Istanbul to Paris
From Istanbul's bazaars to the lights of Paris, with nights in Bucharest and Budapest, Peleș Castle, a Danube cruise and a champagne-house stop.
- IstanbulDay 1
- BucharestDay 2
- SinaiaDay 3
- Peleș CastleDay 3
- BudapestDay 4
- ParisDay 6
Overview
Six days westbound from Istanbul to Paris, with three nights on board and two in hotels. Enjoy an evening of music in Bucharest, King Carol's Peleș Castle in Sinaia, a panoramic Danube cruise and a feast of local specialities in Budapest, then a morning stroll at a celebrated champagne house before Paris.
- Departure from Istanbul aboard the blue-and-gold carriages
- Dinner with musical entertainment at a private venue in Bucharest
- Peleș Castle, King Carol's fairytale retreat in Sinaia
- Orientation tour and panoramic Danube cruise in Budapest
- Feast of local specialities at a private venue in Budapest
- Morning visit to a celebrated champagne house
- Farewell lunch before arrival in Paris
Day by day
Day 1Istanbul → overnight on boardOn board
Step aboard the blue-and-gold carriages and settle into your cabin as the train sets off for Paris. Enjoy dinner in a restored dining car with soft piano music, then cocktails in Bar Car 3674. Your cabin is made up for the night as the train crosses into Bulgaria.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2Romania → BucharestHotel in Bucharest
Your steward serves a continental breakfast in your cabin as the train heads into Romania. After lunch on board you arrive in Bucharest, where local guides take you by coach to your hotel. Dinner with musical entertainment is held at a private venue.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 3Sinaia and Peleș CastleOn board
Rejoin the train for brunch in an elegant dining car on the way to Sinaia. A coach takes you to Peleș Castle, King Carol's fairytale summer retreat. Return to the train in the late afternoon for a leisurely run towards Hungary, with dinner and a night on board.
Meals: Brunch · Dinner
Day 4BudapestHotel in Budapest
On arrival in Budapest, take a short orientation coach tour followed by a panoramic cruise on the Danube. Reach your hotel after lunch, with free time to explore the city before an evening at a nearby private venue with a feast of local specialities.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 5Budapest → overnight on boardOn board
Re-board the train in the late morning and linger over lunch as the Hungarian countryside glides by. A final celebratory dinner is served on your last night, and the pianist plays the baby grand as you raise a glass with fellow guests.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 6Champagne house → Paris
Enjoy a continental breakfast in your cabin as the train travels through Switzerland into France. Early in the day, step off for a stroll around a celebrated champagne house, then re-board for a farewell lunch before arrival in Paris.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch
- Night 1On board
- Night 2Hotel in Bucharest
- Night 3On board
- Night 4Hotel in Budapest
- Night 5On board
The map is schematic. Dashed lines are excursions by road.
Historic Cabin
- Banquette seating by day, upper and lower berths by night
- Washbasin cabinet and curated amenities
- Shared restrooms at the end of each sleeping car
- Original carriages, each with its own story
Suite
- Private marble en-suite bathroom with mosaic floor
- Bed converts to a lounge by day
- Themed on forests, mountains, countryside and lakes
- Art Deco-inspired fabrics and marquetry
Grand Suite
- Separate living area and sleeping area
- Marbled en-suite bathroom and luxury bathrobes
- Free-flowing champagne
- Named after cities such as Venice, Vienna, Prague and Istanbul
L'Observatoire
- Conceived with the artist JR
- Library-tearoom, lounge and bedroom
- Personalised service, from breakfast in bed to vinyl evenings
- Private transfers on some packages
Historic Cabins share restrooms at the end of each carriage; Suites, Grand Suites and L'Observatoire have private bathrooms.
- Three nights aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- A city tour in Bucharest and Budapest, a Danube cruise and a visit to Peleș Castle
- Four-course dinners with sommelier-selected wines, three-course lunches and breakfasts on board
- Dedicated personal steward service around the clock
- Deposit
- 35% of the total at booking
- Final payment
- 185 days before departure
Dates and prices
Live availability. Choose a cabin type, then select Book Now to reserve online, or Join waitlist on sold-out dates.
Historic Cabin
Suite - Double
Grand Suite
Suite - Twin
L'Observatoire
Join the waitlist
This departure is currently sold out. Leave your details and we will contact you the moment a cabin becomes available.
Questions about this journey
How are the five nights spent?
Three nights on board and two in hotels: one in Bucharest after the first full day and one in Budapest on day four, each reached by coach with local guides. Each hotel evening includes dinner at a private venue.
What sightseeing is included?
Peleș Castle in Sinaia, a city visit in Bucharest, an orientation tour and panoramic Danube cruise in Budapest, and a morning stroll at a celebrated champagne house in France. The champagne house visit comes on the final morning, before a farewell lunch on board.
How is this different from Paris to Istanbul?
It runs the classic route westbound, with the hotel nights in reverse order. It also includes a stop at a champagne house on the final morning, while the eastbound journey stops near Varna on the Black Sea.
Which evenings are off the train?
Day two in Bucharest, with dinner and music at a private venue, and day four in Budapest, with a feast of local specialities at a nearby private venue. The other three nights are spent on board.
Where does the journey end?
In Paris, after a farewell lunch on board. Before that, the final morning includes a stroll around a celebrated champagne house.
How do I check dates and fares for Istanbul to Paris?
Fares vary with the cabin category you choose, from a Historic Cabin to a Grand Suite. Live dates and fares are shown on this page, and our reservations team can help on (866) 484-7882.
