The most popular Orient Express route starts in London and takes you through Paris to Verona or Venice, but you can also leave from Venice with destinations of Prague, Vienna and Budapest and back to Paris or London. Once a year, the train travels from London to Berlin and back.

The "best" trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) depends on your preference for history or adventure, but the Paris to Venice route is universally regarded as the quintessential classic. This overnight journey allows travelers to experience the height of 1920s glamour as they traverse the French countryside and the Swiss Alps. However, for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience in 2026, the annual Paris to Istanbul voyage stands out. This 6-day epic retraces the original 1883 path, featuring overnight stays in Budapest and Bucharest and an arrival in Turkey that is unmatched in its dramatic historical significance. For those seeking modern luxury with a traditional soul, the new "L'Observatoire" suite designed by JR provides a private artist's sanctuary on wheels. Whether you choose the short, romantic dash between London and Venice or the grand transcontinental expedition, the VSOE remains the gold standard of slow travel, where the five-course seasonal menus by Chef Jean Imbert and the midnight cocktails in the "3674" bar car are as much a destination as the cities themselves.