Paris to Istanbul
The legendary route across Europe to Istanbul, with nights in Budapest and Bucharest, a Danube dinner cruise and a visit to Peleș Castle.
- ParisDay 1
- BudapestDay 2
- SinaiaDay 4
- Peleș CastleDay 4
- BucharestDay 4
- VarnaDay 5
- KapıkuleDay 6
- IstanbulDay 6
Overview
Six days from Paris Gare de l'Est to Istanbul, with three nights on board and two in hotels. Highlights include a cocktail reception and dinner on the Danube in Budapest, a tour of the Hungarian Parliament, King Carol's fairytale Peleș Castle, an evening of music in Bucharest and an aperitif on a private estate near Varna.
- Departure from Paris Gare de l'Est
- Cocktail reception and dinner cruise on the Danube in Budapest
- Guided Budapest sightseeing and the Hungarian Parliament Building
- Peleș Castle, King Carol's summer retreat in Sinaia
- Dinner with live music at a private venue in Bucharest
- Aperitif on a private estate near Varna on the Black Sea
- Arrival in Istanbul with a shared transfer to your hotel
Day by day
Day 1Paris → overnight on boardOn board
Step aboard the blue-and-gold carriages at Paris Gare de l'Est and settle into your cabin as the train sets off for Istanbul. 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 France and Germany.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2Austria and Hungary → BudapestHotel in Budapest
Your steward serves a continental breakfast in your cabin as the train winds through Austria into Hungary. After a three-course lunch you arrive in Budapest, where local guides escort you by coach to your hotel. The evening brings a cocktail reception and dinner on the River Danube.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 3BudapestOn board
Explore historic Budapest with the guides before a lunch of Hungarian specialities, then take a guided tour of the grand Hungarian Parliament Building. Re-board the train and continue east, lingering over dinner as you travel towards Romania.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 4Sinaia and Peleș Castle → BucharestHotel in Bucharest
Breakfast is served in your cabin as the train enters Romania, followed by brunch in the dining cars on the way to Sinaia. A coach takes you to Peleș Castle, King Carol's fairytale summer retreat, which early travellers on this route visited too. Rejoin the train for Bucharest, where guides take you to your hotel and dinner with live music at a private venue.
Meals: Breakfast · Brunch · Dinner
Day 5Bulgaria → VarnaOn board
Back on board for the final leg, crossing the Danube south into Bulgaria. After lunch, stop at the seaside resort of Varna for an aperitif on a private estate. A last dinner follows as the train crosses the Thracian Plain, with a special drink and live piano to celebrate your final night.
Meals: Lunch · Dinner
Day 6Kapıkule → Istanbul
A continental breakfast arrives in your cabin as the train heads for Turkey, pausing at Kapıkule for border formalities. Browse the boutique, then enjoy a lunch of Turkish flavours. The journey ends in Istanbul, with a complimentary shared transfer to your city-centre hotel.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch
- Night 1On board
- Night 2Hotel in Budapest
- Night 3On board
- Night 4Hotel in Bucharest
- 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 Budapest and Bucharest, 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
- Complimentary shared transfer from the train to your city-centre hotel in Istanbul
- 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
Suite - Twin
Grand Suite
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 are on board the train and two are in hotels: one in Budapest and one in Bucharest, each reached by coach with local guides. In Budapest, the evening brings a cocktail reception and dinner on the Danube.
What sightseeing is included?
A guided city tour of Budapest including the Hungarian Parliament Building, a cocktail reception and dinner on the Danube, a visit to Peleș Castle in Sinaia, and a city visit in Bucharest. There is also an aperitif stop on a private estate near Varna.
Where does the journey start and finish?
It starts at Paris Gare de l'Est and ends in Istanbul, with a complimentary shared transfer to your city-centre hotel. The final lunch on board features Turkish flavours.
Is there a border stop?
Yes. The train pauses at Kapıkule for Turkish customs formalities on the final morning, before lunch and arrival in Istanbul.
What is the Peleș Castle visit?
On day four the train stops at Sinaia and a coach takes you to Peleș Castle, the fairytale summer retreat of King Carol, before continuing to Bucharest. That evening there is dinner with live music at a private venue in Bucharest.
How do I check dates and fares for Paris to Istanbul?
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.
