. The Seattle car is the train's entertainment car. A guest pianist plays there every evening before and after dinner. Those who are so inclined can sing along to the medley of tunes and even request personal favorites.

There isn't much to do on the train except watch the scenery, read a good book, play one of the games stocked in the lounges or visit. It doesn't much matter, though, because on this itinerary we're off the train every day, even staying over at a lodge near a national park one night. The point of this trip, and getting there by train, is to slow down and enjoy the journey.

The wide-open space of the West makes it the perfect place to unwind on a train. Great expanses of open land rush by while the rocking motion lulls us into a relaxed camaraderie. Every morning, after an early breakfast, we pile onto a bus that will take us to our next adventure. Local guides paint an intimate portrait of the land and the flora, fauna and people who shape these natural wonders. As we travel first north to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, and then south to Zion, Cedar Breaks and Grand Canyon, the landscape changes. From mountain peaks to canyon bottoms, flowing rivers to spouting geysers, and prairie dogs to buffalo, there is a sense of timelessness even with a landscape that continues to reinvent itself over and over through time.

Yellowstone became the first national park in the world when President Grant signed a bill making it so in 1872. It's larger than our two smallest states (Delaware and Rhode Island). The Grand Tetons boast 12 peaks in a row over 12,000 feet and are the youngest mountains in North American. In Teton county, the nearby town of Jackson is one of the top 10 richest counties in the United States. The beds of rock in Zion are 180 million years old and the park contains some of the tallest sandstone cliffs in the world. More than 800 native plants, 75 mammals, 36 reptiles and 270 varieties of birds call this park home.

Though Cedar Breaks is a national monument and not a national park, it is far less congested than the more famous Bryce Canyon nearby and affords visitors a panoramic view of a spectacular natural amphitheater below. Cedar Breaks has the highest elevations in Southern Utah, with a summit at 10,400 feet — almost two miles above sea level. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and one mile deep. This natural wonder is 500 million years old and there are more than 2,000 sites down in the canyon, dating back to prehistoric Native Americans.

Hearing about, seeing and experiencing these superlatives makes the journey all the more incredible. The AOE whisks us from park to park via refurbished luxury cars that speak to the golden era of rail travel and the great adventures to be had out West.

Yes, travel is unpredictable and we experience a few glitches in mechanics along the way. But getting there is half the fun and, with my new "golden railer" status, I'll be greeting the uninitiated someday soon when I ride the rails to a new adventure.

How to Book Italy's Orient Express La Dolce Vita Train

F or more than a century, the Orient Express has captured travelers' imaginations as a grand European hotel on rails, shuttling high society from Paris to Istanbul since 1883. The luxury train became the stuff of legend (as the "spies' express" ) and pop culture, be it in Bram Stoker's Dracula or Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express , while setting the standard for elevated transcontinental travel.

Sadly, the luxury of slow travel couldn't compete with high-speed rail and budget flights, reports The Guardian , prompting the final run of the original Orient Express line in 2009.

That is, until more recently. In the past several years, the legendary locomotive experience has witnessed a rebirth thanks to luxury hospitality brands that are breathing new life into the iconic rail journeys-including the forthcoming La Dolce Vita Orient Express in Italy, a joint venture of French hotel firm Accor and real-estate investment company Arsenale, together with Italy's Trenitalia Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Treni Turistici Italiani .

Starting in spring 2025, La Dolce Vita Orient Express will bring passengers to regions throughout Italy on itineraries that run between two and three days. There are nine itineraries to choose from (depending on the time of the year):

• Venice and Portofino
• Venice and Siena
• The Italian Trans-Siberian: Matera and Palena
• Rome to Montalcino
• Rome to Monferrato
• Southern Italy: Maratea and Palermo
• Palermo to Rome
• Sicily and the Mediterranean

Travelers can choose between 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites, with prices starting at $3,800 per person for a deluxe cabin and at $5,100 per person for a suite.

As for the concept for the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, "The train pays tribute to the years of La Dolce Vita, a fantastic period of history, [and] to the artistic and cultural fervor of Italy in the 1960s," according to a press release. Dimorestudio dreamed up the midcentury-inspired design aboard the train's renovated carriages-think pops of terra-cotta paint, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and brass accents galore. Dining aboard La Dolce Vita trains will be a sophisticated affair as well: Travelers will enjoy exclusive recipes created by master Italian chefs who use local ingredients, while sipping award-winning Italian wine. There will, of course, also be a lounge and bar, as well as entertainment, "all boldly celebrating the art, design, and creativity of the 1960s and 1970s," the release stated.

