Most people think the Orient Express is a train. It’s not. It’s a luxury, long-distance train service that has existed since the late 19th century. Today, that rail service is run by two trains owned by two different hospitality brands: Belmond and Accor. Belmond owns and operates the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, while Accor owns and operates La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which launched in April 2025. Both the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and La Dolce Vita Orient Express serve destinations in Europe, but the latter focuses on itineraries within Italy. Or so we thought. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has been offering deep-pocket travelers the legendary Paris-to-Istanbul route for several decades, and La Dolce Vita Orient Express is catching up with a Rome-to-Istanbul itinerary starting this October.
Between Rome and Istanbul On Board La Dolce Vita Orient Express
On October 22, 2026, La Dolce Vita Orient Express will depart from Rome for a five-day, four-night journey to Istanbul. The price for this iconic rail journey starts at €20,000 (around $23,000). The trip will start in Rome’s Ostiense Station and make stops in Venice, Budapest (Hungary), Brașov (Romania) and Sinaia (Romania) before arriving in the Turkish capital. At each stop, passengers will be able to disembark and wander the cities at their leisure or partake in curated experiences.
Because, obviously, the train needs to get back to Italy, there is also an Istanbul-to-Rome route departing on October 30, 2026 from Sirkeci Station. The price for this return journey is €15,760 (approximately $18,000). Stops on this voyage include Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Sofia (Bulgaria), Timișoara (Romania) – Vienna (Austria), and Venice before arriving in Rome.
There are two types of accommodation available on board la Dolce Vita Orient Express: Deluxe Cabins and Suite Cabins. Both can accommodate two people and have ensuite bathrooms, but Suite Cabins are bigger, and have large, fixed beds. In comparison, Deluxe Cabins have sofa beds that are turned from sofas into beds during turndown service and back into sofas in the morning. In short, if you want to be able to take a mid-afternoon nap whenever you wish, a Suite Cabin is a better option.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express is a beautiful train whose decor was inspired by 1960s Italian design. Think curved furniture, patterned textiles, shiny lacquered surfaces and metals, and an abundance of soft-grain leather, all in earthy tones. Those looking for 1920s and 1930s decor will have to wait for Accor’s L’Orient Express which will launch in 2027, and which, if rumors are true, will be concentrating on Paris-to-Istanbul itineraries.
Between Paris to Istanbul On Board The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
In what’s remaining of 2026, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will travel from Paris Gare de L’Est to Istanbul once. The train will depart on September 25, 2026 for a five-night journey with stops in Budapest (Hungary), Sinaia (Romania), Bucharest (Romania), Varna (Bulgaria), Kapikule (Tükiye) The price for this rail trip across Europe starts at £120,000 (about $159,000).
Of course, there’s a return journey, from Istanbul to Paris on October 2, 2026. On this trip, which starts at £19,900 ($26,400), the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will stop in Bucharest (Romania), Sinaia (Romania), and Budapest (Hungary).
And in case you can’t make it this year, note that there is currently one voyage between Paris and Istanbul on the schedule for 2027 departing on June 7.
There are four types of accommodation on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Historic Cabins, Suites, Grand Suites, and L’Observatoire. L’Observatoire is the largest – it consists of an entire train carriage.
The decor on board this train is steeped in the Art Deco movement of the early 20th century. From the marquetry work throughout, to the textiles and the marble bathrooms, it’s hard to find fault with the interior design of this magnificent train.
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FAQs
Q: Does Accor’s Orient Express own only one train?
A: Accor’s Orient Express owns La Dolce Vita Orient Express and the brand will launch another train named L’Orient Express in 2027.
Q: When will La Dolce Vita Orient Express travel to Istanbul?
A: La Dolce Vita Orient Express will travel from Rome to Istanbul for the first time in October 2026.
Q: Who owns the Orient Express hotels in Italy and the Orient Express sailing yacht?
A: Hospitality brand Accor owns Orient Express La Minerva, a hotel in Rome, Orient Express Venezia, a hotel in Venice, and Orient Express Corinthian, the largest sailing yacht in the world.
