Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
All Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient Express Ride the Rails from Paris to Venice
France – Italy – Paris – Venice
A railway legend
Your journey begins in London, where you’ll catch the Eurostar to Paris, before boarding your onward train bound for Venice, stepping into a world of timeless glamour as you do so. Departing just before dinner, it journeys through stunning European landscapes before arriving in Venice the next day.
When this legendary train embarked on its first voyage in 1883, it was famed for its grand decor, fine dining, flowing Champagne and exceptional service. Author Agatha Christie was a regular traveller and used it as inspiration for the plot of Murder on the Orient Express. Today the train has been beautifully restored with meticulous care and craftsmanship, blending Art Deco design and stunning marquetry, with touches of modern convenience. Equally exquisite is the fine dining, with chefs who’ve trained at the finest restaurants in Europe, as well as a crew of exceptional waiters and barmen.
Your time in Venice is all yours, but we’ve arranged a guided tour to introduce you to this incredible city and our in-the-know Concierge is on hand with tips on how to make the most of your time here. You might want to wander around La Pescaria fish market, head to the iconic Harry’s Bar for classic cocktails, sip coffee at Caffe Florian which is Italy’s oldest coffee house, have an incredible night at the opera, or venture to lesser-known places like the tranquil Venissa vineyard.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Your unforgettable train journey to Venice starts today, so rise bright and early to catch the London to Paris Eurostar from St Pancras International – this speedy service takes around two-and-half hours.
When you arrive in Paris, a private driver will transfer you to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, where it will be waiting on the platform at Gare de l'Est. Your time on board will be one of luxury and decadence, with opulent interiors, a personal steward to attend to your every need, and faithfully restored 1920s dining cars.
Come evening, it’s time to dress for a dinner. Enjoy an aperitif in Bar Car ‘3674’, before making your way to one of the dining cars for a sumptuous four-course dinner. Afterwards, a resident pianist playing a grand piano at the bar adds to a lively ambience as you sip cocktails. Later, settle into your cosy cabin for your night aboard.
Wake to the steady lull of the train as it continues towards Venice. Start your morning with coffee and pastries in your cabin – the perfect way to start your day. Perhaps spend a little time with a good book, or simply unwind, gazing out the windows at the changing scenery as you pass soaring mountains and glacial lakes of Switzerland’s Gotthard route.
In the afternoon, there’s a leisurely three-course lunch to enjoy in the dining car, expertly paired with wines by the sommelier. As the train pulls into Santa Lucia Station in Venice, a private driver will be ready to transfer you to a centrally located hotel where you’ll stay for the next four nights.
Get up and at ’em on your first morning in Venice because we’ve organised a local guide to show you around. The next few days are all yours, but our clued-up Concierge can recommend the best eateries and interesting places to explore. Our favourites include taking the vaporetto (waterbus), to the historic Venissa vineyard on the island of Mazzorbo, one of the few places in the world where wine is made with the rare and ancient Dorona di Venezia grape variety.
For opera fans, Teatro La Fenice, is a must-see. All the classics have been performed at this famous opera house, including Carmen, La Traviata, Madame Butterfly and the Barber of Seville, as well as chamber music and ballet. In Italian, La Fenice means ‘The Phoenix’, the mythical bird that rose from the ashes – a fitting name as the venue has been rebuilt an incredible three times in its past.
Sadly, your time in Venice comes to an end today. So, enjoy your last leisurely breakfast and sip some coffee, before saying ciao to this beautiful city. A private driver can whisk you back to Santa Lucia Station for your return train journey or to the airport if you’re flying back. Flights to the UK typically take just over two hours, so you’ll be back on home turf in no time.
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
DISCOVER THE ISLANDS OF MURANO AND BURANO
Murano is home to world-renowned glass blowers, and the public workshops here enable you to really appreciate the mastery and skill required to do this work. Speaking of mastery and skill, needlepoint lace is what made Burano so famous. Today, lace is scarce, but the Lace Museum in Burano exhibits exquisite antique pieces. The houses overlooking the docks are painted in very bright colours, which is something of a departure from the rest of Venice and makes for a refreshing change. Tour both islands with a private guide, so you can really appreciate their richness.TOUR THE DOGE'S PALACE OUTSIDE OF OPENING HOURS
We can arrange for you to explore the Doge’s Palace at dusk, when all the visitors have left, with a private guide. This palace sums up the whole history of Venice, the public history of the Doges and the more secret history of an uncompromising Republic. The lighter side includes a journey through the sumptuous Ducal apartments, which ends in the extraordinary Grand Council Chamber. On the darker side is a visit to the dark prisons via the Bridge of Sighs or the secret passages that reveal the hidden side of Venice.A DAY ON BOARD A VENETIAN TOPETTA
A topetta is a small boat measuring 23ft long, equipped with a 15HP engine, which is the ideal way of exploring Venice’s maze of small canals and enjoying new perspectives of the city from the lagoon. It can hold up to six people and does not require a permit, although you will need a bit of sailing experience.
Why visit Italy with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Italy
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