Upon departure from Italy's Rome Ostiense station, La Dolce Vita passengers will have access to their own lounge and a "relaxing pre-boarding experience."

The trains will cross about 10,000 miles of railway lines, 4,400 of which are not electrified and are historic routes traversing less-frequented parts of the countryside. Passengers will get their share of landscape gazing (alpine mountains and sandy southern beaches) and of metropolitan centers like Venice and Rome. "We are thrilled to officially open the doors to a new era of travel with La Dolce Vita Orient Express. This endeavor embodies the essence of exquisite exploration, where sophistication meets adventure," Orient Express CEO Gilda Perez-Alvarado said in a press statement.

Not to be confused with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , which is currently owned by Belmond, part of LVMH, and runs from London to Venice, La Dolce Vita Orient Express is the latest incarnation of the original train line.

How to book La Dolce Vita Orient Express

Starting on April 2, 2024, travelers in the United States and Canada can call (833) 661-3080 to book their journey with La Dolce Vita Orient Express. And as of April 24, 2024, bookings will be available online on the La Dolce Vita website .

This story was originally published in December 2021; it was updated on March 19, 2024, to include current information.

Then and now: Inside the legendary Orient Express train

• The Orient Express, a famed historic train, is being revived by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
• The luxury overnight Belmond train uses restored carriages from the original fleet.
• Historic and present-day photos show how the iconic train looked then and now.

The Orient Express is perhaps the most well-known train in history.

As the first transcontinental express train in Europe, the Orient Express served the rich and royal on overnight journeys from 1883 to 1977, according to Britannica . On board were fine dining cars, bars, and extravagantly decorated cabins.

In 1982, this golden age of rail travel was revived by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , a luxury, overnight Belmond train made up of restored carriages from the original fleet.

According to the company's website , the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express operates 60 routes in 17 cities. And I got to experience it for myself in November 2023.

The night was magical. I felt like I had traveled back in time. After my trip, I was curious about how similar it was to the original ride back in the day. So, I compared photos from my trip to historical images of the Orient Express.

Turns out, it's pretty close.

From the outside, the train looks nearly identical.

According to a pamphlet given to guests on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the train's 17 carriages were built in the 1920s and 1930s. Some were purchased at auctions, others served different train lines, and all were restored to pristine condition.

On board, the elegant dress code is still in effect.

A hundred years ago, Orient Express passengers adhered to a strict dress code , according to National Geographic . In the evenings, guests wore their finest attire.

On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the rules remain. In communal cars, passengers must dress in "smart attire," meaning no shorts, jeans, T-shirts, or sneakers. Formal eveningwear is requested at night.

During my trip, I found that the dress code enhanced the 1920s vibe — especially at night when passengers wore tuxedos and sparkling gowns.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express preserved the cabins' original models.

The historic cabin sleeping cars are the oldest in the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express fleet. During my stay, the glossy wood finishings and velvet details made me feel like I was in an old movie.

The fine dining cars have similar details to the original.

According to National Geographic, the original Orient Express was known for its elegant dining cars. White tablecloths, sparkling dishes, and glass lamps added another layer of luxury to the artistically decorated carriages.

On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, there are three dining cars. Each has its own color palette and distinct design details, from intricate wooden marquetry to carved glass windows.

While unique, the restaurants feel cohesive because they all have the same elevated dishes, tablecloths, and lamps.

The bar car got a makeover.

Built in 1931, the bar car on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express was originally a dining car. So, the train line redesigned its interior.

With a navy blue color palette, I thought it resembled the train's exterior.

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Itineraries

Welcome to an unforgettable journey. Meet us on the platform, where La Dolce Vita Orient Express eagerly awaits your arrival. Departure is imminent. Settle into the resplendent cabins as the conductor blows the whistle to signal the start of this dream voyage. 8 itineraries to select from and iconic regions to explore. On the agenda: grandiose and panoramic views, along with exclusive cultural, historical and gastronomic experiences, each tailored for unforgettable and unparalleled adventures.

Coast to coast, Venezia & Portofino

Bella italia, venezia & siena, la transiberiana italiana, matera & palena, montalcino, viaggio tra i vini italiani, monferrato, vino & tartufo, sud italia: maratea & taormina, da palermo a roma, alla scoperta della costa tirrenica, le meraviglie della sicilia.

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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